Magic: The Gathering is set to release an upcoming Universes Beyond set based on The Hobbit, and two new cards have been exclusively revealed: Orcrist, Goblin-cleaver and Eagle of the Great Shelf.
Orcrist, Goblin-cleaver is a three-mana colorless legendary artifact that costs three mana to equip. It grants its wielder +2/+2 and trample. When the equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, the owner creates a treasure token for each creature they control of a chosen type. Erikas Perl provided the art for the standard printing, and Francisco Badilla illustrated the borderless variant.
The card's mechanics suggest strong synergy with dwarf-themed decks and treasure token strategies, but its versatility allows it to fit into various tribal archetypes. The design emphasizes ramping mana generation through treasure tokens, making it a valuable addition for strategies that benefit from artifact tokens and consistent combat damage.
Lore-wise, Orcrist was a legendary sword forged in the First Age, lost during the Fall of Gondolin and later discovered by Thorin's company in a troll's lair. Thorin wielded the blade until his death at the Battle of Five Armies and was buried with it. The card synergizes well with existing Thorin cards in the set, such as Thorin, Mountain-king and Thorin, King of Durin’s Folk. Thorin, Mountain-king benefits from equipment and deals significant damage, while Thorin, King of Durin’s Folk generates treasure tokens when dwarves enter the battlefield and buffs them based on artifact tokens.
Beyond Orcrist, the set also introduces the Eagle of the Great Shelf, a 2/5 flying creature costing four colorless and one white mana. When it attacks, it gains +1/+1 until end of turn for each creature controlled. This card is well-suited for go-wide white strategies and tribal decks featuring birds or soldiers, potentially enhancing creature-based strategies that aim to swarm the board.
The Universes Beyond approach allows these cards to transcend their original lore, enabling unexpected combinations and cross-universal synergies within Magic: The Gathering's gameplay. The Hobbit set is slated for release on August 14.