Magic: the Gathering Making Controversial Change to Booster Boxes

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Wizards of the Coast announced a significant update to how Magic: the Gathering booster boxes are sold, starting in 2026. This will end a program that has been in place for 17 years. 2025 was a fantastic year for the popular card game, featuring several exciting new sets and popular collaborations. The Magic: the Gathering and Final Fantasy partnership was incredibly successful, becoming one of their fastest-selling releases ever, and the Avatar the Last: Airbender expansion in November has also been very well-received. However, even bigger changes are planned for the first set of 2026.

To start 2026, Magic: The Gathering is revisiting the fan-favorite world of Lorwyn with a new set called Lorwyn Eclipsed, releasing on January 23rd. Wizards of the Coast hasn’t revealed many details about the cards yet, but they have announced the return of the final five “Shock Lands” – completing a popular cycle that began with Edge of Eternities. This set will also mark the final appearance of a long-running program within the game.

Magic: the Gathering is Discontinuing a Popular Promo Program

Wizards of the Coast has announced it will stop offering the “Buy-a-Box” promotion for Magic: The Gathering after the release of the Lorwyn Eclipsed set. This promotion gave players a special card when they purchased a full box of new Magic: The Gathering cards and began with the Magic 2010 release in 2009. While Wizards of the Coast didn’t explain why they’re ending the promotion, they confirmed that Lorwyn Eclipsed will be the last set to include these bonus cards. They also haven’t announced any plans for a new promotion to take its place.

Wizards of the Coast explained how the Buy-a-Box promotion has evolved since it began in 2009. Magic: the Gathering has sometimes included alternate artwork for cards in a set as a promo, and other times has created completely new cards. Including cards with unique abilities as Buy-a-Box promos has occasionally been controversial; for example, past promos like Nexus of Fate and Kenrith, the Returned King became very powerful and widely used. More recently, promos have shifted between alternate art versions of cards from the current set—like Firebending Student from Avatar—and reprints of older cards with new artwork, such as Herald’s Horn from Final Fantasy.

Image via Wizards of the Coast

What’s Next for Magic: the Gathering in 2026?

Although Wizards of the Coast hasn’t announced a replacement for the popular Buy-a-Box promotions, they’ve shared some upcoming plans for local game stores. They’re working on new event formats, support systems, and promotions following the end of Buy-a-Box. Recent Magic: The Gathering sets have been testing out different kinds of products, like the exclusive Commander Bundle included with the Avatar: The Last Airbender set, which featured *Avatarthemed reprints of popular Commander cards such as Fierce Guardianship and Deflecting Swat. New crossover sets have also been getting special Scene Boxes with unique cards and connected artwork.

Image via Wizards of the Coast

While the popular Buy-a-Box promotions are ending, Magic: The Gathering has exciting plans for 2026. Wizards of the Coast has revealed its schedule for the next year, which includes the return of beloved Magic worlds like Lorwyn and Strixhaven. Throughout the year, players can also look forward to several major crossovers, with dedicated sets featuring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel Super Heroes, The Hobbit, and Star Trek. Overall, 2026 promises to be a dynamic year for Magic: The Gathering with many new developments.

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2025-11-30 22:04