In case you’re the type of one that prepares for spooky season the identical day the pumpkin spice latte hits cafes, you in all probability need to have Magic: The Gathering Duskmourn in your radar–and it is nothing like the sport’s tremendous cute Bloomburrow set.
Duskmourn is the upcoming spooky set for Wizards of the Coast’s largest buying and selling card recreation, and it is impressed by trendy horror from the ’80s and past. Whereas that is apparent in its artwork and card frames, arguably my favourite thematic factor is considered one of its new mechanics: Manifest Dread.
There are a number of different mechanics and particulars that Wizards revealed at this time at a PAX West panel, and I will go over a few of these particulars right here as effectively. However first, let’s manifest some dread.
Manifest Dread Is a Tricker’s Dream
Longtime Magic: The Gathering gamers would possibly keep in mind the Manifest mechanic, which additionally appeared not too long ago in Fashionable Horizons 3. Manifest Dread is a variant that will probably be launched in Duskmourn.
Manifest Dread permits you to take the highest two playing cards of your deck and select one to place face down as a 2/2 colorless, typeless creature. The opposite will get put face up in your graveyard. That face-down card may be revealed by paying its mana price, if it is a creature.
It is easy on its face, however the magnificence is within the thriller it creates. If I pull a 6/6 creature and a land, I might in all probability put the 6/6 creature face right down to reveal it later. That looks like the simple reply for optimum viability.
However what if I put that 6/6 creature within the graveyard face up? Clearly, that face down card must be one thing insane, proper? And to my opponent, that is a scary move–one which may manifest some dread, even.
I like this mechanic due to how a lot it performs into the horror tropes that Duskmourn is all about. It builds anticipation and pressure in your opponents, who don’t know when you’re bluffing or preparing for a game-winning transfer.
Beforehand, Wizards shared the Impending mechanic that is a part of Duskmourn, which equally ties into the theme. You’ll be able to play a card at a decrease price, however it will not actually be lively till a sure variety of turns have handed.
It is one other option to construct anticipation, however it’s the concern of one thing the opponent is aware of. A spell forged with Impending is forged face up. However when it is available in face down? I imply, each horror fan is aware of how terrifying the concern of the unknown is.
Magic: The Gathering Duskmourn Is an Limitless Haunted Home
Within the first look article that Wizards posted, they revealed that the Home of Horror is certainly only one house–a home that spans the complete airplane. To carry that home to life, a brand new Enchantment sort is coming to Magic: The Gathering: Rooms.
Room playing cards are break up playing cards (those which can be horizontal and have two playing cards in a single), and whenever you forged it, you select which facet to pay for. Then when it enters on the sphere, the opposite facet is “locked.” You’ll be able to open the door by paying the opposite facet’s mana price (as a sorcery).
Room playing cards present ongoing results and virtually act as two enchantments in a single. The artwork on them can be fairly scary, with the “break up” promising to characteristic some scary hidden easter eggs.
Enchantments had been a giant thought in Duskmourn, in keeping with Head Designer Mark Rosewater. It simply felt thematically on level to deal with them, making a type of “enchanted,” spooky theme. There are much more Enchantment Creatures, too.
So as to add to the ambiance, Eerie is a brand new impact coming to some playing cards, which set off each time an Enchantment enters the sphere. This consists of Enchantment Creatures, typical Enchantments, and even Rooms–which can set off twice.
Enchantment Creatures play one other large position, synergizing with the return of the Delirium mechanic. Delirium triggers when you could have 4 or extra card sorts in your graveyard, which can doubtless occur fairly shortly with the Duskmourn playing cards.
And eventually, a brand new mechanic that is coming to this set is Survival, which triggers when a card is tapped throughout your second major part. Once more, very like most of what is in Duskmourn, it is a thematically related mechanic that particularly matches the characters who’re attempting to outlive within the haunted airplane.
Magic: The Gathering Duskmourn‘s Commanders Revealed
We even have new particulars on the 4 pre-constructed Commander decks in Duskmourn. The Commander leads are:
- Amanatou, Veil Piercer (White-Blue-Black)
- Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls (Black-Purple)
- Winter, Cynical Opportunist (Black-Inexperienced)
- Zimone, Thriller Unraveler (Inexperienced-Blue)
As you may see, Zimone might be the one I will have my eye on probably the most, along with her means synergizing very strongly with the Manifest Dread mechanic. Nonetheless, my Asterion-loving coronary heart has an actual smooth spot for Winter’s entire vibe.
The very last thing I did need to share with you, as a remaining hurrah, is the Double Publicity playing cards Wizards shared with us. Kaito, who you would possibly keep in mind from Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, returns as a Planeswalker, however his Double Publicity therapy seems to be lovely.
That is all now we have to share about Magic: The Gathering Duskmourn from at this time’s panel, however keep tuned right here for extra concerning the upcoming horror-inspired set!
Wizards of the Coast invited TechRaptor to a media occasion to preview the upcoming particulars on Magic: The Gathering Duskmourn.