The Best Things To Happen In Magic: The Gathering This Year! (2024)

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Click this link sponsr.is/bootdev_tolarian and use my code TOLARIAN to get 25% off your first payment for boot.dev.

[@accountnamewithheld]

Tried this on another channel's sponsorship and the free trial is not nearly as good as the advert. Everything interesting is paywalled

[@yumiytu2988]

My fav set this year was OTJ :) I bought every set in there. :) it was my first time entering into mtg too :)

[@darthkoo5000]

Murders turned out to be a good set due to the land cycle.

[@stephenbradford8524]

The editor's refusal to have Prof point to the card he's actually discussing will never not be funny.

[@houseofhank3896]

Idk how I never realized this was on purpose

[@tonyj8011]

Should be fired for not doing his job

[@exintrovert1337]

@@tonyj8011 nah, it is a trope that the majority seem to find amusing.

[@arc-sd8sk]

lol i never even noticed this hell yea

[@Hemlocker]

It's the kind of thing that at first glance might seem like an editing error, but then as it happens again and again it just becomes funnier and funnier

[@Penipo]

I think YOU'RE the best of Magic the Gathering!

[@supersmashseandx1991]

Aww

[@corey8378]

One million subs, big milestone this year! Love you Prof and all the TCC crew. Onward to 2025!

[@applesauceacolyte4430]

the real best of magic the gathering was the friends we made along the way

[@twistofdeath]

No, you're breathtaking!

[@Stonehorn]

Be less cheesy

[@JoshuaMoor]

This is always my favorite episode of the year. The hobby can get drowned with negativity so I appreciate the opportunity to celebrate as well.

[@yeymollyp7216]

I love that the editors did, where the prof would point 👉 somewhere on the screen, the photo would be opposite to where he points HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@xChikyx]

i find it annoying lol

[@jessereset10]

I thought I was the only one that thinks that is hilarious.

[@jakevance27]

@@xChikyxsounds exhausting.

[@thisjust10]

If they're clickable it's not the editor necessarily it's something you do in the KZbin interface after the video is uploaded you can move them around tho (There's some limitations)

[@justintryon4842]

I think Prof's correct, Foundations is a home run, a hat trick, a 2-point conversion, and any other sports metaphor you want to utilize. My 10 year old son and I have been tearing through Foundations Jump Start packs and playing WAY more than we play of our usual Commander games, and each game is a freakin' epic battle of back and forth. To Prof and any WoTC employees reading this, thank you. Prof for praising JS in his videos, and those at WoTC for making Foundations and Foundations Jump Start.

[@AwesomeZeuh]

Bloomburrow got me back into Magic this year! I had stopped playing around 2019 because there had been some falling out within my EDH playgroup, and I would much rather play at home with friends than with strangers in a store (I'm not a very skillful player and winning isn't important to me, which puts me off game stores a bit). When I saw Bloomburrow's card list, I instantly wanted to play again, they're so fresh and fun! I started teaching my partner and I'm hoping to find some friends to play with soon. I pulled an Ygra from a booster the other day and I really want to bulid it haha! Thank you Prof and team! I love this channel, Shuffle Up and Play is my favourite gameplay show, love the vibes and the editing :)

[@isidoreaerys8745]

That’s great! But don’t build Ygra if you don’t want to lose you playgroup again. That deck is toxic.

[@glokazuns4594]

Too many frogs tho I'd say. Not enough vampires .!? Other than that it was great. Frogs just isnt needed. They hop around in and out of exile. It's just so frustrating if your playing against frogs. Lots of cool creatures in blooomburrow but could halved the frogs. Surely most people would agree. Those dasterdly amphibians constantly drawing cards and I try to light Ning bolt them and they exile each other then whap polliwopped. GGGrrrr every frog deck needs nerfng. Need more vamps 2. More vampires less frogs.

[@lucyarisato6850]

I genuinely cannot overstate how much this channel has been a wonderful thing over the past year. Coming back to MTG has been…difficult, but you’ve made it so much easier. Thank you, Prof and editors, you’ve made this year way easier.

[@camoyuki]

The Greater Good in Sheldon's secret layer is the most beautiful art I have ever seen. I love it so much. I got that secret layer right away, for several reasons, and I got some amazing and beautiful cards from it

[@peeporiot9948]

I know this will get probably half the views of the bad; but i appreciate you recognizing that it wasn't all doom and gloom

[@austintarantino5619]

It literally was. Get milked more. They just spoon feed you guys shit and you guys are told to be okay with it

[@peeporiot9948]

​@@austintarantino5619I'm glad my comment that the year was both good and bad made you shit yourself so much that you felt the need to respond 🩵

[@peeporiot9948]

​@@austintarantino5619who fed you a shite sandwich?

[@aerynmusick4548]

Bloomburrow was really fantastic. I loved the flavor and the mechanics and the art. 11/10 set

[@enterchannelname8981]

I loved its visual identity. I could always glance at a card and go oh, that's Bloomburrow, and I think that's pretty cool

[@jamesholste8908]

Worst part of Bloomburrow was that it wasn't a two set block

[@Saiku]

@@jamesholste8908 Yep! I wish we would get more time in Bloomburrow!

[@glokazuns4594]

Too many frogs not enough vampires. Plz no more frogs moving forward. They flip and jump around in and out of exile and are too hard to kill. More vamps no frogs! Right guys?

[@jaeger2780]

Bloomburrow is the new neon kamigawa. Unfortunately those are coming years apart, instead of every set having this level of love

[@Doofindork]

When we drafted Foundations, I won the draft with a janky Boros deck based around stalling early game with walls and removal until late game where I closed games off with two Serra Angels and a Shivan Dragon. It was goofy yet nostalgic.

[@zarfling]

As an honorable mention, I like that Ultimate Guard now makes official MtG accessories since their release of Bloomburrow deck boxes. The Duskmourn boxes look cool but I love the Bloomburrow boxes in the alternate art “field journal” style of the Calamity Beasts.

[@Azeria]

My favourite product this year is easy because I genuinely love Bloomburrow. The story was fun and not as trite as it easily could’ve been, the aesthetics were beautiful. I know folks say it’s ’just redwall’ but it isn’t, no more so than redwall was inspired by countless other properties anyway. The cards and characters were cute, the mechanics were fun and the draft environment was fantastic. It wasn’t as pushed as some other sets but was still powerful enough that it had significant impact on Standard, Pioneer, as well as in Modern, Legacy, Canlander, and Commander. It also had Bria, Riptide Rogue, exactly the Commander I’d been waiting for as someone who got into Magic by playing Prowess decks on Arena. It was everything I could’ve hoped for, it’s probably going to be the first set I ever aim to collect all of.

[@glokazuns4594]

Do you happen to have an opinion on the amount of amphibian creatures released in blooomburrow?

[@Azeria]

@@glokazuns4594 not a notable one, although who doesn’t love frogs, why do you ask?

[@glokazuns4594]

@Azeria fantastic set. The best set in years. Even with the frogs. 🐸

[@Eramiserasmus]

This channel remains one of the greatest parts of the community because of the work of you and your team, Prof. Thank you a for the hard work, all the smiles you've inspired, and how much you've helped us grow as both players and collectors.

[@ocm6382]

Hi professor! Loved the opportunity to snap a picture with you at Vegas this year. Wish we had more time to chat but wanted to let you know we appreciate all you do for the community!:)

[@SnipSnapDragon24]

You’re one of the best things in Magic The Gathering again this year. You and your crew are phenomenal. Keep rocking the free world

[@TeaGarrison]

Thanks for all you do for the community, Prof and everyone at TCC.

[@notsowack5061]

You got me with Murders at Karlov Manner 😭

[@Cooldud21]

20:22 totally caught me off guard and I cant stop laughing😂😂

[@ahngarvin5211]

Me too 🤣🤣🤣🤣🥲

[@MissAshley42]

The best Magic thing for me this year was coming back to the game! A game store opening near me gave me the perfect outlet to make good on my "be more social" resolution this year. It's been fun!

[@sh41]

Fun fact on the accessibility of old GPs, a friend of mine snatched a win against Kai Budde, the best I could do was reject a draw offer from Gabriel Nassif (and losing 2-1 after) Those were great fun

[@charlessmith208]

Honorable Mention: Sheldon Secret Lair raised $2M 5: Spotlight Series (i.e. Grand Prix) 4: Return of MSRP, kind of 3: Blumborrow 2: Mystery Booster 2 1: Foundations

[@TheIrishJackel]

I _love_ Foundations. It's my favorite set in years. I have been having a blast drafting it. It feels like why I started playing this game in the first place 25+ years ago.

[@LadySayeh]

Absolutely love my Sheldon secret lair Half my decks are bloomburrow decks, it and duskmourn were my favorite of the year

[@davidmacarthur705]

Duskmourn was my favorite thing of the year, the story was the best I’ve read, the world felt alive and scary, the cards allowed for some really interesting new decks, it was an enchantment set which I always enjoy and the limited format was pretty easily my favorite ever! It just hit all the right notes for me

[@eXJonSnow]

17:15 Perhaps a bit hyperbolic, but I'm shocked at Mystery Booster 2 being listed on a "best of" list, let alone as high on the list as number 2 and above a well-loved set like Bloomburrow. I honestly think it belongs at #5 of a "worst of" list, for how it completely snubbed game stores and the VAST majority of players. Attending a magic-con is highly improbably for most players, largely in part to the cost/time needed for travelling and attending the Con. This means that players who wanted to do a Mystery Booster 2 draft needed to buy the convention box online before it sold out (yes, it remained in the store longer than the garbage fast secret lairs, but it should have been print-to-demand until it was in retail stores) and organize a sufficiently large group event. LGS's are great for draft events, since they have a venue and there's usually enough people that players don't need to bring their own entire group. BUT, MB2 isn't available to LGS's. A drafting product is only as good as the ability to draft it, which is non-existent for most players when it comes to MB2.

[@americanxlove]

I know others have said the same, but I wanna add to the pile: the “Best Of” lists at the end of the year are my favorite. I literally spent all year wondering “is this going to make the prof’s best of list”. It may not get the views, but it’s one of the highlights for me every year.

[@JusticeJanitor]

Bloomburrow got me back into standard. It was home run in terms flavor and gameplay.

[@Strydersteve]

You put up 4 fingers for 5 and 2 finger for 1… or am I just going crazy. 1:11

[@kalasmar3288]

That and the thumbnail showing up on the opposite side of where he was gesturing made me feel like I was being trolled for the entire intro

[@mattiascrowe2549]

Thank you prof, it's a pleasure just to hear your enthusiasm. Have a happy new year

[@johnohrstrom5112]

Even though I knew he was BSing KM, the way he delivered it was spot on.

[@Kasakage100]

I recently got the Foundation’s Starter collection and I love just how much stuff is in it. I have been wanting something that helps me deck build and figure out how certain cards play for a while. Definitely the best thing I got this Christmas.

[@MrJBrown-ez9gy]

Prof . you are definitely one of the Best (and one of the most Kind) M.T.G. content creators on the web. Congrats on the 1mil + subscribers, what an achievement! Just shows how much you are appreciated. Many Thanks to you and the TCC crew for all the great content. Hopefully, I will get out to one of the great MTG cons next year and get to shake your hand in person 🙂

[@thedabmaniacmtg]

Foundations is 1000% the best thing this year in Magic. Massive congratulations and thank you to Wizards R&D and Play Design.

[@paladia_gorom1973]

The story writing this year was the best, Kellan's arc ended satisfyingly and the Duskmourn story was excellent at setting up what is to come, with bloomburrow being a good palate cleanser in between

[@richarddueck1770]

Merry Christmas, professor! As a “similarly aged” player, your content has always struck a chord. Thank you

[@ChristopherPhoenixMusic]

That tribute to Sheldon made me tear up. Such a beautiful mention, sir. He and I share a favorite band: Dream Theater. I enjoyed your review and always appreciate your absolutely silly and brilliant way of delivering pertinent information. Hat's off to you. I started paying attention again this past year, but I didn't start buying from our LGS until Bloomburrow.

[@ChristopherPhoenixMusic]

I really did enjoy Duskmourn, though. Some of the mechanics are a bit weird, but apart from that I do enjoy the 80s campy horror movie feel of the whole thing.

[@Phe0nix1986]

I was surprised at #2 with the expense but agree with it all. Amazing pics. Its lovely to focus on this stuff. :)

[@thatstingray4147]

Foundations is the first booster set of the year that I have truly invested in. Having a new Core Set to play with after so long has been an incredible feeling.

[@jiffyb333]

Love getting to revel in positivity! While you turned me onto FaB and I have been doing nothing but draft that every week Magic means a lot to me as a nostalgic part of my history. So it's nice to hear what it's doing well :)

[@Mboever]

I got into MTG back in the '94-'96 era, but then kinda dwindled out as I had no one to play with after. Every now and then I got the urge to play, but still, no one to play with. I started gaining interest again this year, got a few others interested and just happen to go to the game store on Foundations pre-release weekend. Picked up the beginners box and was hooked, went full bore into Foundations. It really is an amazing set, and after roughly 27 years away, it's almost like getting into it for the first time.

[@trident042]

I do appreciate that WotC remembered the long standing mantra of Magic the Gathering players: Reading the MSRP explains the value.

[@isofbella]

i was actually kinda worried for magic sets this year once we got MKM/OTJ back to back but the transition from BLB->DSK->FDN was a really nice high note for the latter half of the year :)

[@kv2315]

Facts! Foundations is everything i love about magic! This is the first set i ever bought a collector booster box only because i thought that it is a great set and it did not disapoint. I want stuff like foundations to continue on instead of all the sets that feature some strange universe like MKM or Duskmourne. Also i do not like how many UB products are coming up. I mean i dont care if they fit somewhat into MtG like Lord of the Rings. But Final Fantasy or Assassins Creed? NO thank you!

[@Lixeffect]

I was primarily a standard player that fell off around strixhaven. The Simic problems of Oko and Uro and subsequent bannings crushed confidence in local players and no matter how much I tried, the lgs scene died in favour of commander… And like you said the focus on arena felt to me that wizards didn’t even really care about the LGS for a time. I sold out everything but my sentimental stuff. I’m a happy FaB player now (with thanks to your how to play video) but I’m glad wizards is at least trying with standard again. Too late for me - but hopefully it does okay at LGSs even with the veritable deluge of releases that seem on the horizon. Thanks for continuing to do what you do Prof. its pretty much the only lens i care to keep in touch magic these days. Edit: heheh I saw that head poke out during the foundations segment. Nice touch

[@theguitarassassin6639]

i actually had my first in person draft with foundations! i went 2 and 1 with a gruul stompy deck and it is so much fun! with the upcoming universes beyond and cosplay sets i might just stick to foundations limited and play some casual magic with the cards, it truly feels refreshing!

[@catkingtm8779]

Tomorrow as of writing this, I might be going down to my lgs to play my lgs' weekly draft for the first time in 3 years. I was actually really hoping they wouldnt do a foundations draft, but i kinda wanna try it out thanks to prof.

[@ShamloudTTV]

Please thank yourself and your team Prof. You are also one of the best things in Magic the Gathering 2024.

[@User5770]

Thank you for another year of great Magic: the Gathering coverage and content, Professor! As far as I'm concerned, you're a pillar of this game's community.

[@_mrcrypt]

Thanks, Prof! Giving Bloomburrow top slot on my list. I didn’t think Izzet could be MORE fun until all the Otters came to play.

[@gregsmith80]

At least worth honorable mention is that Tolarian Community College is the first MTG channel to reach 1 million subscribers!

[@matthewjecelin8358]

I just wish mystery booster 2 was available at lgs and not just at magiccon. It felt really bad

[@thebloodybonecrusher]

Bloomborrow is one of 3 sets i wished wouldve been block along with kamigawa and strixhaven

[@nerdcoregaming6468]

Sheldon's Spell book is the single best Secret Lair I've ever bought.

[@cherryboom8000]

Magic foundations felt like every set was in it and I loved that!

[@ethanvanderploeg2599]

The fake out with Murders of Karlov got a good chuckle out of me.

[@Icycones]

Keep up the good work prof!

[@gunnerrobblee3685]

Thank you for teaching us how it’s done prof, happy new years!!!

[@olipod5470]

No matter what you think of Outlaws at Thunder Junction, opening a play booster of this set was pretty sick, it felt like drafting with collector boosters, it had often more than one rare a pack and sometimes a Big Score money card. Definitely a highlight of my Magic year

[@KirbytronicWouldLiketoBattle]

I'm going to be honest, a few of my favorite things this year are things I know you didn't enjoy very much. I liked Outlaws? I liked Murder, I liked Duskmourn. I understand why people didn't enjoy them, but uh... I'll probably be not in tomorrow. Have a happy new year Prof!

[@Phe0nix1986]

Love these videos!!!

[@Rooxon]

Hope you see this. Merry Christmas, prof! And here's to many more years, cheers!

[@ErreErregon]

For me, the Best of 2024 was finally learning how 'Banding' works. It turns out 'Banding' are the friends we made along the way

[@ty_sylicus]

The Sheldon Menory Secret Lair was so good, I bought it twice.

[@Frostin_326]

I know the worst things of the year usually does better, but I really like these. They always bring a smile to me. Also hoping on an answer to what the yellow sticky note says on the central column.

[@thekevmeister77]

This year you hit 1mm subs right? That's well deserving of recognition. Congrats on a sick ass, rad, bonkers, groovy, Chad, zippy year!

[@thevaultwalrus]

The best thing was that Tolarion Community College is now over 1 million subs

[@Equisitte]

My favorite part of the year has been Foundations jumpstart and Duskmorne, Duskmorne single handily got me back into magic

[@gwitch]

I loved it when Magic said “it’s gatherin’ time” and Gathered all those guys

[@PhoenixLaw92]

I actually remember hearing someone I think either the weekend before Christmas or two weekends before that say that they hated the idea of Foundations. Dude's been playing the game since it's inception and is very entrenched in what he thinks about change. If I remember correctly, he said that Foundations was the worst thing to happen to Magic in a long time.

[@aislancesar]

I came back to MtG because of BloomBurrow, I stayed because of Foundations. Let's see what will happen next year.

[@Varooooooom]

I got to see you earlier this year at MagicCon in Chicago :) You did a wonderful job handling the OVERWHELMING line of people who wanted to see you 😭 Thank you for signing my copy of Tolarian Academy and for nearly signing my phone with permanent marker when I asked for your autograph on our picture together LOL such a short interaction made for an awesome memory 🥹♥️

[@tristanroblind]

I would also like to say that usually all the time you should BUY SINGLES, but, Foundations is absolutely worth buying a few packs or bundle of. Such a fun experience!!!

[@happybrain2674]

we also reached this year first time over 2k new cards legal in commander. dunno if thats good, but it is a new record.

[@Cjtip26]

Wishing you a Happy New year professor 🎉 and hope you had a merry Christmas.

[@stelliocantos4639]

I know the worst of is a necessary thing for us to review because we really shouldn't repeat the mistakes of the recent past, even in gaming. But I do love the best of more and I'm glad it comes out first. Thanks for doing both anyway.

[@HangerHangar]

Got a foundations jump-start box for my brother for Christmas, he was really excited for it and we played a few games of it. Really nostalgic "teenager strength" (or weaker power levels), similar to what we played in high school with friends. (your video helped make the decision, since WoTC has released some real stinkers when it comes to jumpstart/alt play style boosters). Though when it comes to soo many other things MTG, WoTC has been so infuriating. I don't want to spend my Fridays playing MTG games in Standard that are 4 turns, then waiting around for the group or two in the play pod that got a real game (to continue onto the next round).

[@Flyboy245]

Didn’t realize msrp was back. That’s comforting to hear I’m surprised prof even made it that far into his mkm but 😂

[@SkydreamsArts]

I'm so hecking sad I missed Sheldon's Spellbook, I couldn't afford it when it was available :(

[@robertwilliams8454]

I feel that a mention of the Fallout set back in March was one of the best universes beyond sets in '24

[@hangryherbivore]

The plural of Grand Prix is Grands Prix *pushes up glasses*

[@chudleycannonfodder]

::Mike Trapp voice:: Um, actually, Foundations play boosters have an msrp of 5.25, not 5.50. 5.49 will be the msrp starting with Aetherdrift. So that’s a savings of 24 cents! Can add that as the 7th best thing Wizards did this year. :p But less pedantically, thank you and your crew for all the amazing work you’ve done the past year for the Magic community. You’ve helped revitalize my passion for the game and I use your videos to help teach Magic for the school club I run; the number of people you impact is incalculable because it keeps expanding outwards.

[@MrZestubo]

The best thing that happened in 2024 for magic the gathering was that I started playing again after a ten year hiatus!

[@LilNem0]

For me the best was catching up on all the SUP episodes and getting interested in MTG again. Even bought my first precon so I could play.

[@personalthesus]

I'm a very old player who is usually very critical of new magic, and I love everything about Foundations!!

[@Erik_Sjostrom]

Surveillands is one of the best things to come out of 2024 also the bans and unbans.

[@HadesElderSage]

The first booster box I have purchased since before 2017/2018 was foundations. I've purchased 3 boxes all for one purpose. Draft and prerelease play with friends especially friends who rarely play commander. I'm so excited next year to go teach my cousin and her fiancee and their friends magic with foundations as they bought Lord of the rings precons but are too overwhelmed to learn.

[@JMERKIS]

I know it basically got lumped in with the Number 1 spot with Foundations, but since Prof focused on limited in his assessment I would have put the successful revival of Jumpstart at an Honorable Mention at least. New cards? Cool alt art? Seamlessly integrating with the best starter box to not include a copy of Shandalar? The only downside is trying to find packs at retail because they're so popular...

[@mikeharter5195]

On MSRP, my wife recently got into magic and is a huge doctor who dan and wanted the commander decks. LGS wanted 240 for the bundle. They are going for 142 on Amazon and 162 on TCGplayer. In my case the LGS is absolutely to blame for high prices. Literally everything but boosters is more expensive there

[@garryame4008]

Bloomburrow is the best plane they've made in a while. I really enjoy the vibe and flavor

[@tsunablast3693]

I actually came back playing magic, after years without playing, in the middle of bloomburrow and was bummed out that I didn't had to enjoy it all from the beginning in magic arena. But tbh, drafting Duskmourn just after that was the most fun I ever had with this game. In discord many say that duskmourn was the best draft set magic had in years and one of the best in all times. I can't really evaluate that, since I haven't drafted that many sets, but imo, the mechanics are great fun. Although I do understand the annoyance regarding some not so creative choices regarding ghostbursters references, flying cheerleaders and stuff like that. Regarding interesting game mechanics, at least, Duskmourn was my number 1.

[@hpoz222]

it’s so easy to be cynical about the way mtg is being run right now, videos like this are so important to remind us about the reasons we care about the game to begin with and acknowledge when wotc does do things right

[@trident042]

I will say, I'm gonna have to go in with my friends on a box of Foundations after hearing everyone gush over its draft environment. I just hadn't planned on getting any of the set for myself in physical, as I'm saving everything for the Final Fantasy set next year, and settling for some Arena for a bit.

[@darcyhagood6795]

Thank you prof!!! you're doing a great job

[@ThoughtLessCL2]

Liked both videos but just putting my comment here because the positive always deserves more love than the negative happy holidays prof, started my collection this year and got to plat in arena keep up the great videos

[@Mil89GR]

Many thanks proff for the video. I agree with(almost) all your points, especially Gavin's spell book. I have a gripe with Mystery Booster 2 though - as a non US citizen (I live in UK) it was a shame not be able to get in our hands Mystery Booster 2 aside from buying the overpriced (for me at least) "Festival in a box". Also ,my two biggest pleasant surprises for me was Duskmourn and Foundations - I was expecting Duskmourn to be as silly as MKM with the horror theme but I was pleasantly surprised that it was not that much(except these cheerleader cards....come on...) and it also had some very VERY strong cards in almost every format. Foundations on the other hand, I was expecting to be a low powered ,boring core set like the core sets of the old but again, I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. I even went for the prerelease for that one and out of 50 people, I came out 3rd! That had never happened before! Anyways, many thanks prof for your videos and I hope in the future to be able to meet you in some convention and I am looking forward for your next video entries.

[@mattsully5332]

This episode is a good one. I need the reminder that despite how much I hate the way Hasbro/wizards is managing their properties, there are some good things they have done.

[@dontaecamacho5780]

why you making me cry during Honorable Mentions

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

[@regnarissad]

I seriously love Foundations. it's by far my favorite set of the year. It's so much fun, and I love all the various cards reminding me of MTG, and I appreciate the references. It's a 10/10 set