Commander Bracket System Updates and Unbans - April 2025

<h6 style="text-align: right;">"Adventures of the Little Witch" | Image credit: Wizards of the Coast</h6>
<p>On Tuesday, April 22nd, Chaos Vault, the newest initiative for <em>Secret Lair</em>, released <a href="https://secretlair.wizards.com/us/product/1107793/adventures-of-the-little-witch">"Adventures of the Little Witch"</a>, its newest drop. This drop contains four cards with art by illustrator <a href="https://heikala.com/"><strong>Heikala</strong></a>. Are these cards particularly valuable, and do they have a home in any <em>Magic</em> decks? Read on, and find out!</p>
<h2>Chaos Vault Description of "Adventures of the Little Witch"</h2>
<p>According to the description of this new drop, "These reprints were individually selected to go with the art style and tone of Heikala's amazing work, and we think they turned out great." The art features a cozy, almost cottagecore vibe reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's <em>Kiki's Delivery Service</em> or other films by <strong>Hayao Miyazaki</strong>. Inspired by Miyazaki or not, it can be said that Heikala's illustrations for this drop are calm and light.</p>
<p>But let's not bury the lede. Here are the renders for the four cards in this Chaos Vault drop:</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/secret-rendezvous.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="322" height="450" class="wp-image-149283 size-full aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/secret-rendezvous.png" alt="Secret Rendezvous, a card from the &quot;Adventures of the Little Witch&quot; Chaos Vault drop for Secret Lair. &lt;yoastmark class=" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/secret-rendezvous.png 322w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/secret-rendezvous-215x300.png 215w" sizes="(max-width: 322px) 100vw, 322px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/serenity.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="322" height="450" class="wp-image-149285 size-full aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/serenity.png" alt="Serenity, a card from the &quot;Adventures of the Little Witch&quot; drop. &lt;yoastmark class=" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/serenity.png 322w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/serenity-215x300.png 215w" sizes="(max-width: 322px) 100vw, 322px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/esikas-chariot.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="322" height="450" class="wp-image-149286 size-full aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/esikas-chariot.png" alt="Esika's Chariot, a card from the &quot;Adventures of the Little Witch&quot; drop. &lt;yoastmark class=" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/esikas-chariot.png 322w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/esikas-chariot-215x300.png 215w" sizes="(max-width: 322px) 100vw, 322px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/realms-uncharted.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="322" height="450" class="wp-image-149287 size-full aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/realms-uncharted.png" alt="Realms Uncharted, a card from the &quot;Adventures of the Little Witch&quot; drop. &lt;yoastmark class=" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/realms-uncharted.png 322w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/realms-uncharted-215x300.png 215w" sizes="(max-width: 322px) 100vw, 322px" /></a></p>
<h2>Does "Adventures" Hold Up?</h2>
<p>While cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esika&#039;s Chariot" href="#" target="_blank">Esika&#039;s Chariot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> saw play in Standard and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Realms Uncharted" href="#" target="_blank">Realms Uncharted</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> sees some play in Commander, these cards do not seem to be standouts. None of them currently boasts a particularly high price tag in normal iterations. It remains to be seen if Heikala's art will change that for these versions. Nevertheless, if you like these cards and either plan to use them or want to collect the superb and cozy art, there's nothing wrong with picking up a copy of this drop.</p>
<p>"Adventures of the Little Witch" is currently selling on the <em>Secret Lair</em> webstore under the Chaos Vault subset. It sells at a price point of $29.99 for nonfoil, but for some reason, it is $59.99 <a href="https://secretlair.wizards.com/us/product/1107792/adventures-of-the-little-witch-foil-edition">in foil</a>. This is a different pricing than previous foil <em>Secret Lair</em> drops, of this distinction or otherwise. Does this mean there's something more to the foil iterations? This is currently unclear.</p>
<p>Are you planning on picking up this Chaos Vault <em>Secret Lair</em> drop? Will you press your luck and get it in foil? Also, do you like the art for this drop? Sound off below!</p>


Chaos Vault Releases "Adventures of the Little Witch" Drop

<p>For a few years now, <em>Universes Beyond</em> has been hit or miss regarding integration into digital <em>Magic</em> gaming. Whether it was <em>Magic: The Gathering Online</em> or <em>Magic Arena</em>, some sets in <em>Universes Beyond</em> didn't release for the digital interface. This left many players pining for a more paper-like play experience in these interfaces. However, on Monday, April 21st, Wizards of the Coast announced <em>Through the Omenpaths</em>, a new digital-only release that sates those needs. <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> will serve a similar purpose to <em>Universes Within</em>, bringing in <em>Universes Beyond</em> cards into digital <em>Magic</em> spaces with an in-universe aesthetic.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arvinox, the Mind Flail"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadpool, Trading Card"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Forge, Neverwinter Charlatan"></div></div>
<h2>Wizards of the Coast's Statement on <em>Through the Omenpaths</em></h2>
<p>In their announcement on <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/through-the-omenpaths-and-digital-universes-beyond-updates">DailyMTG</a>, <strong>Blake Rasmussen</strong> had this to say about the initiative for the digital playspaces:</p>
<blockquote><p>We will not be creating <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> sets mirroring every <em>Universes Beyond</em> set, only the ones that will not be coming to digital platforms. This lets our formats remain mechanically at parity with one another digitally without having to create patchwork solutions here or there. We are also currently only planning to create <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> releases for full sets that are legal in all formats.</p>
<p>For the remainder of 2025, two <em>Universes Beyond </em>sets will be coming to <em>MTG Arena</em> and <em>Magic Online</em>:<em> Magic: The Gathering</em>—FINAL FANTASY and <em>Magic: The Gathering </em>|<em> Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>.</p>
<p>One 2025 set, <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> | <em>Marvel's Spider-Man</em> (as well as future Marvel sets) will not be coming to digital <em>Magic </em>platforms. Instead, we will release our first <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> set on September 23. We'll have more information on that set as we get closer to the release date.</p></blockquote>
<h2>The Implications For <em>Universes Within</em></h2>
<p>The announcement of <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> brings some hope for players who want in-universe versions of powerful <em>Universes Beyond</em> cards. Because these newly in-universe cards will have new art and aesthetics paired with mechanics that exist in paper <em>Magic</em>, this is a recipe to bring cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Orcish Bowmasters" href="#" target="_blank">Orcish Bowmasters</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dino DNA" href="#" target="_blank">Dino DNA</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Celestine, the Living Saint" href="#" target="_blank">Celestine, the Living Saint</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to <em>Universes Within</em> as well.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dino DNA"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Orcish Bowmasters"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Celestine, the Living Saint"></div></div>
<h3>The Potential Financial Impact</h3>
<p>Previously, many members of the <em>Magic</em> community who were critical of the licensing issues behind <em>Universes Beyond</em> have stated that printing mechanically-unique cards in a licensed release makes a pseudo-Reserved List. However, with this new initiative and the hope behind it, this complaint may soon become a much smaller issue. As a result, some <em>Universes Beyond</em> cards may stop carrying as much value on the secondary market. That said, players still need proof of concept from <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> before that idea is proven to hold water.</p>
<h2><em>Universes</em> Within The Digital Playspaces</h2>
<p>The implications of <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> are massive, but the proof that they're effective will have to wait for a few months from now. Nevertheless, it's an exciting prospect for fans of in-universe <em>Magic</em>. It's timely, too, as just three days earlier, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/mark-rosewater-in-multiverse-sets-should-feel-like-magic">we reported</a> on <em>Magic</em> Head Designer <strong>Mark Rosewater</strong>'s statement that in-Multiverse aesthetics need to feel distinctly like <em>Magic</em>. This statement has sparked some discussion about what that means, both for <em>Magic</em>'s Multiverse and for <em>Universes Beyond</em>.</p>
<p>What do you think about <em>Through the Omenpaths</em> as a concept? Do you hope for in-Multiverse versions of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The One Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The One Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Great Unclean One" href="#" target="_blank">Great Unclean One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Megatron, Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Megatron, Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Sound off below!</p>


Through The Omenpaths Introduced For MTGO, Arena

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><em>Magic</em> Head Designer Mark Rosewater | Image Credit: Wizards of the Coast</h6>
<p>It's not surprising to many that <em>Tarkir Dragonstorm</em> is selling quite well right now. The sales data that Wizards of the Coast has access to seems to give credence to that idea. However, a few questions happen to spring from this well-received set, one of which we will cover here. In short, <em>Magic</em> Head Designer <strong>Mark Rosewater</strong> is busy on social media answering questions about <em>Magic</em>'s design process and its reception. Very specifically, on <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/markrosewater">Blogatog</a>, Rosewater's work-oriented Tumblr blog, he has been addressing inquiries about exactly why <em>Tarkir Dragonstorm</em> has sold so well.</p>
<div class="tumblr-post" data-href="https://embed.tumblr.com/embed/post/t:DfYWVw3OWM7GYSz0pPuL-Q/781025267501137920/v2" data-did="da39a3ee5e6b4b0d3255bfef95601890afd80709" ><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/markrosewater/781025267501137920/re-ub-has-made-players-want-in-universe-sets-to">https://www.tumblr.com/markrosewater/781025267501137920/re-ub-has-made-players-want-in-universe-sets-to</a></div>
<p><script async src="https://assets.tumblr.com/post.js?_v=38df9a6ca7436e6ca1b851b0543b9f51"></script></p>
<p>In his most in-depth reply, posted on Thursday, April 17th, Rosewater addressed a slight inaccuracy within his previous answers. In earlier replies, he mentioned the need for <em>Magic</em> sets to push boundaries. However, upon users such as the one in the embedded Tumblr post above calling Rosewater out on this, Rosewater admitted he misspoke. The crux of his point was that players want <em>Magic</em> to feel like <em>Magic</em>. Pushing bounds is still a valid design choice when designing for the game, and that holds true for "in-Multiverse" <em>Magic</em> sets.</p>
<div class="tumblr-post" data-href="https://embed.tumblr.com/embed/post/t:DfYWVw3OWM7GYSz0pPuL-Q/781082769582358534/v2" data-did="da39a3ee5e6b4b0d3255bfef95601890afd80709" ><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/markrosewater/781082769582358534/just-wanted-to-chime-in-that-im-incredibly">https://www.tumblr.com/markrosewater/781082769582358534/just-wanted-to-chime-in-that-im-incredibly</a></div>
<p><script async src="https://assets.tumblr.com/post.js?_v=38df9a6ca7436e6ca1b851b0543b9f51"></script></p>
<p>But this brings us to why this all came together the way it did, from all this discussion of bounds and nostalgia to the roaring success of <em>Tarkir Dragonstorm</em>. During this whole discussion thread, Rosewater mainly tried to say that in-Multiverse <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> sets should, appropriately, feel like <em>Magic</em>.</p>
<p>This is something that <em>Tarkir Dragonstorm</em> has done exceptionally well in many players' eyes. It is entirely plausible that, to use a bit of redundant speech, <em>Magic</em> players want <em>Magic</em> cards. Many of those players are not particularly enthused by the <em>Universes Beyond</em> initiative or its many tie-ins. And to reuse a slight cliche, they often just want <em>Magic</em> the way its creator <strong>Richard Garfield</strong> originally intended.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breaching Dragonstorm"></div></div>
<h2>Mark Rosewater's Response Is A Good Sign</h2>
<p>Rosewater, addressing these accolades and questions, feels like a good step towards this goal. It at the very least means that the good people at Wizards of the Coast are listening to players' concerns. Does this mean that in the next 2.5 years, we will start getting in-Multiverse sets that definitively feel more like <em>Magic</em> of old? This may be true. At the same time, it could be a shorter span, or even a longer one, until we get that again. Furthermore, some in-Multiverse <em>Magic</em> sets may end up missing the mark on that concept. Such is the way of design-based experimentation. But suffice it to say, we should focus on the here and now and continue to celebrate the critical and commercial successes of <em>Tarkir Dragonstorm</em>.</p>
<p>Let's open the floor to you. How do you feel about the new set? Do you think it "feels" like <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>? Additionally, what is your opinion of <em>Universes Beyond</em>? Sound off below!</p>


Mark Rosewater: In-Multiverse Sets Should Feel Like Magic

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Wizards of the Coast</h6>
<p>There's always plenty to do at MagicCon events. From professional play, to panels, all the way to Commander pickup games, MagicCon is always a blast for those who join in on the fun. But now, for <a href="https://magic.gg/news/celebrating-final-fantasy-at-magiccon-las-vegas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MagicCon: Las Vegas</a>, there is even more incentive to reserve a spot! The event will, in part, celebrate <em>Wizards of the Coast</em>'s collaboration with <em>Square Enix</em> on <em>Magic: The Gathering's</em> upcoming <em>Final Fantasy</em> set.</p>
<h2><em>Final Fantasy</em>-themed Promo Yoshimaru</h2>
<p>There is a special surprise for fans of <em>FFXVI</em>'s goodest boy. If you attend MagicCon: Las Vegas this year, you will receive a promotional copy of Torgal, Clive's Companion. Torgal is a <em>Final Fantasy XVI</em>-themed reskin of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful" href="#" target="_blank">Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div id="attachment_148993" style="width: 410px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-148993" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-148993" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Torgal-Clives-Companion-mtgxff.webp" alt="Torgal, Clive's Companion, a Final Fantasy XVI-themed reskin of Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful. " width="400" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Torgal-Clives-Companion-mtgxff.webp 646w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Torgal-Clives-Companion-mtgxff-215x300.webp 215w" sizes="(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px" /><p id="caption-attachment-148993" class="wp-caption-text">Torgal, Clive's Companion, a <em>Final Fantasy XVI</em>-themed reskin of Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful.</p></div>
<p>Attendees of MagicCon: Las Vegas will receive their copy of Torgal alongside their entry badges, making that moment all the more special.</p>
<h2>The Making of <em>MTGxFF</em></h2>
<p>If you're attending on Friday, the convention has a panel that day detailing the behind-the-scenes efforts that allowed <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>'s latest Universes Beyond set to come to fruition.</p>
<blockquote><p>Sixteen FINAL FANTASY games spanning decades. Hundreds of beloved characters. Dozens of unique mechanics. Numerous art styles, tones, locations, animations, stories. How did the designers at Wizards of the Coast combine all of this to give us <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>—FINAL FANTASY? You can learn how at MagicCon: Las Vegas. Hear the stories from behind the scenes on how this monumental <em>Magic</em> set came to be.</p>
<p>Host: <strong>Ben Starr</strong><br />
Panelists: <strong>Daniel Holt</strong>, <strong>Gavin Verhey</strong>, <strong>Dillon Deveney</strong>, and <strong>Zakeel Gordon</strong></p></blockquote>
<h2>Pro Tour: <em>Final Fantasy</em></h2>
<p>Additionally, Pro Tour: <em>Final Fantasy</em> is at MagicCon: Las Vegas this year. Over 300 professional <em>Magic</em> players will compete in Vegas for their piece of a $500,000 prize pool. According to Magic.gg's blurb:</p>
<blockquote><p>With bragging rights, a $500,000 prize pool, and invitations to Pro Tour <em>Edge of Eternities</em> and <i>Magic</i> World Championship 31 on the line, it'll be an action-packed tournament! The formats for this event will be <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>—FINAL FANTASY Booster Draft and Standard Constructed.</p></blockquote>
<p>Players can also watch this event from home via <a href="http://twitch.tv/magic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">twitch.tv/magic</a>. There will also be periodic recaps for event coverage posted on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@play_mtg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Play MTG</a> YouTube channel.</p>
<h2>Other MagicCon Attractions in Las Vegas</h2>
<p>There are several other events and attractions at MagicCon: Las Vegas this year. These include:</p>
<h3>Ticketed Play Events</h3>
<p>The ticketed play events for this convention include:</p>
<ul>
<li>a Friday Night Magic 2-Headed Giant Sealed event</li>
<li>the Pro Tour Qualifier, wherein the event is <em>Final Fantasy</em> Sealed</li>
<li>a Commander Party event for <em>Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy</em></li>
</ul>
<div id="attachment_148994" style="width: 569px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-148994" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-148994" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/sleeves.jpg" alt="A Final Fantasy sleeve, illustrated by Toshitaka Matsuda with a design created by Tetsuya Nomura, to be sold at the Square Enix booth at MagicCon: Las Vegas. " width="559" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/sleeves.jpg 2000w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/sleeves-300x300.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/sleeves-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/sleeves-150x150.jpg 150w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/sleeves-768x768.jpg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/sleeves-1536x1536.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px" /><p id="caption-attachment-148994" class="wp-caption-text">A <em>Final Fantasy</em> sleeve, illustrated by <strong>Toshitaka Matsuda</strong> with a design created by <strong>Tetsuya Nomura</strong>, to be sold at the Square Enix booth at MagicCon: Las Vegas.</p></div>
<h3>A Square Enix Merch Booth</h3>
<p>According to Magic.gg:</p>
<blockquote><p>Find plushies and figurines of iconic FINAL FANTASY characters—plus, be among the first to grab card sleeves featuring official FINAL FANTASY artwork in an advance sale before their retail release later this year!</p></blockquote>
<h3>Game Knights Live</h3>
<p>This fan-favorite event will take place on the Mana Stage on Friday evening. While <em>Wizards of the Coast</em> has vowed not to spoil any surprises, at least one player in the exhibition match will, in fact, have a deck based on a <em>MTGxFF</em> commander.</p>
<h2>Final Notes</h2>
<p>Are you going to MagicCon: Las Vegas? Will you be doing any specific activities while there? If you're familiar with the area, let us and your fellow commenters know what the best haunts are in the area! Sound off below!</p>


Final Fantasy Celebrations At MagicCon: Las Vegas

<h6 style="text-align: right;">The art for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | art copyright Wizards of the Coast</h6>
<p>A few days ago, seven prolific members of the <em>Magic</em> community announced that they had received invitations to reveal cards from a <a href="https://secretlair.wizards.com/us"><em>Secret Lair</em></a> Commander Deck. With absolutely no idea what those cards could be, they finally revealed them on Wednesday, April 9th. What were those cards, and what could they reveal about the deck? At the time of writing the deck isn't fully revealed yet. So, let's look into what these streamers received within the "Everyone's Invited" <em>Secret Lair</em> Commander deck!</p>
<h2>TaaliaVess's Reveal</h2>
<p>According to sources on social media, streamer <strong><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/taaliavess">TaaliaVess</a></strong> received a copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morophon, the Boundless" href="#" target="_blank">Morophon, the Boundless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Morophon seems to be the commander of this deck. It also implies that the deck is a Kindred-matters deck.</p>
<div id="attachment_148301" style="width: 501px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Morophon-the-Boundless.jpg"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-148301" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-148301" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Morophon-the-Boundless.jpg" alt="An image of TaaliaVess's reveal of Morophon, the Boundless from the &quot;Everyone's Invited&quot; Secret Lair Commander deck. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast" width="491" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Morophon-the-Boundless.jpg 640w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Morophon-the-Boundless-263x300.jpg 263w" sizes="(max-width: 491px) 100vw, 491px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-148301" class="wp-caption-text">An image of <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/taaliavess">TaaliaVess</a>'s reveal of Morophon, the Boundless from the "Everyone's Invited" <em>Secret Lair</em> Commander deck. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and TaaliaVess</p></div>
<h2>ZBexx's Reveal</h2>
<p>Meanwhile, <strong><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/zbexx">ZBexx</a></strong> received another card from "Everyone's Invited". This time, it was a copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This doesn't tell us a ton about the contents of the deck, since most preconstructed decks contain a Sol Ring anyway. However, the card is stunning and its art is featured on the advertisement on the <em>Secret Lair</em> website.</p>
<div id="attachment_148302" style="width: 365px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Sol-Ring.png"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-148302" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-148302" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Sol-Ring.png" alt="An image of ZBexx's reveal of Sol Ring from the &quot;Everyone's Invited&quot; Secret Lair Commander deck. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Zbexx" width="355" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Sol-Ring.png 436w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Sol-Ring-191x300.png 191w" sizes="(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-148302" class="wp-caption-text">An image of <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/zbexx">ZBexx</a>'s reveal of Sol Ring from the "Everyone's Invited" <em>Secret Lair</em> Commander deck. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Zbexx</p></div>
<h2>Voxy's Reveal</h2>
<p>Next, we look at <strong><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/voxy">Voxy</a></strong>'s stream, where she revealed a copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avenger of Zendikar" href="#" target="_blank">Avenger of Zendikar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Because Plants are such a niche creature type, this implies that "Everyone's Invited" probably features a <em>very</em> broad Kindred-matters theme. At this point, things are getting interesting for sure.</p>
<div id="attachment_148303" style="width: 365px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Avenger-of-Zendikar.png"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-148303" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-148303" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Avenger-of-Zendikar.png" alt="An image of Voxy's reveal of Avenger of Zendikar. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Voxy" width="355" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Avenger-of-Zendikar.png 371w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Avenger-of-Zendikar-191x300.png 191w" sizes="(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-148303" class="wp-caption-text">An image of <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/voxy">Voxy</a>'s reveal of Avenger of Zendikar. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Voxy</p></div>
<h2>Amazonian's Reveal</h2>
<p>We next turn our attention to <strong><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/amazonian">Amazonian</a></strong>'s stream, where she revealed a copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Taurean Mauler" href="#" target="_blank">Taurean Mauler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. A creature with changeling like Morophon, Taurean Mauler may mean that multiple cards will also cover many of the creature types buffed by the deck's cards.</p>
<div id="attachment_148304" style="width: 430px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Taurean-Mauler.jpg"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-148304" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-148304" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Taurean-Mauler.jpg" alt="An image of Amazonian's reveal of Taurean Mauler. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Amazonian" width="420" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Taurean-Mauler.jpg 1501w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Taurean-Mauler-225x300.jpg 225w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Taurean-Mauler-769x1024.jpg 769w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Taurean-Mauler-768x1023.jpg 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Taurean-Mauler-1153x1536.jpg 1153w" sizes="(max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-148304" class="wp-caption-text">An image of <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/amazonian">Amazonian</a>'s reveal of Taurean Mauler. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Amazonian</p></div>
<h2>ManaCurves' Reveal</h2>
<p>Streamer <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/manacurves"><strong>ManaCurves</strong></a> also revealed a card from "Everyone's Invited"! The card they revealed was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bitterblossom" href="#" target="_blank">Bitterblossom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a kindred card for Faerie decks. This shows us that kindred spells will show up in the deck, though the extent is currently unknown. However, if this is indeed a kindred-kindred deck, one could imagine there may be a fair few of them therein.</p>
<div id="attachment_148305" style="width: 396px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Bitterblossom-00.png"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-148305" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-148305" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Bitterblossom-00.png" alt="An image of ManaCurves' reveal of Bitterblossom. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and ManaCurves" width="386" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Bitterblossom-00.png 467w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Bitterblossom-00-207x300.png 207w" sizes="(max-width: 386px) 100vw, 386px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-148305" class="wp-caption-text">An image of <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/manacurves">ManaCurves</a>' reveal of Bitterblossom. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and ManaCurves</p></div>
<h2>CovertGoBlue's Reveal</h2>
<p>After this, we must look to <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/covertgoblue"><strong>CovertGoBlue</strong></a>, who, according to sources, revealed a copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise the Palisade" href="#" target="_blank">Raise the Palisade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card, previously unreprinted since its initial printing in <em>Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth</em>, is also a kindred-matters card. It goes especially well with creatures with changeling. This tells us that the deck will most likely have payoffs for running them.</p>
<div id="attachment_148306" style="width: 434px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Raise-the-Palisade.jpg"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-148306" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-148306" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Raise-the-Palisade.jpg" alt="An image of CovertGoBlue's reveal of Raise the Palisade. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and CovertGoBlue" width="424" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Raise-the-Palisade.jpg 819w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Raise-the-Palisade-228x300.jpg 228w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Raise-the-Palisade-777x1024.jpg 777w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Raise-the-Palisade-768x1013.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 424px) 100vw, 424px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-148306" class="wp-caption-text">An image of <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/covertgoblue">CovertGoBlue</a>'s reveal of Raise the Palisade. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and CovertGoBlue</p></div>
<h2>Anna Margaret's Reveal</h2>
<p>Finally, we have <strong><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/itsannamargaret.com/post/3lmffkbpnnk2c">Anna Margaret</a></strong>'s reveal on BlueSky. She revealed a copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tendershoot Dryad" href="#" target="_blank">Tendershoot Dryad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card that historically pumps Saprolings. Luckily, changeling creatures are <em>also</em> Saprolings! This is one of many presumed payoffs in "Everyone's Invited".</p>
<div id="attachment_148307" style="width: 365px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tendershoot-Dryad.png"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-148307" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-148307" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tendershoot-Dryad.png" alt="An image of Anna Margaret's reveal of Tendershoot Dryad from the &quot;Everyone's Invited&quot; Secret Lair Commander deck. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Anna Margaret" width="355" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tendershoot-Dryad.png 427w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tendershoot-Dryad-191x300.png 191w" sizes="(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-148307" class="wp-caption-text">An image of <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/itsannamargaret.com/post/3lmffkbpnnk2c">Anna Margaret</a>'s reveal of Tendershoot Dryad from the "Everyone's Invited" Secret Lair Commander deck. Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Anna Margaret</p></div>
<h2>What Have We Learned About This <em>Secret Lair</em>?</h2>
<p>"Everyone's Invited" appears to be a deck that cares not just about one creature type, but many. The deck features multiple cards that provide many creature types as well as many payoffs for <em>having</em> multiple creature types. Because Commander decks from <em>Secret Lair</em> tend to have alternate art for their intended commanders, Morophon appears to lead the deck.</p>
<p>When will we find out more? We don't have a launch date yet, but the answer is "probably soon"! Keep your eyes peeled for more information as it becomes available.</p>


Secret Lair Commander Deck: "Everyone's Invited" Revealed

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Final Fantasy set cards | art copyright Wizards of the Coast</h6>
<p>With <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/products/final-fantasy"><em>Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy</em></a> less than ten weeks away, teams at Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix are gearing up for the launch of an ambitious collaboration.</p>
<p>An interview between one outlet and two major figures at Wizards gives us more insights into the process behind this collaboration and hints of what the future may bring.</p>
<p>According to the interview with <a href="https://www.gamespot.com/articles/magic-the-gatherings-final-fantasy-set-is-an-expansion-four-years-in-the-making/1100-6529866/">Gamespot</a>, Lead <em>Magic</em> Designer <strong>Gavin Verhey</strong> and Wizards Franchise Vice President <strong>Rebecca Shepard</strong> gave a few interesting anecdotes about this titanic team-up. Here are a few of the major points we gleaned:</p>
<h2>A <em>Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy</em> Collaboration Effort</h2>
<p><em>Final Fantasy</em> producer <strong>Shoichi Ichikawa</strong> is a big fan of <em>Magic</em>, as are many members of Square Enix Japan's team. According to Verhey, the team at Square Enix are die-hard <em>Magic</em> players. "[...] One of the team members over there owns a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Lotus" href="#" target="_blank">Black Lotus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These are serious Magic players." Shepard corroborated this and added, "Almost every relationship we've had has been that way; Bethesda, for example, has weekly games." Naturally, Square Enix's team was thrilled to work with Wizards of the Coast.</p>
<p>During the team-up, weekly, occasionally more frequent, mid-lockdown Zoom calls allowed Wizards and Square Enix to foster their rapport. As it stands, Square Enix Japan's love of <em>Magic</em> seems to echo Wizards of the Coast's love of <em>Final Fantasy</em>.</p>
<h2>On In-Set Representation</h2>
<p>All sixteen <em>Final Fantasy</em> games have "plenty of" in-set representation, albeit with a ton of work needed to calibrate this, according to Verhey. Shepard added, "In [Square Enix's] eyes, no one installment is more important than the other."</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jumbo Cactuar"></div></div>
<p>This proved a challenge regarding the newest Square Enix installment, <a href="https://na.finalfantasyxvi.com/"><em>Final Fantasy XVI</em></a>. <em>FFXVI</em> was going through active development simultaneously with <em>Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy</em>, and designers had to make promises not to give each other plot spoilers.</p>
<p>Said Verhey, "When [<em>FFXVI</em>] finally launched, there was a week when the four main designers agreed we wouldn't spoil anything for each other, but we'd post what was happening in our chat as we're going saying, 'This should be a card!'"</p>
<p>For the game attributions on the credit lines of cards, Verhey explains</p>
<blockquote><p>"We then realized that this is another fun storytelling moment--where a player can say, 'I know this, let me tell you where it's from'--and a little indicator on the card that tells you what game it's from can inspire someone to go and look up what was happening there. We thought it was a great little touch; here's the game the card is from, go find out more or ask a friend about it."</p></blockquote>
<h2>Are All The Concepts Present?</h2>
<p>The answer to the question " Will everyone be present in the set?" comes with some disclosure-based baggage at this time. "I'm not going to say who is or isn't there, but it's pretty safe to guess that if you're a major hero or antagonist from a game, there's a good chance you have a spot in the set," said Verhey when asked about what characters would show up. However, the set doesn't necessarily have all the series' party members.</p>
<p>That said, many super-obvious nods will likely be in <em>MTGFIN</em>. Triple Triad (the in-universe collectible card game) is unconfirmed, but Verhey has mentioned his team's awareness of its popularity.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Shiva"></div></div>
<p>Summons, a major <em>Final Fantasy</em> series conceptual staple, proved less of a challenge to the design team. Summon spells were originally designed with vanishing, but were later turned into Sagas with the team's unanimous agreement.</p>
<p>Five double-faced "Sidequest" cards exist within the set, according to the interview.</p>
<h2>On Further Design Innovations</h2>
<p>Wizards of the Coast also spoke on their "Through The Ages" subset of cards. This is comprised of all reprints from Magic's history. Beyond this, the subset will depict concept art and scenes from Final Fantasy's history. Square Enix personally provided these concept images to Wizards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ancient Copper Dragon|FCA|12"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow|FCA|60"></div></div>
<p>Another major win for the set came in the form of <strong>Yoshitaka Amano</strong> and <strong>Tetsuya Nomura</strong>'s involvement. The two were even involved with this set's creation, according to Gamespot.</p>
<p>However, those involvements will largely remain a surprise for now. Amano did the art for Dragon of Mount Gulg (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Copper Dragon|FCA|12" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Copper Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) while Nomura did the art for Yuffie Kisaragi (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow|FCA|60" href="#" target="_blank">Yuriko, the Tiger&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<h2>What Does The Future Hold?</h2>
<p>As for the future, Square Enix collaborations may indeed happen. This may be the first time the two sides have collaborated, but it may not be the last.</p>
<p><em>Universes Beyond</em> partnerships can be upwards of seven years long. "Universes Beyond partnerships can be five-, six-, sometimes seven-year relationships depending on the pipeline," according to Shepard. With the two teams just four years in, we may get even more Square Enix <em>Universes Beyond</em> cards in <em>Magic</em>.</p>
<p>Furthermore, does this mean we are getting something like a <a href="https://www.square-enix-games.com/en_US/games/chrono-trigger"><em>Chrono Trigger</em></a> or <a href="https://dragonquest.square-enix-games.com/"><em>Dragon Quest</em></a> set? We couldn't possibly say. However, with the way Shepard spoke on the collaborative effort, it doesn't appear to be out of the question.</p>
<p>So, these are the main points we've learned from Gavin Verhey and Rebecca Shepard's interview with Gamespot. As it stands currently, <em>Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy</em> is shaping up to be one heck of a cool set. Hopefully, players will be able to be just as hyped for it when it launches on June 13th!</p>


Final Fantasy Set A Four-Year Endeavor. Is There More To Come?

WOTC Introduces New Bracket System for EDH

<p>Here at EDHREC, we are a small and community supported team so unfortunately we really have a hard time prioritizing what we should be working on. There are so many cool things we could be spending our time on and we sometimes have a really hard time figuring out which thing is next!</p>
<p>Well today, we're happy to announce that we decided to spend our sleepless nights on Tiny Leaders through a new website, <a href="https://tiny.edhrec.com">tiny.edhrec.com!</a></p>
<p>If you don't know what Tiny Leaders is, it's basically a Commander variant where all your cards need to have a converted mana cost of 3 or less. Everything else is the same. Read more about it <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/reconstructed/tiny-leaders-big-fun-2015-02-17">here</a>.</p>
<p>Most of the core EDHREC features are there such as commander pages, the new decklists, rankings of commanders, rankings of cards, to name a few. Our hope is to help you navigate deck building for this format just like you can for Commander / EDH.</p>
<p>There are a few things currently missing. Based on the smaller card pool and fewer options for commanders, we felt like some of the features that are on EDHREC didn't make sense here. Most notably, theme breakdowns and advanced filters are missing. We think that once we are able to collect more decks we should be able to start enabling these things if people want them. Also, the commander list is not broken out by color identity since some identities only have one or two options.</p>
<p>Let us know what you think about this new section of EDHREC! In the future, we are planning on supporting other commander-like formats other than EDH and Tiny Leaders, if any of them come up.</p>


Announcing EDHREC for Tiny Leaders!

<p>BREAKING NEWS(kinda...): Wizards of the Coast announces new "Brawl," format starting with release of Dominaria, a new singleton format using Standard legal Cards.</p>
<p>There, now that we got the "official," sounding stuff out of the way, welcome back to another news update at EDHREC. As you all may have seen recently, Wizards of the Coast announced on 3/22 the new Brawl format. If you missed the announcement you can <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/ways-play/join-brawl-2018-03-22">check it out here</a> for all the details. I'll break down the relevant ones for everyone here along with some thoughts on what it could mean for all Commander players.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Laying Down the Law</h2>
<p>From the announcement by Gavin Verhey:</p>
<blockquote><p>
So. . . what is it?</p>
<p>The idea here was to make a casual format that used a Standard card pool. This meant the focus could be on new and different kinds of decks you could build, and the format would be the right power level to allow them to thrive. It really adds a new dimension to all your Standard-legal cards...</p>
<p>The short version is this: You build a 60-card Standard-legal deck around a legendary creature <em>or planeswalker</em>. You can only have one copy of any given card in your deck other than basic lands. Your legendary creature or planeswalker starts in the command zone and works the same way that you might be used to from Commander: you can cast it for its mana cost, and then again for an additional two mana each time. Each player starts with 30 life.</p>
<p>And that's it! Simple, easy, and a kind of gameplay you might already be familiar with. We suggest playing it multiplayer.</p></blockquote>
<p>So the gist of it sounds pretty straightforward, a 60-card casual format that blends together elements of the Standard format with Commander. Singleton style, built around a commander and the color identity of it, and starting with 30 life as opposed to 20 or 40. It sounds pretty simple doesn't it? The article goes on to give the same rules that govern the Commander format such as color identity, the commander tax for recasting, along with being allowed to choose if you place your commander into the Command Zone instead of any other zone. For those of you familiar with Commander, this won't be a far departure at all from what you are used to.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Digging Into the Differences</h2>
<p>Gavin goes on to answer a few of the questions that we all might have thought of when we first head of the format. He explains:</p>
<blockquote><p>
First, why 60 cards?</p>
<p>Standard only has so many cards in it, and part of the fun here is building around themes. For example, Dinosaurs or artifacts. It's important that you have the room to actually build around them, though; if I asked you to make a 100-card Pirate deck, you would be stretched pretty thin for enough good options. With 60 cards, you can build a much more focused deck—and the singleton nature still makes every game feel quite different while offering consistency to your plan!
</p></blockquote>
<p>This key difference, a whole 40 cards worth to be exact, between the formats makes a great deal of sense. Since the card pool is much smaller compared to traditional singleton formats it is great to recognize the size of the decks as a potential obstacle. My initial reaction to hearing about the format was that the goal of the format was the same as Standard for constructed formats: a way for newer players to gradually expose themselves to the larger card pools. Rather than diving headfirst without knowing how to swim in the Commander or Modern format waters, WotC has used the Standard format as a wading pool type format to get new players in without being overwhelmed. Brawl seems to come from that same motivation.</p>
<p>For some more great insight from Wizards of the Coast staff, check out this Twitter thread from Gavin himself.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/GavinVerhey/status/976945283442487296</p>
<p>The smaller sized decks also should help another issue that can be common among new players: card collection, or more applicable, the lack thereof. Only requiring a legendary creature and 59 other cards as opposed to 99 may mean a great deal to players less than a year into playing Magic the Gathering. Sure, we've all used fodder for decks now and then that were terrible, but more experienced players are able to play around a sub-optimal card or two. New players with a handful of drafts or a single box they split don't have that luxury. This should be a huge boon to the player base wanting to get into EDH but don't have the immediate means.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/Keiran_Clifford/status/977490324489678849</p>
<p>Gavin goes on about the starting life totals:</p>
<blockquote><p>
How about 30 life?</p>
<p>We playtested a number of different life totals: 20, 30, and 40 were all considered. In the end, though, 30 created by far the best gameplay. The cushion to your normal 20 starting life was important, so that games didn't end too quickly and you had time to fool around in the early game. However, with 40 life, games ran far too long and it was hard to put pressure on players. With 30 life, more aggressive decks can actually exist without winning too fast, slow decks still have plenty of time, and games end in a reasonable amount of time. We didn't want running out of cards to be a typical factor in the game either, and 30 life helps ensure that doesn't occur.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>With a limited cardpool comes a limited number of interactions that can lead to combos. The Standard format most times revolves around creature-heavy decks as powerful spells are at a premium. Even Modern combo decks utilize complex interactions to build many different combos to finish the game using cards designed 10 years apart. Allowing both aggressive creature decks to do well without pushing control or combo decks out is another great move. I know from past experience that in 40-life formats aggressive decks can run out of steam for the last few points of damage, especially in multiplayer games. Hopefully this point lets the format support all different types of strategies and play styles.</p>
<p>And finally, the most unique rule change in my mind:</p>
<blockquote><p>
Another question you might have is, why <strong>legendary planeswalkers as commanders</strong>?</p>
<p>Well, for one: it's fun!</p>
<p>Like normal legendary creatures, planeswalkers are major characters and often enjoyable to build around. We wanted to let them have a chance at being commanders too. We played with a bunch of them to check how they worked and really enjoyed the possibilities they created. Being able to be attacked by multiple players ensured they were kept in check, while still promising powerful things.
</p></blockquote>
<p>You read that right, you can now play your legendary PLANESWALKERS as your commander. No longer are we limited to just the Commander 2014 planeswalkers as our eligible picks, Brawl will let you use any planeswalker as your commander. This is thanks in large part to the change in the legendary rule giving planeswalkers legendary status. Anyone trying to build around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nissa, Steward of Elements" href="#" target="_blank">Nissa, Steward of Elements</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is probably giddy at this move by Wizards. Can you blame them though? Mana dorks and fatties are what Simic players love! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh" href="#" target="_blank">Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> seems like a solid choice for those who love playing the long and controlling game too. Making planeswalkers eligible to be your commander is something that we've all heard folks asking about for a couple years, could this be the first step in that direction?</p>
<hr />
<h2>Some <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deep Analysis" href="#" target="_blank">Deep Analysis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<p>It will be very exciting to see what Brawl brings to Magic, the Gathering. More formats means more players enjoying more games than before, which is never a bad thing. My only real concern is having an EDH format that has to keep up with rotation, the very reason I personally got away from competitive Standard play years ago. Having large portions or the commander of a deck rotate out can be negated by branching players into traditional and non-rotating Commander play. While I think this impacts competitive players more, it will be a concern for more casual players. How much it effects interest in the format will be something to keep an eye on.</p>
<p>Overall, I think Brawl will be a very good thing for not just new players but established players alike. Teaching someone to play Magic is hard enough, the Commander format is no different. Even with all the resources EDHREC has to offer along with all the content, it can be hard for someone to get their foot in the door. There is a very good chance Brawl becomes that first step into the Commander format for many players. The cardpool may not be deep enough for established players to find interesting, but for others it will offer a unique deckbuilding challenge that they will enjoy. Limitation breeds creativity as Mark Rosewater has famously said many times, and this format may bring another welcome transition point for players entrenched in either their 60-card or 100-card formats of choice.</p>
<p>What do YOU all think about this new idea? Is it something you want to try out or does the lack of depth in the format keep you from jumping at the opportunity? EDHREC as a site plans on providing support for the format, as stated by our Twitter account from the other day. In case you missed that, here you go:</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/edhrec/status/976484363117518848</p>
<p>Let us know what you think about the format in the comments along with any sweet brews you have coming down the pipeline to open the format with. Keep an eye out for any other Brawl based content, or if you think we're better served with our usual trend of content then give us that feedback as well! We'll see you next time!</p>
