Want to see the Magic: The Gathering 2023 release schedule? We now know just what this year has in store for MTG fans, and also the order that it’s coming. There’s a lot to look forward to, including a multiverse-shaking showdown with the Phyrexians. After all that heavy stuff, we get to revisit a couple of the most colourful Magic: The Gathering planes, worlds that definitely deserve another look.
We’ve collected the available MTG release schedule for 2023, just as we did with the 2022 MTG release dates. Below we’ve provided the most up-to-date 2023 MTG release schedule you’re likely to find, followed by a quick overview of each MTG set. And once you’re clued up on what’s coming next for MTG, you can check out some of our other top TCG guides. For example, we can help digital gamers find MTG Arena codes and the best MTG Arena decks.
What is the Magic: The Gathering 2023 release schedule?
- Dominaria Remastered – January 13
- Phyrexia: All Will Be One – February 10
- Shadows over Innistrad Remastered – March 21
- March of the Machine – April 21
- March of the Machine: The Aftermath – May 12
- Universes Beyond MTG Lord of the Rings – June 23
- Commander Masters – August 4
- Wilds of Eldraine – September 8, 2023
- Universes Beyond MTG Doctor Who Commander decks – October 13, 2023
- The Lost Caverns of Ixalan – Winter Q4 2023
No doubt WotC will have a few more supplemental sets to go alongside these releases, and we’ll fill out the schedule below as and when new products are announced. Now you know what’s on the way, let’s take a closer look at 2023’s MTG sets.
Dominaria Remastered
Release date: January 13
A celebration of cards from MTG’s past and present, Dominaria Remastered is a product that’s full of reprints from multiple sets, much like the similarly named Time Spiral Remastered. Where Dominaria Remastered stands out though, is in the sheer number of sets it incorporates. In total, there are cards from 27 different sets – each based on Magic’s first plane: Dominaria.
Previews for Dominaria Remastered began (and rapidly concluded) in early December. We saw Dominaria Remastered’s storm revival, which brought a super broken mechanic back to Magic. The Dominaria Remastered release date was January 13, 2023. We’re still keeping a close eye on the Dominaria Remastered card prices.
Phyrexia: All Will Be One
Release date: February 10
The first premier MTG set release of 2023, which came in the first quarter of the year, on February 10, is Phyrexia: All Will Be One. Continuing the Phyrexians plotline on from The Brothers’ War, it takes place on the plane of New Phyrexia itself. We saw tons of artwork of Elesh Norn, her Fair Basilica, and many, many metal monstrosities. The set also gave us five compleated planeswalkers!
With the set now out in the world, we’ve already got a few ideas about the best Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commanders and best Phyrexia cards. However, there’s also been some speculation that Phyrexia has a balance problem when it comes to draft, with the oily red/green decks ruling the roost.
Shadows Over Innistrad Remastered
Release date: March 21, 2023 (MTG Arena)
The spooky Shadows Over Innistrad set came to MTG Arena on March 21. Shadows over Innistrad Remastered provides digital players with a selection of reprints from Shadows over Innistrad and Eldritch Moon, with 302 reprints in total and 81 ‘call back’ cards to original Innistrad block. Among these cards are five planeswalkers – some more surprising to see than others. And the mavericks have even managed to code Emrakul’s weird abilities into the game. An interesting quirk of this set is a ‘living’ MTG draft format, where a new package of Innistrad cards are swapped into the Limited card pool every few weeks.
These cards are legal in the Historic and Explorer formats, but not Standard. Don’t go looking for them in stores either – this is an MTG Arena exclusive release.
March of the Machine
Release date: April 21
March of the Machine was the second premier set of 2023, and it released on April 21. This set tells the tale of the climactic final showdown with the Phyrexians, where the whole multiverse is invaded at once.
March of the Machine introduced a new Battle card type, and had team-up cards showing unlikely allies forced together by the invasion. It’s a real whistle stop tour of the multiverse, with cards showing off virtually every plane, and characters from all over the place chipping in to defeat the Phyrexian menace.
Head designer Mark Rosewater has hinted that this may be the most ambitious set he’s worked on, and that it’ll have major mechanical and story implications for the game. The set’s story concludes with some MTG planeswalkers (and many praetors) dead, but we’ll have to wait a little longer to see the full impact of the war.
Our March of the Machine release date guide is kept up to date with all the latest details on this set.
March of the Machine: The Aftermath
Release date: May 12
Now this is something strange. Less than a month after the main March of the Machine set comes March of the Machine: The Aftermath, on May 12. A set of 50 cards with no commons, Wizards tells us Aftermath will “tie up loose ends from March of the Machine and explore the fundamental changes that have taken place in Magic’s Multiverse.”
It looks like the Phyrexian threat may change the way the very multiverse works, and there’ll be an entire MTG supplemental product just to cover its consequences. The main thing that’s happened? Loads of planeswalkers have lost their sparks, becoming just regular folk.
Weirdly, this micro set will be sold in teeny tiny boosters of just five cards – the lack of commons perhaps explains that. It’s confirmed Standard-legal, however.
Universes Beyond MTG Lord of The Rings
Release date: June 23
Stepping away from the Magic multiverse into MTG Universes Beyond, we’ve got the MTG Lord of the Rings crossover set named Tales of Middle Earth. Scheduled for June 23, this set follows the story we all know from the main trilogy, showing Frodo’s journey to destroy the One Ring, along with a few battles and balrogs along the way.
As well as an enormous physical release, containing everything from starter decks to gift bundles, the Lord of the Rings set will also make its way to MTG Arena where all the cards will be legal in Historic and Alchemy.
Commander Masters
Release date: August 4
A compilation set aimed at Commander players, Commander Masters promises reprints galore. With this set we’re expecting to see new versions of loads of iconic cards that play well in the EDH format – current spoilers include Ur-Dragon and Jewelled Lotus.
While no new MTG cards (only reprints) will be found in the set itself, there will be a total of 40 new Commander cards releasing alongside Commander Masters. These are found in the accompanying precon decks, which have interesting themes like planeswalkers, slivers, and eldrazi.
Wilds of Eldraine
Release date: September 8, 2023
Once the main Phyrexian story is done and dusted, we’re hopping over to the plane of Eldraine, on September 8, 2023, for a premier set called Wilds of Eldraine. Expect witches, whimsy, and fairy-tale fun.
If we’re focusing more on Eldraine’s wilds in this set, that could mean the set is more centred on the fairy-tale, non-human side of the setting rather than the Arthurian-inspired knights and nobles we saw in Thrones of Eldraine. Judging by the promo Evolving Wilds artwork released so far, it looks like those wilds could be getting a bit too wild, growing into thick thorn-covered vines straight out of Sleeping Beauty.
What is it with MTG 2023 sets and killer plants? We’re sure to find out when the Wilds of Eldraine release date rolls around.
Universes Beyond MTG Doctor Who Commander decks
Release date: October 13, 2023
Drawing close to the end of the release year for MTG we come to the Universes Beyond Doctor Who Commander decks, dropping on October 13. We’re expecting four pre-constructed MTG Commander decks, each with 100 cards that are a mix of new and reprinted Magic cards. A Secret Lair and Universes Beyond collector boosters will also be released.
The success of last year’s Warhammer 40k Commander decks has us feeling optimistic about the Doctor Who crossover. All-in-all, Universes Beyond appears to be doing great, despite mixed reactions to their increased production in online circles.
For more details on all things timey-wimey, keep an eye on our MTG Doctor Who release date guide.
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Release date: Q4 2023
In the final main set release of the year, in 2023 Q4, we go back to Ixalan, a plane with some absolutely fabulous flavour, thanks to its colourful and well-defined factions of merfolk, dinosaurs, pirates, and vampire conquistadors.
Judging from the name and the current artwork we’ve seen, it seems likely the Lost Caverns of Ixalan will step out of the bright, hot Ixalan jungles into treasure-filled tombs and caverns. Perhaps – speculating wildly now – it’ll even touch on Mesoamerican underworld beliefs.
Our full MTG Lost Caverns of Ixalan release date guide can keep you up to speed with this set as we learn more.
