For OG fans of Magic: The Gathering, Magic: The Gathering Arena allows long-time and new fans to play on computers and mobile devices. Like any Magic: The Gathering game, Arena is about building and using the right deck. Both casual and competitive players can enjoy the game as there are plenty of options for different play styles.

Options for card types and deck-building include creatures, spells, enchantments, and artifacts. These card types can be built into various deck formats, such as Standard, Historic, and Draft. Magic: The Gathering Arena has a lot of customizability, allowing players to refine their decks. For Standard players, it's common to focus on cards from the most recent sets, but a few Foundations cards consistently perform well.

10 Alesha Can Create An Army Of Resurrected Creatures

Bring Creatures Back From The Graveyard

Alesha, Who Laughs At Fate, is a great foundation choice for a commander in Magic: The Gathering Arena. She has a unique ability to bring creatures back from the graveyard, but to unlock that ability, players must first grow their stats by consistently using it to attack. Once the ability is unlocked, Alesha becomes a powerhouse creature with an army of resurrected creatures. Plus, having the first strike helps Alesha win most combats.

During its attacks, players can pay mana to bring back creatures with two or less power from the graveyard. Using these creatures in battle causes a distraction and makes it difficult for opponents to stabilize. To fully capitalize on Alesha's effectiveness, use cards like Sneak Attack and The Infamous Cruelclaw. Sneak Attack allows players to swing in with just one red mana cost, and it can be used several times during one turn on multiple creatures. The Infamous Cruelclaw will enable players to cast spells free from the top of their library.

When using the Sneak Attack, players' creatures will be sacrificed at the end of their turn.

Another excellent option for an Alesha-focused deck is the Necropolis Regent. This card puts +1/+1 counters on any opposing creature damaged. Just play the Necropolis Regent card as early as possible to help reanimate Alesha's army.

9 Close Games Quickly With Bloodthirsty Conqueror

Gain Life When Damaging Opponents

Players looking for an aggressive creature that deals damage and grows stronger with each attack need look no further than Bloodthirsty Conqueror. Bloodthirsty Conqueror is a vampire card in MTG Arena that costs a lot of mana to play but is quite the threat to go against. One of the best parts of Bloodthirsty Conqueror is that dealing damage to an opponent causes the controller to gain that much life in return.

The Bloodthirsty Conqueror is a formidable threat in MTG Arena's Standard format and helps close out games quickly. Pairing this card with other cards that leverage the same is best, thanks to its life-stealing abilities. For example, building a deck with Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord, and Cliffhaven Vampire would help boost the Bloodthirsty Conqueror's impressive power. Whether playing aggressively or with a midrange deck, Bloodthirsty Conqueror can blend into various strategies.

8 Scavenging Ooze Can Exile Targets From The Graveyard

Grow Bigger And More Powerful When Exiling Creatures

Scavenging Ooze does well in several formats, especially in Magic: The Gathering Arena's Standard. Those building a deck based strongly on the graveyard will want this green monster. Scavenging Ooze comes with a modest 2/2 when first introduced on the battlefield, but that will quickly change as long as the controller has mana and any opponent's graveyards are filled with creatures. Scavenging Ooze can exile cards from graveyards. When exiling a creature, the creature is given a +1/+1 counter, while Scavenging Ooze is granted one life.

Regarding strategies, Scavenging Ooze is the perfect counter against those with reanimators or any deck relying on the graveyard. Players can easily disrupt their opponent's game plan simply by exiling important cards from the graveyard. Scavenging Ooze will grow more menacing with each exile, and his life gain will help it survive longer games.

7 Control The Board With Sire of Seven Deaths

Easily Disrupt Opponents' Graveyard Strategies

Sire of Seven Deaths is a mythic creature card with the following perks: first strike, vigilance, menace, trample, reach, and lifelink. It also comes with a 7/7, making it a powerful opponent. First strike means that Sire has the chance to deal combat damage before others without the same ability, while vigilance keeps creatures attacking without tapping.

With Menace, Siren of the Seven Deaths can’t be blocked unless by two or more creatures, and trample will ensure Sire deals extra combat damage. Finally, reach will allow Sire to block flying creatures and lifelink is a life-stealing ability that makes it, so the amount of damage dealt to an enemy is then recovered by the controller. Sire also comes with Ward. Ward keeps a permanent safe from a spell or ability, but at the cost of seven life.

6 Exile Cards From The Top of The Library With Kellan, Planar Trailblazer

Go As A Scout Or A Detective

Kellan, Planar Trailblazer is another must-have foundation card for any Standard deck in Magic: The Gathering. As a Scout, Kellan becomes a human faerie detective, gaining the ability "Whenever Kellan deals combat damage to a player, exile the top card of your library. You may play that card this turn." As a detective, Kellan becomes a 3/2 human faerie rogue with a double strike ability.

Neither ability has a duration to remain in effect until the game ends, Kellan leaves the battlefield, or an effect changes its characteristics.

Kellan truly shines when the controller's deck is built around Planeswalkers, as the ability to exile cards from the top of the library can reveal powerful spells or cards. Synergizing this ability with Planeswalkers allows the controller to make more strategic plays. Kellan can be effective in midrange strategies or control decks, making it a versatile option for Standard decks.

5 Generate Mana With Llanowar Elves

Boost Mana Early To Call Upon Higher-Cost Creatures

Llanowar Elves isn't new to even the newest Magic: The Gathering players. He's commonly seen in decks that quickly ramp up mana to accelerate their game plan. That is, of course, because Llanowar Elves is a mana dork creature whose primary goal is to produce mana. Playing Llanowar Elves costs just one green mana, providing an early boost to the controller's mana base, allowing them to cast more powerful spells or summon bigger creatures earlier than usual.

Boosting mana is primarily what Llanowar Elves is used for and is rarely used for offensive or defensive plays. Llanowar Elves are essential for any Standard deck despite not being an attacker or blocker. Players using Llanowar Elves can call upon higher-cost creatures and spells earlier than mid-to-late games. Llanowar Elves can quickly get the early game in his controller's favor by jump-starting their game plan and setting up powerful plays that put pressure on opponents before they can stabilize.

4 Ajani, Caller Of The Pride Is Quite Versatile For Every Deck

Overwhelm The Board With Cat Creature Tokens

The legendary Planeswalker, Ajani, Caller of the Pride, has several abilities. First, Ajani can put a +1/+1 counter on up to one target creature. In doing so, the target creature gains flying and double-strike until the end of the turn. Ajani also creates X 2/2 white Cat creature tokens, with X being the controller's life total, which can quickly overwhelm the board and opponents with 2/2 Cat tokens equal to the controller's health.

For those new to Planeswalkers, Ajani is a great card to start with. Even seasoned Planeswalkers s can benefit from Ajani's versatility in offering both aggressive and defensive options. His ability to buff creatures and provide evasion makes it a valuable creature for creature-based strategies.

3 Surprise Opponents With High Fae Trickster

Grant All Spells The Flash Ability

For those looking to build a blue deck, High Fae Trickster is a fantastic addition. High Fae Trickster comes with flash, flying, and a starting stat of 4/2, but the best part of this creature is that it grants all of its controller's spells flash. Flash is the perfect ability to disrupt an opponent's plans. Coupled with High Fae Trickster's enter-the-battlefield effect, she can engage in unexpected, surprise plays that catch opponents off guard.

Paired with other faerie cards to create a cohesive faerie deck, players can benefit from disruption and evasion. She's excellent in any blue deck but will serve other decks well, too. The card's ability to grant flash to all spells also synergizes well with instants and other flash creatures. Its play style is flexible and reactive, and when used right,r will keep its controller's opponents on the defensive while giving control of the game's pace to the controller.

2 Get An Easy Win With Hidetsugu's Second Rite

Get An Instant Win When Opponent's Creature Has 10 Life

Hidetsugu's Second Rite is a force to be reckoned with in Magic: The Gathering Arena. Playing this card has a chance for an instant win thanks to its unique ability, which deals 10 damage to an opponent who has exactly 10 life left. So, players looking for an easy win need to get their opponent down to 10 health to wipe the battlefield clean of them.

However, if the opponent has anything above or below a life of 10, then Hidetsugu can't be played. Playing Hidetsugu can also be blocked if the opponent has a counter-spell or instant life gain capabilities, but as long as the conditions are met, it can be an instant win.

With its ability, Hidetsugu does best in red decks that are burn or aggressive-focused. When playing with this card, it's important to deplete the opponent's life down to 10 as quickly as possible. Build a deck with creatures that can do consistent damage for the best results. Cards like Lighting Strike and Shock can chip away at an opponent's life total, setting up the perfect opportunity for Hidetsugu to land the finishing blow. However, meeting the exact life total requirement is not easy. Players using Hidetsugu will need to calculate and time their attacks carefully.

1 Authority of the Consuls Can Destabilize Opponents

Tap Opponents As They Enter The Battlefield

The final and one of the most critical foundation cards to have in Standard is the Authority of the Consuls. Playing this card ensures that creatures entering the battlefield from opponents are tapped. Additionally, players gain one life when a creature controlled by an opponent enters. These abilities make it easy to turn the game in the controller's favor and are perfect for white deck lovers.

The Authority of the Consuls can be annoying to go against, as it's quite challenging to get rid of once in play. Its strength is further reinforced by the fact that it only costs one white mana to use, which allows it to be played early and stay active during the entire game.

Magic: The Gathering Arena's card library is updated every few months with new cards.

While several powerful cards are available in MTG, these foundation cards are some of the best tools to build a competitive and versatile deck. With Alesha's ability to resurrect fallen creatures to the disruptive abilities of cards like Scavenging Ooze, High Fae Trickster, and the Authority of the Consuls, each of these cards offers strategic advantages that can turn the tide of the game. Including these cards in any deck will help players outplay and outlive opponents in casual and competitive play in Magic: The Gathering Arena.