Magic: The Gathering is heading to the final frontier with its upcoming "Universes Beyond" set, "Star Trek," scheduled for release in November. Wizards of the Coast has revealed a suite of seven new mechanics, with two exclusive to Commander preconstructed decks, alongside a returning mechanic from a previous set. The expansion will also feature unique card treatments, including autographed cards from original actors.
New Mechanics Debut
The "Star Trek" set introduces several new mechanics designed to evoke the franchise's themes. "Beam Me Up" allows players to cast spells from their graveyard by returning a creature to hand and paying an additional cost. An example, "Open Communications," costs one blue mana but can be recast from the graveyard by returning a creature to hand and paying two generic and one blue mana.
"Face A Dilemma" adds a twist to modal spells, offering extra benefits when a player makes a choice. The card "Seven of Nine" grants a benefit each time a choice is made on a modal spell. The enchantment "Kobayashi Maru Scenario" forces players to choose one of four effects each turn, with the game ending if the enchantment cannot be removed after four turns.
The "Federation" mechanic rewards players for controlling creatures of various types, excluding the Borg. "Captain Jonathan Archer" provides a power and toughness buff based on the number of non-Borg creature types controlled. "Starfleet Academy" can generate significant mana based on the diversity of creature types on the battlefield.
"Strange New Worlds" focuses on lands, with card effects scaling with the number of differently named lands controlled. "Deep Space Scan" allows players to draw cards equal to the number of unique lands they control, while "Captain Pike, Fullness of Time" has power and toughness determined by this count.
For the antagonists, "Assimilate" allows players to put any creature from a specified zone onto the battlefield as a Borg artifact creature. "Borg Cube" exiles a creature when it enters the battlefield and can later add that creature to the board as a Borg upon attacking.
The set also revives the "Spacecraft and Station" mechanic from 2024's "Edge of Eternities." "Spacecraft" cards gain abilities and can become artifact creatures once enough charge counters are accumulated by tapping other creatures. For example, the "D-7 Battle Cruiser" can create creature tokens and eventually become a 3/3 flying creature.
Commander-Exclusive Mechanics
Two mechanics are exclusive to the Commander format. "Battlefront" grants bonuses based on the number of opponents attacked in a combat phase. "Worf, Defiant Commander," the face card for the Klingon Fury precon deck, allows players to exile cards from their library equal to the number of opponents attacked, playable until their next turn.
"Seek Out" provides an additional benefit whenever a player draws their second card in a turn. "Jean-Luc Picard, Luminary" is an example card that grants a +1/+1 counter to a creature and charge counters to a Spacecraft under this condition.
Unique Card Treatments
The "Star Trek" set will feature several "Booster Fun" treatments. Seven "Headliner Signature" cards will include authentic autographs from actors such as Patrick Stewart and William Shatner. The "LCARS Showcase" treatment will emulate the look of the U.S.S. Enterprise's computer interface, seen on cards like "Q, Stacking The Deck." The "Classic Enterprise" frame will draw inspiration from vintage "Star Trek" poster art, featuring characters like Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock.
Klingon cards will have a special "Klingon Showcase" frame, with some appearing in the Klingon language. The "Beam Me Up Bundle" will include "Schematic" frame cards featuring "Spacecraft" from the set. Additionally, a "Stardates" bonus sheet will present powerful "Magic: The Gathering" cards reimagined within the "Star Trek" universe, including "General Picard, Earth Warlord" as Kenrith, The Returned King, and "Spock, Mirror Malefactor" as Prosper, Tome-Bound.
The "Magic: The Gathering" "Star Trek" expansion is set to launch on November 13, with prerelease events beginning on November 6 at local game stores.