Wizards of the Coast has officially unveiled four new Magic: The Gathering Commander decks based on the Marvel Universe, set to release in April 2027. These decks are part of the 'Darkhold Destiny' set, which aims to bridge the gap between Magic's fantasy roots and its Universes Beyond collaborations by focusing on an original Marvel story tailored to the game's mechanics.
The 'Darkhold Destiny' set will feature a dimension-hopping narrative centered around a cursed book and the supervillains who seek to control it. Alongside new scene boxes and special card treatments, the set includes a tie-in comic written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, known for their work on Captain America.
Strange Academy
This deck, themed around the Strange Academy comic series, will feature Doctor Strange as its commander. The Esper (white-blue-black) colored deck focuses on mechanics like blinking creatures, casting spells on creatures, and spell recursion. It draws inspiration from Marvel's magical institutions, contrasting with recent Magic sets focused on wizarding schools.
Gods of Asgard
Led by Thor, this Naya (red-green-white) deck centers on increasing creature power and engaging in combat. It brings together various Norse gods and warriors, offering a straightforward playstyle for players who prefer aggressive strategies.
Midnight Sons
The Orzhov (white-black) 'Midnight Sons' deck is commanded by Blade and features other supernatural Marvel heroes like Moon Knight and Ghost Rider. The deck's gameplay revolves around life gain and loss, with vampires draining opponents and Blade growing stronger as players gain life, thematically representing a battle against the Marvel Universe's vampires.
Lords of Hel
For players who enjoy playing the villain, the 'Lords of Hel' deck is a Rakdos (black-red) offering. It includes characters such as Hela and Dormammu, alongside other demonic and monstrous entities from the Marvel lore. The deck's strategy involves building armies of zombies and Mindless Ones for attacks, with options to sacrifice minions for card advantage and direct damage.
This release aims to provide a more integrated Marvel experience within Magic: The Gathering, focusing on an original narrative that fits within the established lore of both franchises.