Magic: The Gathering has recently revealed preview cards for its upcoming Secret Lair Commander deck to influencers, igniting excitement in the community. Among these sneak peeks was a surprising nod to the concept of Universes Within, which has been largely overlooked as the Universes Beyond series expanded. Initially touted as a solution to address player concerns regarding the integration of various franchises into Magic, Universes Within appeared to stall and fade into obscurity.
The Universes Beyond initiative began modestly, featuring promo cards such as the Ponies: The Galloping crossover with My Little Pony, along with Secret Lairs themed around popular series like The Walking Dead and Stranger Things. As the initiative grew, culminating in a complete set inspired by The Lord of the Rings, it was announced last October that three full Universes Beyond sets are slated for release in 2025. However, the status of Universes Within was notably absent from these discussions, leading many, including myself, to speculate its demise.
Universes Within: A Solution for Universes Beyond
Transforming Characters from Other IPs
The original vision for Universes Within was to reimagine Universes Beyond cards, which feature characters from external intellectual properties, into versions more aligned with the established world of Magic: The Gathering. For instance, Eleven from Stranger Things was reimagined as Cecily, Haunted Mage, showcasing artwork that seamlessly integrated into Magic’s aesthetic. This alternative allowed players who preferred not to interact with characters from other universes to continue using the game’s mechanics without compromising their immersion.
Universes Within included four notable printings, adapting Secret Lairs from franchises like The Walking Dead, Stranger Things, Street Fighter, and D&D: Honor Among Thieves. However, apprehension grew regarding Magic’s commitment to producing in-universe versions as the popularity of Universes Beyond surged. As new cards were introduced, the expectation for Universes Within to mirror each release seemed increasingly untenable, leading many to believe the project was effectively closed.
Exciting News: Universes Within Returns in a New Secret Lair Deck
Reprint of Raise the Palisade from Lord of the Rings
Recently, Magic: The Gathering teased the release of a new Secret Lair Commander deck titled Everyone’s Invited, along with several preview cards that generated buzz among fans. One card, in particular, caught my interest: Raise the Palisade, which was shared on Twitter by streamer CovertGoBlue, showcasing an updated artistic treatment by Jordan Speer. Notably, Raise the Palisade has only been printed once—previously in the Lord of the Rings set.
This development holds significant implications. It indicates that Magic: The Gathering may have retained the rights to reprint cards from the Lord of the Rings set, although the duration of this licensing is still unclear. Importantly, it suggests that Universes Within could make a comeback, as the card is being reimagined in a way that feels more cohesive with Magic’s existing lore, despite not being a direct character conversion.
Renewed Hope for Universes Within
Affordable Options Could Emerge Through Reprints
While I don’t anticipate that every Universes Beyond card will find its way into a Universes Within format—some, like Final Fantasy’s Cactuar, are too closely tied to their original IP—there is potential for more Universes Within cards to appear in specialized products. Though this may not fulfill the ambitious initial promise of Universes Within, it certainly provides a more palatable option for players.
This new approach may alleviate the financial strain of Universes Beyond cards. For example, reprints of competitive cards, such as Orcish Bowmasters from the Lord of the Rings set, could help reduce their inflated market value, currently hovering around $40. Reprint initiatives like these are crucial for ensuring that Magic: The Gathering remains accessible to players, confirming that cards featuring Universes Beyond can indeed receive new life through Universes Within treatments.
Source: CovertGoBlue/Twitter