The newest Magic: The Gathering expansion set is named Kaldheim, set on the frosty, Norse-inspired plane of the same name. Back in December 2020, the first previews gave only a hint of what was to come. By now, even the most intimate details of this set are clear for all to see, and that includes a new cycle: the Runes.
Colorful sets like Kaldheim may focus on big-picture mechanics, such as the Foretell and Boast mechanics, but there is still room for modest but exciting cycles and ideas, such as these Runes. In games of booster draft Limited, players may want to look out for them and test their power in combat.
The Runes of Kaldheim
Many cycles of cards come in five, with one of each color. That is the case for these Rune cards, and there are a few Rune-related cards to go with them. In fact, "Rune" is a brand-new card type, appearing on enchantment Auras. This is similar to how the original Innistrad block introduced the Aura Curse type (Curses enchant players), and how the Amonkhet block introduced the Cartouche Aura cards (they interacted favorably with the five Trial enchantments).
These Runes can be enchanted to any permanent type, which is unusually flexible for an Aura, and all five of them will cantrip when they enter the battlefield. That helps them dodge the inherent "two for one" problem with Auras, making these Runes more appealing in games of Kaldheim Limited. They appear in the uncommon slot, so players will have to be patient when looking for them in draft; by contrast, Amonkhet's Cartouches were commons.
Each of the Runes (if enchanting a creature) will grant it an ability, such as lifelink on Rune of Sustenance or haste on Rune of Speed. Meanwhile, if these Runes are enchanting an Equipment card instead, then that Equipment will gain additional effects for the equipped creature, usually matching the Rune's "enchant creature" effect. Rune of Flight will grant an enchanted creature flying, and if this Rune is enchanting an Equipment instead, then that Equipment will give the equipped creature flying.
Players might prefer to attach these Runes to Equipment rather than to creatures directly, because it's far more common for creatures to die in games of Limited than for Equipment to be destroyed. Auras go to the graveyard when the enchanted creature leaves the battlefield, but if these Runes are enchanting an Equipment card, then the Rune sticks around after the creature dies. This means the Rune can benefit the next creature that gets equipped. Using the Runes that way will give them a lot of staying power.
Kaldheim's Green Rune & Other Rune-Related Cards
Meanwhile, the final card in the Rune cycle is arguably the strongest, giving a creature +1/+1 and trample, meaning the enchanted (or equipped) creature can push a lot of damage. Ordinarily, an Aura costed at {1}G which gives the enchanted creature +1/+1 and trample would be unimpressive, but Rune of Might not only cantrips like the other four, but it can enchant an Equipment to persist long after the original creature dies (also like the other four). If an Equipment card gains "equipped creature gets +1/+1 and trample" on top of its other effects, that equipped creature can get pretty scary.
Runed Crown is a colorless Equipment that gives the equipped creature +1/+1, and this Crown loves Runes. When it hits the battlefield, the player may search their hand, library and/or graveyard for a Rune card and attach it to Runed Crown. No matter where the player's Runes are, this Crown will seek them out and effectively cast them for free. Imagine casting this Crown, then grabbing Rune of Might and attaching it. Now, any equipped creature gets +2/+2 and trample or just {2}, and the Rune will cantrip, since that effect is for when the Rune enters the battlefield, not being cast.
Runeforge Champion is, based on its creature types and color, best suited for Kaldheim's white-red Dwarf aggro deck, but with a Rune twist. When Runeforge Champion enters the battlefield, it can tutor for a Rune the same way as Runed Crown does, then put it into the hand. What is more, all Rune spells will cost {1} while the Champion is on the battlefield, and casting Rune of Might for just G is a great deal for nearly any gameplay situation.