The Strongest Card From Each MTG Set Released In 2024

There were many sets and cards released in 2024 for Magic: The Gathering. There have been Standard sets, direct-to-Modern sets, Commander deck sets, and more. Whatever format you play in Magic, there were multiple cards released that you can play with and upgrade your decks with (or, in some cases, these cards wound up creating entirely new decks).

Each set had a card that stood above the rest that was included in it. Not every card is a heavy hitter, and some fall by the wayside while others become meta-defining staples that see play for months or even years to come.

This list will not include reprint-only sets like Ravnica: Remastered, as none of the cards included are new to the game.

Murders At Karlov Manor: Vein Ripper

Runner-Up: Surveil Lands

Murders At Karlov Manor wasn’t the most well-received set of 2024. It had a mixed identity that didn’t match the established tone of previous Ravnica sets. It wasn’t the most impactful set either, with very few cards making a splash in various formats. The surveil lands became staples as one-offs for fetchlands due to their land types, but Vein Ripper is the best overall card in the set.

Vein Ripper was the star of one of the best decks in Pioneer before the banning of Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord (which was used to cheat it out without paying Vein Ripper’s mana cost). The static effect and ward led to quick burn damage, and a 6/5 on turn three was nothing to scoff at.

Ravnica: Clue Edition: Amzu, Swarm’s Hunger

Runner-Up: Headliner Scarlett

Ravnica: Clue Edition is a small side set released alongside Murders At Karlov Manor. It used an alternate format that took heavy inspiration from the board game Clue (also called Cluedo). The set is primarily reprints but included some original cards, the best of which is Amzu, Swarm’s Hunger.

Amzu is an amazing card for the Insect creature type. Insects are often moving in and out of the graveyard, making Amzu the perfect support card for it. Since it’s legendary, you can run it as a dedicated Insect commander or simply one that interacts with the graveyard and acts more like a token commander.

Fallout: Pre-War Formalwear

Runner-Up: Power Fist

Fallout is a set of four Commander decks a part of Magic’s Universes Beyond line. They included a mixture of new cards and reprints with new art treatments. The legality of the cards only included eternal formats, and the one card that broke into Legacy as Fallout’s standout star is Pre-War Formalwear.

Pre-War Formalwear reanimates any cheap creature from your graveyard while giving it a stat and ability boost thanks to the actual effects of the Equipment. Pre-War Formalwear is a staple of Legacy Death and Taxes decks as a way to keep your creatures around since the majority of the deck are creatures with a mana value of three or less.

Outlaws Of Thunder Junction: Slickshot Show-Off

Runner-Up: Bristly Bill, Spine Sower

There are a ton of cards in Outlaws of Thunder Junction to choose from, especially with the inclusion of The Big Score cards. Three Steps Ahead, Bristly Bill, and Slickshot Show-Off are the three most notable cards of the set, but between them all, Slickshot Show-Off has been just a bit more impactful to earn the title of best card in the set.

Slickshot Show-Off is a staple of many red decks in Standard, Pioneer, and Modern. It can deal an explosive amount of damage, and under the right circumstances, win the game in just one attack while your opponent is at full life.

Modern Horizons 3: Nadu, Winged Wisdom

Runner-Up: Psychic Frog

While Psychic Frog has had the most reach across multiple formats (seeing play in Modern, Legacy, and even Vintage), it’s impossible to give the title of best card from Modern Horizons 3 to Nadu, Winged Wisdom. Nadu was responsible for Nadu Summer, a competitive season where Nadu was dominating every Modern event. It only lasted a few months before being banned from both Modern and Commander.

Nadu’s ability is incredible, so long as you can create new creatures, you can constantly make use of it. There are a lot of effects that don’t cost mana to activate, making it trivial to allow Nadu to draw out your entire deck.

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Regalia

Runner-Up: Basim Ibn Ishaq

Assassin’s Creed is a miniature set that only included a bit over 100 cards. The set is designed for Modern, but very few cards saw Modern success. Basim Ibn Ishaq saw very niche play, but ultimately, it’s Brotherhood Regalia that is the best of the Assassin’s Creed lot.

Brotherhood Regalia is one of the best Equipments for Voltron-based strategies (decks that want to stack Equipment and Aura onto one creature). The ward offers protection, and making it unblockable guarantees it will get in for damage. It’s especially strong for legendary creatures thanks to discounting the equip cost for them.

Bloomburrow: Heartfire Hero

Runner-Up: Fountainport

There are a plethora of amazing cards in Bloomburrow. The Talent cycle is fantastic, and many of the support cards for specific creature types like Rabbits and Bats are great as well. Bloomburrow’s red cards are especially great, with Heartfire Hero being the star of the show.

Heartfire Hero can very quickly grow in stats, and burn for its power whenever it dies. Flinging it at your opponent essentially deals double damage, making Heartfire Hero incredibly explosive. There are so many cards that target it with an ability every turn, making growing Heartfire Hero very easy. If it’s not killed the turn it’s played, it’ll very often run away with the game.

Duskmourn: House Of Horror: Abhorrent Oculus

Runner-Up: Unholy Annex // Ritual Chamber

Duskmourn: House of Horror is one of the most powerful sets of the year, with multiple cards quickly becoming staples. The Verge lands, Unholy Annex // Ritual Chamber, and Unstoppable Slasher are all amazing, but Abhorrent Oculus is the one that spread its wings the furthest seeing success in Standard, Modern, and Legacy.

Abhorrent Oculus is hardly ever actually cast normally, instead being revived from the graveyard with a one mana spell. Since its effect triggers at your opponent’s upkeep, unless they have instant speed removal you’ll be taking advantage of Abhorrent Oculus’ effect. It’s a card that snowballs if not answered, and why it’s such a good card.

Foundations: Kiora, The Rising Tide

Runner-Up: Boltwave

Foundations is a set designed to be the backbone of Standard, with the cards having a five-year legality as opposed to the normal three. Since it’s designed for a Standard power-level, the cards are on the weaker side, but Kiora, the Rising Tide is far from weak.

Kiora, the Rising Tide is a great card in any deck that’s loading up the graveyard. It turns Kiora’s attack into the creation of an 8/8 Octopus token. Its effect helps you two set up your graveyard, making Kiora the perfect card in reanimator decks that load up the graveyard to put another big threat on the battlefield.

Foundations Jumpstart: Dionus, Elvish Archdruid

Runner-Up: Scythecat Cub

Foundations Jumpstart is unlike other Jumpstarts attached to sets, with it being a full release rather than just a small handful of themes (similar to Jumpstart and Jumpstart 2022). The best card in Foundations Jumpstart has to go to Dionus, Elvish Archdruid (though Rev, Tithe Extractor and Scythecat Cub are strong contenders).

If you are playing an Elf deck, you want to play Dionus, Elvish Archdruid in it. Many Elves tap themselves to add a lot of mana, and Dionus gives you a chance to make that mana again while growing its stats. Any Elf attacking will always cause it to untap (assuming you didn’t already untap it before) and can lead to a very threatening Elf board very quickly.