Magic: the Gathering (MTG) is a multiverse that keeps on growing, thanks to multiple expansions every year that reveal new planes (MTG lingo for world), from radiant and lush environments to the deep and dark depths that know no end. For every new plane, creative teams at MTG publisher, Wizards of the Coast, spend months building a new reality, sometimes down to the very blades of grass that fill the land.

Magic’s newest set, Duskmourn: House of Horror, takes place in a plane never seen before – a literal haunted world. And with the tactical collectible card game’s extensive 30 year history, it’s no longer an easy task to introduce a new plane when there has been so much legacy and lore that fans have grown a fondness for. We speak to Emily Teng, Senior Game Designer at Wizards to gleam some insights into how they keep each new plane fresh and unique.

From the wild west world to an entire plane haunted with spooks, how do you and the team find inspiration when conceptualizing new worlds?

A lot of our new worlds actually started as pitches from individual team members. We’ve got a bunch of creative folks with a wide variety of interests that they personally would love to see as a Magic set, and anyone can suggest an idea for a new set. After that, we evaluate each pitch to see if it’s wide enough to support the needs of an entire card set. Sometimes it is, and we move forward with it as it is—modern horror, for example. Sometimes an idea is compelling but too narrow or needs some extra work to ground it within Magic, and we will have to set it aside.

Bloomburrow and the new Duskmourn are great worlds that are almost polar opposites in theme. What kind of worlds are the hardest to build in terms of lore and carving out a unique identity?

In my opinion, the hardest worlds are ones that have thematic or tonal overlaps with already- existing worlds. Duskmourn is a clear example: it has to define itself against Magic’s existing horror-based worlds of Innistrad and New Phyrexia. We also ran into a similar issue with Bloomburrow, which wanted to lean into pastoral charm and whimsy, but in a way that set it apart from Eldraine and Lorwyn. We spent a lot of time in early worldbuilding meetings, figuring out exactly how to thread that needle to keep it feeling distinct.

What is that “What If?” world that you’ve always wanted to explore in Magic but haven’t had the opportunity yet?

I don’t know about “always wanted to explore” just because of how recent they are, but I really want to see what happens if Duskmourn invades Bloomburrow…

For the worlds that did become a reality in Magic and you had a hand in, which are you most proud of, and what elements of that world make it stand out from the rest?

You’re probably tired of me talking about only these two worlds, but honestly, it’s a tie between Bloomburrow and Duskmourn. I’m really proud of how we made the different animals in Bloomburrow feel super compelling, while expressing their color identities differently from Ravnica’s guilds. For Duskmourn, I’m super happy with how malevolent the place turned out. It’s actively out to get you in a way that’s tailored personally to everything you’re afraid of. In my opinion, it takes the prize for the worst plane to be on in the whole Multiverse.

Duskmourn certainly has taken the mantle of scariest place in Magic’s multiverse, with the five Overlord cards (one for each colour) featuring nasty monster art and really powerful abilities to strike fear into your opponents. Above them is the big bad of the plane – Valgavoth – a massive 9/9 creature with Flying and Lifelink and can even cast your opponent’s dead minions. Without careful collaboration within Emily’s team, it’s unlikely any of these cards would have come to light.

While Duskmourn marks the last new plane of 2024, you can expect 2025 to give us more worlds of wonder and awe, built with rich history and themes that will not leave fans disappointed. Combine that with revisiting familiar planes, there’s going to be a lot to explore. We can’t wait to get going.

Ted Chen

Ted Chen is the founder of Tap & Sac, a website with a dream of making Magic: the Gathering more accessible and inclusive to a whole generation of new players. It offers learning guides for beginners, all the way to advanced videos for seasoned spellcasters. Everyone can have fun in the gathering!

tapandsac.com/

The post Geek Interview – Magic: The Gathering’s Emily Teng Explores The Tricky Territory Of Building New Worlds appeared first on Geek Culture.

Netflix is finally bringing the beloved tabletop universe of Magic: The Gathering to its streaming service. This new animated series, now in production, marks a significant move for the franchise, which has been captivating players for over three decades.

The series will be helmed by Terry Matalas, known for his work on Star Trek: Picard and 12 Monkeys, with Oscar-winner Patrick Osborne (Feast) overseeing the project as supervising director and executive producer. This collaboration was proudly announced at Geeked Week 2024, highlighting a partnership with Hasbro Entertainment and Wizards of the Coast, the original creators of the game. Matalas was also recently named showrunner of Marvel’s Vision series for Disney+.

“It has been an absolute dream collaboration with Netflix, Hasbro Entertainment, Wizards of the Coast, and the brilliant Patrick Osborne to bring the many worlds of Magic: The Gathering to streaming,” Matalas told Netflix. “Those new to this sprawling saga will learn what millions of fans who play every day already know. Magic is the ultimate storytelling sandbox, brimming with iconic, complex characters, extraordinary mind-bending powers, and portals to every genre imaginable. It is also a powerful reminder that no matter what culture, country, or plane of existence you come from, we can all unite and become heroes together.” This sentiment captures the essence of the game’s appeal—its ability to forge connections across diverse backdrops through compelling, strategic play and rich storytelling.

Despite previous attempts to adapt Magic: The Gathering for screen — including a project that never progressed beyond development — this series signifies a fresh start. Initially introduced in 2019 with high-profile names like Joe and Anthony Russo attached, the project faced several setbacks, including creative differences that led to a complete overhaul of the creative team. Jeff Kline (Transformers: Prime) took over in August 2021 but left. Brandon Routh, initially cast as the voice of heroic Planeswalker Gideon Jura, revealed in a recent interview that the prior version had been scrapped, and it remains unclear if he will be involved in the latest adaptation.

Netflix’s announcement reassures fans that the series is actively moving forward, with significant investment in both creative talent and production quality. Set to explore the foundational elements of the Magic: The Gathering lore, the series will focus on the adventures and trials of its iconic characters in a format that promises both depth and accessibility.

With Terry Matalas at the helm, the series is expected to blend high-stakes magical conflicts with deep character exploration, making it a must-watch for both longtime fans and newcomers of Magic: The Gathering.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.

The post Netflix’s ‘Magic: The Gathering’ Series Finds Showrunner In Star Trek: Picard’s Terry Matalas appeared first on Geek Culture.

Prepare yourself as Magic: the Gathering’s scariest set takes form. Duskmourn: House of Horror is a world that is one entire haunted house, so there’s really nothing else to find except your worst nightmares. On 27th Sept, expect to see plenty of zombies, skeletons and horrors you’ll never forget. And thanks to Wizards of the Coast, Geek Culture and Tap & Sac are thrilled to present a fittingly memorable preview card  – Unstoppable Slasher! 

Unstoppable Slasher is a rare creature card that costs 1 black and 2 generic mana, and the art comes with a Duskmourn-only “Lurker” alternative (center) and a Paranormal frame (right). It has 2/3 Power and Toughness, and even comes with Deathtouch, making it someone you don’t usually want to block in combat. 

That unwillingness to block will play a part in its second ability: “Whenever Unstoppable Slasher deals combat damage to a player, they lose half their life, rounded up.” Your opponent is left with a lose-lose situation – either lose a creature to block Unstoppable Slasher, or let it connect and lose more than half their current life total. 

Let’s assume the opponent has 20 life. Taking 2 damage from Unstoppable Slasher takes them down to 18. They then lose half of that – 9 life – and that brings them down to 9 life remaining. With one hit, you’ve effectively caused a loss of 11 life, over 50% of what they began with! To be able to pull this off with a single creature that can be cast on turn 3 is equal parts amazing and horrific.

Other Cards that Cause Massive Loss of Life

If you’re looking at similar cards that cause one (or each) player to lose half their life,  Fraying Omnipotence costs 5 mana and affects all players, including yourself. Then there’s Peer in the Abyss, costing 7. Even the more recent Rush of Dread costs 5 mana if you select just the option for an opponent to lose half their life. Unstoppable Slasher doubles up as a good attacker and blocker, while giving the added bonus of causing severe loss of life.

To make things even more nervy for your opponents, Unstoppable Slasher has a way to come back even when killed. “When Unstoppable Slasher dies, if it had no counters on it, return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner’s control with two stun counters on it.” The 2 Stun counter will prevent it from attacking for a couple of turns, but if you don’t get rid of it (again) while it has a counter, Unstoppable Slasher is just going to be.. Unstoppable. 

Two Card Combos with Unstoppable Slasher

Because Unstoppable Slasher’s life loss trigger is rounded up, when that figure is doubled, that opponent effectively dies (If the loss trigger was rounded down, an opponent with 19 life will lose 9 life, making it only 18 life if doubled). There are a number of black cards that double the amount of life loss that turn, and combined with Unstoppable Slasher, is just a brutal way of ending the game. 

Wound Reflection is the classic choice here, and can be used in many decks that deal damage through creatures. For 6 mana, it’s a fair and reasonable cost to gain the possibility of killing your opponent with one hit. Another more recent addition is Warlock Class. When leveled up to 3, it does the same doubling effect as Wound Reflection. A Level 3 Warlock Class does cost a total of 9 mana to reach, so not as easy or straightforward.

The best option for you right now (and even legal in the Standard format) is Bloodletter of Aclazotz. This Mythic Rare from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan doesn’t even wait till the end step to make an opponent lose double their life. It is more vulnerable as a creature, and since it gots 3 black and 1 generic mana, it’s really more suited for mono-black decks. Imagine casting Unstoppable Slasher on turn 3, Bloodletter of Aclazotz on turn 4, and possibly winning right there if the opponent takes damage from Slasher. 

End Step

Unstoppable Slasher may only be a Rare, 2/3 creature with Deathtouch, but it does so much more that it’s truly overvalued for its mana cost. Its ability to also return from the Graveyard – albeit with a drawback – can still come in handy in tight games. At the very least, you can use Unstoppable Slasher as a veritable blocker who can handle any big threat that comes its way.

Ted Chen

Ted Chen is the founder of Tap & Sac, a website with a dream of making Magic: the Gathering more accessible and inclusive to a whole generation of new players. It offers learning guides for beginners, all the way to advanced videos for seasoned spellcasters. Everyone can have fun in the gathering!

tapandsac.com/

The post Magic: The Gathering – Duskmourn ‘Unstoppable Slasher’ Card Preview appeared first on Geek Culture.

Mention popular trading card games (TCGs), and Pokémon will most certainly be on the list. The hobby based on the long-running franchise has spawned plenty of competitive challenges over the years, but there’s also a casual element to it — collection, just like how the Pokédex works.

Come 31 October, users of both Android and iOS devices will be able to build their collection and duel digitally with Pokémon TCG Pocket. Those eager to jump into the action can pre-register now on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, with the announcement made during the 2024 Pokémon World Championships held in Honolulu, Hawaii from 16 to 18 August.

This follows an initial reveal during this year’s Pokémon Day, which took place during earlier in February. Touting “exciting new visual effects for cards that are only possible digitally”, the mobile title lets players open two booster packs everyday at no cost, use binders or display boards to showcase their collection, enjoy casual battles alone or with friends, as well as gather cards featuring nostalgic artwork from the past and new designs exclusive to the game.

Pokémon TCG Pocket is launching on 31 October as a free-to-play app, making it more accessible to the general crowd, especially for fans who’ve been wanting to experience the hype. Originally debuted in 1996, the physical card game involves enthusiasts collecting cards spotlighting their favourite critters, building powerful decks, and facing off against opponents in strategic battles.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket’ Locks Oct Release, Opens Pre-Registration For Android And iOS appeared first on Geek Culture.

This year marks a monumental milestone for Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Interestingly, Wizards of the Coast is commemorating this golden jubilee by collaborating with Magic: The Gathering to release a series of enchanting Secret Lair drops based on… Baldur’s Gate 3?

It might seem like a strange choice, but these cards are not just a nod to the legacy of D&D. The drop is also a showcase of its vibrant characterisation, with two fan favourites from the game — Karlach, Fury of Avernus, and Astarion, the Decadent — taking the spotlight.

These characters are celebrated for their compelling backstories and charismatic allure, especially Astarion, who is renowned for his (sexy) rogue aesthetics and seductive personality.

Scheduled for release on 27 August, the Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair x Dungeons & Dragons 50th Anniversary collection includes several other themed drops yet to be announced such as “Astarion’s Thirst” and “Karlach’s Rage”. Each set is designed to capture the essence and evolution of the D&D saga through beautifully rendered artwork.

The drop is priced at US$29.99 (S$39.75) for the standard versions and US$39.99 (S$53) for foils. The drops will be available on their Secret Lair website and the D&D Beyond Marketplace.

Marcus

When Marcus is not trying to full combo a song on his favourite rhythm games, he’s either reading or watching some obscure Japanese mystery show/novel. Don’t ask him how much his Arkham Horror collection costs either, it’s his most closely guarded secret.

The post Dungeons & Dragons Celebrates 50th Anniversary With Sizzling Hot Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair Drop appeared first on Geek Culture.

Henry Cavill’s involvement in bringing the popular tabletop game Warhammer 40,000 to Amazon’s Prime Video as a TV series has hit a potential snag. Despite the initial excitement from December 2022, when Cavill signed on to star in and executive produce the series, the project’s future is now uncertain. Games Workshop, the publisher of Warhammer 40,000, has indicated that Amazon could lose the rights to the adaptation if they fail to finalise “creative guidelines” by the end of December 2024.

In its annual financial report, Games Workshop highlighted that their agreement with Amazon includes a strict timeline. The companies have until December 2024 to mutually agree on the creative direction for the Warhammer 40,000 film and TV series. This collaboration also opens the possibility for Amazon to acquire rights for the Warhammer Fantasy universe, contingent on the success of the initial Warhammer 40,000 production.

The pressure is on as the deadline approaches, with just five months left to meet the terms. If they cannot reach an agreement, the eagerly anticipated projects exploring the grimdark universe — a setting where humanity fights for survival against numerous threats — may never materialise.

Cavill, a long-time fan of Warhammer 40,000 and known for his role as Superman, expressed his deep personal connection to the project. He shared his excitement and the significance of this opportunity in previous statements, emphasising his commitment to ensuring the adaptation remains true to the beloved universe. “I have loved Warhammer since I was a boy, making this moment truly special for me. The opportunity to shepherd this cinematic universe from its inception is quite the honour and the responsibility,” Cavill remarked in an IGN article, acknowledging the effort by Vertigo, Amazon, and Games Workshop to bring this vision to life.

Cavill recently spoke about the Warhammer 40,000 project again, saying, “It is the greatest privilege of my professional career to have this opportunity. I can’t say too much, again, it’s early days still. But to have this opportunity to bring it to screen, and be at the tiller so it can be faithful, is key to me. This is the stuff I’ve been dealing with since I was a kid. This is the stuff I spend my free time daydreaming about, as an adult as well, and I get to bring it to life. There is no greater reason than I joined the industry than doing something like this.”

As fans await further developments, Warhammer 40,000 fans hold their breath, hoping that the collaborative efforts will yield a series that captures the essence of their expansive, dystopian universe. As the negotiations continue, the outcome will determine whether Henry Cavill and Amazon can indeed bring the epic scale of Warhammer 40,000 to the small screen.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.

The post Henry Cavill’s ‘Warhammer 40K’ Show In Jeopardy As Deadline Looms appeared first on Geek Culture.

Magic: The Gathering is back with their latest set, Bloomburrow, releasing four new preconstructed Commander decks for US$47.50 (do note that prices do fluctuate based on the popularity of the deck). Each deck is packed with adorable creatures and the usual package of commander staples (Sol Rings, a good mana base and removal) that we’ve come to expect.

Instead of delving into the itty bitty details of each deck, we’ll be looking at each of the cute but powerful face commanders the decks come with, as well as the alternate commander provided in each of the decks.

Given the cute and unique nature of the set, we’ve also ranked the decks from easiest to hardest for players to pilot these decks to victory.

1. Squirreled Away

Hazel of the Rootbloom’s nutty activated ability to tap tokens and turn them into mana can result in an insane mana boost. The key thing is she doesn’t care what kind of tokens they are. In an ideal world, they are Squirrel tokens so they can combo with her other ability, but she also lets you tap Food, Treasure, and any other kind of creature or noncreature token. Her triggered ability makes sure you’ll have plenty of tokens too, as she makes a copy of one of them during your end step. If you choose to copy a Squirrel, she gives you two copies, meaning you’ll have even more mana on your next turn. 

A reminder that the ‘Squirrel’ archetype in Bloomburrow also revolves around generating Food tokens, so there are plenty of synergies to be found just by cracking a few packs of Bloomburrow open!

Hilarious name and flavour aside, The Odd Acorn Gang focuses on beating down your opponents with a mob of Squirrels. It buffs them and draws cards when they hit opponents, making it a formidable aggro option of turning your little 1/1s into a formidable threat. The Gang’s synergy with other squirrel cards and its ability to draw cards ensures that your hand stays full and your board remains threatening. However, the deck itself doesn’t actually run that many Squirrel cards and Squirrel token generators, meaning this commander’s probably won’t reach its full potential in the deck.

In the end, Hazel might be the more powerful option due to her ability to generate mana and create tokens, but The Odd Acorn Gang offers a strong aggressive strategy with squirrels, albeit with the need to add a lot more cards that support that gameplan to the deck.

2. Animated Army

Bello, Bard of the Brambles animates your artifacts and enchantments into 4/4 indestructible creatures that draw cards on hit. Bello’s low casting cost allows for an early start in turning your board into a formidable army. With Bello’s ability, your permanents not only become powerful creatures but also provide card advantage through their card draw, making it difficult for opponents to recover. These creatures are also safe from most board wipes (darn you Farewell) during your opponents’ turns, giving you a resilient and aggressive board presence.

Wildsear, Scouring Maw probably has the scariest art of the bunch and his terrifying effect fits his look perfectly. Wildsear leans heavily into enchantments, using Cascade to chain powerful enchantments, potentially overwhelming opponents with commander damage due to Wildsear’s innate Trample. The Cascade ability lets you play powerful enchantments for free, creating a snowball effect that can quickly become overwhelming for your opponents. 

However, overall Bello is likely to be the stronger commander for the deck, as while the deck does come with several good enchantments, to fully capitalize on Wildsear’s gameplan, you would have to swap a lot of the other cards in the deck.

3. Family Matters

Bird’s the word with Zinnia, Valley’s Voice. The bird of the ball gives creature spells you cast Offspring {2}, one of the new keywords from the set. In practice, this means you’ll get to pay two mana to get double the Enter the Battlefield effects of your cards, so your towering Sun Titan will be joined by an itty bitty baby instead of a fully grown copy. Not content just to give you value, Zinnia also gets boosted by +X/+0, where X is the number of creatures with base power 1. 

Keep in mind that this means that if you buff or put counters on those tokens you’ll still get the power boost for Zinnia. Couple that with the low mana cost and innate Flying means this bird will be pecking out your opponents for huge commander damage quickly.

Don’t be fooled by Arthur Marigold Knight’s tiny appearance, he can cheat out powerful creatures just by attacking with an ally. The tiny warrior’s ability to bring powerful creatures into play without paying their mana cost can be game-changing, but to fully capitalize on his effect,  however, the number of strong creatures in the deck itself hinders his potential.

Overall, Zinnia is definitely the better of the two, as Arthur just lacks the powerful payoffs in the deck needed for his high mana cost to be worth it. It is funny for him to attack with a tiny Bird token and have an opponent suddenly find a giant Inferno Titan swinging at them though. 

4. Peace Offering

The delightful Ms. Bumbleflower appears as a ‘Group Hug’ commander, giving resources to opponents in exchange for powering up your own board. While her ability certainly would make you think that she leans heavily into the theme by giving your opponent cards, the +1/+1 counters (which you can put on Ms. Bumbleflower herself), will quickly make her a threat that could potentially one-shot opponents with commander damage, especially since she’ll be flying at them while she does it.

The deck itself also features plenty of cards with the new ‘Gift’ archetype featured in Bloomburrow, giving a new flavourful way to play the Group Hug strategy.

If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like helping others (you may want to rethink getting this deck), Mr. Foxglove might be more up your alley. This crafty fox isn’t a Group Hug card, but that doesn’t make it any less strong. It has solid stats with an amazing ability that will always keep your hand full of cards or get a creature onto the battlefield for free. While Mr. Foxglove isn’t too synergetic in the deck itself, it makes for a phenomenal commander in its own dedicated deck that can take more advantage of its abilities.

Similar to the other decks, Ms. Bumbleflower is the stronger of the two, as the deck is built around the group hug strategy. Mr. Foxglove would prefer a deck that can make use of its ability to cheat out creates for free instead.

Furry Planeswalkers

That’s the basic rundown of each of the commanders available in the prebuilt decks! In addition to the unique commanders each of the decks come with, veteran players will be happy to find ‘Bloomburrow-fied’ versions of planeswalkers that we all know and love in each deck as well.

With Bloomburrow being one of Magic the Gathering’s most hyped-up sets in a while, it’s a breath of fresh air to see four different commander decks with wildly different game plans. The decks are currently available for sale, but as the set (b)looms in actual play, the prices might fluctuate due to popularity so get them while they are still available.

Marcus

When Marcus is not trying to full combo a song on his favourite rhythm games, he’s either reading or watching some obscure Japanese mystery show/novel. Don’t ask him how much his Arkham Horror collection costs either, it’s his most closely guarded secret.

The post Magic: The Gathering Bloomburrow Set – All Commander Decks Ranked By Difficulty appeared first on Geek Culture.

Wizards of the Coast, known for their continuous innovation in Magic: The Gathering, has unveiled a captivating crossover with the iconic fantasy comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail. As part of their Universes Beyond series, the company will release a set of themed cards featuring scenes and jokes from the 1975 film, as per IGN.

The Monty Python set, split into two Secret Lair drops, creatively repurposes eight classic Magic cards and one token with all-new artwork drawn from the film’s memorable characters and sketches. These cards include whimsical titles like ‘Tis But a Scratch!, depicting King Arthur’s comical duel with the stubbornly defiant Black Knight, and We Want…A SHRUBBERY!, showcasing the peculiar demands of the Knights of Ni.

The cards also reflect a specific gag from the film, such as the African Swallow/European Swallow, a clever nod to the debate over how coconuts could reach medieval England, which is humorously represented on a double-sided card.

The limited edition series will be available in both regular and foil versions as part of a bigger Secret Lair drop on 29 July. Fans attending this weekend’s San Diego Comic-Con will also have a chance to snag some of the foil cards at the Hasbro Pulse booth.

This crossover follows Wizards of the Coast’s tradition of blending pop culture with card gaming, with previous Secret Lair sets featuring everything from Stranger Things to The Walking Dead. Yet, the Monty Python theme is particularly resonant, given the film’s enduring status as a cult classic and its comedic take on the Arthurian legends, which aligns amusingly with Magic’s own fantastical lore.

Whether you’re a seasoned player or a collector, the Monty Python and the Holy Grail cards are a quirky and charming celebration of two legendary franchises. Get ready to relive the humour and adventure of Arthur’s quest in card form, but be quick — like the film’s infamous coconuts, these cards might just gallop away.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.

The post ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ Invades Magic: The Gathering With New Secret Lair Drops appeared first on Geek Culture.

Magic: the Gathering is going small and furry in the next Standard-release set, with the all-animal plane Bloomburrow set to hit the shops on 2 August. Thanks to Wizards of the Coast, we’ve got a slithery preview card that is going to prove quite the adversary for our squirrels and otters – Rottenmouth Viper! 

Rottenmouth Viper is a 6/6 creature that costs 1 black and 5 generic Mana, however this cost can be reduced for each non-land permanent you sacrifice. This could be in the form of creatures, artifacts. One of the most advantageous ways to cast Rottenmouth Viper is to tap and sacrifice 3 Treasures, since that would give you 3 Mana plus have a cost reduction of 3. A turn three 6/6 snake? Better run away quick!

One of the best things about Rottenmouth Viper is that you get instant value once it enters the battlefield. As it enters, you put a Blight counter on it, and each opponent loses 4 life unless they sacrifice a nonland permanent or discard a card. It’s perfect Commander material since the trigger can affect multiple opponents, but because it isn’t Legendary, we’ll have to throw that plan out the door.

If a 6/6 on turn three isn’t tough enough to deal with, its bite gets more venomous with each attack. Each attack adds an additional Blight counter, leading to severe palpitations for your opponent. Assuming Rottenmouth Viper survives a turn, on your first attack it will already have 2 Blight counters. Imagine losing 8 life, discard 2 cards, or sacrifice 2 non-land permanents on their board – terribly rotten for your opponent. 

What Kind Of Decks Can Rottenmouth Viper Fit In?

Since Bloomburrow is the latest set for Standard format and the list of eligible cards will be refreshed on 30th July, Bloomburrow will lay the groundwork for a new meta environment. So what kind of Standard decks might Rottenmouth Viper be the most effective in? 

In line with Rottenmouth Viper’s sacrifice theme, a green-black deck focusing on Food tokens or dying triggers would be its natural home. In Standard, cast Rottenmouth Viper by sacrificing cards such as Etched Familiar, Gruff Triplets or Flitting Guerilla to get some value back despite losing a creature. Etched Familiar will drain the opponent for 2 life, the Triplets makes his brothers bigger, and Guerilla puts a creature from the Graveyard back on top of your deck, ready to cast next turn. 

Or how about using your opponent’s cards as casting fodder for Rottenmouth Viper? A red-green Standard deck can have cards that temporarily gain control of creatures, which can then be sacrificed to bring a cheaper Viper onto the battlefield. There’s Awaken the Sleeper, Furnace Reins, and Take for a Ride to steal a big threat, deal some damage and let it die to Rottenmouth Viper’s cost. You will need considerable Mana to do this, but all fun, crazy things do come at a price.

Although Rottenmouth Viper isn’t eligible to be a Commander, there are plenty of discard or sacrifice Commander decks that it can slot right in. Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal as a Commander forces opponents to throw cards away, and Rottenmouth Viper does the same but in spades. Should the opponent choose to discard cards, Aclazotz creates 1/1 Bats to pile on the pressure. Rottenmouth Viper will be a small cog in a big machine of discard spells, but once it hits the board, it’s going to cause a lot of problems since its triggers affect each opponent.

End Step

A very powerful addition to black for the new Standard meta, Rottenmouth Viper will also be a worthwhile replacement in many Commander decks beyond Bloomburrow. Its ability to cause massive life and card loss if left unchecked makes it a kill-on-sight target, though by then it would have already left a mark thanks to its Enters trigger. Even if you’re not casting it at a reduced cost, it’s still an incredibly strong card that will see play in multiple formats. 

Ted Chen

Ted Chen is the founder of Tap & Sac, a website with a dream of making Magic: the Gathering more accessible and inclusive to a whole generation of new players. It offers learning guides for beginners, all the way to advanced videos for seasoned spellcasters. Everyone can have fun in the gathering!

tapandsac.com/

The post Magic: The Gathering – Bloomburrow ‘Rottenmouth Viper’ Card Preview appeared first on Geek Culture.

In an exciting announcement for fans, Magic: The Gathering has teamed up with Ubisoft Singapore to celebrate the release of their new Assassin’s Creed-themed set. An exclusive play session is scheduled at Ubisoft’s office on 19 July at 7pm, following the set’s release on 5 July.

Participants in this unique event will have the opportunity to engage with the new Magic: The Gathering – Assassin’s Creed set first-hand. To qualify for one of the limited 50 invites and win an incredible prize pack, participants must:

1. Crack a minimum of three #MTGACR packs and play a game in-store.
2. Share a photo of their gameplay experience with the opened packs on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #MTGACRSEA.

The deadline for entries is 15 July, 11.59pm SGT. Attendees are required to bring their own Commander decks to the event. All invitees will receive a special playmat designed by artist Lie Setiawan and four Beyond booster packs.

The Assassin’s Creed set, part of Magic’s Universes Beyond series, promises to incorporate characters from across the franchise’s storied universe. Notable assassins from titles like Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed III are expected to be featured, bringing a blend of historical and fictional narratives to the playing field.

Controversy often surrounds reprints, but they provide new players the opportunity to acquire pivotal cards, now reimagined with fresh artwork and themed after Assassin’s Creed‘s iconic weaponry. This set will not only revisit fan-favourite characters but also introduce cards in several languages, including Greek script for characters like Cleopatra, enhancing the authenticity and collectibility of the cards.

A standout feature of the set is a six-card montage that recreates a classic vista of Rome with the character Ezio, a nod to the game’s rich visual storytelling. This ambitious design aims to surpass previous thematic sets like Outlaws of Thunder Junction, offering fans a uniquely immersive experience.

Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts and Assassin’s Creed fans alike can look forward to a blend of nostalgia and novel gameplay as this event at Ubisoft Singapore brings the best of both worlds to the table.

Interested parties may purchase the new Magic: The Gathering – Assassin’s Creed set on Amazon.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.

The post Ubisoft Singapore Hosts Exclusive ‘Magic: The Gathering — Assassin’s Creed’ Play Session: Here’s How To Enter appeared first on Geek Culture.

Magic: The Gathering (MTG), one of the most popular strategy card games by Hasbro-owned publisher, Wizards of the Coast (WotC), constantly puts out collectible cards with illustrated designs, but there’s a whole other side to the game that serious collectors are in the know about – when Magic meets licensing, and releases a series of exclusive card drops that can disappear quicker than the snap of your fingers.

Known as Secret Lair, these officially licensed Magic: The Gathering cards are rare because WotC only ever releases them once, never to be repeated again. They have been released with greater fanfare over the years, crossing properties and genres that you might not link to strategy cards, from virtual singer Hatsune Miku to streaming sensation Stranger Things.

The moral of the story? If you come across it, do yourself a favour and pick them up if it catches your fancy, mainly from WotC’s Secret Lair website. And if you don’t play MTG, here are some things about the Secret Lair drops you should be aware of.

1 ) Availability: Starting from 2024, Secret Lair changed its production model for most products. Instead of printing on demand, they will have limited print runs. This means faster shipping times, but some popular items may sell out. They will use past sales data to estimate demand and ensure most players get what they want. There might still be a few exceptions with the old print-on-demand model.

2) Secret Lair cards are legal for play, but only within Magic: The Gathering Eternal formats, which are Commander, Legacy, Vintage, and Pauper. You can still use these cards in tournaments with these categories, as most Secret Lair cards are re-skins of existing cards with some exceptions, but it’s best to check in with tournament organizations.

3) Universes Beyond: The Secret Lair cards are part of MTG’s Universes Beyond line, which is a sub-brand of the main MTG line and exists alongside it. Media tie-in cards are usually part of the Universes Beyond category, but they are considered non-canon to the Magic lore.

4) Booster/Commander/Draft sets: MTG Booster sets supplement your existing deck, depending on what kind of build you’re going for. A set booster has 12 playable cards, while a draft booster has 15, and a commander deck has 100 cards.

5) Superdrop/Secretversary: Every season, Secret Lair releases a new wave of drops in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, with different media tie–ins each time. And on SecretVersary, an annual drop with the most epic releases, that’s usually when Secret Lair goes all out with releasing even more cards.

Here are our picks for 10 of the most epic Secret Lair drops in history.

1. Secret Lair X The Walking Dead (2020)

The Walking Dead Secret Lair drop switched up the formula, with previously released cards being reskins of already existing cards with alternate art, but not this time. This Secret Lair drop was the first time mechanically unique cards were introduced, with Rick, Daryl, Glenn, Michonne, and Negan being the featured characters, having different abilities that switched up the game. The drop also came with five Zombie tokens, each an important walker from the show, and one Treasure token.

2. The Godzilla Lands (2020)

Who doesn’t love Godzilla? In this Secret Lair drop, Godzilla stomps its way through five different landscapes, which naturally, represents land cards. If you look closely, you’ll spot characters from the franchise in the card backgrounds, like the Mothra twins and a showdown between Godzilla and Hedorah. What’s interesting about this drop is that it was released in collaboration with Godzilla’s rights owner, Toho Corporation, and were only on sale for 24 hours.

3. Secret Lair x Stranger Things (2021)

If the kids from Netflix’s supernatural series Stranger Things had picked up Magic: The Gathering instead of WotC’s Dungeons & Dragons, what would they look like as MTG cards? The Stranger Things Secret Lair Superdrop of October 2021 featured the Hawkins crew in a series of mechanically unique cards, and of course, Eleven gets to be a mage, along with the Mind Flayer getting a card of its own. A Clue Token was also included with the drop, which lets players sacrifice an artifact to draw a card.

4. Secret Lair x Street Fighter (2022)

Street Fighter’s legendary World Warriors fought their way into the MTG universe in a February 2022 superdrop, which featured the original eight fighters on cards with unique mechanics relating to their in-game abilities. A bonus Hadoken card was also a re-skin of the Lightning Bolt card, which deals 3 damage to any target. So you can fireball your way to victory but now with style.

5. Transformers: Optimus Prime vs. Megatron (2022)

December 2022’s Secret Lair release featured three Transformers drops, with land cards representing Cybertron’s various locations, an Optimus Prime vs. Megatron set, and six re-skinned spell cards with art featuring various Autobots and Decepticons.

What’s unique about these cards is that both sides of each card have the same rules text but different art, allowing you to choose their look as they enter the fray. The front and back sides of each card in the Optimus Prime vs. Megatron set form a panorama, which is pretty cool even if you’re just displaying them.

Featuring the Reversible Borderless Blightsteel Colossus as “Megatron”, Reversible Borderless Darksteel Colossus as “Optimus Prime”, and the Reversible Borderless Doubling Cube as “The AllSpark”, the set is one of the most epic Transformers drops yet.

6. Secret Lair X Fortnite (2022)

This might be a surprising development to some, but yes, official Secret Lair x Fortnite cards exist, despite the younger demographic skew of the video game. The game’s vibrant environments are turned into reskinned cards with alternate art, which offer a fun alternative for fans of both the card game and the hit video game.

The set included Wrath of God as “Shrinking Storm”, Dance of Many as “Dance Battle”
Etherium Sculptor as “Supply Llama”, Grim Tutor as “Crack the Vault”, Triumph of the Hordes as “Battle Royale”, Smuggler’s Copter as “Battle Bus”, and Planar Bridge as “The Cube”.

7. Secret Lair X Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

There is no denying the similarities between WotC’s Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, so it’s no surprise that both properties have collaborated plenty of times in the past. Their most recent collaboration brings characters from the 2023 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves movie into the MTG universe. Each card is mechanically unique, and themed according to the characters they represent, including Xenk, Paladin Unbroken, Simon, Wild Magic Sorcerer, Forge, Neverwinter Charlatan, Holga, Relentless Rager, Doric, Nature’s Warden // Doric, Owlbear Avenger. and Edgin, Larcenous Lutenist.

8. Doctor Who: Regeneration (2023)

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of British sci-fi icon, Doctor Who, a MTG card series was released. While there have been other Doctor Who MTG card decks in the past, this deck features cards of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctor, who have not appeared in previous Commander decks.

This drop featured mechanically unique cards themed according to Rose Noble, The Celestial Toymaker, The Meep, and the Fourteenth and Fifteen Doctor, along with a surprise bonus card, the Sonic Screwdriver, which let players add one mana of any colour.

9. Secret Lair x Fallout: S.P.E.C.I.A.L. (2024)

A S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Fallout drop happened this year, in conjunction with Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout TV series release, and each card represents a different Attribute, with accompanying art and abilities. Seven cards were released in this drop, containing the Steelshaper’s Gift, Propaganda, Elixir of Immortality, Council’s Judgment, Idyllic Tutor, Anger, and Lightning Bolt, corresponding to the attributes in order.

The art style was inspired by the Fallout: Shelter mobile game, and the limited-print run was sold out almost immediately, with eager collectors snapping the cards up.

10. Spring Superdrop 2024 (featuring Hatsune Miku: Sakura Superstar)

Vocaloid idol or face of an MTG card, Hatsune Miku can do it all. The Spring Superdrop featured a six-card Miku set which had reprints and skinned cards, showcasing art of Miku in spring-themed outfits. The Hatsune Miku: Sakura Superstar set had illustrators around the world come together to create those six cards, which have Miku in a lightning storm, or among cherry blossoms, bringing her song around Japan.

The featured cards that came with the drop included the Shelter, Chandra’s Ignition as “Miku’s Spark”, Harmonize, Azusa, Lost but Seeking as “Miku, Lost but Singing”, Feather, the Redeemed as “Miku, the Renowned”, and the Inspiring Vantage cards, with a limited purchase amount of 5 cards per customer, and sold out lightning fast.

Bonus: Secretversary 2023 (featuring Jurassic World: Dr. Ian Malcolm )

Life finds a way. Secretversary 2024 had fan favourite Jurassic Park character Dr. Ian Malcolm in an MTG set of his own, with iconic illustrated scenes (yes, including that shirtless moment) from the original movie as four reskinned cards and an egg token. The cards included reskinned versions of the Laboratory Maniac, Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Tasigur, the Golden Fang, and Atla Palani, Nest Tender.

Also accompanying the Jurassic Park theme was a companion Jurassic World: Life Breaks Free set, which featured escaped dinosaurs – the fearsome Tyrannosaurus Rex, along with the terrifying Spinosaurus, Velociraptor, Indominus Rex, and a gentle Triceratops card to balance it out.

The respective reskins included Etali, Primal Storm as Tyrannosaurus Rex, Rampaging Ferocidon as the Velociraptor card, a Polyraptor as the Indominus Rex card, a Wayward Swordtooth as the Triceratops card, and a Regisaur Alpha as the Spinosaurus card.

Trinity Sun

Trinity is a geek who enjoys watching anime, superhero and Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. She enjoys gaming (however has terrible gacha luck) and creates cool homebrew campaigns in her free time. She’s always up for a new adventure — with a cosy jacket and a good book in hand.

The post 10 Epic Secret Lair MTG Drops You’ll Wish You Owned  appeared first on Geek Culture.

Gather round adventurers, as TableCon Quest 2024, Singapore’s inaugural tabletop gaming convention, rolled for initiative, gathering hundreds of eager fans in a two-day gaming extravaganza.

While staple tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer had a strong presence with learn-to-play sessions and Hammer Fest, the curtain rises on more obscure role-playing games (RPGs) and board games that got their chance to shine.

Here’s every booth with an obscure or upcoming RPG and trading card game (TCG) focus at TableCon Quest 2024.

Tinker Tales

Local game studio Tinker Tales brought a wide catalogue of various RPGs to TableCon Quest 2024, where interested gamers could sign up for learn-to-play demo sessions. If you can think of a franchise, there’s likely a role-playing game for it, from adventuring into Fallout’s wasteland to even Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Some of these games bring a local twist, like a Call of Cthulhu game set in Singapore, or a Vampire the Masquerade adventure where the clans vie for power in Singapore, as an unseen power struggle lurks beneath. SCP: Delta Green sees players taking on the role of investigators in a supernatural horror mystery game, while others did battle with zombies in The Last Of Us-inspired system, All Flesh Must Be Eaten.

Null Signal Games 

Only 90s kids will remember Netrunner, which was published by Wizards of the Coast, before eventually falling out of popularity in the 2000s, and going out of print in 2018. And the game would have fallen into obscurity, if not for Null Signal Games, a Netrunner community in Singapore dedicated to keeping the TCG alive, even publishing their expansion cards and a revamped core system. 

Players go head-to-head as either a sinister corporation determined to control the city, or a rogue hacker infiltrating the corporation in this asymmetrical card game, played using cards and tokens. The booth had plenty of curious onlookers at the convention, and perhaps, Netrunner’s future is looking bright after all.

Curious Chimeras

Getting everyone together to play an RPG can be tough, and that’s where Curious Chimeras gets to shine — the team is known for their solo RPG books that can be played with just a pack of playing cards, a set of dice, and a pen and paper. From cosy baking journaling games like Whisk & Wonder to Southeast Asian fantasy epics, there’s something for everyone, particularly lovers of supernatural intrigue. Most notably, Swordfarer: A Youxia’s Tale, also serves as a setting guide for game masters looking to base their games in Asian wuxia fantasy settings and a standalone game. 

Other activities were available at their booth as well, including a dice scooping trove and custom glitter jar dice, which D&D fans got excited about. It isn’t every day you see a 20-sided die encased in a glitter jar that reveals the result on the bottom, bringing a touch of whimsy to the booth.

Indie Board Games 

Unlike most occasions where board games stay on their shelves, the indie board games section of TableCon welcomed gamers to try their hand at new additions and lesser-known favourites in the board gaming scene.

Legions of Kadmon commanded a fearsome presence, and this new Magic The Gathering-esque strategy TCG has players fight waves of stunningly illustrated enemies to eventually defeat Kadmon, the final boss, who commands legions of the dead. 

Taking things for a more local twist, Capital Games Studio showcased a wide array of board and card games, with collaborative entries like Dream Diary, which sees players work together to escape a series of dreams, and competitive card game Singapore 1889, revolving around a fierce resource war between merchants, secret societies, and colonial forces. 

Things heated up over at the Isekai demo station, a fast-paced TCG adventure from local avid card gamer KS where players reincarnate as heroes with broken skills in a race to defeat the Demon Force.

Good Spirit Games had a variety of games, and its Japanese-focused games got to shine. Taking familiar concepts such as sushi and kabuki warriors, Kabuki Tricks and Nightmares of Sushi puts a fun spin on those ideas, creating fun co-operative party games that resulted in plenty of laughter. Their other game, Contraband Insider, is a deduction board game where players take on the role of police infiltrators attempting to foil contraband raids, which gets even more chaotic with more players in the mix. 

Apart from local games, Origame also brought a wide array of games from other Southeast Asian publishers, while showcasing its newest games, Cube Melt, and Chock A Block. Highlights include Buffet Boss, a lighthearted stacking game, and Kopi King, an ingredient-snatching, drink-making card game saw eager onlookers join in on the fun.

Ultraman TCG

For the first time in Singapore, gamers got to try out the highly-anticipated Ultraman TCG, a competitive two-player strategy game to build the ultimate Ultraman, assembling a powerful force of defenders. After participating in the demo, attendees got a free deck of their own, along with an exclusive holographic card.

And that wraps up two days of exciting tabletop gaming action. As the hobby continues to pick up momentum in Singapore and the region, we’re looking forward to the next iteration — and beyond.

Trinity Sun

Trinity is a geek who enjoys watching anime, superhero and Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. She enjoys gaming (however has terrible gacha luck) and creates cool homebrew campaigns in her free time. She’s always up for a new adventure — with a cosy jacket and a good book in hand.

The post TableCon Quest 2024 Roundup: Obscure RPGs Beyond D&D, Warhammer & More appeared first on Geek Culture.

We finally get the closest look at the upcoming Assassin’s Creed and Magic: The Gathering Universes Beyond set coming out on 5 July 2024.

While we’ve seen drips and drabs of the set across the past few months, Wizards of the Coast gave players a full rundown of what to expect. Plus, even more cards will be coming out in the following weeks.

From the reveal stream, it seems that all the assassins across the Assassin’s Creed universe will be represented in the Magic: The Gathering set so with simple elimination we should expect the protagonists from Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed III to step out from the shadows soon enough.

Reprints have been a controversial topic with the player base but it gives newer entrants into the scene a chance to get hold of key cards to bling out their deck complete with new art. Additionally, there will be unique Assassin’s Creed weapons from the games that will make an appearance as well.

It wouldn’t be a proper Assassin’s Creed game without featuring iconic characters across time with the this Magic: The Gathering set we’ll be only scratching the surface. These friends and foes that the assassin’s meet will come in serialized and localized language so getting Cleopatra in Greek script is very much a possibility.

And finally, this might be the peak of the entire set – a six-card set that forms up the Rome vista with Ezio peering into the distance. Fans of the game will recognize this scene as they synchronize with the world and it’s now brought to life in Magic: The Gathering. The recent Outlaws of Thunder Junction set attempted to assemble a similar concept with stagecoaches but this is far superior.

The entire Assassin’s Creed Magic: The Gathering Universes Beyond set can be preordered right now.

Gerald

Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!

The post ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Leaps Into Magic: The Gathering In Epic Crossover – First Looks appeared first on Geek Culture.

Tabletop gaming reigns supreme at Singapore’s inaugural TableCon Quest 2024, and with two weeks out to the convention on 22 and 23 June 2024 at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre’s Hall 403, here’s what to expect. Organized by entertainment company Eliphant, who ran GameStart Asia, the convention is set to gather like-minded gamers and curious beginners.

Be the first in Singapore to play the ULTRAMAN CARD GAME

The ULTRAMAN CARD GAME is officially launching in Summer 2024, but at TableCon Quest, visitors can be the first to try it out with learn-to-play sessions at the booth. Players who learn the game will receive a set of 2 demo decks that can be combined into a full deck for free, as well as an exclusive promotional card for the game.

Try a demo of Shadowverse Evolve: Gloryfinder

Digital card game Shadowverse is venturing into making their hit game a physical card game in Shadowverse Evolve: Gloryfinder, and Bushiroad is bringing a demo workshop to the convention where players can try the game out before it launches in July.

Meet renowned game designers

Cardfight!! Vanguard designer Satoshi Nakamura will also make an appearance at the event, along with Eiji Shishido, trading card game (TCG) veteran and producer of the Ultraman card game, so don’t miss out your chance to learn more about TCGs!

Play board games from local indie game studios

Local indie game studios will also be showcasing their board games at TableCon, such as Kickstarter project Isekai The Board Game, which is a fast-paced adventure where players reincarnate as heroes with broken skills in a race to to defeat the Demon Forces. Other studios including Good Spirit Games, Centrefire Hobbies, Boardverse and Capital Gains Studio will also have demos of their games, which are available for purchase.

Step into the world of Miniatures at HAMMER FEST

Game store HammerHouse is bringing its annual event, HAMMER FEST to the convention, promising a bigger and better setup. Paint a free miniature, preview miniatures from
popular games such as Warhammer and Marvel: Crisis Protocol, and try out a quick game demo, in an exciting weekend of miniature gaming fun.

Dungeons & Dragons Games, Open Play Areas, & Workshops

Of course, it wouldn’t be a tabletop gaming convention without Dungeons & Dragons, and if you’ve always wanted to learn how to play but don’t know where to start, join a beginner game or two at TableCon. Open Play Areas and an extensive Game Library will be available on-site for players who bring their own games, or are keen to borrow and explore new titles, so grab a friend and embark on a new adventure!

Tickets are now available at TableCon Quest’s Eventbrite page and cost S$12 per day. TIcket details are as follows:

Trinity Sun

Trinity is a geek who enjoys watching anime, superhero and Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. She enjoys gaming (however has terrible gacha luck) and creates cool homebrew campaigns in her free time. She’s always up for a new adventure — with a cosy jacket and a good book in hand.

The post Top Things To Expect At Singapore’s Inaugural TableCon Quest 2024 appeared first on Geek Culture.

Don’t head off for your mid-year holidays just yet, Magic: The Gathering has lined up the year’s biggest release! Modern Horizons 3 (MH3) goes public on June 14 and follows up on the best-selling Modern Horizons 2 (MH2), which introduced plenty of powerful cards that are still widely used today. Urza’s Saga, Esper Sentinel, and the cycle of Evoke creatures made MH2 a hit, and many fans are expecting MH3 to level up over its predecessor. Thanks to Wizards of the Coast, we’re stoked to present a new preview card for the newest installment – Lion Umbra!

Lion Umbra is an uncommon green card and takes after other umbras, as an Aura Enchantment that is cast onto a creature. It costs 2 green mana, and gives the enchanted creature +3/+3, Vigilance and Reach. If that wasn’t enough, it bears the Umbra Amor keyword (formerly known as Totem Armor), basically giving your creature a one-time protection against being destroyed or dying to lethal damage.

There is one little drawback to this otherwise powerful Aura. It can only target modified creatures, so it has to be either already enchanted, equipped, or have a counter on it. It’s a small hoop that you’d have to jump through in order to attach Lion Umbra.

Is Lion Umbra Good Enough for Modern?

As Modern Horizons 3 was designed with the Modern format in mind, how relevant is Lion Umbra in an environment where Auras don’t see that much play?

Mono green Tron would seemingly be the obvious home for Lion Umbra, since it does cost specifically 2 green mana. However Tron decks run a whole lot of Artifacts and pretty much zero Auras or Equipments. Creature count is also very low as it utilises Planeswalkers to lock down the opponent’s game plan. Not only are there few targets for Lion Umbra, it would be virtually impossible to attach it to anything.

In order to overcome Lion Umbra’s restriction of targeting only modified creatures, it’s best to place it in a deck that uses +1/+1 counters in its main strategy. Mono green Hardened Scales is heavy on Artifacts too but is all about placing +1/+1 counters to overpower your opponent’s creatures. Its full load of Arcbound Ravager, Patchwork Automaton and other modified creatures means Lion Umbra targets are easy to come by.

Lion Umbra fits into the overall deck strategy but it does have some drawbacks. Lion Umbra doesn’t buff through +1/+1 counters, so you can’t shift down around using The Ozolith. It might be a challenge to find a space to slot Lion Umbra into a deck that is already filled with key components. It could replace Welding Jar as protection against destroy effects, but Lion Umbra isn’t an Artifact and Welding Jar’s 0 cost is too hard to pass up.

As Aura-focused decks are few and far between in the Modern scene, Lion Umbra might best be a card for the sideboard. It will certainly do well in casual Commander decks that focus on stacking a ton of Equipment or Auras on a single creature. Lion Umbra’s 2 mana cost is really low, considering the +3/+3 buff and gaining of Vigilance and Reach, a necessary blend for balanced offense and defense. Those decks, helmed by Commanders such as Dogmeat, Ever Loyal (from the recent Fallout), often have a full suite and Equipment and Auras, and Lion Umbra will be among friendly company.

End Step

Lion Umbra is a worthy addition to the line of Umbra cards, offering a substantial buff and at the same time protection from destroy effects. It’s annoying to deal with, though a simple bounce of the creature or destroying the Aura itself usually solves the problem. In the Modern scene, Lion Umbra is a little out of place right now and it would take some serious shifting of the meta if it is to see competitive play.

Ted Chen

Ted Chen is the founder of Tap & Sac, a website with a dream of making Magic: the Gathering more accessible and inclusive to a whole generation of new players. It offers learning guides for beginners, all the way to advanced videos for seasoned spellcasters. Everyone can have fun in the gathering!

tapandsac.com/

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