While Marvel Super Heroes is thematically a large departure from the high fantasy genre MTG is primarily known for, the set does include a variety of familiar features. The artwork on several cards brings us back to New York, where a surprising number of Universes Beyond sets have taken place. We're also getting more Spider-Man cards to accompany those from last year's set. Surprisingly, we're also seeing the return of Arcane cards, a subtype that hasn't been seen in just over two decades.
Arcane spells made their first and only appearance in Kamigawa block, three sets based on Shinto mythology that were released throughout 2004 and 2oo5. These arcane spells were tied to the splice mechanic, which enabled multiple instants and sorceries to be sequenced together without being sent to the graveyard.
While several arcane spells have been reprinted in all of the MTG sets since 2005, no new ones have been introduced until now. The arcane cards We Say Thee Nay! (a counterspell) and Hex Magic (a draw spell) are debuting in Marvel Super Heroes.
What's interesting is that, mechanically, there's no reason for these spells to be arcane. Nothing in the Marvel Super Heroes set rewards you for casting arcane spells. There are no payoffs, and there's not a high enough concentration of arcane cards for them to be a meaningful sub theme. This begs the question, why are they here?
Well, the artwork of these cards depicts Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch, the Master of the Arcane Arts and Marvel's most powerful spell caster, respectively. These cards could also be foreshadowing the appearance of Arcane cards as a more prevalent theme in an upcoming expansion, potentially the Midnight Suns set that fans have been anticipating. Although, of course, this is just speculation.
What's your take? Are arcane spells on their way back in, or are these two cards just here to provide a small splash of flavor? Let us know in the Wargamer Discord.