Wizards of the Coast has decided to shake upMagic: The Gatheringwith a new expansion aimed at fulfilling every fantasy geek’s dream of having all their favorite fantasy franchises in one game. As part ofMagic: The Gathering’sUniverses Beyondinitiative, the strategy card game will be welcoming theWarhammer 40KandLord of the Ringsuniverses into its fold, along with others in the future.Universes Beyondwill be a specific brand inside ofMagic: The Gatheringthat will exist alongside the currentMagicproducts.
Magic: The Gatheringisn’t new to crossovers. Some of thebestMagic: The Gatheringcrossovershave been with other popular fantasy properties likeDungeons and Dragons,Godzilla,andThe Walking Dead. But this time Wizards of the Coasts wants to go bigger and “expand the game system” to let players enjoy worlds outside ofMagic. As with other crossover initiatives, Wizards of the Coast hopes thatUniverses Beyondwill draw new players to the strategy card came in order to grow the community.
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For existingMagic: The Gatheringplayers, there are some things to know. While theUniverses Beyondcards are stillMagiccards, they will look a little different. Card frames will be different than otherMagiccards and allUniverses Beyondcards will have a unique holofoil stamp to identify them as such. This holofoil stamp is the same one already used on theSecret Lair X The Walking Deadcards, which will also be a part ofUniverses Beyond.
Wizards of the Coast also aims to make sure that theUniverses Beyondsets will be sold through all the same channels used to sell already existingMagic: The Gatheringcards. This means that cards in theUniverses Beyondseries will be available everywhere Commander decks are already sold, but there will also be some related releases to mainlineUniverses Beyondreleases onMagic’s online store, Secret Lair.
However, theUniverses Beyondsets will not be Standard legal. These sets are simply additions to the currentMagicsets for fantasy flavor and for fans to enjoy.Wizards of the Coastalso specified that theMagicsetAdventures in the Forgotten Realmsis not a part ofUniverses Beyond, as Wizards aims to keep the new expansion to realms outside of those already built by the company.
TheUniverses Beyondset is a different spin onMagic: The Gatheringthat not allMagicenthusiasts may find enjoyable, but there is other exciting news for purists out there. As part ofMagic: The Gathering’s constant additions, a new expansion will release in a few months titledStrixhaven: School of Magesthat introduces the new plane, Arcavios.
Magic: The Gatheringis available now in game stores and digitally throughMagic Arena.
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Source:Wizards of the Coast
