One Magic: The Gathering Product is Likely to Appear in All 2025 Universes Beyond Sets

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Summary

  • Magic: The Gathering will shift to 3 in-universe sets and 3 Universes Beyond sets in 2025.
  • UB sets like Lord of the Rings were successful, and Fallout and Warhammer 40K Commander decks’ sales prompt more.
  • Final Fantasy and Spider-Man MTG sets are likely to feature Commander decks in 2025.

2025 marks a significant milestone for “Magic: The Gathering” as Wizards of the Coast plans to switch from four to three sets in the main Magic Universe and increase Universes Beyond sets from two or one to three. These changes, particularly in the Universes Beyond sets, are massive, as they will now be Standard-legal. This shift in the release schedule has sparked mixed feelings among fans, with some expressing disapproval while others embrace it. Despite the polarizing nature of this change, it’s worth noting that the UB sets in “Magic: The Gathering” have consistently been financially successful, which likely explains why more of them are being introduced.

One common comparison that Wizards of the Coast often uses is how well-received and successful products based on “Lord of the Rings” were, with factors such as the hunt for The One Ring card and the IP’s natural compatibility with “Magic: The Gathering” contributing to this success. However, not all Universes Beyond IPs may fit as seamlessly from a thematic and setting perspective, which is why some fans might be dissatisfied with the shift in legality and release schedule. Nevertheless, one Magic: The Gathering product could potentially work for any Universes Beyond sets, and a recent statement by Head Designer Mark Rosewater increases the likelihood of its appearance in this year’s releases.

Why Magic: The Gathering’s 2025 UB Sets Are Likely to Feature Commander Decks

It’s no secret to many enthusiasts that Commander is the most favored format in Magic: The Gathering. This popularity can be attributed to its social aspect and the convenience of pre-built decks that often accompany new launches, making it simpler for players to dive into Commander. On his blog, Mark Rosewater recently confirmed that some of Wizards of the Coast’s most successful products have been the Commander decks for Fallout and Warhammer 40K, as well as UB-themed Secret Lair drops.

Magic: The Gathering’s 2025 Release Schedule Makes For The Perfect Shot at UB Commander Decks

Given their success, it appears only fitting that Wizards of the Coast (WotC) would expand their investment in Commander products. Given the popularity of UB (Blue-Black) Commander decks in the past, it’s a plausible prediction to see more of these throughout 2025. At the moment, the only confirmed Universes Beyond sets for 2025 in Magic: The Gathering are Spider-Man and Final Fantasy, with a third one still undisclosed. It remains uncertain if Final Fantasy will include Commander products, but considering the allure of the IP and its past performance, it seems quite probable.

It’s quite probable that the Spider-Man set for Magic: The Gathering would have included Commander products. This is due to the format’s rule that Legendary Creatures can function as commanders, which fits perfectly with Marvel heroes like Spider-Man. Additionally, Magic: The Gathering and Marvel have previously collaborated on crossover products, such as the Secret Lair drop in late 2024. Given these precedents, it appears that Spider-Man Commander decks will soon be available at local game stores and online.

What Final Fantasy and Spider-Man MTG Commander Decks May Look Like

In a similar vein, Final Fantasy shares this concept. If we were to create an assortment of Magic: The Gathering cards inspired by mainline Final Fantasy games from the original to FF16, it would introduce a wealth of memorable characters as potential commanders for fresh decks. Imagine Commander decks based on the remake trilogy of Final Fantasy 7 or even ones centered around Spider-Man and his associates, including Venom. With such an abundance of characters within these intellectual properties, new Commander decks seem like a fitting addition to our product lineup in 2025, given their past successes, as suggested by Rosewater.

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2025-01-07 00:43