There’s never been a better time forMagic: The Gatheringplayers who can’t get enough of collecting cards.
The game’s 2024 schedule is so packed with releases that only the most dedicated fans have any hope of keeping up. Whether you like to play Modern, Standard, Commander, or even Pioneer, there’s going to be something for everyone this years, which is whyit’s such a good time to get intoMagic. That said, unless you want to dump your life savings into cards, it’s best to know what you’re getting into before you start buying boosters. Here’s what this year’s release schedule looks like:
What’s in the box?
There’s almost a newMagicset for every month in 2024. Things slow down a little toward the end of the year, but for the most part we’re charging right ahead all year long. Of course, not every set is designed for every kind of player. They’re each tailor-made for specific formats, and some of this year’s releases are clearly aimed at either appealing to longtime fans or drawing in new players who’ve never thought to pick upMagicbefore now.
Ravnica Remasteredis a set entirely dedicated to the classicMTGsetting and is made up of reprints from previous sets that took place in the sprawling city. Ravnica has long been my favoriteMagicsetting, and the awesome cards remastered here helped remind me why that is.
Piggy-backing off ofRavnica RemasteredcomesMurders at Karlov Manor, a 286-card set themed around an investigation in a bloody mansion deep in the heart of the city. The set was released alongside a Ravnica-themed edition of the board gameClue.
Under its Universes Beyond label,Magicreleased fourFallout-themed Commander decks and Collector Boosters in March, 2024. The set translated the craziest characters and items from across theFalloutfranchise intoMagic-friendly mechanics, letting us all finally answer if a group of Powder Ganger could take on the Mothman.
Outlaws of Thunder Junctionbrings a western setting toMagicfor the first time. The set appropriately features special newspaper and crime Sorcery cards that help the flavor ofThunder Junctionsink into the set’s mechanics. It also brings a slew of new villainous characters into the game, making its wild west feel packed with intrigue.
Modern is the most expansiveMagicformat, andModern Horizons 3will provide a whole new toolbox for deck builders to experiment with. The set brings some new cards to the format and also reprints some classic cards to inject some new life into the Modern meta.
The second Universes Beyond set of the year brings the world ofAssassin’s Creedto your card table. The set brings in some of your favorite characters from the games, like Ezio Auditore da Firenze, as well as historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci. you may’t bring the cards to Standard tournaments, but you can use them to pit assassins against Brotherhood of Steel Knights, and that’s about as cool as it gets.
Stylistically,Bloomburrowmight be the most interesting set thatMagichas released in years. The realm of Bloomburrow is home only to animals, and it’s a place where even the tiniest mouse living in the woods can become an epic hero. The cards show off tiny yet fearsome creatures duking it out in some stunning nature scenes, and some special full art and storybook art cards will really let the setting shine.
LikeMurders at Karlov Manor,Duskmourn: House of Horroris another theme-heavy set.Duskmourntakes place in a haunted house and is meant to evoke the vibes of ‘70s and ‘80s horror films. Thanks to settings like Ravnic and Innistrad,Magichas always been a little spooky, butDuskmournlooks like an entirely different beast. There’s not a firm release date for the set yet, but it’ll likely come out right around Halloween.
The lastMagicrelease of the year is a digital-only set aimed atMagic: The Gathering Arenaplayers.Pioneer Masterswill be a set of reprints meant for the Pioneer format, which includes everything fromReturn to Ravnicaforward. The set has been floating around the ether for a long time – it was originally supposed to come out back in 2020 – and should help promote the format onArena.
