Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts can anticipate a plethora of new adventures and worlds with the forthcoming Universes Beyond collaborations. Previously, the game has merged with iconic universes such as Middle-earth, Street Fighter, and The Walking Dead, creating unique crossover experiences. Excitingly, three confirmed Universes Beyond collaborations are on the horizon for Magic: The Gathering: Doctor Who, Final Fantasy, and Assassin’s Creed.
As of August 25, 2023, new details have emerged about the upcoming Universes Beyond sets featuring Doctor Who, Final Fantasy, and Assassin’s Creed. These sets promise to bring unprecedented content and distinctiveness to the Magic: The Gathering multiverse. Additionally, two more Universes Beyond collaborations are in the works: the prehistoric realm of Jurassic Park, joining forces with The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan set, and the post-apocalyptic world of the Fallout series, which will introduce a collection of Commander decks.
Doctor Who Collaboration
The initial collaboration in the lineup is with BBC’s iconic show, Doctor Who. With its origins dating back to 1963, the science fiction series spans various media forms, including novels, comics, board games, and video games. The show follows the adventures of The Doctor, an ancient humanoid alien belonging to the Time Lords, a nearly extinct race. The Doctor travels through time and space in a TARDIS, resembling an old British police box, accompanied by various companions. The character’s unique trait is their regeneration, which results in different incarnations with distinct characteristics.
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Scheduled for release on October 13, the Doctor Who Universes Beyond collection introduces four commander decks and Collector Booster packs:
- Timey-Wimey: A Jeskai-colored deck inspired by the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Doctors and their companions.
- Masters of Evil: A Grixis-colored deck featuring Doctor Who villains like Daleks, Cybermen, and The Master.
- Blast From the Past: A Bant-colored deck highlighting the initial eight regenerations of The Doctor.
- Paradox Power: A Temur-colored deck focusing on the Twelfth and Thirteenth Doctors and their companions.
Each commander deck includes 50 novel Doctor Who-themed cards and ten Planeschase cards, contributing over 200 new Commander cards and 40 Planeschase cards overall. The release exclusively offers Collector Edition packs, which likely feature cards from the Commander decks, catering to enthusiasts seeking foils and variants. The Collector Boosters also boast serialized versions of the Doctors, ranging from 501 to 513 cards, each representing a distinct Doctor.
The Doctor Who collaboration introduces new mechanics such as Doctor’s Companion, enabling dual commanders if one is The Doctor, Time Travel for manipulating time counters, Paradox focusing on spell casting from non-hand zones, and Villainous choice presenting strategic alternatives.
Final Fantasy Collaboration
While specifics about the Final Fantasy collaboration are limited, the extensive lore, characters, and worlds of the franchise offer abundant inspiration. Whether focused on recent releases like Final Fantasy 16 or the iconic Final Fantasy 7, this collaboration promises diverse content. The set might follow The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth format, delivering a full draftable set to explore the series’ rich history and stories.
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Assassin’s Creed Collaboration
Assassin’s Creed, renowned for its historical characters shaping mankind’s fate, brings its legacy to Magic: The Gathering. The collaboration’s limited expansion could center around Commander decks, each dedicated to a key character like Ezio, AltaĆÆr, Eivor, Kassandra, and Bayek. Additional cards could feature other Assassins’ growth throughout their journeys.
Fallout Collaboration
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Scheduled for 2024, the Fallout crossover immerses players in the post-apocalyptic universe. Preconstructed Commander decks with thematic uniqueness akin to the Warhammer 40,000 crossover are anticipated. The Fallout expansion takes a distinct direction, embracing retro-futuristic aesthetics and introducing mutants, monsters, and retrotech robots.
Jurassic Park Collaboration
The return of dinosaurs to Magic: The Gathering arrives with the Universes Beyond expansion Welcome To: Jurassic World, linked with The Lost Caverns of Ixalan. Collectible within Collector Boosters and The List, this bonus sheet features 18 cards, echoing the Transformer cards from The Brothers’ War.
Future Prospects
The potential for future Universes Beyond collaborations encompasses esteemed franchises like Star Wars, Diablo, Genshin Impact, and Elden Ring. The horizon also holds the possibility of revisiting past collaborations or delving into new territory, exemplified by the Fallout inclusion diverging from traditional themes.
In summary, Magic: The Gathering’s Universes Beyond series ushers in a wave of exciting collaborations, propelling players into diverse worlds and narratives, further enriching the Magic experience.
