The Current State of Magic the Gathering

Over the past couple of years, Wizards of the Coast has implemented significant changes to their flagship game, Magic: The Gathering. In the past, Magic releases followed a predictable pattern. Each year brought a set number of blocks or groups of sets with cohesive themes. The characters depicted in card artwork were either original or drawn from Magic’s extensive lore. The art itself was known for its originality, high quality, and use of traditional artistic techniques. Standard, which used to be Magic’s flagship format, comprised a maximum of seven sets. However, these times have evolved, and Magic has become more profitable than ever. The question that arises is whether these changes are truly beneficial for the game.

The new block format

For many years, the format in which Magic: The Gathering sets were released followed a distinct pattern. Sets were organized into blocks, each consisting of three sets with a particular theme. As the block unfolded, players could glean story elements from flavor text and card artwork, offering glimpses into a deeper narrative. This approach created excitement around the release of new cards that harkened back to old characters from Magic’s rich history. Personally, I was enamored with this method of designing sets and enjoyed immersing myself in each theme or setting.

However, this traditional set design approach has now been replaced. Sets are predominantly stand-alone, with their themes confined to a single set. Consequently, the concept of blocks has essentially disappeared. While an older block like the original Kamigawa comprised three sets, teeming with cards and captivating story interactions, the new Kamigawa Neon Dynasty is just a single set. This shift meant that many old characters and themes that players were eagerly anticipating were omitted from the set. This is disappointing because I, like many others, was looking forward to the return of some beloved cards and playstyles. It also meant that the lore behind the new set was not as fully developed as it could have been.

This new format feels like a missed opportunity. In the original Kamigawa set, there were mechanics like bushido. While not the most powerful mechanic, it hasn’t seen much use since. Wizards could have introduced cards in the new Kamigawa set that enhanced…