Wizards of the Coast has unveiled the entire next year of Magic the Gathering in its annual Showcase stream. Alongside confirming rumors we would be returning to Kamigawa and Dominaria, there were also more than a few surprises, such as a follow-up to Commander Legends, an Art Deco gangster-themed set, a Fortnite tie-in Secret Lair, and a new parody Un-set!
Here are all the major releases scheduled for the next year-and-a-bit for Magic the Gathering:
Unconfirmed 2021
Commander Collection Black
Commander Collections are an assortment of cards that define a certain color's role in the Commander format. With Commander Collection Black, exclusive prints of some of Black's most powerful cards, as well as Commander staples, will be available in one collection.
The cards are Liliana, Defiant Necromancer, Reanimate, Toxic Deluge, Ghoulcaller Gisa, Ophiomancer, Phyrexian Arena, Sol Ring and Command Tower. There's also a Snake/Zombie double-sided creature token included as well.
A date hasn’t been given for Commander Collection Black yet, but Wizards has teased it will be available for purchase "soon".
Q4 2021
Pioneer Challenger Decks 2021 – October 15, 2021
People have been very concerned about the state of Pioneer recently. However, that's set to change with the Pioneer Challenger Decks, four pre-made decks completely legal in the format (which only uses cards from Return to Ravnica onwards).
The decks are Azorius (blue/white) Spirits, Orzhov (black/white) Auras, Mono-red Burn, and the blue/black/green Lotus Field Combo.
Q1 2022
Challenger Decks 2022
While we know literally nothing else about them, Wizards had confirmed that we will be getting the usual annual Standard-legal Challenger decks in early 2022.
Premiere Set #1: Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
We're finally returning to one of MTG's most frequently-requested planes, the Japan-inspired Kamigawa. However, this is a radically different look on Kamigawa, taking place in a magical cyberpunk world 2000 years after we last saw it.
The set will introduce a new "cyber-ninja" Planeswalker, Kaito, as well as see the return of an unconfirmed Planeswalker as the current emperor of the world.
Q2 2022
Premiere Set #2: Streets of New Capenna
Combining modern urban fantasy and Gangster movie aesthetic, Streets of New Capena will depict numerous demonic crime families fight for control over a city originally created by angels. This is going to feature a three-color-matters theme, with each of the five families having their own color wedges to play within.
This, right here, is the set I am most excited for. I love Art Deco and Mafia aesthetics and combining that with fantasy gives it a low-fi Shadowrun vibe that I adore.
Unfinity
Unfinity is the latest in Magic's parody sets. These silver-bordered cards aren't legal in any other format, but provide a drafting experience full of wacky mechanics (some of which may eventually come over to MTG proper) and flavor.
This is MTG's first fully sci-fi set, free of the fantastical trappings underpinning other settings like Kaladesh or the new, cyberpunk-y Kamigawa. According to lead designer Mark Rosewater, it's combining retro sci-fi, carnival and amusement park aesthetics in the first ever top-down Un-set (top-down meaning the themes and flavor were decided before any mechanics).
Q3 2022
Premiere Set #3: Dominaria United
To celebrate the game's 30th anniversary, the third set of the year will be returning to the plane of Dominaria. As its first and most prolific setting, returning to it for such a momentous milestone was already almost guaranteed.
While not confirmed by Wizards of the Coast, this set appears to be filling the space usually taken by the annual Core set. We can probably expect this to be a more beginner-friendly take on Magic, showing off and introducing Dominaria to newcomers before we head into one of the most lore-heavy sets released for a very long time to cap off 2022.
Double Masters 2022
We're also getting a brand new Double Masters reprint set in the Summer. While few details were given on this, it is following the same concept as the original Double Masters, where each pack contains at least two rares and two foils, making it a really great choice for collectors.
Q4 2022
Premiere Set #4: The Brothers War
Following our return to present-day Dominaria in Dominaria United, we'll then be going back in time to look more closely at one of the most pivotal moments in its history.
While the war has been explored in previous sets, like Antiquities, those looked back on it after the war had already concluded. This will be the first time the Brothers War, a war that threatened the entire plane between the immensely powerful Planeswalker Urza and his brother Mishra, will be depicted first-hand, giving us a look into the events in more detail than ever before. Expect there to be lots and lots of artifacts.
Jumpstart 2022
Jumpstart was one of the saddest victims of pandemic-Magic. A beginner-friendly set that saw you mash two booster packs together into a fully-playable deck, it was released at a time where nobody could really play tabletop limited formats like.
Fortunately, Jumpstart is getting a second chance with Jumpstart 2022. 46 potential themes were announced, with Eldrazi and 'Multi-headed Creatures' being the two already teased.
Unconfirmed 2022
Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate – Q3/Q4 2022
Commander Legends is one of my all-time favorite sets, and so news we'll be getting a whole new set that combines it and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms is really exciting.
Much like the original Commander Legends, this is a draft-focused Commander set, with each pack containing at least one Legendary creature to build your deck around. Unlike the last set, though, this one is all set in the same Forgotten Realms, meaning we'll likely get more deep cuts from Dungeons & Dragons lore putting an appearance in.
It has been confirmed that this will both reuse mechanics from the last Commander Legends, as well as introduce its own specifically tailored for multiplayer play.
Universes Beyond: Warhammer 40,000 – Q3/Q4 2022
While these had already been announced alongside the introduction of the Universes Beyond crossover series itself, the stream gave us more information about how the Warhammer 40K crossover will function.
This will be a release of four Commander decks, with unique cards and reprints specifically centered around the universe of Warhammer 40,000. The art released shows the series' most popular units, the Space Marines, in action, though no cards have actually been previewed yet. There will also be a Secret Lair tie-in with it, featuring more 40K-themed cards, around the time the decks launch.
Universes Beyond: Fortnite Secret Lair – 2022
Easily the most controversial announcement of the day was a Secret Lair drop collaboration with one of the most successful video games ever, Fortnite.
Like all Secret Lairs, this will be a collection of cards exclusively available for a limited time direct from Wizards. This will be a reprint collection, taking cards that already exist and giving them new, Fortnite-themed art.
Universes Beyond: Street Fighter Secret Lair - 2022
The second Universes Beyond Secret Lair of the year will be a tie-in to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Capcom's fighting game series Street Fighter.
Unlike the Fortnite Secret Lair, this one will contain mechanically unique cards, with the example given being a Chun-Li Legendary Creature, complete with a Multikicker ability.
Unconfirmed 2023
Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings – Tales of Middle Earth – 2023
This is by far the biggest Universes Beyond product ever announced. The Lord of the Rings – Tales of Middle Earth will adapt J.R.R. Tolkein's setting in to a full, black-bordered set, complete with four Commander decks and accompanying Secret Lairs.
The set will bring characters from The Lord of the Rings into the game, with one name already being dropped: Gandalf, Friend of the Shire. However, unlike Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, this won't be a Standard-legal set – it will, however, be legal in other formats like Modern and Commander.
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Personally, I am most excited for Streets of New Capenna. Demonic crime families in a noir-y, gangster-y setting is right up my rain-slicked alley, and I can't wait to explore the setting in more detail.
I'm also thrilled about a new Commander Legends. While focusing it onto a single setting isn't ideal, having a whole new group of Legendaries to brew for is always great, and it's almost guaranteed to include reprints of much-sought-after Commander staples.
