Set Prospective
Modern Horizons 3
This article is part of our community-sourced Set Prospective series. We survey Cube designers before the set’s official release to document their first impressions of new cards.
From Cube’s inception in the 90s to its 2010s popoularization through Magic Online, Cube was the spiritual ancestor to Modern Horizons. Both formats are well-suited to combine the enfranchised nostalgia of Time Spiral, the elevated power of a Masters set, and the unbridled mechanical complexity of Constructed in a single Draft format.
Even though Cube no longer implies “the X strongest Magic cards” as it did 15 years ago, it should be no surprise that the powerful designs of Modern Horizons 3 are a rich source of inspiration and novelty for Cube designers. MH3 is the biggest Cube set of the year.
Results
Cube designers are testing 16 MH3 cards at the median, and have given a median of 4 cards a high rating above 7.75 — tied in each case with Modern Horizons 2 as the most popular and most highly rated sets in Lucky Paper history. Only the number of respondents holds MH3 back, its 240 submissions still shy of our all-time records.
| Card | Testers▼ | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Marionette Apprentice | 47.1% | 7.9 |
| Psychic Frog | 42.1% | 7.5 |
| Nethergoyf | 37.9% | 7.0 |
| Six | 37.5% | 6.8 |
| Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd | 35.4% | 7.6 |
| Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury | 32.5% | 7.0 |
| Warren Soultrader | 32.1% | 7.0 |
| Wight of the Reliquary | 30.4% | 6.8 |
| Reckless Pyrosurfer | 30.0% | 6.6 |
| Brainsurge | 29.2% | 6.4 |
| Emperor of Bones | 28.7% | 7.0 |
| Fanatic of Rhonas | 25.4% | 6.7 |
| Springheart Nantuko | 25.4% | 7.4 |
| Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student // Tamiyo, Seasoned Scholar | 24.6% | 7.9 |
| Ajani, Nacatl Pariah // Ajani, Nacatl Avenger | 24.2% | 8.6 |
| Ocelot Pride | 24.2% | 7.5 |
| Fell the Profane // Fell Mire | 22.5% | 6.8 |
| Accursed Marauder | 22.1% | 6.7 |
| Ghostfire Slice | 20.4% | 6.9 |
| Shifting Woodland | 19.6% | 7.2 |
| Witch Enchanter // Witch-Blessed Meadow | 18.8% | 7.0 |
| Twisted Landscape | 18.8% | 8.1 |
| Shattered Landscape | 18.8% | 7.8 |
| Deceptive Landscape | 18.3% | 7.9 |
| Contaminated Landscape | 18.3% | 7.8 |
| Nadu, Winged Wisdom | 18.3% | 6.3 |
| Malevolent Rumble | 18.3% | 6.7 |
| Birthing Ritual | 18.3% | 5.8 |
| Tranquil Landscape | 17.9% | 7.9 |
| Sheltering Landscape | 17.9% | 8.0 |
| Seething Landscape | 17.9% | 7.7 |
| Foreboding Landscape | 17.9% | 7.7 |
| Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs | 17.5% | 7.1 |
| Perilous Landscape | 17.5% | 7.9 |
| Evolution Witness | 17.1% | 6.6 |
| Bountiful Landscape | 17.1% | 7.9 |
| Wither and Bloom | 17.1% | 6.4 |
| Glyph Elemental | 16.3% | 6.3 |
| Chthonian Nightmare | 15.8% | 7.2 |
| Indebted Spirit | 15.0% | 6.6 |
| Stump Stomp // Burnwillow Clearing | 14.6% | 7.2 |
| Cranial Ram | 14.6% | 6.6 |
| Triton Wavebreaker | 14.6% | 5.8 |
| Planar Genesis | 14.2% | 5.9 |
| Kudo, King Among Bears | 14.2% | 6.0 |
| Detective's Phoenix | 14.2% | 6.1 |
| Revitalizing Repast // Old-Growth Grove | 14.2% | 6.7 |
| Arena of Glory | 13.8% | 6.5 |
| Mandibular Kite | 13.8% | 6.3 |
| Razorgrass Ambush // Razorgrass Field | 13.8% | 6.9 |
| Eviscerator's Insight | 13.8% | 5.8 |
| Molten Gatekeeper | 13.3% | 6.7 |
| Metastatic Evangel | 13.3% | 5.4 |
| Refurbished Familiar | 13.3% | 6.3 |
| Nyxborn Hydra | 13.3% | 6.7 |
| Pinnacle Monk // Mystic Peak | 12.9% | 6.7 |
| Bridgeworks Battle // Tanglespan Bridgeworks | 12.9% | 7.0 |
| Retrofitted Transmogrant | 12.9% | 6.3 |
| White Orchid Phantom | 12.9% | 6.3 |
| Eladamri, Korvecdal | 12.9% | 6.4 |
| Galvanic Discharge | 12.9% | 7.5 |
| Collective Resistance | 12.1% | 5.8 |
| Thraben Charm | 12.1% | 5.4 |
| Flare of Denial | 12.1% | 5.9 |
| Grist, Voracious Larva // Grist, the Plague Swarm | 11.3% | 6.1 |
| Trickster's Elk | 10.8% | 6.0 |
| Basking Broodscale | 10.8% | 5.4 |
| Flare of Duplication | 10.8% | 6.3 |
| Sowing Mycospawn | 10.4% | 6.2 |
| Nulldrifter | 10.4% | 5.4 |
| Dreamtide Whale | 10.0% | 5.0 |
| Dog Umbra | 10.0% | 6.7 |
| Glimpse the Impossible | 9.6% | 6.0 |
| Waterlogged Teachings // Inundated Archive | 9.6% | 6.1 |
| Sarpadian Simulacrum | 9.6% | 5.5 |
| Emrakul's Messenger | 9.6% | 5.7 |
| Guide of Souls | 9.2% | 6.1 |
| Invert Polarity | 8.8% | 5.9 |
| Furnace Hellkite | 8.8% | 6.4 |
| Flare of Cultivation | 8.8% | 6.0 |
| Party Thrasher | 8.8% | 6.4 |
| Amped Raptor | 8.8% | 6.2 |
| Hope-Ender Coatl | 8.3% | 5.6 |
| Legion Leadership // Legion Stronghold | 8.3% | 6.3 |
| Arcbound Condor | 8.3% | 5.8 |
| Flare of Malice | 8.3% | 6.8 |
| Ripples of Undeath | 7.9% | 5.1 |
| Aerie Auxiliary | 7.5% | 5.9 |
| Abstruse Appropriation | 7.5% | 5.4 |
| Urza's Cave | 7.5% | 6.9 |
| Frogmyr Enforcer | 7.5% | 6.1 |
| Strength of the Harvest // Haven of the Harvest | 7.5% | 6.2 |
| Etherium Pteramander | 7.5% | 6.5 |
| Sorin of House Markov // Sorin, Ravenous Neonate | 7.5% | 5.9 |
| Scurrilous Sentry | 7.1% | 5.9 |
| Spymaster's Vault | 7.1% | 6.4 |
| Expel the Unworthy | 7.1% | 6.4 |
| Wurmcoil Larva | 7.1% | 5.0 |
| Dreadmobile | 7.1% | 4.8 |
| Disciple of Freyalise // Garden of Freyalise | 7.1% | 6.1 |
| Muster the Departed | 7.1% | 6.0 |
| Jolted Awake | 7.1% | 4.8 |
| Nyxborn Unicorn | 7.1% | 6.5 |
| Serum Visionary | 6.7% | 5.0 |
| Crabomination | 6.7% | 6.1 |
| Monumental Henge | 5.8% | 6.4 |
| Bloodsoaked Insight // Sanguine Morass | 5.8% | 5.6 |
| Territory Culler | 5.8% | 6.5 |
| Deem Inferior | 5.4% | 5.8 |
| Colossal Dreadmask | 5.4% | 6.1 |
| Skittering Precursor | 5.4% | 6.0 |
| Strix Serenade | 5.4% | 4.6 |
| Drowner of Truth // Drowned Jungle | 5.4% | 4.8 |
| Writhing Chrysalis | 5.0% | 7.9 |
| Faithful Watchdog | 5.0% | 5.6 |
| Shadow of the Second Sun | 5.0% | 5.0 |
| Envoy of the Ancestors | 5.0% | 6.7 |
| Signature Slam | 5.0% | 6.3 |
| Sundering Eruption // Volcanic Fissure | 5.0% | 5.9 |
| Wrath of the Skies | 5.0% | 6.3 |
| Propagator Drone | 4.6% | 5.8 |
| Gravedig | 4.6% | 5.7 |
| Grim Servant | 4.6% | 5.5 |
| Glasswing Grace // Age-Graced Chapel | 4.6% | 6.1 |
| Solar Transformer | 4.6% | 6.7 |
| Static Prison | 4.6% | 4.9 |
| Etched Slith | 4.2% | 5.0 |
| Temperamental Oozewagg | 4.2% | 5.7 |
| Essence Reliquary | 4.2% | 5.0 |
| Nightshade Dryad | 4.2% | 5.5 |
| Gift of the Viper | 4.2% | 5.8 |
| Boggart Trawler // Boggart Bog | 4.2% | 5.7 |
| Quest for the Necropolis | 4.2% | 6.6 |
| Pyretic Rebirth | 4.2% | 6.2 |
| Infernal Captor | 4.2% | 5.5 |
| Tamiyo Meets the Story Circle | 4.2% | 6.3 |
| Lion Umbra | 4.2% | 5.1 |
| Imskir Iron-Eater | 4.2% | 6.5 |
| Tune the Narrative | 4.2% | 5.6 |
| Argent Dais | 3.8% | 4.0 |
| Guardian of the Forgotten | 3.8% | 6.8 |
| Obstinate Gargoyle | 3.8% | 5.5 |
| Ral, Monsoon Mage // Ral, Leyline Prodigy | 3.8% | 6.4 |
| Hydroelectric Specimen // Hydroelectric Laboratory | 3.8% | 5.0 |
| Horrid Shadowspinner | 3.8% | 5.6 |
| The Necrobloom | 3.8% | 5.3 |
| Cursed Wombat | 3.8% | 6.0 |
| Siege Smash | 3.8% | 6.3 |
| Eldrazi Repurposer | 3.8% | 6.2 |
| Archway of Innovation | 3.3% | 8.1 |
| Sneaky Snacker | 3.3% | 7.6 |
| Ashling, Flame Dancer | 3.3% | 5.2 |
| Genku, Future Shaper | 3.3% | 5.3 |
| Charitable Levy | 3.3% | 3.8 |
| Amphibian Downpour | 3.3% | 5.4 |
| Powerbalance | 3.3% | 3.3 |
| Ondu Knotmaster // Throw a Line | 3.3% | 5.1 |
| The Hunger Tide Rises | 3.3% | 5.9 |
| Aether Spike | 3.3% | 5.2 |
| Utter Insignificance | 3.3% | 5.7 |
| Proud Pack-Rhino | 2.9% | 6.5 |
| Copycrook | 2.9% | 5.0 |
| Horrific Assault | 2.9% | 4.6 |
| Fangs of Kalonia | 2.9% | 5.5 |
| Mindless Conscription | 2.9% | 6.3 |
| Glaring Fleshraker | 2.9% | 6.8 |
| Drossclaw | 2.9% | 5.7 |
| Hydra Trainer | 2.9% | 5.2 |
| Kozilek's Unsealing | 2.9% | 6.6 |
| Roil Cartographer | 2.9% | 4.6 |
| Inspired Inventor | 2.9% | 7.4 |
| Breathe Your Last | 2.9% | 6.6 |
Single Card Discussion
Modern Marvels
“The MH sets are hard to evaluate for my environment, due to the weight I put on the "classic" feel of cards.”
The two Horizons sets appear similar in the aggregate, but the surprising thing is how much less consensus there is on a card-by-card level. Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, Ignoble Hierarch, and Damn were each tested by over 60% of our 310 MH2 respondents. For MH3, the most popular card sits at only 46% popularity. In the three years since MH2, our audience seems to be less excitable by Ragavan-style power outliers.
The Niche Hits
These nostalgic designs with contemporary power-balancing couldn’t be more optimized for “Lucky Paper prospective survey success story”. Set after set, we observe power-level upgrades on well-known effects to be home runs for pre-release Cube excitement, but that phrase might as well be MH3’s motto.
“reference humour the gathering”
But nostalgia isn’t strictly upside. To some of our respondents, the nostalgic designs rang more like shameless brand-building. Even setting those concerns aside, sometimes nostalgia is just a reminder that the old guard doesn’t cut the mustard these days.
Other Notables
Our survey respondents have soured on two-sided cards since we first reviewed them in 2020. Other sets with double-faced cards habitually see a “double-faced tax” imposed on even the coolest transforming (or modal) designs, simply for the logistical hassle and lack of familiarity. Even a ”one-mana planeswalker” isn’t enough to outweigh this preference, but Tamiyo does command the highest popularity of any such card, followed closely by everyone’s favorite leonin.
Modal double-faced lands were introduced in Zendikar Rising to much fanfare among cubeheads (40% testing rates at the highest!), but they return in MH3 with nary a trumpet flourish. Fell the Profane is half as popular as Emeria's Call was in 2020, and the other uncommon MDFC lands seem to fall in the range of roleplayers, rather than staples. The Landscapes, in fact, are vying for a similar audience, as they bring near-fetchland functionality with Evolving Wilds-level availability.
Accursed Marauder rounds out these as the most popular non-land common from MH3. In my opinion, the perfect Magic card and a prime candidate for the Scrapwork Mutt Award.
Eldrazi and Energy: “Lateral Power Creep”
Neither Eldrazi nor Energy were very popular among our respondents. In fact, we got a lot of responses decrying these mechanics as “parasitic”. I don’t think that’s strictly true, for either
While the first two Modern Horizons sets were about escalation of power level, MH3 seems more about diversification within power levels, a sort of “lateral power creep” that’s especially apparent at lower rarities. In the right deck, Tune the Narrative and Galvanic Discharge are perhaps as powerful as Consider or Unholy Heat, but graveyard synergies have had 30 years of support rather than Energy’s paltry two sets. Diversification broadens deckbuilding options, while preventing power level escalation.
“MH3 adds a lot of support for archetypes that I had previously written off... it might overhaul the entire cube.”
That leaves Modern Horizons 3 in a unique position among Cube designers, since folks chasing the peaks of power may not wish to support what they see as “parasitic” (read: linear) synergies, while the synergy folks may not appreciate 2024 rates upsetting their Rube Goldberg devices. Therefore I see the most fertile ground for exploration in the middle: choosing MH3’s Eldrazi or Energy as a Cube’s “mission statement” is a natural way to begin emergent design of a powerful cube that has no need for typical staples.
Seed Cards
14 Cool Eldrazi
Ways to Cast Eldrazi
16 Deserts/Fixing Lands
2 Non-Lands
Spawn Synergies
5 Creatures
4 Non-Creatures
Desert Synergies
6 Creatures
2 Non-Creatures
Other Cool Cards
1 Creatures
4 Non-Creatures
Community Reviews and Discussion
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