Why the X-Men and Guardians Are Missing From Magic's New Marvel Set
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Magic: The Gathering's Marvel Super Heroes set leaves out major characters like the X-Men and Guardians of the Galaxy because Wizards of the Coast is spreading the massive IP across a multi-year, multi-set partnership.
Magic: The Gathering fans diving into the full card list for the upcoming Marvel Super Heroes set might notice a few glaring absences. Despite boasting more than 600 mechanically unique cards, the massive crossover leaves out heavy hitters like the X-Men, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and fan favorites like Moon Knight and Ghost Rider. As reported by Polygon, head designer Mark Rosewater explained during a recent press briefing that the sheer size of the Marvel intellectual property demanded more than a single release from the start.
Rather than cramming the entire comic universe into one product, Wizards of the Coast is rolling out a multi-year partnership. Following last year's Spider-Man release, Marvel Super Heroes acts as an Avengers Plus expansion, focusing tightly on Earth-based heroes, street-level teams, and terrestrial villains. Characters like Doctor Strange appear in scaled-down forms, such as a human doctor focused on lifegain rather than a dimension-hopping Sorcerer Supreme, hinting that character arcs and magical realms could evolve in later installments.
This deliberate pacing leaves plenty of room for future expansions to tackle the cosmic and supernatural corners of the franchise. With cosmic powerhouses like the Guardians of the Galaxy and mystical factions currently sitting on the bench, players can expect the crossover to span several more years. For digital collectors and paper players alike, this serialized approach means the deck building possibilities are only just beginning to expand.
Tags: Magic: The Gathering, Marvel, Trading Card Games, Universes Beyond, Wizards of the Coast
Original article: Polygon