The first Magic: The Gathering Universes Beyond set for 2027 has been confirmed, and it’s managed to be both predictable and surprising. Let me explain: the first Universes Beyond set of 2027 is a Marvel one, which many players predicted after the in-universe sets were revealed at MagicCon Amsterdam, and it was confirmed that there would be UB sets in total. The surprise, however, is the set’s subject matter.
This isn’t going to be an X-Men, Midnight Sons, or Young Avengers set, as some have theorized; instead, it will center on an entirely new character and storyline created specifically for this MTG adaptation. The set is called Marvel: Darkhold Destiny. So, in a way, it’s almost like an in-universe Universes Beyond mix, which leaves us extremely curious about how it will all play out.
A New Marvel Character & Story, But Old Names Have Been Teased
Marvel: Darkhold Destiny will follow a brand-new character debuting in a Marvel Comics release coming in February 2027. The comic is being written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly. This character and the world built around them will then be the subject of the Darkhold Destinies Magic set.
The world has been described as the “dark side of the Marvel Universe,” and with references to vampires, devils, witches, and werewolves, it feels like this set will have strong Innistrad vibes. This makes even more sense when you consider that Darkhold is Marvel’s version of the Necronomicon; in fact, it’s believed that Darkhold was directly inspired by the Necronomicon and its use in old H.P. Lovecraft stories.
Despite this reliance on a new character and setting, the set still teases some familiar names making a return.
Among those teases in a press release provided to TheGamer is a reference to a “vampire-hunting vampire,” which strongly points to Blade, while a reference to “sorcerers” and dimensions has us thinking that Doctor Strange, Scarlett Witch, and Agatha Harkness will also feature. Two named characters we know will be involved are Magik and Hela, who may play a big role given the set has called them out so early.
April Release Date Confirmed For Darkhold Destiny
Amid all the other details and teases we’ve worked through, we also have to flag that this set has a confirmed release date: April 9, 2027. As usual, this refers to the set’s full launch date, meaning we can expect the prerelease on April 2, 2027.
Although there are only six sets in 2027 compared to seven in 2026, Nauctis still gets only about two months in the spotlight before this new Marvel set hits the shelves. That shrinks even further once you factor in when the preview window is likely to begin.
On the product front, Commander Deck (yes, multiple) and Scene Boxes are explicitly mentioned, and we can assume that regular boosters and collector boosters will also be coming, but the rest of the product lineup is yet to be confirmed.
All Spoiled MTG Darkhold Destiny Cards From New York Comic Con
Approximately 20 cards were revealed during the Darkhold Destiny unveiling, but many of them are tokens or lands. Still, it’s a great early look at a set that isn’t due out for six months.
You can find all of the spoiled cards above, which confirm characters such as Hela, Gargantos, and Magik. We also get a look at Darkchild, the demonic alter ego of Magik.
- Franchise
-
Magic: The Gathering
- Original Release Date
-
August 5, 1993
- Designer(s)
-
Richard Garfield
