Ah, Magic: The Gathering players, a community known for their deep strategic minds, love of cardboard rectangles, and, of course, their totally chill approach to change. Yes, we are going to talk about Universes Beyond, Wizards of the Coast’s ambitious (or sacrilegious, depending on your flavor of nerd) effort to bring franchises like The Lord of the Rings, Warhammer 40K, and Doctor Who into the MTG fold. What could go wrong, right?
The Joy: "My Fandoms Unite in Universes Beyond!"
For some players, Universes Beyond is the crossover event of the century. The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set made dreams come true—Frodo, Sam, and Sauron are finally battling it out in an MTG setting where they fit in perfectly, and that One Ring serialized card made collectors foam at the mouth while discovering their love for Post Malone. Warhammer 40K players finally got the grimdark, bolter-filled Commander decks they deserved. And Doctor Who fans? Well, they got a full set that spanned time, space, and way too many different decklists.
For casual players and collectors, these sets are a goldmine of thematic goodness. Want to build a deck that tells a story? Now you can, with fully realized versions of your favorite characters and awesome new abilities. The perfect combo. Or is it?
The Rage: "Stop Ruining My Magic!"
On the other side of the table, some Magic purists are still clutching their original Revised edition dual lands and shaking their fists at these "lore-breaking abominations." The argument? Magic: The Gathering has spent over 30 years cultivating its own rich fantasy universe—why, then, are we cramming Optimus Prime and the Daleks into a game that already has Teferi and Phyrexians?
"It’s a slippery slope!" they cry. "First, it’s Lord of the Rings, next thing you know, we’ll have Fast and the Furious mechanics where Vin Diesel uses his ability Family to get +2/+2 for every car in your graveyard!" (Don’t laugh, Wizards has already printed a Transformers set. We are so close to rolling for drift checks.)
I get the gripe. I am no fan of one shot mechanics that are never seen again. But these mechanics have also made their way to core sets that are as disconnected as ever. Will we ever see Start Your Engines after Aetherdrift, I'd hedge my bets on no. They may just be old men and women shaking their fists at clouds but they do bring up some good points.
The Memes: "Shhh, Let People Enjoy Things"
Of course, no MTG controversy is complete without a wave of memes flooding Twitter, Reddit, and Discord. Players have compared Magic’s trajectory to a desperate crossover episode, joked about Universes Beyond sets invading Standard (which is no longer a joke as of 2025), and speculated on what absurd IP might be next. Can we get crazier than the incoming Spongebob set?
Some players have fully embraced the chaos. If we’re getting Batman and Optimus Prime in the same game, why not go all in? "I cast Lightning Bolt on Pikachu" might be a sentence we hear in sanctioned play one day, and you know what? Maybe that’s fine.
As my buddy Scott from Irrational Passions says, "With every new Universes Beyond and Secret Lair release, I get one step closer to my dream EDH deck that is all about making the wildest cross-overs happen. Where Aang from Avatar will crew Optimus Prime while I swing with Gandalf wearing Fallout power armor and Captain America throws the Buster Sword, keeping the power rangers, Ryu from Street Fighter, and Twilight Sparkle back as blockers. That day is almost upon us..."
The Conclusion: Embrace the Madness
Like it or not, Universes Beyond is here to stay. Whether it’s a sign of Magic evolving into a multiversal card game of limitless potential or a crass money-making gimmick that dilutes the game’s identity transforming it into the Fortnite of TCGs, one thing is certain: we’re all going to have very strong opinions about it.
So, whether you're sleeving up your Doctor Who Commander deck or refusing to acknowledge that Magic is headed to Bikini Bottom, just remember—at the end of the day, it’s all about the joy of the game, having fun, and being a part of a fantastic community. And maybe occasionally arguing on the internet about it.
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