Which Strixhaven College Got the Best New Cards in Secrets of Strixhaven?

Ranking the Swords of X and Y in Commander

Which Lorwyn Eclipsed Creature Type Got the Biggest Boost?

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hazy Homunculus" href="#" target="_blank">Hazy Homunculus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.mtgpics.com/illus?art=48" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anthony S. Waters</a></em></p>
<p><em>Magic: The Gathering</em> has its share of absolutely amazing expansion sets. This year alone, <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> has released a few really good sets. <em>Final Fantasy</em>, <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em>, and even <em>Edge of Eternities</em> are all bangers as far as new sets are concerned.</p>
<p>But for nearly every <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em> we get, we also get the occasional <em>Aetherdrift</em>.</p>
<p>With that, let's look at the five worst <em>Magic</em> sets ever made. And for those of you concerned, <em>Aetherdrift</em> didn't even make the cut!</p>
<h2>#5. <em>Prophecy</em></h2>
<p>This third set in the <em>Mercadian Masques</em> block, <em>Prophecy</em>, is the fifth-worst <em>Magic</em> set by my approximations. It doesn't help that <em>Mercadian Masques</em> followed one of the notoriously strongest blocks in the <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">game's history.</span> However, the <em>Urza</em> block being massively overpowered to this day meant that <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> had to balance the game's power creep in a big way.</p>
<p>The mechanic of paying mana to prevent an effect was a complete wash (save for maybe one strong card, in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rhystic Study"></div></div>
<p>Rhystic, as a mechanic, largely failed the game, and nobody utilized it to the extent that it mattered at all. Sure, a small handful of cards would later see play in extremely niche Commander situations (for instance, I kind of appreciate <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gulf Squid" href="#" target="_blank">Gulf Squid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>... <em>maybe?</em>). But this set is extremely maligned for the bulk it provided players.</p>
<p>To be honest, Rhystic Study is its one saving grace that makes it a little better than my next entry.</p>
<h2>#4. <em>Saviors of Kamigawa</em></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="One with Nothing"></div></div>
<p>Our fourth-worst pick on this list is <em>Saviors of Kamigawa</em>. This may be a slightly controversial selection, especially when picked over <em>Prophecy</em>, but hear me out. <em>Saviors</em> was hot garbage compared to <em>Champions of Kamigawa</em> or <em>Betrayers of Kamigawa</em>.</p>
<p>There is a certain nuance to being a block that follows a strictly overpowered block. In this case, the <em>Kamigawa</em> block succeeded <em>Mirrodin</em>, much like how the <em>Masques</em> block followed the <em>Urza</em> block. To that end, <em>Kamigawa</em> was already doing worse than <em>Mirrodin</em> in terms of power balancing, as per <em>Wizards</em>' necessities.</p>
<p>However, where <em>Kamigawa</em> block got it worse was in the parasitic mechanics of spirit/arcane, soulshift, and the Zubera creatures.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashen-Skin Zubera"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dripping-Tongue Zubera"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silent-Chant Zubera"></div></div>
<p>Of all the mechanical failings of the <em>Kamigawa</em> block, however, none came close to the issues that <em>Saviors of Kamigawa</em> presented. For one, the mechanics were steaming and pungent, such that the sweep and epic mechanics are two that haven't seen any further printing since the set's release.</p>
<p>Plus, the hand-size matters theme was not as properly explored as it should have been. If anything, it should have actually been explored much <em>less</em>. Players like casting spells, and as such, they wouldn't be inclined to reserve their hands for these mediocre payoffs.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Barrel Down Sokenzan"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Adamaro, First to Desire"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Undying Flames"></div></div>
<p>As such, I feel correct in putting <em>Saviors of Kamigawa</em> as my #4 pick for worst sets in all of <em>Magic</em>'s history. What could be worse?</p>
<h2>#3. <em>Fallen Empires</em></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Icatian Skirmishers"></div></div>
<p>Ah, <em>Fallen Empires</em>. Speaking candidly for a moment, I actually <em>really</em> like the lore behind this set. The conflicts of Sarpadia were more amazing and nuanced than a lot of the wars in other <em>Magic</em> stories. But here's the thing: lore doesn't matter if nobody is reading it. <em>Fallen Empires</em> is a terrible set and ranks #3 on my list.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sarpadian Empires, Vol. VII"></div></div>
<p>Why is this, though? For starters, the packs were only eight cards, and they didn't guarantee anything to you. No definite guaranteed rares, and no guarantee of good cards.</p>
<p>I remember when my local stationery store sold <em>Fallen Empires</em> packs alongside <em>Time Spiral</em> and others, and poring through packs as I bought them, hoping to score a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spore Flower" href="#" target="_blank">Spore Flower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fungal Bloom" href="#" target="_blank">Fungal Bloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to upgrade my Fun With Fungus precon. Alas, only one of each! But I got a <em>boatload</em> of copies of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Soul Exchange" href="#" target="_blank">Soul Exchange</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That's gotta count for something, right? Right...?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spore Flower"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Soul Exchange"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fungal Bloom"></div></div>
<p>Rest in peace, Rogoff's, you were massively overpriced, but at least your selection of <em>Magic</em> packs was pretty cool. And as for this set, with no guarantees and a small pack size to boot, I can't say much good about <em>Fallen Empires</em>. I liked the story behind it, as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thelon of Havenwood" href="#" target="_blank">Thelon of Havenwood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder" href="#" target="_blank">Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were top-notch characters. (Yes, I was an edge lord. Yes, I still kind of am.) But that doesn't stop Thelon and Endrek from being amazing figures in the Sarpadian wars.</p>
<p>So, this leaves me with two more sets worse than even<em> Fallen Empires</em>. What could they be?</p>
<h2>#2. <em>March of the Machine: Aftermath</em></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tolarian Contempt"></div></div>
<p>Ranked at #2 on my list is <em>March of the Machine: Aftermath</em>. Honestly, I loathed how things coalesced with this microscopic 50-card set. Why was this Standard-legal? No amount of attempts can convince me that this set was any good.</p>
<p>The leaks were obviously a problem that <span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">hugely plagued the set</span>, but in many respects, I'd say <em>Aftermath</em> almost deserved them. This set was crud. The only saving grace to a set like <em>Aftermath</em> could be that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nissa, Resurgent Animist" href="#" target="_blank">Nissa, Resurgent Animist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> came out with it. However, it's a secondary <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tireless Provisioner" href="#" target="_blank">Tireless Provisioner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (or, by extension, a tertiary <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lotus Cobra" href="#" target="_blank">Lotus Cobra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nissa, Resurgent Animist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arni Metalbrow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Karn, Legacy Reforged"></div></div>
<p>It's such an unnecessary addition to Standard, to <em>March of the Machine</em> proper, or to <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> as a whole. Its most sought-after card is completely unneeded. I can't express enough how bad this set was.</p>
<p>And yet, even with <em>March of the Machine: Aftermath</em> being as bad as it is, there's one set that ranks even worse. This set is the absolute worst of them all, and it shows to this day. It has practically no redeeming qualities. What set could it possibly be? Newcomers to <em>Magic</em> may not know what's coming, but a lot of the old guard do.</p>
<h2>The #1 Worst <em>Magic</em> Set of All Time Is...</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Joven&#039;s Ferrets"></div></div>
<p>The worst <em>Magic</em> set to ever disgrace the printers over at <em>Wizards of the Coast</em>'s headquarters is <em>Homelands</em>. Hold your shock and awe; we'll get to why in a second.</p>
<p><em>Homelands</em> <em>completely sucked eggs</em>. It wasn't good. In fact, it's one that I can safely call <em>bad</em>. There is no reason it should've been printed. This much is true. <em>Homelands</em> came out in the midst of the <em>Ice Age</em> block, though it shouldn't have come out at all.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Joven"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eron the Relentless"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chandler"></div></div>
<p>For one thing, the story behind <em>Homelands</em> was lost on me, and still is, in a way. I get that Ulgrotha is a plane of existence lost to the Sengir clan of vampires. I understand that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baron Sengir" href="#" target="_blank">Baron Sengir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> rules over the plane with an iron fist and a thirsty tongue. Believe me, I <em>get</em> that. But that's just premise and background; there's no plot to care about whatsoever.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Irini Sengir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baron Sengir"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grandmother Sengir"></div></div>
<h3>Mechanically, <em>Homelands</em> was a Nightmare</h3>
<p>And the <em>cards</em>... Like <em>Fallen Empires</em>, packs of <em>Homelands</em> were eight cards, but unlike <em>Fallen Empires</em>, there was no good to come from them for years.</p>
<p>If you'll recall my story about Rogoff's and their eclectic <em>Magic</em> card selection, I also bought a lot of <em>Homelands</em>. I looked and looked, absolutely scoured the packs I opened, looking for one copy of Baron Sengir to fulfill my edgy, 15-year-old craving for powerful black cards. Instead, I was left with trash like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Folk of An-Havva" href="#" target="_blank">Folk of An-Havva</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cemetery Gate" href="#" target="_blank">Cemetery Gate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Ew.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Folk of An-Havva"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cemetery Gate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Memory Lapse|hml|32a"></div></div>
<p>Sure, nowadays cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Merchant Scroll" href="#" target="_blank">Merchant Scroll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Memory Lapse" href="#" target="_blank">Memory Lapse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are fine. Sure. I'll abide by that fact. But if you ask me, I need a real-life Memory Lapse just to scrub the ill-favored memories of wasting $4.32 per pack of <em>Homelands</em> to try to get a card I never ended up acquiring.</p>
<p><em>Homelands</em> is my shame, and I suppose I'll live with it, but that won't stop me from ranking it as the #1 worst <em>Magic</em> set of all time.</p>
<p>So now, let me open the floor to you, dear readers. What do you think is the worst <em>Magic</em> set ever to exist? Sound off below!</p>
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