Marvel's Spider-Man Swings into Magic: The Gathering with New Cards and Products
Last week's reveal of Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy crossover sparked excitement, but for superhero fans, the wait is over. A first look at six new cards from the upcoming Spider-Man set, along with accompanying products and packaging, is here.
Explore the Image Gallery Below: The gallery showcases Spider-Man cards from the Commander-focused Scene Box, booster packs, Welcome Decks, and more.
Marvel's Spider-Man x Magic: The Gathering – A Closer Look
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Launching September 26th, Marvel’s Spider-Man becomes the second fully draftable, Standard-legal set in Magic’s Universes Beyond line (following Final Fantasy), and the third overall. Unlike expectations, it won't feature preconstructed Commander decks; however, the Scene Box cards, while showcased above, are not Standard-legal and are designed specifically for Commander play.
This marks Magic's first full set inspired by Marvel comics, following last year's Secret Lair featuring Wolverine and Captain America. Wizards of the Coast Executive Producer, Max McCall, explains the decision: a smaller product wouldn't accommodate the breadth of Spider-Man's universe. "Spider-Man needs a full set to do justice to the character, and incorporate the many villains he’s faced," McCall states. "A smaller set would leave out crucial characters like Aunt May."
McCall describes Universes Beyond set design as "flipping the worldbuilding on its head." Standard Magic sets require establishing location and setting, while Universes Beyond leverages pre-existing familiarity with characters like Spider-Man. "With a character like Spider-Man, the inherent narrative allows for mechanical complexity," McCall adds. "We don't need 'simple' cards; we focus on recognizable moments that resonate with fans."
AnswerSee ResultsHead Designer Mark Rosewater highlights Magic's color pie's adaptability: "It's robust enough to portray heroism and villainy across all five colors." He cites Spider-Man's alignment with white, blue, and green, explaining the reasoning behind each color's association.
Beyond the Scene Box, the set includes Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, Bundles, and the return of Welcome Decks – introductory decks for new players. Following this year's Final Fantasy and the announced Avatar: The Last Airbender sets, two more in-universe sets are planned: Tarkir: Dragonstorm and the space-themed Edge of Eternities.
A full, unedited interview with Max McCall and Mark Rosewater is available (link to interview).
