Did you catch our reveal of Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy crossover last week and wonder where the *superheroes* are in the world of video games? Well, brace yourself because today we're unveiling the first look at six new cards from Magic’s upcoming Spider-Man set, along with the accompanying products and packaging.
**Explore the image gallery below** to get a glimpse of all the Spider-Man cards from the Commander-focused Scene Box, booster packs, Welcome Decks, and more. Keep reading to learn all about the set from Wizards of the Coast.
Marvel's Spider-Man x Magic: The Gathering - First Card and Packaging Reveal
21 Images
Set to launch on September 26, Marvel’s Spider-Man will be the second fully draftable, Standard-legal set in Magic’s Universes Beyond line, following Final Fantasy, and the third overall after the Modern-legal Lord of the Rings set. Unlike what you might expect, this set won’t feature any preconstructed Commander decks. Instead, **the cards in the Scene Box shown above** are designed specifically for Commander and **won’t** be Standard-legal.
While a Secret Lair featuring Wolverine, Captain America, and others marked Magic’s first foray into the Marvel universe last year, Spider-Man will be the first full set inspired by the comics. Wizards of the Coast Executive Producer Max McCall explained the decision, stating, "Spider-Man needs a full set to do justice to the character and incorporate the many villains he’s encountered over the years. Including characters from the Spider-Man canon in a wider set would leave too many out. We could fit Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales in a non-specific set, but there wouldn’t be room for Aunt May."
McCall further elaborated on the unique approach to designing for a Universes Beyond set, saying, "It flips the worldbuilding on its head. A typical Magic set needs to establish its location and setting while being fun to play. But with a character like Spider-Man, many players already have some familiarity. When we create a card that embodies 'great power bearing great responsibility,' we can add mechanical complexity because the story resonates with fans. We don’t have to simplify Universes Beyond cards; we just need to capture recognizable moments that fans will understand."
AnswerSee ResultsHead Designer Mark Rosewater shared insights on translating iconic moments into Magic cards, emphasizing the flexibility of the color pie: "It's robust enough to represent heroism and villainy across all five colors." He illustrated this with Spider-Man, who would typically be white, blue, and green, though the specific version in the Scene Box is limited to the first two. "Spider-Man's obligation to use his power for good aligns with the white color pie. His scientific origin and invention skills are blue. Finally, his animal-based powers and connection to the Spider-Man universe embody green."
"We're not limiting ourselves to any one \[comic\] run or series." In addition to the Scene Box, the set will include Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, Bundles, and Prerelease Packs, all showcased in the gallery above. Although there won’t be preconstructed Commander decks, this set will reintroduce Welcome Decks – introductory decks distributed for free by game stores to help new players learn the game in a low-pressure environment.
Alongside this year’s Final Fantasy set, Wizards of the Coast has also announced a set themed around Avatar: The Last Airbender. Before that, two more in-universe sets are planned: Tarkir: Dragonsorm and the space-themed Edge of Eternities.
*Continue reading for the full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast’s Max McCall and Mark Rosewater:*
