Magic's Gone Full Space Opera: Eldrazi, Slivers, and Lands That Shock (Literally!)
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Magic: The Gathering is going full-on space opera with its new Edge of Eternities set, bringing back Slivers and Eldrazi, introducing cool new mechanics like Warp and Station, and generally making us question what a 'mana base' even means in the vast emptiness of space. Buckle up, Planeswalkers, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!
Right, buckle up, Planeswalkers, because *Magic: The Gathering* is blasting off to the Edge of Eternities, and it's looking wilder than a night out in Innistrad. IGN South Africa (cheers, mates!) got a sneak peek, and it sounds like Wizards of the Coast has decided to ditch the horses and grab a spaceship. Forget high fantasy; we're talking science fantasy, where space whales and Slivers apparently coexist. What a time to be alive.
So, what's the big deal? Edge of Eternities is bringing a whole heap of new stuff to the table, including mechanics and themes that are… well, out there. Full card reveals drop on July 18th, prerelease shenanigans kick off July 25-31st, MTG Arena gets it on July 29th, and the worldwide tabletop release happens on August 1st. Mark your calendars, folks.
We're getting Eldrazi back, those delightful tentacled monstrosities from the Blind Eternities. ‘Anticausal Vestige’ is gonna let you cheat out a permanent with mana value less than or equal to the number of lands you control when it leaves the battlefield. Which is… a bit of a mouthful, innit? And speaking of delightful monstrosities…
Slivers are BACK, baby! If you're anything like me, you've got a soft spot for these hive-minded horrors. A new Sliver Overlord showcase is confirmed, and the lore hints at a full-on Sliver swarm. One Sliver is annoying; a whole swarm? Bloody terrifying.
But wait, there's more! Edge of Eternities is also reprinting those highly coveted Shock Lands. These dual-lands let you tap for two colors of mana, and if you're willing to take a point of damage (hence, “shock”), they come in untapped. That’s like getting a free mana boost, but with a slight ouch. Worth it, I reckon.
Now, let's dive into the new mechanics: Void, Warp, Station, and Lander Tokens. Station is like crewing vehicles, but instead of driving, you're...stationing? You tap creatures to put counters on a card, and when you hit a certain threshold, BAM! New abilities unlock. Planets are also getting in on the station action, with each color getting its own special planet with powerful effects. Blue's 'Uthros, Titanic Godcore' is one to watch, as it can generate loads of blue mana based on how many artifacts you control.
Warp is where things get really interesting. You can cast a card for its Warp cost (usually cheaper), but it gets exiled at the end of your turn. BUT! You can then cast it from exile later for its normal cost. This is gonna be perfect for cards with “when they enter” triggers. Imagine the possibilities! (Just make sure it gets exiled via Warp, not some other effect, or you're out of luck.)
Void enhances cards when played after a permanent leaves the battlefield or a card has been “spell warped.” Synergies galore, mate! And finally, we've got Lander tokens. Sac 'em for two mana, and you can grab a basic land from your deck. Mana ramp, here we come!
What I find most interesting is the possibility of using the exile zone as a resource. Cards like Cosmogoyf (power and toughness based on your exiled cards) and Sothera, The Supervoid, point towards this direction. Could Flashback and cards like Agatha’s Soul Cauldron make Cosmogoyf a new powerhouse? We'll have to see how far Wizards goes with this mechanic and hopefully it won’t be one of those annoying ‘exiled this way’ tracking nightmare scenarios.
Edge of Eternities is definitely pushing *Magic* into uncharted territory, a space fantasy adventure that seems both exciting and slightly bonkers. I’m already brewing up new deck ideas. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I'm off to research space whales.
Tags: Magic: The Gathering, MTG, TCG, Edge of Eternities, Slivers
Original article: IGN South Africa