Love them or loathe them, Universes Beyond sets are becoming an inescapable part of Magic: The Gathering. Wizards of the Coast has recently unveiled significant shifts in their release strategy and format legality to fully embrace these crossovers, which are proving to be incredibly lucrative partnerships with major franchises such as Warhammer 40k, Final Fantasy, and now, Doctor Who. Prepare for a future where MTG Universes Beyond cards are not just more numerous, but also deeply integrated into the core game experience.
The most immediate change is the sheer volume of Universes Beyond content. Looking at the upcoming Magic: The Gathering release schedule for next year, we see a balanced split: three sets dedicated to Wizards’ original Magic: The Gathering worlds and characters, and an equal number of Universes Beyond sets. Among these exciting crossovers are the already announced Final Fantasy and Marvel Spiderman sets, alongside a highly anticipated, yet-to-be-revealed third product.
This marks a substantial increase from the previous two years. In comparison, we saw four original MTG sets alongside two major Universes Beyond releases – Lord of the Rings and Doctor Who in 2023, followed by Fallout and Assassin’s Creed in 2024. This new 3:3 ratio signals a clear direction, suggesting that an equilibrium between original Magic content and Universes Beyond tie-ins is the intended model moving forward.
MTG art showing a flame elemental person from the plane of lorwyn.
This shift has already had repercussions on previously anticipated content. The planned return to the fan-favorite plane of Lorwyn, initially expected as the final set of 2025, has been pushed off next year’s schedule to accommodate the increased Universes Beyond presence. This news is undoubtedly disappointing for players eagerly awaiting a revisit to this Celtic folklore-inspired MTG plane.
However, the most impactful change for the game is the format legality update. Starting with the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set, all future Universes Beyond releases will be legal in Magic’s Standard format. This is a game-changer. Inclusion in Standard means these sets will also be playable in Pioneer, Modern, and virtually every other MTG format. Universes Beyond will no longer be confined to the fringes of the game; they will be a core part of the Magic: The Gathering ecosystem across all formats.
Wizards of the Coast frames this decision as a simplification of set legality, aiming for a system where all sets are either eternally legal or Standard legal. This could potentially mean a greater volume of cards entering Standard if supplemental sets designed for specific formats become less frequent. Blake Rasmussen, Communications Manager at Wizards, suggested that while this is the general direction, exceptions can still be made, leaving the door open for products like Modern Horizons IV in the future.
During a press preview panel, Rasmussen presented this significant release schedule alteration with a degree of understatement. He stated, “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.”
MTG lord of the rings art showing Frodo with Sting.
However, the move to integrate Universes Beyond this deeply into Standard is undeniably a seismic shift for Magic: The Gathering. The question of potential IP dilution naturally arises. When asked if Wizards was concerned about diluting their core Magic IP with the influx of crossovers, Rasmussen responded emphatically, “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.”
Looking at the financial success of previous Universes Beyond releases, particularly the MTG Lord of the Rings set, which became the second best selling set in record time and now holds the title of Magic’s biggest release ever, it’s clear why Wizards is doubling down on this strategy. Universes Beyond sets are incredibly popular and highly profitable, making their expansion into all facets of the trading card game a logical business decision.
The quality of Universes Beyond sets has generally been praised, with many highlighting the flavorful designs, compelling card art, and evident care put into their creation. However, this increased focus on crossovers is likely to fuel concerns about potential oversaturation. For players deeply invested in Magic’s original lore and characters, the prospect of fewer original sets each year is undoubtedly a cause for concern.
MTG doctor who art featuring the Cyber Controller from Doctor Who Universes Beyond.
Historically, crossover cards have felt most appropriate as optional additions to the Magic experience. Their inclusion in Commander, a format known for its eclectic nature and vast card pool, felt natural. Commander players embrace diversity and personal expression in deckbuilding, making Universes Beyond a comfortable fit. Similarly, in Modern, the impact of tie-in cards has been minimal due to the format’s extensive card pool.
However, Standard presents a different landscape. With a much smaller card pool compared to older formats, the impact of Universes Beyond cards is likely to be more pronounced. It’s conceivable that in the near future, top-tier Standard decks could be heavily influenced by Universes Beyond strategies, perhaps revolving around mechanics and characters from franchises like Doctor Who, Final Fantasy, or Marvel. This integration into Standard will fundamentally change the format and could create a distinctly different play experience.
The timing of this decision and its potential connection to the delayed announcement of next year’s sets raises questions. The typical August unveiling was notably late this year, suggesting a possible shift in plans. It’s plausible that Wizards of the Coast had a different roadmap in mind initially and that the decision to significantly expand Universes Beyond and integrate them into Standard represents a more recent strategic pivot.
