MTG Universes Beyond: Your Guide to Crossovers in Magic: The Gathering

What Exactly is MTG Universes Beyond?

Magic: The Gathering. The name alone conjures images of epic battles, strategic card plays, and a vibrant community of players across the globe. For decades, this tabletop behemoth has captivated enthusiasts with its intricate gameplay and ever-expanding multiverse. But in recent years, a new and exciting dimension has been added to the mix: Universes Beyond. This initiative has fundamentally altered the landscape of Magic: The Gathering, bringing iconic characters and settings from other beloved franchises into the game. This guide will delve deep into the heart of MTG Universes Beyond, exploring its origins, its impact, and what it means for the future of Magic.

Simply put, Universes Beyond represents a bold move by Wizards of the Coast to connect Magic: The Gathering with universes outside its traditional narrative boundaries. It’s a series of MTG products that integrate characters, settings, and lore from popular and beloved franchises, such as The Lord of the Rings, Warhammer 40,000, and many more. This innovative approach allows players to experience their favorite worlds within the framework of Magic’s strategic gameplay, creating an exciting fusion of two beloved entities.

The primary goal of Universes Beyond is to broaden Magic’s appeal by bringing in new players who are already fans of these other franchises. It’s a savvy strategy, leveraging the existing popularity of these IPs to introduce more people to the complex and rewarding world of MTG. It’s about attracting new players who might not have considered Magic before, but are now drawn in by the prospect of playing with their favorite characters or exploring familiar settings.

Behind the Scenes: Licensing and Collaboration

The execution of Universes Beyond is a testament to the power of collaboration. Wizards of the Coast meticulously partners with various companies that own the rights to these other franchises. This includes intricate licensing agreements, creative brainstorming sessions, and extensive quality control to ensure that the final products accurately and respectfully represent the source material.

For instance, bringing The Lord of the Rings into Magic required extensive collaboration with Middle-earth Enterprises (now part of Embracer Group), the company that controls the rights to the iconic series. The same level of care is taken when working with companies like Games Workshop for Warhammer 40,000, or various studios for crossovers like Street Fighter.

The diverse partnerships underscore the ambition of Universes Beyond. This isn’t just about slapping images onto existing cards; it’s about recreating entire worlds and characters within the Magic framework, a task that requires diligent cooperation and respect for the original intellectual properties.

Exploring the Variety: Product Types in Universes Beyond

Universes Beyond products come in various forms, catering to different player preferences and collection habits.

First, and perhaps most exciting for many players, are the full sets. These releases function much like regular Magic sets, but feature cards and mechanics themed around the featured universe. The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, for instance, offers a complete Magic experience within the world of Tolkien’s epic saga, including cards that evoke specific scenes and characters from the books. This offers a dedicated entry point for players.

Commander decks also feature prominently in Universes Beyond. These preconstructed decks, designed for the popular Commander format, provide players with a ready-to-play deck that encapsulates the flavor and mechanics of a particular universe. These Commander decks often highlight beloved characters, are a great way to experience the crossover, and serve as a popular entry point.

Secret Lair drops are another common avenue for Universes Beyond releases. These limited-edition sets typically feature a small number of cards with unique art and themes. They often cater to collectors and players who appreciate exclusive card designs. Secret Lair products enable Wizards of the Coast to explore niche areas of the partnering IP, often offering a more focused and unique experience.

Unveiling the Crossovers: Products and Franchises

The range of franchises featured in Universes Beyond is impressive and diverse. Here’s a glimpse at some of the major releases:

The Walking Dead

This early crossover brought characters from the post-apocalyptic drama into the Magic universe, offering a unique take on creature types and zombie-themed strategies. The cards featured recognizable faces like Rick Grimes, Michonne, and Negan.

Fortnite

The incredibly popular battle royale game was brought into the Magic world in a fun and unique way, with a Secret Lair Drop that featured iconic characters and cosmetic items.

Street Fighter

This crossover brought fighting game characters and iconic moves into the world of Magic, and even provided fans with a unique way to play. Cards included iconic fighters such as Ryu and Chun-Li, each with abilities that mirrored their signature moves.

Warhammer 40,000

This collaboration resulted in four Commander decks themed around different factions within the grim darkness of the far future. The cards incorporated the complex mechanics and themes of Warhammer 40,000, including factions such as Space Marines, Necrons, and Tyranids. This was a comprehensive dive into a complex world.

The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth

Perhaps the most ambitious Universes Beyond set to date, this product offered a full Magic experience within the world of Tolkien. It included iconic characters like Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn, and offered players a chance to explore the world of Middle-earth through the lens of Magic. This was a full-scale release, complete with draft boosters, set boosters, and more.

Doctor Who

Another full-scale set, Doctor Who brought the time-traveling adventures of the Doctor and their companions into Magic, featuring iconic characters, creatures, and settings from throughout the series’ history.

Transformers

A unique Secret Lair drop that introduced the iconic Autobots and Decepticons into the Magic universe, with cards that transformed from vehicle to robot forms.

Mechanics and Gameplay: Merging Worlds

The integration of Universes Beyond cards into Magic gameplay is generally seamless. Most cards are fully legal in the relevant formats, like Modern and Commander. The designers work to ensure that the cards function well within existing game mechanics, providing a recognizable Magic experience, even when using cards with a different aesthetic.

The true brilliance of Universes Beyond lies in how the mechanics are tailored to the source material. For example, in The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, Gandalf is depicted as a powerful planeswalker with abilities that mirror his wise counsel and magical prowess. Sauron, naturally, is a fearsome threat, with abilities focused on corruption and control.

These carefully crafted synergies make gameplay flavorful and engaging. Players aren’t just using generic cards; they’re experiencing the world and characters of a beloved franchise through the strategic lens of Magic. This enhances the overall gaming experience for many players, and makes the sets feel authentic to their source materials.

The Balancing Act: Pros and Cons

Like any major initiative, Universes Beyond has its advantages and disadvantages.

The Upsides

• Attracting New Players: Universes Beyond acts as a gateway, drawing in players who are already fans of the featured franchises.
• Fresh Card Designs: Crossovers bring a constant stream of fresh and exciting card designs, often inspired by familiar elements.
• Increased Card Diversity: These sets can diversify card pools in various formats.
• Collector’s Paradise: Many products are designed for collectors, with exclusive artwork and special treatments.

The Downsides

• Flavor Clashes: Some players believe that the inclusion of unrelated franchises dilutes the core Magic aesthetic.
• Complexity Concerns: Introducing new mechanics from different IPs can complicate the game for some players.
• Identity Concerns: Some long-time Magic players feel that Universes Beyond sets diminish the unique identity of Magic.
• Impact on the Secondary Market: The release of Universes Beyond cards can affect card prices.

The Future: What Lies Ahead for Universes Beyond?

Wizards of the Coast has demonstrated its commitment to the Universes Beyond initiative, with more products planned. The ongoing success of sets like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth provides further momentum. Future releases are likely to include new franchises, expanded product types, and further refinements to the integration of Magic and other IPs.

One can anticipate that the future of Universes Beyond will involve an even more ambitious and creative approach. The focus could shift to exploring more niche universes, as well as expanding the scope of existing crossovers. The company is also likely to consider how Universes Beyond can be integrated more smoothly into existing Magic formats and structures.

Advice for Players: Navigating the Crossovers

For players new to Universes Beyond, here are some tips:

• Choose What You Love: Start by exploring the Universes Beyond products that feature your favorite franchises.
• Consider the Format: Determine which formats you enjoy playing, and choose the products that are legal in those formats.
• Look at the Commander Decks: Commander decks are often a great way to get started with a new set.
• Consider the Collector’s Appeal: If you are a collector, research the different special editions and alternate art cards.

Conclusion

MTG Universes Beyond has revolutionized Magic: The Gathering, introducing a new dimension to gameplay and attracting a broader audience. While it’s not without its critics, the initiative has undeniably breathed new life into the game, offering players innovative mechanics and exciting collaborations.

The future of Universes Beyond appears bright. As Wizards of the Coast continues to refine its approach, one can expect even more immersive and engaging experiences that will captivate both long-time Magic players and fans of the featured franchises. Embrace the new possibilities, explore the diverse universes, and enjoy the constantly evolving landscape of Magic: The Gathering.