Magic: The Gatheringhas done a lot of crossovers lately, but few are as exciting as the upcomingDungeons and Dragonscrossover set,Adventures in the Forgotten Realms.Since Wizards of the Coast is in charge of both properties, it can make these two classic games mix and match in any way. That freedom has already resulted in some great crossovers, namely theMagic: The Gathering-inspiredDungeons and Dragonssourcebooks. This is the first major crossover in the other direction, and it already looks filled with cards that succinctly embodyDnDthemes, TTRPG tropes, and even some parts ofDungeons and Dragonsgameplay.
TheMagic: The GatheringDnDsourcebooksare creative, centering on mechanics like Renown and Boons that change the wayDnDis played. It seems natural, then, thatAdventures in the Forgotten Realmspushes the boundaries ofMagictoo. It’s filled to the brim with mechanics that would probably never show up in a normalMagicset. Wizards of the Coast proves it has inventive ideas on its hands with many of itsForgotten Realmscards.Magicdeserves to keep getting cards of this creative caliber that refresh the game and encourage players to look at deckbuilding differently.
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Magic: The Gathering Needs Bold Ideas
New mechanics and keywords are part of the natural cycle ofMagic: The Gathering. Almost every new set introduces some function for players to build decks around, or at least revives an old mechanic in search of untapped potential from its earlier appearances. One new function that turned a lot of heads is the Saga, a short-term enchantment that’s dense with value. Sagas looked strange when they first got released, but they’ve proven themselves as a fun new way forMagicto handle one of its most basic card types.Magic: The Gatheringimproveswhenever its developers introduce something that makes players look at the game differently.
Adventures in the Forgotten Realmsdoes exactly that. No previous mechanics compare toForgotten Realms' dungeons, and the balanced use ofDnD’s twenty-sided die across a ton of cards in the set shows that there’s some room for dice in the card game. If this is how surprising Wizards of the Coast can make every set, then it should try to do so.Magicneeds more truly new mechanicslike dungeons rather than focusing on reusing keywords or introducing new keywords that only slightly adjust mechanics rather than being truly inventive.
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Pushing Magic: The Gathering’s Boundaries
It’s understandable that some fans are skeptical ofForgotten Realms' dungeons. It’s a complicated mechanic that asks players to keep track of a lot of information, and it breaks someMagicconventions. However,Magicis better off with dungeons and similar mechanics than it is without them. It’s risky ideas like these that makeMagicfeel magical. Strange mechanics like this appeal to casual Constructed players, who are a very important part ofMagic’s fanbase. IfMagic: The Gathering’s pro sceneis really taking a back seat, the least Wizards of the Coast can do to compensate is introduce odd new playstyles that’ll be fun to see in more casual play.
Risk-taking is an important part of innovation.Dungeons and Dragons' fifth editiontook a risk by greatly simplifying the game, and the result is that millions of people are getting involved, prompting aDnDrenaissance.Magic: The Gatheringis popular and comfortable enough to take risks and try new ideas likeDnDdid. Even if Wizards of the Coast doesn’t fill everyMagicset with mechanics as wild as theForgotten Realmsdungeons, it’d be nice to see that caliber of experimentation more often on the whole.Magic: The Gatheringsurvives because it’s constantly evolving. The best thing it can do for its future is continue to push the envelope.
Magic: The Gatheringis available now. TheAdventures in the Forgotten Realmsset releases July 15 for MTGO and Arena, and in paper on August 05, 2025.
