Universes Within is the collective name for rebranded Magic multiverse versions of Universes Beyond cards. The term was first coined by Scryfall, and then adopted by Wizards of the Coast internally.[1] It is not an official product name.[2]
Description[ | ]
Wizards of the Coast creates and prints in-multiverse versions of mechanically unique non-canon Secret Lair cards, approximately six months after their original release of the Secret Lair.[3] These become available as part of The List, and are findable in Set Boosters for as long as players are still interested in opening them.
The non-canon cards and the canon cards are be considered as equivalent game pieces, meaning you can only play up to four copies total of the Magic version and Universes Beyond version combined in your deck. The Information below the text box has the special SLX set code and the SLD card number that it equals to.[4][5] All rebranded cards have the same rarity as the original. If a Universes Beyond card with a IP-specific creature type (e.g. astartes) would be rebranded, it would receive a brand new creature type in the Magic version. The <IP name> and <unique new creature type> would be one for one in the rules much like the names of the Godzilla skinned cards.[6]
At their introduction, one in eight Set Boosters contained one of these cards, while another one in eight set boosters will contain a different card from the List.[7] According to Mark Heggen, R&D wants the in-world equivalents those to be around and people able to get their hands on them.[8] They are not meant to be the ‘chase objects’, 10 years from now, they want the "other-IP" ones "to be the cool ones that have a little bit more cachet and are a bit more interesting to see" The in-world equivalents are the ones that are there for people who are just looking for the gameplay.[8]
Wizards of the Coast has only committed to do Universes Within versions of Secret Lairs. Larger UB sets like Warhammer 40K, Lord of the Rings and Doctor Who won't receive 1:1 Universe Within versions, but R&D reserves the right to make them for individual cards if the need arises.[9][10] According to Mark Rosewater, the biggest problem, from a business standpoint, with making a Universes Within card for every Universes Beyond card is there isn’t a large enough audience to offset the huge cost of such an undertaking.[11]
Card list[ | ]
Rules[ | ]
201. Name
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 201.3. Some cards with different English names are treated as though they had the same English name. Pairs of cards with this property have names that are interchangeable.
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 201.4g Some cards have interchangeable names (see rule 201.3). For all game purposes, these cards have the same name. If a player chooses the name of a card which has interchangeable names, the name of each of those cards has been chosen.
213. Information below the text box
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 213.1d Some cards with interchangeable names include information about a specific version of a card with that interchangeable name. See rule 201.3.
See also[ | ]
References[ | ]
- ↑ a b Clayton Kroh and Adam Styborski (December 13, 2022). "A First Look at Phyrexia: All Will Be One". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 29, 2024). "is "universes within" an official term, or just slang/grokkable?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (June 7, 2021). "Secret Lair Universes Beyond Update". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023.
- ↑ Aaron Forsythe (June 7, 2021). "There will be a different treatment that indicates that the cards are related.". Twitter.
- ↑ Streets of New Capenna Prebeat (Video). Weekly MTG. YouTube (March 4, 2022).
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 12, 2022). "If you were to print a magic version of one of the Warhammer 40k cards, it'll have to keep its typeline right?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ WeeklyMTG: Secret Lair October Superdrop Reveal (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (October 16, 2021).
- ↑ a b Tom Marks (February 17, 2022). "Exclusive: Street Fighter MTG Crossover Cards and February Secret Lairs Revealed". IGN.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 26, 2022). "Is it too much to ask for in-universe versions of the LOTR set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 15, 2022). "will the new cards in the wh40k commander set be printed into a regular set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 11, 2023). "If Wizards really wanted to, and could convince the necessary people, then could a Universes Within version of every Universes Beyond card be made?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Magic: The Gathering (October 22, 2021). "TGIF, folks!". Twitter.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 14, 2022). "What's New on The List for Streets of New Capenna". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 23, 2021). "Is Hawkins National Laboratory going to receive the same “the list treatment” as the other ST secret lair cards?". Blogatog. Tumblr.