Magic: The Gathering's New Secrets of Strixhaven Set Brings Back Banned Powerhouses Through the Prepare Mechanic
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Magic: The Gathering's Secrets of Strixhaven set introduces the Prepare mechanic, allowing players to cast iconic, previously banned spells like Ancestral Recall and Swords to Plowshares by meeting specific creature conditions on the board.
Magic: The Gathering is gearing up for the launch of Secrets of Strixhaven, and Wizards of the Coast is introducing a mechanic that is already turning heads across competitive and casual circles alike. The new Prepare keyword acts as a clever vessel for pseudo-reprints of some of the most iconic, and historically banned, spells in the game's long history. Instead of dropping format-shattering cards directly into modern competitive pools, the design team has tied these legendary spells to creature cards that require players to meet specific conditions before casting them.
The system itself is straightforward, though pulling it off mid-match will test your board state management. Some creatures enter the battlefield fully prepared, while others require you to fulfill distinct criteria, such as tracking your opponent's creature count, losing a set amount of life, or pulling off specific attack phases. Once those boxes are checked, you gain access to the attached instant or sorcery by paying its mana cost. It adds a rewarding layer of tactical depth that rewards players who build around their creature packages rather than just jamming standalone powerhouses into a deck.
For white players, the standout addition is undoubtedly Swords to Plowshares, tied to the 3/3 Cat Cleric Emeritus of Truce, which becomes prepared if your opponents control more creatures than you. Meanwhile, blue mages get access to format staples like Brainstorm and even Ancestral Recall attached to the formidable 5/5 flyer Emeritus of Ideation. Between these heavy-hitting callbacks and fresh card draw options like Braingeyser synergies, pre-release weekend is shaping up to be a chaotic testing ground for Commander and standard players alike.
Original reporting by Lloyd Coombes over at Polygon offers a deeper dive into the full list of standout cards. You can check out their original breakdown for more strategy tips and color breakdowns.
Tags: Magic The Gathering, Card Games, Tabletop Gaming, Secrets of Strixhaven
Original article: Polygon