<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Season&#039;s Beatings" href="#" target="_blank">Season&#039;s Beatings</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=artist%3Akevwalker&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=name" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kev Walker</a></em></p>
<h2>Seasons Greetings!</h2>
<p>This week, we're going back in time and covering everything that came out for <em>Universes Beyond! </em>Here, we'll be giving an in-depth review for each of the major releases this year (<em>Secret Lairs</em> get their own section). This'll be a long article, so let's save my word count, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commence the Endgame" href="#" target="_blank">Commence the Endgame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Release #1: <em>Final Fantasy</em></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vivi Ornitier"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rinoa Heartilly"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER"></div></div>
<p>For this year, we begin with a bang so loud it could be heard across the world. The <em>Final Fantasy</em> set took the community by storm, becoming the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-best-selling-mtg-set-before-official-release-date">fastest-selling set before it was even released</a>!</p>
<p>In addition, this set had something for everyone. Commander, as a whole, got plenty of goodies from the main set, to the bonus sheet, to the <em>Secret Lairs</em> (more on those in that section). I even set out to write an article featuring only cards from this release, which you can read about <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/beyond-the-multiverse-the-final-fantasy-sendoff">here</a>. Many cards, including the new additions from the precons, are still being played in the format.</p>
<p>Even though he's banned in Standard, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vivi Ornitier" href="#" target="_blank">Vivi Ornitier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is still sending chills down the spines of players everywhere. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is perhaps the most powerful <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect ever printed, and on a commander option no less.</p>
<p>However, I can't say this was all a bed of roses. The set had a higher power level than usual, including Vivi, who has traumatized Standard players everywhere, and thus may react when we use a deck for him.</p>
<p>Speaking of Standard, this set was the first in the <em>Universes Beyond</em> product line to be Standard legal, a decision I don't endorse. Maybe the next set will be better, no?</p>
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<h2>Release #2: <em>Spider-Man</em></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Soul Stone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Parker Luck"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cosmic Spider-Man"></div></div>
<p>...Okay, maybe not.</p>
<p>This set was met with quite the negative reception. Sure, this release drew in some people, but even I admit that this was the worst <em>Universes Beyond</em> set this year. This is true especially when we compare it to the other releases.</p>
<p>The highlight card is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Soul Stone" href="#" target="_blank">The Soul Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card with Commander usage, and some long-term implications. Many were quick to point out a new plane in the Multiverse, named New York City (this is a joke, by the way). While I could go on about how it was received, it's not to say its Commander applications were useless.</p>
<p>Aside from The Soul Stone, we got our mitts on some tri-color commanders, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gwen Stacy" href="#" target="_blank">Gwen Stacy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and a five-color option in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cosmic Spider-Man" href="#" target="_blank">Cosmic Spider-Man</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. If you asked me what I did with this set, I'd tell you nothing, but I did plan on making Cosmic Spider-Man with cards mostly from this set. We also got a lot of new Spider support, including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mary Jane Watson" href="#" target="_blank">Mary Jane Watson</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who's certainly going on a date with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shelob, Child of Ungoliant" href="#" target="_blank">Shelob, Child of Ungoliant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>...Wait a minute. Nah, it's probably nothing.</p>
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<h2>Release #3: <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA)</em></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ozai, the Phoenix King"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Avatar Aang"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fire Lord Azula"></div></div>
<p>To out my thoughts shortly: <em>Spider-Man</em> walked, so <em>ATLA</em> could run.</p>
<p>There's no mistaking it. People were excited for this set, and for good reason. While we did get yet another five-color option in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avatar Aang" href="#" target="_blank">Avatar Aang</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, his design was actually more creative than what we got with Cosmic Spider-Man.</p>
<p>Plus, we also got as plethora of unique and interesting two and three-color commander choices. One of the most popular of these is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Lord Azula" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Lord Azula</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who'll be copying spells left and right. Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Lord Zuko" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Lord Zuko</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another take on an exile deck that'll give <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prosper, Tome-Bound" href="#" target="_blank">Prosper, Tome-Bound</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks a new color.</p>
<p>The heavy presence of Ally cards really bolstered the creature type, even giving it a couple of new commanders in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, the Fearless" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, the Fearless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sokka, Tenacious Tactician" href="#" target="_blank">Sokka, Tenacious Tactician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Tazri" href="#" target="_blank">General Tazri</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> decks will never be the same again, I assure you.</p>
<p>While this set wasn't on the same power level as <em>Final Fantasy</em>, the flavor and unique mechanics makes it a major competitor for <em>Universes Beyond</em> Set of the Year.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Bonus: The Secret Lair Drops</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jodah, the Unifier|sld|1932"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sonic the Hedgehog"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kratos, God of War"></div></div>
<p>To wrap up this review, we have ourselves a myriad of Secret Lair Drops that gave us some new IPs to work with.</p>
<p>Kicking this off was <em>Marvel,</em> again. This time, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadpool, Trading Card" href="#" target="_blank">Deadpool, Trading Card</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Great card, if you want to give judges a headache.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadpool, Trading Card"></div></div>
<p>Secondly, the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/beyond-the-multiverse-whos-that-under-the-sea-spongebob-squarepants"><em>SpongeBob SquarePants</em> Superdrop</a>, which brought us reskins of existing cards. Nothing too special about these drops beyond that, unless you were lucky enough to pull a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smothering Tithe|sld|7009" href="#" target="_blank">Smothering Tithe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Next, we had the aforementioned <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/secret-lair-x-final-fantasy-three-new-drops-revealed"><em>Final Fantasy</em> drops</a>, which were jam-packed with strong reprints to go with the main release. On a personal note, I remember this release destroying my mental health so badly that it took me months to recover (There's a part of me that hasn't).</p>
<p>Later in the year, we got the next batch of drops <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/secret-lair-x-sonic-three-new-drops-officially-announced">in the form of the <em>Sonic the Hedgehog</em> franchise</a>. These featured mechanically unique legends in one of the drops, while the rest were reskins of existing cards. There was chatter about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadow the Hedgehog" href="#" target="_blank">Shadow the Hedgehog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> making waves in higher brackets, but I don't know if that's still true.</p>
<p>After that was a <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/secret-lair-drops-for-spider-man-release-on-september-22nd">Superdrop themed around <em>Spider-Man</em></a>, but I remember the Venom-related drops being the most prominent of the lot.</p>
<p>Next, we had a big surge in IPs, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/big-reveals-at-the-secret-lair-panel-at-magiccon-atlanta">from <em>The Office</em> to various <em>PlayStation</em> games</a> and, eventually, to <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/secret-lair-webstore-hints-at-monster-hunter-drops"><em>Monster Hunter</em></a>. The <em>PlayStation </em>ones were all mechanically unique with several interesting new commanders. In the midst of it all was the <em>ATLA </em>superdrop, which featured <em>ATLA</em>-themed reprints for those wanting to play with the IP.</p>
<p>...Whew. That was a long list.</p>
<hr />
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ziatora, the Incinerator|SLD|2238"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Joel, Resolute Survivor|SLD|2198"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reaper King|SLD|2170"></div></div>
<h2>Ride Unto a New Dawn</h2>
<p>And that's a wrap for this year's <em>Universes Beyond</em> releases.</p>
<p>With next year featuring four sets, plus loads of <em>Secret Lair </em>drops, it'll be interesting to see if I can contain it in one article.</p>
<p>Originally, this week was supposed to be for a deck tech, but a hiccup in the scheduling has moved it into next year. This is better for me, because it meant that I can avoid the awkward situation of ruining my advent calendar to write up my articles, especially in the middle of the month. Good thing I got a second box for this purpose.</p>
<p>Speaking of which, tune in next time where I explain the rules of my shenanigans, and kick off the festivities.</p>
<h3>Read More:</h3>
<p>https://edhrec.com/articles/fire-lord-zuko-commander-deck-tech</p>
<p>https://edhrec.com/articles/beyond-the-multiverse-guru-pathik</p>
<p>https://edhrec.com/articles/the-best-commander-from-every-year-of-the-2000s</p>


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