Set News

• Mark Rosewater sent the community into a nostalgia-fueled frenzy by heavily implying that Mirrodin Pure is finally making its appearance in the upcoming Reality Fracture set. Start preparing your windmill slams now, because Maro promises tomorrow's preview panel will be incredibly exciting! Link
• Speaking of the future, Wizards dropped teaser art for the 2027 in-universe sets, prompting massive speculation about returns to Amonkhet, an Eldrazi-themed plane, and potentially even Zhalfir if the events of Reality Fracture tear a hole in the multiverse. Link Link
• The Hobbit debut stream kicks off this Friday at MagicCon Amsterdam, and Maro's mechanical teaser promises new design space for Red alongside fresh twists on old mechanics. Could we finally see a viable draft archetype centered around second breakfast? Link
• In Universes Beyond news, a newly announced Hasbro-Nintendo partnership has the rumor mill churning about a potential Legend of Zelda crossover finally making its way to the Magic multiverse. Link
• Quick PSA for the collectors and Secret Lair enthusiasts: Spinner Rack Specials drop today at 1 AM Pacific, and players are still hunting for info on the future distribution of the highly sought-after John Avon Lotus Forest promo. Link Link

Commander Corner

• It’s officially Combo Week over at EDHREC! Commander Spellbook just crossed a massive milestone of 100,000 databased combos, and the team is celebrating with deep dives into the most miserable two-card combos in the game, alongside spicy tech for your next monocolor cEDH lists. Link Link
• Time to evaluate your deckbuilding philosophy: does every Commander deck actually need a combo to win, or can we just turn some efficient beaters sideways? Meanwhile, if you're looking to break the format, check out the data-driven breakdown of what's running hot and cold in Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy. Link Link
• If you're looking for a unique build this week, the 60-to-100 series is breaking down how to port Standard's Abhorrent Oculus into a terrifying Jeskai Commander deck. Alternatively, you can honestly ignore the lemon and go deep with Ruxa, Patient Professor to turn your vanilla creatures into absolute bomb rares. Link Link
• Need some new tech? Check out the rankings of the 47 best legends-matter commanders, gear up for Druid typal with Seton, Krosan Protector, or upgrade your Marvel decks with a Monica Rambeau Humans primer. Also, don't forget to vote in the July Archidekt Deckbuilding Contest finalists! Link Link Link

Competitive Scene

• The Modern format is still reeling from the latest wave of bannings, and a classic archetype is reportedly making a massive comeback to capitalize on the newly shifted meta. Time to dig out those Fetchlands and re-test your sideboards! Link
• MagicCon Amsterdam is officially underway this weekend! The main megathread is your one-stop shop for live updates, bracket results, and breaking deck techs as the best players in the world battle for the trophy. Link
• For players feeling alienated by the prevalence of Universes Beyond in premier events, Maro highlighted the growing traction of Premodern and the fan-made Planar Standard format. Wizards is officially "keeping an eye" on these UB-free havens to see if the competitive scene demands an official pivot. Link Link

Finance & Market

• With the secondary market heavily saturated by endless Secret Lair drops, MTGStocks put together a breakdown of the 15 most valuable Secret Lair lands currently on the market. If you're looking to bling out your mana bases, you might want to sit down before checking these price tags. Link
• Looking for budget upgrades to an older precon? EDHREC's Precon Remastered series is taking a fine-tooth comb to the Peer Through Time deck, showing you exactly which reprints to swap in to maximize Teferi's value without breaking the bank. Link

Design & Lore

• Universes Beyond continues to be the most polarizing topic in the Magic community. Maro opened the floor on Blogatog asking for player thoughts on real-world actor likenesses appearing on cards, acknowledging the feedback from players who feel alienated by crossover treatments replacing traditional Magic IP. Link
• Rosewater also offered a crucial window into Wizards' set design philosophy, explaining why Universes Beyond sets usually try to cram the entire history of an IP (like Star Trek or Marvel) into a single set rather than spreading it out across multiple era-specific releases. Link
• Have you ever wondered why certain mechanics end up as clunky rules text instead of flavorful evocative words? Maro gave a fun design insight into the creation of Mjölnir, noting that "Equip Worthy" was actually the very first design mechanic printed on the card. Link
• Take a break from the spikes, tier lists, and finance tracking to check out a wholesome Reddit thread where veteran players discuss how Magic: The Gathering has fundamentally impacted their lives, introduced them to lifelong friends, and helped them through difficult times. Link