The $112 Expansion: A Marvelous Undertaking

Magic: The Gathering's 112th expansion, Marvel Superheroes, marks a significant milestone in the franchise's history. This massive set brings together decades of Marvel characters, from iconic Avengers to obscure deep cuts, in a bid to create a cohesive and diverse experience for players.

At Summer Game Fest, we had the opportunity to speak with Mark Rosewater, Head Designer for Magic: The Gathering, and Jesse Falcon, Director of Merchandising at Marvel Entertainment, about the making of this set.

From Iconic Heroes to Obscure Cuts

The Marvel Superheroes set includes a wide range of characters, from the Fantastic Four to Wakanda, the X-Men, and cross-media pollinations with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. however, it goes beyond the expected roster of iconic heroes, incorporating deep cuts that have barely appeared in any Marvel projects.

One such character is Gorilla Guerrilla, a relatively unknown Marvel character that made an appearance in a few packs during our playtesting session. Rosewater laughed when we showed him the card, emphasizing the need to include as many obscure characters as possible beyond the major Avengers.

A Game of Two Styles

We had the chance to playtest two starter decks, the Iron Man beginner preconstructed deck and the Black Panther starter. The contrast between the two decks was striking, with Iron Man focusing on card draw and counters, while Black Panther heavily favored solo attackers and lifelink.

Despite a decent start, I gradually lost ground to Black Panther's lifelink, which provided healing and counters every turn. The theme shone through as Black Panther stealthily commanded the battlefield alone, contrasting with Iron Man's approach of maximizing card draw and buffing units.

A Multi-Set Deal

When Wizards first approached Marvel, they realized the universe was far too vast for a single set. With 60 years of storytelling and thousands of characters, they decided on a multi-set deal. Secret Lair launched first because it was quicker to produce, followed by a smaller Spider-Man set, leading to this first big Avengers-focused expansion.

Jesse Falcon added that Marvel typically plans merchandise around events like movies or comic milestones, but this partnership has been unusually long and strategic. Rosewater noted that while this set is Avengers-centric, it includes connective tissue from other areas, like street-level heroes, to create a cohesive experience.

What's Next?

The Marvel Superheroes set promises a rewarding experience for both Magic veetrans and Marvel enthusiasts, with many more sets to come. Rosewater emphasized the depth of the Marvel IP, saying there are countless cards to make without exhausting the character library.

Some of his personal favorites were cut from this set, but he looks forward to including them in future expansions. The gameplay diversity and thematic integration promise a rich and immersive experience for players.