Magic: the Gathering’s Garfield Secret Lair Proves We’ve Become Numb to Universes Beyond

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October 4th, 2020. A day that, for many Magic: the Gathering fans, will live in infamy.

Secret Lair drops weren’t new – they’d been around for almost a year. However, this was the first time they featured characters from outside the Magic universe on actual Magic cards – this was the first “Universes Beyond” release.

It was a bit strange to see The Walking Dead chosen, especially since the show wasn’t as popular anymore after some disappointing seasons. But that’s not what I want to discuss. I want to talk about how we went from being surprised to see characters like Daryl Dixon and Will Byers appear on Magic: The Gathering cards, to feeling completely unenthusiastic about the recent Garfield card release, which was immediately followed by a new Marvel set that can be used in standard play.

We’re drowning in Universes Beyond, and there seems to be no end in sight.

How Did We Get Here?

Let’s quickly cover how Universes Beyond came to be before discussing what’s happening now and in the future. Although The Walking Dead was the first set created, it wasn’t officially launched until 2021. That same year saw the release of Stranger Things and Arcane, but these were simply smaller, limited-edition drops called Secret Lairs. Also, the Arcane set only featured alternate artwork for cards that were already available.

After the Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks were released, it became clear they wouldn’t be part of the standard rotation, as Magic’s head designer, Mark Rosewater, explained. These decks proved surprisingly popular, paving the way for the larger Lord of the Rings set. This set included cards playable in older, more established formats like Modern, and some cards, like Orcish Bowmasters, quickly became very powerful. Even now, Orcish Bowmasters remains a frequently played card in Modern decks, appearing in about 15% of them.

The Final Fantasy set was incredibly popular, so it wasn’t surprising when it became available in the Standard format in 2025. This marked a significant shift: after initially having no premier sets from outside Magic: The Gathering (‘Universes Beyond’), we’re now seeing half of all sets come from these collaborations in 2025, and over half in 2026. Wizards of the Coast noted that cards like Vivi Ornitier were highly successful in tournaments after the ‘Edge of Eternities’ expansion, ultimately leading to a ban in Standard.

Honestly, as soon as these sets started blowing up, I figured Wizards would eventually go back on what they said. There was just so much money to be made! They were selling like crazy, but not really to the hardcore, tournament-style Magic players. It was the casual players – the ones who play Commander or just around the kitchen table – who were really into them. And you know what? Wizards and Hasbro finally figured out how to get all those casual players into local game stores – it was all thanks to Universes Beyond!

Garfield: A Funny Idea That Should Have Been It

The Garfield Secret Lair is commendable for its lighthearted approach. It playfully acknowledges the game’s history, as seen in the phrase ‘Magic as Richard Garfield intended,’ which highlights a focus on impactful spells, a contrast to the creature-heavy gameplay common now.

Secret Lair X Garfield: As Intended is a set that celebrates both Magic: The Gathering’s creator, Richard Garfield, and the feel of the game’s early days. It’s a playful tribute that captures a fun and carefree spirit.

We’re drowning in Universes Beyond, and there seems to be no end in sight.

Some of the other Garfield-themed collectibles are pretty strange. The ‘Talk to the Paw’ and ‘Hang In There’ items feel awkward, though ‘I Hate Mondays’ at least fits Garfield’s personality. The artwork is consistent with the original comic, but ‘Our Only Thought Is To Entertain You’ is different – it features bizarre art and a really odd selection of cards that most people didn’t even want to see again.

I know Garfield comic strips can be pretty strange, and while this feels different from those, it’s just… odd. Despite the criticism, I think these ‘Universe Beyond’ sets have a lot of potential for fun. The SpongeBob Secret Lair is particularly well done, and the Baldur’s Gate 3 release really fits the theme. Honestly, I’m not sure what’s happening with this one.

We’re at the “Anything Goes” Stage for Universes Beyond

The main issue with these Universes Beyond releases is a lack of moderation – they’re going all-out without holding back.

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I’m not a big fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, even though it was incredibly popular. The card game store near me had record-breaking pre-orders, and it seems like others did too. However, I’m not sure we needed a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set, especially because it overshadowed the long-awaited return of the Lorwyn set and didn’t get much attention before the release of Secrets of Strixhaven just over six weeks later.

I won’t add to the ongoing debate about whether there are too many Magic: The Gathering sets – many others have already expressed that point well. However, it’s becoming obvious that the current pace of releases isn’t sustainable and will likely lead to problems. By 2026, Magic will release more sets based on outside universes than sets focused on its own established world, and this trend is expected to continue, as indicated by Mark Rosewater in a recent blog post.

I expect that eventually, sets focused on stories within a single Multiverse will become more common than sets exploring stories across many Universes Beyond.

I’m really curious about what kind of sets we’ll see in the future! It’s cool they’re revisiting Tolkien with The Hobbit this year – it feels like a natural fit. After Edge of Eternities’ space theme, I wouldn’t be shocked if we got a Star Trek set, maybe something similar in style. But beyond that, I’m wondering what they haven’t explored yet. Will we just get more superhero or video game themes? Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if it even matters anymore, as long as the sets are fun!

Look, as long as Hasbro and Wizards are profiting from these Universes Beyond sets, they really don’t seem to care what anyone says. That’s why we’re seeing them go all-in on whatever crossovers they want! Honestly, the sets are selling well, despite all the online complaining. If that’s true, why would they stop now? Why not keep experimenting and pushing the limits? I guess this is just the new direction Magic is taking, and we’re all along for the ride.

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2026-05-29 18:40