Love them or hate them, Universes Beyond sets in Magic: The Gathering are becoming impossible to ignore, especially with the highly anticipated Magic The Gathering Doctor Who set. Wizards of the Coast, the creator of the popular TCG, has announced significant shifts in its release strategy and format legality to accommodate these crossover products, which include lucrative collaborations with franchises like Warhammer 40k, Final Fantasy, and now, Doctor Who. Prepare for more MTG Universes Beyond cards than ever before, fundamentally changing how Magic is played.
The most immediate change is the increased frequency of Universes Beyond sets. Looking at the upcoming Magic: The Gathering release schedule for the next year, we see a balanced approach: three sets focused on Wizards’ original Magic: The Gathering worlds and characters, alongside three Universes Beyond sets. These include the already announced Final Fantasy and Marvel Spiderman sets, and a third, still unrevealed crossover. The presence of the Magic The Gathering Doctor Who set in the previous year already signaled this shift, and now it’s becoming the new normal.
This represents a notable increase from the past two years. Previously, Wizards released four original sets annually, accompanied by two major Universes Beyond products, such as Lord of the Rings and Doctor Who in 2023, and Fallout and Assassin’s Creed in 2024. The Magic The Gathering Doctor Who set was a clear indicator of the financial success and player engagement with these crossovers, paving the way for this expanded focus.
MTG art showing a flame elemental person from the plane of lorwyn.
MTG Lorwyn Plane Character: A fiery elemental, representing the original Magic: The Gathering content now sharing space with Universes Beyond.
This increase in Universes Beyond sets, potentially influenced by the positive reception of sets like Magic The Gathering Doctor Who, has already impacted the schedule. The anticipated return to the fan-favorite plane of Lorwyn, initially slated as the final set of 2025, has been pushed back to accommodate these new crossovers. This news is undoubtedly disappointing for players eager to revisit the Celtic-inspired MTG plane of Lorwyn, as the focus shifts, at least in part, towards Universes Beyond.
Perhaps the most significant change, especially for players invested in competitive formats, is the new legality of Universes Beyond sets. Starting with the Final Fantasy set, all future Universes Beyond releases, including potential follow-ups to Magic The Gathering Doctor Who, will be legal in Magic’s Standard format. This means that these sets will not only be playable in eternal formats like Pioneer and Modern, but will also become a core part of the Standard rotation. The implications are clear: Universes Beyond, including the cards and mechanics introduced in Magic The Gathering Doctor Who, will permeate every corner of the game.
Wizards explains this decision as a simplification of set legality, aiming for a system where all sets are either Standard legal or eternal legal. This could potentially reduce the number of supplemental sets designed for specific formats. However, Communications Manager Blake Rasmussen clarified that exceptions can be made, leaving the door open for products like Modern Horizons IV in the future, suggesting flexibility remains despite the general shift.
In a press preview panel, Rasmussen presented this release schedule adjustment as a natural evolution, rather than a radical departure. “Traditionally, we’ve had four sets released in the Magic Multiverse every year, and we still do. We’re just not making fans re-buy one of them every year because Foundations is going to be there in the background.” However, for many players, integrating Universes Beyond directly into Standard, especially after the unique experience of Magic The Gathering Doctor Who, feels like a major change.
MTG lord of the rings art showing Frodo with Sting.
Frodo Baggins MTG Card Art: Illustrating the success of Universes Beyond Lord of the Rings, a precursor to the deeper integration of crossovers like Doctor Who.
Despite the potential concerns about diluting Magic’s core identity with crossovers, Wizards seems confident in their strategy. When asked directly about this, Rasmussen stated, “Absolutely not! We have a ton of Magic IP story work coming with some partners, including the Netflix show and multiple publishing partners. If anything, we’ll have more Magic story running around.” This suggests a belief that Universes Beyond, including the flavor and narrative of sets like Magic The Gathering Doctor Who, can coexist and even enhance the overall Magic: The Gathering universe.
The financial success of Universes Beyond is undeniable. MTG Lord of the Rings became the second best selling set in record time and is now recognized as Magic’s biggest release ever. Given this popularity and profitability, expanding Universes Beyond and integrating it deeper into the game, as exemplified by the Standard legality changes and the continued release of sets like Magic The Gathering Doctor Who, is a logical business decision for Wizards of the Coast.
The quality of Universes Beyond sets, including Magic The Gathering Doctor Who, is generally high, with flavorful designs, compelling card art, and evident care in their creation. However, the increased frequency and Standard legality announcement does raise concerns about potential oversaturation. Players who deeply appreciate Magic’s original characters and worlds may feel disappointed by a reduced focus on them in favor of more crossovers. The balance between original MTG content and Universes Beyond, now exemplified by sets like Magic The Gathering Doctor Who becoming Standard legal, is a key point of discussion within the community.
MTG doctor who art showing the cyber controller
Cyber Controller MTG Doctor Who Card Art: A representation of the Universes Beyond Doctor Who set, now impacting all MTG formats including Standard.
For some, crossover cards like those in Magic The Gathering Doctor Who felt more appropriate as an optional addition to formats like Commander, known for its diverse and inclusive nature. Commander’s format flexibility and existing acceptance of card alterations made Universes Beyond feel less disruptive. Similarly, in Modern, the limited number of Universes Beyond cards, even from sets like Magic The Gathering Doctor Who, meant their impact was relatively minor within the vast card pool.
However, Standard, with its smaller card pool, presents a different scenario. The likelihood of Universes Beyond strategies, perhaps even Magic The Gathering Doctor Who themed decks, becoming dominant in Standard is now much higher. Imagine facing a Standard meta defined by Doctor Who companions or Marvel superheroes – a potentially jarring experience for players accustomed to Magic’s নিজস্ব worlds and characters. This shift, making sets like Magic The Gathering Doctor Who integral to Standard, is a significant evolution for the game.
The timing of this decision also raises questions. The delayed announcement of next year’s sets, traditionally revealed in August, suggests a potential change in plans. It’s plausible that this shift towards prioritizing Universes Beyond and making sets like Magic The Gathering Doctor Who Standard legal represents a revised strategy from Wizards of the Coast. The full impact of these changes, especially the integration of Universes Beyond into Standard and the future of sets like Magic The Gathering Doctor Who, remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Magic: The Gathering is entering a new era.
