Last updated on November 6, 2024
Liliana, Dreadhorde General | Illustration by Chris Rallis
While the release of a new Magic set is always cause for excitement, Foundations has a uniquely tantalizing hook: This set will be legal in Standard until at least 2029. It quite literally sets the stage for years to come!
There’s no better way to dip your toe into a new set than the prerelease! As one of the biggest events we get, it’s a fantastic time for Magic players of all ages and experience levels.
But what is the Foundations prerelease, and what do you get?
Let’s check it out!
What Is the Foundations Prerelease?
Nine-Lives Familiar | Illustration by Bram Sels
The Foundations prerelease is the first big, official event that lets us play with the cards from the new set. Foundations was designed in the vein of the Core Sets of yore, so I expect a simple MTG set that’s a perfect introduction for newer Magic players. Veteran Magic players might even find nostalgia; while Foundations has new Magic cards like Nine-Lives Familiar, it also contains classics like Llanowar Elves and Savannah Lions.
What Format Is Prerelease?
Prerelease is usually Foundations Sealed, a Limited Magic format where each player opens six Play boosters and constructs a 40-card deck from the cards they open. They then play against each other 1-on-1 in best-of-three matches that begin with 20 life. Some stores offer Draft for some prerelease events, though this is uncommon.
Be sure to check our Foundations Limited Set Review, where we rank every single card you may find in your Sealed pool!
What Comes in a Prerelease Kit?
A Prerelease kit comes with the six booster packs necessary for Sealed, plus a handful of goodies, including:
- A spindown life counter with the set’s symbol in place of the number 20 that comes in one of five different colors (yellow, red, green, blue, and purple).
- Cardboard punchouts to track counters and other set-specific mechanics.
- A foil rare or mythic from Foundations, stamped with the year.
- An MTG Arena card code.
All of this comes in a cardboard box, which can be reused to store cards!
When Is Prerelease Week?
The Foundations prerelease takes place November 8-10, 2024. Foundations itself releases on November 15, 2024, so the prerelease occurs the weekend before its official release.
Where Is the Prerelease?
MTG prereleases always take place at your local game store. To find the nearest store hosting a prerelease, follow these steps:
- Go to the official Magic: The Gathering website.
- Click on the “locator” button in the top right corner.
- Enter your location information.
The store locator pulls up information on all the WotC-affiliated game stores in your area, including their location and upcoming events!
Who Goes to Prereleases?
Anybody and everybody who loves Magic! Because it’s a casual event aimed at celebrating a new MTG set, it’s the perfect time to bring out friends and newer players who may be intimidated at the prospect of going to the game store. Age, experience level, whatever—it doesn’t matter at this event!
Most stores offer a Two-Headed Giant event during their prerelease cycle, which is the perfect event to bring a friend or significant other to!
Is Going to Prerelease Worth It?
The prerelease for a Standard release typically costs $30-35 (it’s more expensive for premium sets like Modern Horizons 3), and the event goes for about four hours—that’s 45 minutes for deckbuilding, plus three 50-minute rounds, plus a little time for things to just go over and be a little messy because there are tons of people around. Some stores extend beyond three rounds depending on their turnout.
I’ve never gone to a prerelease and regretted it. You get a bunch of cool stuff and jam some games with the community for an equivalent price to the six Play boosters in your kit. If you just want packs to crack and don’t care about the games, purchasing boosters might be better, but the experience of playing is always nice. You might even meet new players; in my experience at least, the prerelease draws out players who don't regularly attend FNM or weekly Commander nights.
Foundations Sealed Simulator
If you want to practice a little Foundations Sealed to prepare yourself for the upcoming prerelease, check out Draftsim’s Foundations Sealed Simulator, which goes live on October 30th, after the set is fully spoiled.
The Sealed Simulator cracks all those packs for you, allowing you to familiarize yourself with the set and start building a strategy for how you want to approach the real deal in November.
You can also check our Foundations Limited Set Review (where we rate all the cards), our ranking for Best Commons and Uncommons in the set, and our comprehensive Foundations Sealed guide.
Wrap Up
Llanowar Elves | Illustration by Kev Walker
The prerelease might be my favorite Magic event to attend, and I look forward to Foundations as much as any of them—maybe more, since I’ve always enjoyed the clean simplicity of a Core Set Limited environment.
Are you planning to attend the Foundations prerelease? Do you have any Sealed tips to share? Let me know in the comments below or on the Draftsim Discord!
Stay safe, and keep cracking packs!
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