Did you catch our exciting reveal of Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy crossover last week and wonder where the superheroes fit into the mix? Well, you're in luck because today we're unveiling the first look at six new cards from Magic's upcoming Spider-Man set, along with all the accompanying products and packaging. Dive into the image gallery below to explore all the Spider-Man cards featured in the Commander-focused Scene Box, booster packs, Welcome Decks, and more. Keep reading to discover more about the set from Wizards of the Coast.
Marvel's Spider-Man x Magic: The Gathering - First Card and Packaging Reveal
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Set to launch on September 26, Marvel's Spider-Man will be the second fully draftable, Standard-legal set in Magic's Universes Beyond line, following Final Fantasy and succeeding the Modern-legal Lord of the Rings set from 2023. Unlike what you might expect, this set will not include preconstructed Commander decks. Instead, the cards in the Scene Box shown above are designed specifically for Commander and will not be Standard-legal.
While the Secret Lair featuring Wolverine, Captain America, and others marked Magic's initial foray into the Marvel universe last year, Spider-Man will be the first full set inspired by the comics. According to Wizards of the Coast Executive Producer Max McCall, a full set was necessary to truly honor the breadth of the Spider-Man universe.
"Spider-Man needs a full set to do justice to the character and incorporate the many villains he's encountered over the years," McCall explains. "Including characters from the Spider-Man canon in a broader set would mean leaving out too many important figures. We could have included Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales in a non-specific set, but there wouldn't have been space for Aunt May."
McCall highlights that designing for a Universes Beyond set "flips the worldbuilding on its head." While a typical Magic set must establish its setting and be engaging to draw in players, most people already know Spider-Man. "When we design a card that reflects the theme of great power bearing great responsibility, we can add mechanical complexity because the story is familiar to fans. We don't need to keep Universes Beyond cards simple; we just need to choose moments that are recognizable and fans will easily grasp."
AnswerSee ResultsHead Designer Mark Rosewater elaborates on how they translate Spider-Man's world into Magic: The Gathering. He notes that Magic's color pie is versatile enough to depict heroism and villainy across all five colors. For instance, Spider-Man aligns with white, blue, and green, though the version in the Scene Box is limited to white and blue.
"Spider-Man's obligation to use his power to help others fits perfectly within the white color pie. His origin from a scientific mishap—being bitten by a radioactive spider—and his knack for invention, like his web-slingers, are very blue. Additionally, his powers derived from an animal and the destiny linked to his Spider-Man identity are core elements of green."
"We're not limiting ourselves to any one comic run or series," McCall adds. Alongside the Scene Box, the set will include Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, Bundles, and Prerelease Packs, all showcased in the gallery above. Although preconstructed Commander decks won't be part of this set, Welcome Decks will make a return. These themed introductory decks, typically distributed for free by game stores, offer a low-pressure way for new players to learn the game.
In addition to the Spider-Man set, Wizards of the Coast has announced a set themed around Avatar: The Last Airbender, as well as two more in-universe sets, Tarkir: Dragontsorm and the space-themed Edge of Eternities.
Read on for the full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast’s Max McCall and Mark Rosewater:
