by Sarah Nies
Staying connected and in tune with the world can be a struggle even during the most normal days. With all of the chaos and dismay flowing during the coronavirus pandemic, having that human connection might seem impossible—not to mention the importance of still finding those brief moments of happiness even during trying times. Right now, you can recapture some of those past moments of normalcy and memories of joy as Magic: The Gathering has released its newest set, Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, as well as the new Commander 2020 decks. We’ve got all the information on how you can acquire and enjoy these new cards, even during COVID-19.
All the News Spell Slingers Need
- A breakdown on the Ikoria set
- Commander 2020 Decks and what they’ll entail
- Staying Connected to MTG During COVID-19
There’s Always A Bigger Fish …
In the world of Ikoria, treacherous, gargantuan beasts fight to remain at the top of the food chain whilst little humans try not to become their next meal. You can choose to battle the monsters at your door or to fight alongside these behemoths. This 274-card set allows you to mutate monsters—a new mechanic—and includes planeswalkers such as new versions of Vivien, Narset, and Lukka. The set also includes the debut of keyword counters. Want to +1/+1 your creature? How about also giving him or her a counter to have first strike or trample? It’s now possible. No matter your feelings toward the behemoths of Ikoria, it is sure to be a great set to play.
Commander 2020: Choose Your Weapon
Commander 2020 promises to entertain with five pre-constructed decks. Which one is right for you?
Want the ability to beat your opponent from the battlefield or the graveyard? Then Symbiotic Swarm might be right for you.
With Timeless Wisdom, you’re looking to cycle through the deck, fill up the battlefield with creatures and tokens, and then wipe out the opposition in a single, huge turn.
Miss playing Humans tribal decks in previous formats? Go back to those days with Ruthless Regiment.
Make the most of the new Mutate mechanic with Enhanced Evolution.
Like playing cards on turns that aren’t yours? You’ll want to explore the instant-heavy Arcane Maelstrom deck.
Each deck will contain:
- 1x Foil Oversized Commander
- 100 Card Deck
- 10 Double-Sided Tokens
- 1 Deck Box
- 1 Life Wheel
- Keyword CounterPunch Card
- 17 New Cards Per Deck
- 4 Legendary Foils (2 of them having a partner)
- Plus 1 each of these Commander staples: Arcane Signet, Bonder’s Ornament, Command Tower, Exotic Orchard, and Sol Ring
Of course, you veteran EDH players can soup up these decks by substituting in some of the cards from your existing collection.
Sticking With Magic: The Gathering
Magic has been there for you—during both the worst and best of times. The COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t have to pull you away from the community. Magic the Gathering is a community, and your local shops like Mulligan’s Gaming Pub are part of it. While we cannot hold any in-store events at this time in accordance with guidance from Wizards of the Coast, we’re trying to give you the same pre-release experience right from your own home.
We now have Ikoria pre-release kits and booster boxes available. For everyone who buys a pre-release kit, we also will be giving out bonus booster packs to make up for prize support. Commander decks also are available for $39.99 apiece. These products are available all weekend long, and can be picked up via curbside delivery at our shop located at 5334 Fort Henry Drive in Kingsport, TN. Place your order by calling us at (423) 406-1580, emailing us at mulligansgamingpub@gmail.com or reaching out via Facebook.
