MtG: 15 Best Core Set 2020 Cards for Limited

Elemental and flying tribal decks are the two main themes of the Core Set 2020 in MtG, and here are 15 of the best cards for Draft and Sealed formats.
Elemental and flying tribal decks are the two main themes of the Core Set 2020 in MtG, and here are 15 of the best cards for Draft and Sealed formats.

The previous Core Set 2019 was mainly designed around Artifacts and Auras. This time, Wizards of the Coast decided to go in a completely different direction. That is why the brand-new Core Set 2020 is mainly built around legendary creatures and three color groupings.

Such an approach reflects both on Standard and Limited, which is the focus of this article. Here you will find the best common and uncommon cards for your Draft and Sealed match-ups in Magic: The Gathering as well as a few extra rares to round things out nicely.

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Audacious Thief

Drawing cards consistently is now possible in black-red decks in Limited. With the help of Goblin Smuggler you can make your Audacious Thief unblockable.

If your opponent has no way of removing either of those two cards, then they will have to deal with your large card advantage in just a few turns.

The life loss isn't such a big deal when you get to draw an extra card each turn, so this is definitely one of the better commons in Core Set 2020.


Cloudkin Seer

A cantrip and a creature in one card is always a welcome addition in any blue deck in Limited, especially when it has flying. Cloudkin Seer could easily be your first pick in case the rare slot isn't that great.

On top of that, it's an Elemental, a new type of creature that has a lot of synergies in this new set. If you're lucky and get some more Elementals in blue and red, then this will surely make the cut during your Draft and Sealed games.


Frost Lynx

This card has been reprinted several times before, and for a good reason: it's a very good Limited card.

Basically, it's a tapper that can help finish off games by pacifying the biggest blocker on the battlefield. Or it could give way to early damage if there is an annoying early blocker standing on your way.

In any case, Frost Lynx is a classic choice, and if you've had the chance to draft it before, you know that you simply can't miss this cool cat.


Boreal Elemental

A flying creature with taxing ability is probably one of the most annoying things you can face during a match-up. It's not as harsh as Hexproof, but often, the extra two mana can play a significant role in the outcome of the match-up.

It's also an Elemental, which most likely will get buffed, which means that it's going to be even harder to remove.

So blue color once again proves to be dominant in the common slot of this new Core Set.


Silverback Shaman

Green also happens to be in a very good spot this season. Silverback Shaman will prove to be a very solid Limited common with a slightly delayed cantrip.

But that's not such a big deal, because this card is all about damage, which is another reason why Trample looks so good here.

The common rarity guarantees that you'll be able to draft more than one copy, and you should definitely pick more than one if you get the chance.


Bloodthirsty Aerialist

Imagine if you could turn Ajani's Pridemate into a Vampire-like creature with flying. Well, here's your chance to try it out!

If you manage to get a life gain engine when this is on board, then the clock will start ticking very quickly for your opponent.

The best place for this card is in the black-white archetype with a new Sorin planeswalker that gives Lifelink to Vampire creatures you control. If you can put those two cards together, then it's just a matter of time before you win.


Empyrean Eagle

Blue-white and Jeskai flying tribal could be two of the best archetypes in the current Limited meta.

This bird lord is a massive addition to the deck that relies on flying creatures, and there are plenty of them in several different colors that fit Empyrean Eagle.

It's worth noting that Dragon creatures will get the buff as well, which makes this bird spirit a universal tool in any deck built around flying creatures.


Ironroot Warlord

Let's start by saying that Ironroot Warlord is a 1/5 creature for three mana if it's the only creature on your side of the table. That's not bad at all for Limited.

But if you play more creatures, this thing will grow and turn from a solid blocker to a very dangerous attacker.

Additionally, it has an ability to produce tokens (which isn't too cheap), but when you have some spare mana to spend, it's a great way to utilize that ability for sure.


Risen Reef

This card is pretty useless in a non-Elemental deck, but if you have enough cards to support the synergy, then Risen Reef instantly becomes a very valuable pick.

This means that it can never be your first choice, but if you see it in your second or third packs in Draft (after you've already made the decision to draft an Elemental deck), then Risen Reef would be a fantastic addition to such a deck.


Tomebound Lich

Having both Deathtouch and Lifelink is very strong regardless of the overall power level of the card. But Tomebound Lich has even more to offer.

It combines both the ETB and repeatable looting abilities, which instantly makes it a Limited bomb.

Of course, you can't play it in any deck due to the mana restriction, but Dimir and Grixis archetypes will have a ton of fun playing this looter.

Also, if this is your first pick, then you also know which colors to draft further on.


Chandra, Novice Pyromancer

The only uncommon planeswalker in Core Set 2020 is Chandra, Novice Pyromancer. This is also the first uncommon planeswalker with a plus one ability, which is truly unexpected.

Chandra obviously is meant for Elemental tribal decks, but her second and third abilities could be used as well in other types of decks for a quick ramp or damage.

Fortunately, there are a lot of great Elemental creatures in Core Set 2020 to support that first ability, which means that Chandra, Novice Pyromancer will most likely be the Limited star of this set.


Master Splicer

Golems are not the focus of Core Set 2020, but there are two other cards in the new set that generate these types of creatures: Cavalier of Dawn and Masterful Replication.

It doesn't mean that you need to have all of these cards to make Master Splicer a worthwhile choice, but if you can get at least one of them, it would really strengthen that part of your deck.


Voracious Hydra

There are a lot of things to consider before playing Voracious Hydra.

If you decide to play it for its first ability, then you can't really put it out too early. It's better to wait before you get enough mana for a really powerful double counter effect.

On the other hand, if there is an early threat on the board, and you know that the second ability can deal with it, then it would be wise to play it early on, even if you lose the counter value.

In both cases Voracious Hydra will serve you well.


Gargos, Vicious Watcher

There are almost no Hydra creatures in Core Set 2020 other than Gargos and Voracious Hydra. This means that you probably shouldn't expect to use the mana reduction ability in Limited.

However, the second ability is exceptionally strong in Limited, which allows you to response to your opponents terminating your creatures.

When they see your Gargos, they will thinkg twice before using their removal spells.


Drakuseth, Maw of Flames

Players who can't find an immediate answer to Drakuseth may well just concede because this card deals 11 damage in a swing and an extra six damage to the other two creatures. That is almost as if you cast three copies of Lightning Bolt in one turn.

There is just no way one could ever recover from facing such an imminent threat as Drakuseth, which is the reason why this is probably the most broken card in Limited right now.

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In addition to this list of the best Core Set 2020 cards for Limited, be sure to check out our other MtG guides here


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Serhii Patskan
Serhii is the Writer at GameSkinny. He's been writing for GameSkinny since 2015. Before that, he's been writing for various outlets and playing video games, which eventually turned into a passion. The video games that have contributed the most to his enthusiasm for writing about this industry are Magic: The Gathering, Dark Souls, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.