Mark Rosewater's infectious love of Marvel has changed my mind on Magic: The Gathering's next Universes Beyond set

Date:
Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Description:
Mark Rosewater has made me excited for Magic's next Universes Beyond set.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter What youre reading started as yet another takedown of Universes Beyond.

Maybe not a takedown, but certainly something fuelled by fatigue. After
Magic: The Gathering s Secret of Strixhaven set, I was riding high. The original Arcavios visit Strixhaven: School of Mages was the very first MtG pack I ever opened, and I instantly fell in love with the world and art (the sweet-looking Mystical Archive cards certainly helped, too). Last year, I
even ran a short Dungeons and Dragons campaign set in Strixhaven. Thats how much I loved the cards. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

This return, now as an over five-year veteran, was delightful. Thanks to Wizards of the Coast, Id been sent several packs to open and experience the set a little early, and I dropped into a few prerelease events as well, and just like the original set, the world felt so alive. The splashy elder dragon cards truly feel like ancient masters of magic my friends Prismari deck proved just that with a turn 4 win the other night, and Lorehold has been a serious upgrade to my Quintorious commander deck and the paradigm mechanic truly captures the sense of freedom and immense joy when your final project
is complete. (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast) Prepared was also a major hit, for both limited play and several of my constructed decks. You may like Pixar is joining Disney Lorcana for the first time with The Incredibles
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Then I turned my attention to whats next, and I deflated. Reality Fracture is our last in-Universe set of the year, surrounded by three external IP: The Hobbit (which, after Lord of the Rings, Im actually quite excited for), Star Trek (Im not a Trekkie, and it doesnt feel like quite the right fit for Magic s fantastical worlds), and, on June 26, Marvel Super Heroes .

Urgh. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Analysis/subhead section As a comic book reader and long-time MCU fan (I
think Im one of the few remaining people who still watch everything Marvel releases), this MtG Marvel collab should be a slam dunk. However, after Magic s Spider-Man set flopped (another set that should have easily won me over but was troubled by development issues that I dont have time to explain), my desire to return to Earth-616 was nonexistent.

Then I heard Mark Rosewater speak about the cards.

A little inside baseball: before major set releases, members of the press and influencers get a sneak peek at the set. We tune into a stream hosted by the sets leads which for Marvel included Magic: The Gathering Head Designer to see a few cards that showcase the sets mechanics, art treatments, and the overall vibes of whats to come. Thats how articles and videos get published within seconds of the debut stream going live. What to read next New Spider-Man 4 merch excites MCU fans over possible adaptation of specific
comic book scene 'I'm going to play this with my granddaughter' Mark Hamill on Lego Star Wars Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is one of the best expansions I've ever played here's why (Image credit: Magic The Gathering / Marvel) Ive attended quite a few now, and Ive yet to hear someone talk with as much palpable excitement as Rosewater had for Marvel. It was infectious.

Rosewater explained that for Marvel, he was the SME, or Subject Matter
Expert. The person at WotC who deeply understands the external-IP theyre working with and who will make sure the cards reflect the characters,
moments, and worlds they portray. And Rosewater is clearly a Marvel expert.

Every card that was showcased he couldnt help but drop in explanations for
why each had the effect it did of course Tony Stark can Improvise or why
the precise wording of new abilities was the way it was such as Worthys definition being written to allow Thor and Captain America to lift Mjolnir, but not Kingpin and how he helped tweak effects that didnt quite work Hulks original Enrage effect didnt have him get stronger, despite anger fuelling
his ferocity in the comics.

This exuberance was a delight to behold, and I realized not long into the presentation that it had rubbed off on me. I was excited for Marvel. In fact, I was excited for everything coming down the MtG pipeline. (Image credit: Marvel / Wizards of the Coast) Now, there are some unresolved troubles with the games pace of sets. For a start, Standard is a nightmare to stay on top of. I love playing it on Arena ( Magics digital client), but its so
incredibly pricey in paper, and with such a wealth of cards at our disposal, the format is more unwieldy than it should be.

Secondly, six or seven Standard sets a year leaves no room for others. I love alternative draft formats like Battlebond s take on Two-Headed Giant, or any Commander draft. I want these to return, but it doesnt seem theres space for them amid the noise.

Equally, seeing the joy of Rosewater, I do get the appeal of introducing so many external worlds into this game so newcomers, and long-time fans of both franchises, can play with and as characters they know and love.

Sure, its not always for me, but the excitement I had for Strixhaven is clearly matched by others with a love for Marvel Super Heroes , The Hobbit , and Star Trek (and whatever comes next).

Ahead of its June 26 debut, there will be numerous prerelease events in the weeks before, including a new Avengers Academy to get new players up to
speed. Ive signed up for my local prerelease Sealed already, and I plan to soak up the atmosphere, focus on the fun, and maybe brew up a Daredevil, Man Without Fear deck ( Born Again Season 3 cant come soon enough). Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/mark-rosewaters-infectious-love-of-marvel-has -changed-my-mind-on-magic-the-gatherings-next-universes-beyond-set


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