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Rhystic Cast #29 - Magic in 2026 (Patreon)

Published:
2026-01-09 02:00:34
Edited:
2026-01-09 12:38:01
Imported:
2026-10

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Content

Tonight, I'm looking to the year ahead and speculating about my involvement with Magic in 2026. The product line looks bleak, but that doesn't mean we can't make our own fun.

Links:Rob Bockman - Daylit Nostalgia and Nighttime Headaches: Revisiting LorwynSummon Holograms

Music:Lightning Bolt - The Metal East

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Comments

Jack F

really refreshing to hear another take on how tdm ecl feel like very underwhelming returns, as they focus purely backward, contrasted against NEO looking forward and developing the setting and mechanics in really new, novel ways. also fully agree on typal as mechanical space... it's very bland, on-rails drafting and deckbuilding experience; every typal lord is just a worse sliver

Ghostride the Lexus

Despite most likely sitting out a majority of this year due to lack of compelling releases, I must say one man has started the year off strong. I…..I think Karl Kopinski’s art for Meek Attack is perfect. I have been consumed by it since its reveal….its perfect…Great cast as always!

Dylan aka Shopkeep

NEO was a true one of one, a sincerely incredible interpretation of what a “return to” set can be. The design team, art team, and story team kicked a 60 yard crunch time field goal on a windy day. We should have high standards for the kind of care and mindfulness go into sets that send us back to our favorite planes, but NEO was a unicorn. WOTC have some incredibly creative and inspired people in the office, but they’re not a unicorn ranch

Dylan aka Shopkeep

I will also say, TDM was about a plane moving forward. The setting was largely filled with communities who reinvented their futures and rediscovered their third colors. I think Hasbro’s larger push for UB sets that take the place of in universe sets has changed the lens through which some of these return sets get viewed. It’s easy to pin a lack of world-upside-down developments due to Hasbro getting complacent and leaning on Nostalgia for sales rather than a story design team and play design team that agreed some less seismic changes would make for a more cohesive and nuanced set I’ve got some constructive feedback I could type on here and chirp to the birds about regarding modern return sets, but those aside I think classifying alot of these return sets ONLY as lazy cash grabs and not giving them a fair shake is a wee bit cynical Anyways I’ll shut up, if you’ve read this far I hope your cards shuffle smooth, your beer stays cold, and you have a sick weekend

Jack F

i think we're on a similar page in areas i didn't express; i think the progress for the clans and the new mechanics were really rad, but the weight of "we need to show off all the greatest hits people love from this plane" feels like it burdens these return sets, given they don't have enough space to explore much in the way of new ideas. but that's not a fault of the brilliant designers, that's a frustrating restriction they are saddled with, given so few in universe sets and no access to Blocks as a design structure. cheers to you as well, though, may we this year find the cards that make our gears whirr!

Tony Houst

I agree to leave people wanting the easy on the nose reference. Mountain goats getting literal mountain goat felt like it made the in joke canon, and no longer as magical for people making the discovery. Totally agree with Lorwyns critiques. The shift to focus on 5 limited archetypes over 10 has forced things to feel narrow and shallower. It is a natural evolution to fit 7 sets in a year and be able to explore all the themes, but the cost is felt both mechanically and flavorfully. There's room for 1 noggle card and a few treefolk, but not enough for multiple legends to fill out the corners of the world not explored by the written story. Favorite way to "play with magic" that isnt magic lately is a collaborative storytelling pack wars style game we made up called "Three Families" and is always a fun way to break the ice and get people to loosen up. I love seeing the wildly different answers to the same prompt with commander. Its fitting to try something like that this year when everything feels prescribed and not organically grown to be discovered.

Mathias Hillesheim

UB being predatory is actually so true. I'm not proud of it, since I think UB is really bad for magic, but LOTR is a huge obsession of mine and I couldn't help but collect the cards. I love the characters so much that is very exciting to play Magic with them, even after these years. I guess I can't blame people for feeling the same for Spiderman, Dr. Who or whatever, and by hitting specific areas each time they kinda "validate" the existence of UB because everybody will have their "well I think UB is bad, BUT...". LOTR is the only UB I ever "supported" and I say that to feel better, but does it matter? As long as I make excuses for one single UB set, I kinda become a supporter of the problem as well...

Chiggadut

Always appreciate your artistic approach on your topics and your honesty. I’m excited to see what else the year brings. Cheers to a great 2026 #catsforever

Jommy Salami

With the ub releases, being able to take a breath from the constant stream of new releases, I’ve been able to start playing cube. Also decided to go back and spend more time with duskmourn, we moved passed that set so quickly and I’m now giving it the attention it would’ve had if we didn’t have to keep moving within the same month it was released.