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The final MagicCon of 2023 for Magic: The Gathering players has kicked off in Las Vegas, with today’s preview panel marking one of the highlights of the weekend, as Wizards Of The Coast revealed multiple cards for the next three releases.
The panel’s reveals included more cards from The Lord Of The Rings, as well as the next two complete sets: The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan–which also houses some Jurassic World-themed cards–and Ravnica Remastered.
We have every card shown during the panel in the galleries below, as well as when these and the rest of the sets they’re featured in will be released.
The Lord Of The Rings: Tales Of Middle-earth Holiday Edition
The upcoming holiday release of The Lord Of The Rings: Tales Of Middle-earth will expand on June’s initial release, as it offers new original cards as well as reprints of older MTG cards represented by special artwork from famous LOTR artists Greg and Tim Hildebrandt. Those reprints will be available in new special edition Collectors Booster packs, and a few examples are as follows:
Abyssal PersecutorIshkanah, Grafwidow (reprinted as Shelob, Whose Lair Is Death)Pact of NegationSeasons PastSylvan Tutor
A new frame treatment called Showcase Scrolls of Middle-earth will also be available for some cards released in the initial LOTR set, which changes sections of the normal card frame to look like ancient scrolls. Cards receiving the scroll treatment include the following:
Aragorn, the UniterArwen, Mortal QueenBill The PonyFrodo, Adventurous HobbitGaladriel, Elven QueenGimli, Mournful AvengerLegolas, Master ArcherMerry, Warden of IsengardNazgul (all nine variants included)The One RingOrcish BowmastersPippin, Warden of IsengardRivendellRosie Cotton of South LaneSamwise Gamgee
Finally, all 24 cards featured in the Holiday Scene Boxes–packages which depict scenes from the LOTR universe through card art–were shown. The Scene Boxes contain the following cards, which are listed by where they appear in the scene:
Aragorn at Helm’s Deep Anduril, Narsil ReforgedAragorn, Hornburg HeroLegolas’s Quick ReflexesGimli’s Reckless MightIsengard UnleashedRohirrim ChargersFlight of the Witch-king Call Forth The TempestNazgul Battle-MaceWitch-king, Sky ScourgeMordor On The MarchFell Beast Of MordorMinas Morgul, Dark FortressGandalf in the Pelennor Fields Olorin’s Searing LightSorcerous SquallRammas Echor, Ancient ShieldCourageous ResolveGandalf of the Secret FireFell Beast’s ShriekThe Might of Galadriel Arboreal AllianceGaladriel, Light of ValinorRally the GaladhrimGaladriel’s DismissalMists of LorienGaladhrim Brigade
The Lord Of The Rings: Tales Of Middle-earth’s holiday sets, which include new gift bundles and the aforementioned scene boxes, launch November 3.
The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan
The next core set for Magic: The Gathering is The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan, which returns to the Mesoamerica-inspired Ixalan plane. The set will feature new creatures and locations within the plane, including new versions of the massive dinosaur Ghalta, the warrior poet Huatli, and the debut of a new god, Ojer Axonil.
Featured within the LCI set are a new run of Special Guest cards, a “set within a set” featuring reprinted cards from across Magic’s vast history. Two of these reprints were debuted at MagicCon Las Vegas: Lord Of Atlantis and Mana Crypt, with the latter having multiple neon variants with different colors featured on each one.
Jurassic World
Also included within Lost Caverns Of Ixalan packs are cards featuring characters and creatures from Jurassic World, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The panel revealed three new cards from the Jurassic World line, along with a new “stamped” variant with the Jurassic World logo embossed over the card. The three revealed cards were:
Ian Malcom, ChaoticianIndominus Rex, AlphaWelcome To…/Jurassic Park (doubled-sided Saga card)
The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan launches November 17, with the Jurassic World cards contained in booster packs, Collectors Booster packs, and bundles.
Ravnica Remastered
The final reveals of the MagicCon Las Vegas preview panel were for Ravnica Remastered, the first set of 2024. This set includes cards from the Ravnica block of expansions–Ravnica: City of Guilds, Guildpact, and Dissension–which launched in 2005.
The set will include all 10 special “shock lands”–lands which inflict two damage on the players when played–which were made famous during the Ravnica block. Each land will receive a standard version, special full-art version, and a retro frame version in both foil and non-foil variants.
The panel also revealed a few creatures coming to Ravnica Remastered, including Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice and Niv-Mizzet, Parun, both which were shown in a retro frame variant. The set will also continue the trends by the recent Wilds Of Eldraine set and include cards with anime art variants, with examples including Massacre Girl, Fblthp, The Lost, and Krenko, Mob Boss.
Ravnica Remastered launches just after the new year on January 12, 2024.
