How many Universes Beyond IP's does the average MTG player actually enjoy having cards of?
General forum
Posted on Sept. 6, 2025, 4:17 p.m. by StopShot
And as a follow-up question; What would be one or two IP's that would appeal to you the most if WoTC were to ever implement that IP into the game regardless of that IP's themes, feasibility to be added, or popularity? What would you like the most about having it in MTG?
Universes Beyond is practically a part of the game now whether wanted or not. Instead of doom-posting about how it's, "Spongebob today, the Burger King tomorrow," I want to know to what extent the average MTG player enjoys Universes Beyond products. Are there any slam dunks for you or has WoTC yet to hit something you could actually feel excited for? More Universes Beyond products seem inevitable regardless of how favorably we talk about this subject, therefore; if there's a common enough IP desired amongst a good portion of us it would be best if that IP sees print rather than WoTC spitballing whatever IP's they think will appeal only to non-MTG players.
(Also, please don't factor in an IP's popularity or likelihood of being added when listing what IP's you would like to see, because if this sort of thing does happen it would be better if it's something unrealistic players would actually feel excited about rather than have it be something realistic that many players would only feel lukewarm about.)
Crow_Umbra says... #3
When Universes Beyond was first debuted via The Walking Dead Secret Lair, I felt pretty against the concept, especially the concept of mechanically unique cards in SLs. Since then, I've become much more accepting of UB, for the most part, especially after seeing how well designed some of the bigger sets were. Ultimately, I don't really care as much about the SLs since I rarely buy any.
Generally speaking, I think the IPs that are most similar to MtG in terms of thematics (LotR, D&D, & FF to a lighter extent) have blended most seamlessly with MtG in general. As much as I love Fallout and enjoyed the set, the differences in themes was a little jarring at first. In retrospect, I feel like Edge of Eternities and some of the "Hat World" sets of the past year, like Thunder Junction, helped expand the palatte of themes of Universes Within. I'm interested if MaRo will ever reveal that the thematic decisions for world building for those sets was to help certain IPs blend a bit better.
In terms of other IPs that I'd like to see get a Universes Beyond set, or a few EDH precons like WH40K: Elden Ring or any of the other "Soulsborne" games, Hollow Knight could be fun & provide a lot more insect & spider support, & maybe Dune since EoE definitely had some inspiration from it. Another IP that would be interesting, but I doubt would ever happen would be Stephen King's Dark Tower series, which is what I was hoping Thunder Junction could have been more like.
September 6, 2025 4:37 p.m.
DarkKiridon says... #4
Universes Beyond doesn't bother me at all. Play with the cards you want to play with. Nobody has the right to tell you differently.
The Witcher would fit in nicely in my opinion.
I wouldn't be opposed to something DC Universe related in the future but we already have more Marvel coming later (supposedly) so that might negate that possibility.
Dragon Ball franchise would be interesting to me. There would be so many ways they could go with it. As with other anime properties (besides Naruto).
September 6, 2025 5:34 p.m.
I'm generally okay with Universes Beyond, as long as they don't cross over into the M:tG-verse (which they've said is not going to happen, so it's good). A lot of them I only know anything about because of UB. So I look for individual cards that help my decks, rather than looking at the IP.
Some UBs I'd like to see are Discworld, Soul Calibur (too close thematically to Street Fighter?), Redwall (didn't happen with Bloomburrow), and as an outside shot, a major American sports league, preferably MLB or NFL. That's more than one or two, sorry.
September 6, 2025 6:24 p.m.
Crow_Umbra says... #6
"American sports league, preferably MLB or NFL".
Why yes, I would like to have Aaron Donald as a Voltron commander. He's gotta have at least Trample and/or Menace as baseline keywords.
September 6, 2025 6:28 p.m.
Crow_Umbra I was imagining more like mascots, but now I'm thinking Saquon Barkley with haste and menace or something. And a way to get flying for the memes, of course.
September 6, 2025 6:42 p.m.
I can only speak for myself and not anyone else, but my answer to the question posed is exactly: Zero.
September 6, 2025 6:52 p.m.
I like to think of it/compare to pop vinyls (those plastic bauble heads that have every I.P.).... as soon as you declare that you love/hate them suddenly you see one of an I.P. that you love/hate.
Just like the printing of Modern Horizons sets despite the positive/negative feedback us as the player base just have to accept it... because like pokemon the player base is never gonna be louder than the hoards of casuals or the whale collectors.
September 6, 2025 8:16 p.m.
@Icbrgr that final thought is right on the money. I come from more of a (video)gaming background and it’s particularly painful to watch the Fortnite-ification of my beloved pastime—and it’s exactly what I see happening here.
As any self-respecting ‘person-of-a-certain-age’ invariably will, I blame the younger generation.
September 6, 2025 8:51 p.m.
Balaam__ Out of curiosity, would you consider a playset of a unique UB card in an otherwise M:tG-exclusive deck Fortnite-ification?
I don't really understand what that term means, and I've seen it get used a lot for UB. Something to do with mashing up different franchises. But if, for example, a minigame-themed deck used a couple copies of The Toymaker's Trap, and no other UB, alongside its Goblin Games and Liar's Pendulums, does that count?
September 6, 2025 9:20 p.m.
wallisface says... #12
I think UB products are fine for casual formats like commander & kitchen table. I think they are destined to ruin any competitive format they’re allowed into (Standard, Pioneer, Modern etc).
I’m glad they’re currently directing UB products at Standard instead of Modern (as that’s my format of choice), but i’d honestly still prefer they just sold these products as standalone commander decks so that I could live my life entirely UB-free
September 6, 2025 9:35 p.m.
My point of view is that they're not really out of place. The usual comment that I agree with is that M:tG has mechsuits and lasers in some of its earliest sets, going from Arabian to African to Chinese themes around that. Frankenstein's Monster is a fully in-universe card. There's never really been a unifying theme, and it syncretizes everything easily.
If it's an issue of originality, I would say that the game has never been especially original with its story and settings--Mirrodin and Alara are some of the most unique locations, and pretty much everything else is an exploration of some genre or another. Original Innistrad has references to a ton of specific Gothic Horror stories.
I'm not trying to start an argument or anything, I just haven't really had this discussion before and I'm curious why people don't like UB.
September 6, 2025 9:39 p.m.
@legendofa I’m in a tough spot as far as answering that. Magic isn’t my primary hobby (or even secondary or tertiary—it’s probably quadrinary at best). It falls firmly under the ‘I don’t know art but I know what I like’ header. I could speak more competently regarding gaming and the effect Fortnite and other monetized, casual, black hole time sink games have had on the overall landscape, but if pressed I’d say things aren’t nearly that bad with MtG yet. I suppose it’s more the ‘I’ve seen what Galactus has done to other planets and it looks like he’s heading in Earth’s direction’ trepidation that has me worried.
To answer your specific question I’d have to say I’m fine with whatever cards anyone wants to use if I were to sit down to play against someone, so long as they’re format legal. For myself though, that self imposed ban is ironclad. Outside of a meme deck or challenge build or something of the sort I might post on here, I don’t make use of the UB cards. If at all possible I don’t even use cards from sets I don’t care for from newer core expansions. But that’s me. I enjoy the challenge of making barely functional decks from a stale pool of old, bad cards that seldom win :D
September 6, 2025 10:54 p.m.
Balaam__ That's a good answer. Play what you have fun with!
September 7, 2025 2:44 a.m.
Squee_Spirit_Guide says... #16
I haven't engaged with any UB yet, but I can see myself getting excited for the right IP. I'm generally opposed to the seemingly large influx of UB, but I accept that it's here to stay and makes the game more enjoyable for most players (plus, I don't play any formats that would force me to interact with UB). I don't think anyone's enjoyment should be diminished because I'm old and think damage should still use the stack.
And I can't be too strongly opposed to UB because, like Icbrgr said, as soon as I am they'll print one to prove me wrong.
IPs I'd be excited for are Elder Scrolls and Indiana Jones.
September 7, 2025 10:11 a.m.
Squee_Spirit_Guide says... #18
Balaam__, I love it! I feel like that IP could provide a lot of artifact/graveyard/exile fun. Indy could be a reworking of Argivian Archaeologist that can get artifacts from any graveyard into play.
StopShot says... #2
This is just my comment to this post so please don't take it as an extension of it that you have to respond to, however; you are free to reply to it if you want! For me, none of the Universes Beyond product IP's have appealed to me so far. I don't have any interests in movies, tv-shows, comics, or other tabletop games and while I do engage in videogaming I've never touched Assassin's Creed, Final Fantasy or Fallout before so all of those are moot as well. Despite that, I would like to have at least one Universes Beyond product catered to me as I have friends that really love a few of them and I'd like to have that same experience that they all got to have.
Personally, I don't think my interests align with most players, (and that's okay with me). I don't currently run any Universes Beyond cards in my decks due to having no interest in the source material for any of them, and I wouldn't mind it if other players felt the same way for cards from an IP that I would enjoy. That said, I would like to see a collab for either Disgaea or Azur Lane just so I could use a favorite character or two as a commander as I have a thing for cute character design that's juxtaposed with over-the-top action/explosions. I honestly don't think too many people would be interested in those IP's though, nor do I think there's any realistic chance they'll be adopted, but they're my picks as I don't feel there's any popular or realistic IP's I could see myself sleeving up cards for. Apologies if anyone thinks my IP choices would only further allienate the MTG brand, I still want MTG Universes Within to not deviate from what makes MTG, Magic the Gathering, and I would like to see WoTC handle either IP in way that would still be tasteful for any player who may have no interest in them.
September 6, 2025 4:20 p.m.