We double-checked the MTG release schedule, and the Marvel set is indeed still six months away, but Wizards of the Coast has just revealed the first batch of its cards, including some innovative designs and the set's first Commander precon, which features The Fantastic Four.
This Magic: The Gathering set comes loaded with characters from across Marvel's comic book universe, and The First Look stream on December 9 revealed designs that (in my opinion) already rival the very best cards in MTG Spider-Man.
First up the big news: we have one of the set's precons confirmed. It's a four-color deck featuring The Fantastic Four, where any member of the team can lead the deck.
That's because, while these creatures have just one color in their casting costs, they each come with four color activated abilities you can trigger. Each member of the Fantastic Four also has one power that activates if you cast a non-creature spell before combat.
The Invisible Woman can make forcefield walls and turn a creature into an unblockable menace, The Thing can get huge and double up counters on all of your permanents, Human Torch can become a flying doublestriker and deal damage to every opponent, and Mister Fantastic can draw cards and copy your other heroes triggered abilities twice per turn!
All four seem like they're going to work nicely together, with Mister Fantastic's synergy being particularly obvious. Invisible Woman's ability also seems amazing with The Human Torch, letting you deal a massive chunk of damage to everyone.
Outside of the precon, The Fantastic Four's villains also make it into the set. Super-Skrull is like an evil version of Kenrith, with abilities that ape the Fantastic Four's. There are a lot of fours all over this card, in fact, and it just kills me that they made him a 4/5.
Galactus, meanwhile appears in a Saga, with ominous effects that herald his coming. When he does turn up he's a disgusting flying trampling 16/16 that destroys lands. This might be the most dangerous token in Magic's history, although you've got plenty of time to go digging for a removal spell.
There are a couple more designs I found super intriguing. For instance, The Sentry, Golden Guardian has stupidly good stats for four mana. An indestructible, flying, vigilance 5/5, the only catch is that you give your opponent an indestructible beater as well. Of course, in commander, you can probably turn that into an asset, and make a friend.
Finally, we have the other card I teased in this article's title: Quicksilver. This speedster is a one drop with Haste, but that's apparently not fast enough because it also has an ability I don't believe has ever been on a creature before. If it's in your opening hand you can start the game with it on the field.
That's pretty sick for mono-red, and will enable some truly busted turns. It gets much worse the later the game goes, but it's Power-up ability (a new mechanic) can make it a reasonable threat if you've got spare mana.
That's by no means everything that was shared in the stream, but it is the highlights, in my view at least. If I've missed your favorite card, come tell me off in the Wargamer Discord.