Set News

MagicCon attendees, take note: changes are officially coming to the Black Lotus badge benefits. If you were planning to drop some serious cash to secure VIP perks at an upcoming convention, you'll want to read the fine print on the recent community PSA regarding these adjustments. Meanwhile, as we look back at the first half of the year, Draftsim is highlighting the 5 best commanders of 2026 so far, proving that the format is moving faster than ever. Finally, for the规则 sticklers out there, Mark Rosewater clarified that mechanically caring about unique card frames will always remain strictly Acorn/silver border space due to logistical barriers.

Commander Corner

A brand new infinite combo has been unleashed upon the format thanks to a crazy new legendary creature from the Marvel Super Heroes set. Draftsim breaks down the Jane Foster // Aurelia combo, giving you a devastating two-card win condition to slot into your next build. If you're looking to build on a budget, they've also ranked the 21 best common legendary creatures for Commander, highlighting some surprisingly powerful options. Finally, EDHREC takes a deep dive into The Jolly Balloon Man, sorting the hottest tech from the ice-cold draft chaff for the spooky new haunted house legend.

Competitive Scene

The competitive meta is still reeling from one of the most oppressive Pro Tour showings in recent memory. MTGGoldfish explores the Pro Tour deck that essentially won by preventing either player from playing Magic, showcasing a prison strategy that left opponents completely locked out. Over in the eternal formats, the recent B&R announcement has claimed a casualty in Pauper, with Joe Dyer detailing the fall of Seeker in his latest Power of Pauper column. For those looking to play with powered Vintage cards on a budget, players are also buzzing about a grassroots $30 proxy Vintage movement taking the community by storm.

Limited & Draft

Summer is in full swing, making it the perfect time to grab some off-format cubes for your playgroup. Draftsim put together the ultimate guide to Battle Box, a phenomenal, deckbuilding-free way to windmill slam bombs in a pinch. They've also ranked all of MTG's Starter Kits, which are increasingly becoming incredibly valuable reprints and great entry points for teaching new mages the ropes. If you're looking to expand your multiplayer rotation outside of traditional Commander, you can also check out their ultimate guide to the Emperor format.

Finance & Market

The post-Marvel Super Heroes market is finally settling, but there are still massive gains to be found. Draftsim's Weekly Price Spikes highlights the biggest winners of the week, including some surprising pickups outside of the standard superhero fare. Speaking of demand, Mark Rosewater addressed player concerns about out-of-stock sets like Final Fantasy, noting that Wizards is highly aware of what's sold out and actively tracks purchase requests to inform future metrics. For bargain hunters, EDHREC is remaking the 2014 Forged in Steel precon, showing you how to build a hyper-powerful Nahiri list today without breaking the bank.

Design & Lore

Mark Rosewater had a busy week on Blogatog, touching on everything from design philosophy to set structures. Addressing the ongoing debate about Universes Beyond, MaRo reiterated that there are no plans to bring back the "block" structure, noting that data heavily supports the current, faster rotation of premier sets. He also dropped two new "Drive to Work" podcasts: one exploring his own unexpected journey as a Magic artist, and another tackling the dreaded, convoluted rules of layers with rules manager Jess Dunks. Finally, for the Vorthos crowd, Rosewater confirmed that there is still plenty of design space and player interest for future horror-adjacent planes following the massive success of Duskmourn.