March of the Machine

March of the Machine

 

Commander decks

 

Card comparisons

 

Trivia

 

Jumpstart

 

Welcome booster

 

Multiverse Legends

 

Art Series

 

March of the Machine
[[File:{{#setmainimage:March of the Machine.png}}|250px]]
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description	Elspeth's sword shattering a tilted Phyrexian symbol
Design	Mark Rosewater (lead), Chris Mooney, Ari Nieh, Annie Sardelis, Dan Musser, David Humpherys, Mike Mearls
Development	David Humpherys (lead), Jadine Klomparens, Ari Nieh, Andrew Brown, Ken Nagle, Oliver Tiu, Cameron Williams, Mark Gottlieb
Release date	April 21, 2023
Plane	Multiversal
Themes and mechanics	Battles, Phyrexian typal
Keywords/​ability words	Backup, Convoke, Incubate
Set size	281 + 106
Expansion code	MOM
Development codename	Marathon
March of the Machine Standard
Dominaria United The Brothers' War Phyrexia: All Will Be One
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Secret Lair Drop Series: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves March of the Machine March of the Machine Commander Decks

Expansion symbol

March of the Machine is the ninety-sixth Magic expansion. It was released on April 21, 2023.

Set details

March of the Machine key art, featuring Teferi, Quintorius Kand from Arcavios and Thalia from Innistrad, with Elesh Norn in the background

“

One Last Stand

”

March of the Machine is an event set, with the focus on planes. Preview art featured characters from different planes fighting together. As a consequence of the events in this set, the very fabric of the Multiverse was said to fundamentally change.

This set features Yuta Takahashi's Player Spotlight card, Faerie Mastermind. Starting with this set, the collector numbers are changed to four digits, and the "Inside Set Numbering" (in the form of a fraction like 10/250) is abandoned. The rarity indicator is moved to the front of the collector number. Attending to previous numbering, March of the Machine contains 281 regular cards (116 commons, 80 uncommons, 60 rares, 20 mythic rares, 5 basic lands), furthermore there are 10 Phyrexian Full Art basic lands (#282-291). Different showcase-style (depending on the plane of origin) cards are #292-319. Borderless planeswalkers are #320-322. Standard legal Jumpstart cards are #323-337. Alternate art borderless praetor/sagas are #338-342. Extended artwork cards are numbered #343-380. The dark frame treatment cards from the Universal promo pack are numbered #381-385, the Bundle promo is #386, and the Buy-a-Box card is #387.

After being teased in Phyrexia: All Will Be One, Battle is a new card type that is introduced in this set, as well as Siege, a Battle subtype.

Storyline

This is the dramatic conclusion of the four-part Phyrexian story arc that began with Dominaria United — and ends with Magic forever changed. The entire Multiverse rallies together for one epic climactic battle. Elesh Norn expands her reach and brings the glory of New Phyrexia to the other planes. Her faction has become the Machine Legion, the core of the Phyrexian armada. People and creatures on many different planes are getting compleated.

March of the Machine: The Aftermath serves as an epilogue to this set, tying up some loose ends and starting new beginnings.

The cards that represent the Story Spotlights in March of the Machine are:

• Breach the Multiverse
• Coming in Hot
• Corrupted Conviction
• Elspeth's Smite
• Into the Fire
• Invasion of New Phyrexia // Teferi Akosa of Zhalfir
• Merciless Repurposing
• Mirrodin Avenged
• Moment of Truth
• Negate
• Render Inert
• Seal from Existence
• Seed of Hope
• Storm the Seedcore
• Surge of Salvation
• Transcendent Message
• Traumatic Revelation
• Wrenn and Realmbreaker
• Wrenn's Resolve

Marketing

March of the Machine is sold in regular 16-card Draft Boosters (one card being a marketing card), Collector Boosters, Set Boosters, Jumpstart Boosters, the March of the Machine Bundle and five Commander decks.

Multiverse Legends

Multiverse Legends is a separate set of cards associated with March of the Machine, similar to the Mystical Archive and Retro Artifacts. In Multiverse Legends, Wizards of the Coast have reprinted 65 iconic characters in their home planes' Booster Fun treatment, and with the set code MUL. March of the Machine Draft and Set Boosters contain one Multiverse Legends card, and Collector Boosters have at least three. These will only be legal in formats that they are already legal in and in Historic. They are not part of the Standard environment, however the cards may be used in Limited events.

Events

• Prerelease: April 14–20, 2023
  • Including Jumpstart prerelease: players receive two Jumpstart packs to open, shuffle together, and play.
• Digital release: April 18, 2023
• Launch party: April 21–23, 2023
• Friday Night Magic: April 21 – August 25, 2023
• Commander Nights: April 24 – August 31
• Store Championship: May 13 – 21, 2023
• WPN Premium-Exclusive Commander Party: May 26 – 28, 2023

Promos

Promo pack

• Prerelease: a stamped card that can be any rare or mythic rare of March of the Machine.
• Commander-legal prerelease promos: alternate art Goro-Goro and Satoru, Katilda and Lier and Slimefoot and Squee
  • These have the MOC code, are not Standard legal and are not playable in Prerelease decks.
• Other events: cards from the March of the Machine universal promo pack.
  • The seasonal dark-frame promos are: Norn's Inquisitor, Scrappy Bruiser, Kami of Whispered Hopes, Botanical Brawler, Halo Forager.
• Buy-a-Box: alternate art Omnath, Locus of All
• Bundle promo: alternate art Ghalta and Mavren
• Store Championship promos: Strangle (participation), Aether Channeler (Top 8), textless Thalia and The Gitrog Monster (winner)
• Commander Party: Phyrexian language Beast Within
• 30th Anniversary promos: Eternal Witness, Portuguese Chord of Calling and Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind

Tokens and emblems

March of the Machine has twenty-one tokens and two emblems. This is the first set to feature transforming double-faced tokens.

1. 1/1 Monk creature with prowess for Monastery Mentor.
2. 1/1 Soldier creature with lifelink for Archangel Elspeth.
3. 1/1 Vampire creature with lifelink for Ghalta and Mavren.
4. 1/1 Kraken creature with trample for Invasion of Segovia.
5. 2/2 Zombie creature for Deluge of the Dead.
6. First Mate Ragavan, a legendary 2/1 Monkey Pirate creature for Baral and Kari Zev.
7. X/X Dinosaur creature with trample for Ghalta and Mavren.
8. 1/1 Phyrexian Saproling creature for Blightsower Thallid.
9. 1/1 Elemental creature for Joyful Stormsculptor, Kyren Flamewright, Preening Champion and Ral's Reinforcements.
10. 2/2 Knight creature with vigilance for Invasion of Belenon, Invasion of New Phyrexia, Knight of the New Coalition and Xerex Strobe-Knight.
11. 3/3 Phyrexian Hydra creature with lifelink for Polukranos, Engine of Ruin.
12. 3/3 Phyrexian Hydra creature with reach for Polukranos, Engine of Ruin.
13. 1/1 Spirit creature with flying for The Broken Sky.
14. 3/2 Spirit creature for Quintorius, Loremaster.
15. 3/2 Warrior creature with "Whenever this creature and at least one other creature token attack, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature." for Valor's Reach Tag Team.
16. Incubator artifact with ": Transform this artifact." // 0/0 Phyrexian artifact creature for Assimilate Essence, The Argent Etchings, Blighted Burgeoning, Bloated Processor, Chrome Host Seedshark, Compleated Huntmaster, Converter Beast, Corruption of Towashi, Elvish Vatkeeper, Essence of Orthodoxy, Eyes of Gitaxias, Furnace Gremlin, Gift of Compleation, Glissa, Herald of Predation, Glistening Dawn, Ichor Drinker, Infected Defector, Injector Crocodile, Marauding Dreadship, Merciless Repurposing, Norn's Inquisitor, Phyrexian Awakening, Progenitor Exarch, Sculpted Perfection, Searing Barb, Sunder the Gateway, Sunfall, Tangled Skyline, Tiller of Flesh and Traumatic Revelation.
17. Incubator artifact with ": Transform this artifact." // 0/0 Phyrexian artifact creature.
18. Incubator artifact with ": Transform this artifact." // 0/0 Phyrexian artifact creature.
19. 1/1 Thopter artifact creature with flying for Invasion of Kaladesh.
20. Treasure artifact (Defender) for Axgard Artisan, Beamtown Beatstick, Deadly Derision, Furnace Reins, Invasion of Ergamon and Rankle and Torbran.
21. Treasure artifact (Phyrexian) for The Great Work.
22. Emblem for Teferi Akosa of Zhalfir.
23. Emblem for Wrenn and Realmbreaker.

In addition there are two tokens with the Multiverse Legends set code and symbol that can also be found in booster packs:

1. 2/1 Phyrexian Myr creature for Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer.
2. 3/1 Elemental creature with trample and haste for Valduk, Keeper of the Flame.

One emblem with the Commander deck set code and symbol can also be found in booster packs:

1. Emblem for Teferi's Talent.

Themes and mechanics

Battle is both a new mechanic and a new card type. Battles are transforming double-faced cards. The front side with landscape art is placed horizontally on the battlefield (the first permanent to do so). Battles can be cast during your main phase, just like creatures sorceries and other non-Instant spells. Each battle enters the battlefield with defense counters on it, equal to its defense, found in the lower right corner of the front face. This tells you how much damage it takes to defeat a battle. Specifically, all battles in this set are Sieges; these battles enter protected by an opponent, who must stop the battle's controller from attacking it and reaping its rewards. One battle card will be available in every Draft Booster and set Booster.

The use of TDFCs representing the Phyrexians allowed R&D to use "transformation matters" as a theme that runs through the Phyrexian side of the conflict. They transform through a mana payment, like Monstrosity creatures or the Werewolves from Eldritch Moon.

The characteristic mechanic of the Phyrexians in this set is Incubate, a keyword action that creates a transforming Incubator token which turns into a Phyrexian of variable size. Like with amass and Zombie typal in War of the Spark, Phyrexians receive typal support to enable these tokens.

Meanwhile, the multiversal resistance supports one another with Backup. Backup is an enters-the-battlefield trigger on creatures, which puts +1/+1 counters on another target creature and lets that creature gain the backup creature's other abilities until the end of turn.

Convoke is a returning mechanic. Basic landcycling from Conflux returns to Standard for the first time. Kicker is promoted to deciduous.

Card types

Front side of a Battle

Battle is introduced as a card type. All thirty-six battles have just one subtype - Siege.

March of the Machine introduces the Incubator artifact type.

Creature types

The set makes use of various existing creature types and provides a Typal support for some of them.

Phyrexians matter in this set. They appear in various colors: mostly in but also as the flipped sides of compleated creatures throughout all colors. Knights are present mainly in , and provide a backbone for its limited archetype. Dragons are seen on the cards alluding to the plane of Tarkir, with various types called out in text of self-contained cards.

March of the Machine sees many characters "team up", being depicted on one card featuring both characters with the creature types associated with both.

Counter types

March of the Machine introduces Defense counters and makes extensive use of +1/+1 counters (mostly in green and white).

Limited Archetypes

March of the Machine features the following Limited archetypes:

• : Knights matter
• : Graveyard matters
• : Sacrifice
• : Battles
• : +1/+1 Counters matter
• : Phyrexians matter
• : Convoke
• : Incubate
• : Backup
• : Transformation matters

Cycles

Cycle name
Praetor Sagas	Elesh Norn // The Argent Etchings	Jin-Gitaxias // The Great Synthesis	Sheoldred // The True Scriptures	Urabrask // The Great Work	Vorinclex // The Grand Evolution
	Five mythic rare Praetors with sagas on their back sides. The third parts of each saga were designed to resemble the power of planeswalker ultimates and transform the saga back into the front side Praetor.
Compleat Generals	Heliod, the Radiant Dawn // Heliod, the Warped Eclipse (Consecrated Sphinx)	Rona, Herald of Invasion // Rona, Tolarian Obliterator (Phyrexian Obliterator)	Ayara, Widow of the Realm // Ayara, Furnace Queen (Geth, Lord of the Vault)	Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness (Blightsteel Colossus)	Polukranos Reborn // Polukranos, Engine of Ruin (Wurmcoil Engine)
	Five rare mono-colored legendary creatures with an off-color phyrexian mana activated ability that can transform into a more potent, allied-color Phyrexian version. Each of their transformed Phyrexian sides allude to a powerful Phyrexian card in the past.
Gold transforming Compleat Uncommons	Seraph of New Capenna // Seraph of New Phyrexia	Captive Weird // Compleated Conjurer	Blightreaper Thallid // Blightsower Thallid	Harried Artisan // Phyrexian Skyflayer	Gnottvold Hermit // Chrome Host Hulk
	Sun-Blessed Guardian // Furnace-Blessed Conqueror	Skyclave Aerialist // Skyclave Invader	Nezumi Freewheeler // Hideous Fleshwheeler	Khenra Spellspear // Gitaxian Spellstalker	Herbology Instructor // Malady Invoker
	Ten uncommon mono-colored creatures with an enemy-color phyrexian mana activated ability that can transform into a more powerful, dual-color Phyrexian version.
Gold Transforming Compleat Commons	Tarkir Duneshaper // Burnished Dunestomper	Order of the Mirror // Order of the Alabaster Host	Aetherblade Agent // Gitaxian Mindstinger	Pyretic Prankster // Glistening Goremonger	Bonded Herdbeast // Plated Kilnbeast
	Five common mono-colored creatures with an allied-color phyrexian mana activated ability that can transform into a more powerful, dual-color Phyrexian version.
Rare Invasions	Invasion of Gobakhan // Lightshield Array	Invasion of Arcavios // Invocation of the Founders	Invasion of Fiora // Marchesa, Resolute Monarch	Invasion of Kaldheim // Pyre of the World Tree	Invasion of Ikoria // Zilortha, Apex of Ikoria
	Invasion of Theros // Ephara, Ever-Sheltering	Invasion of Segovia // Caetus, Sea Tyrant of Segovia		Invasion of Karsus // Refraction Elemental	Invasion of Ixalan // Belligerent Regisaur
	Nine monocolored rare Siege Battles, two for each color except for (which instead has Invasion of Tolvada // The Broken Sky in ).
Uncommon "Tempo" Invasions	Invasion of Belenon // Belenon War Anthem	Invasion of Kamigawa // Rooftop Saboteurs	Invasion of Ulgrotha // Grandmother Ravi Sengir	Invasion of Regatha // Disciples of the Inferno	Invasion of Muraganda // Primordial Plasm
	Five monocolored uncommon Siege Battles that are more expensive on rate but affect the board for quick flipping.
Uncommon "Sorcery" Invasions	Invasion of Dominaria // Serra Faithkeeper	Invasion of Vryn // Overloaded Mage-Ring	Invasion of Eldraine // Prickle Faeries	Invasion of Mercadia // Kyren Flamewright	Invasion of Zendikar // Awakened Skyclave
	Five monocolored uncommon Siege Battles that are similar on rate to resource-gaining sorceries of the past, with the back side as the upsides.
Enemy Color hate	Surge of Salvation	Change the Equation	Glistening Deluge	Lithomantic Barrage	Sandstalker Moloch
	Five uncommon cards that hate on enemy colors.
Typecyclers	Alabaster Host Intercessor	Tidal Terror	Gloomfang Mauler	Furnace Host Charger	Timberland Ancient
	Each of these common creature cards has a mana value that is greater than 5 and may be cycled for for a land with a basic land type.
Cycle name
Mythic Rare Team Ups	Thalia and The Gitrog Monster	Zurgo and Ojutai	Zimone and Dina	Kroxa and Kunoros	Borborygmos and Fblthp
	Five mythic rare wedge-colored legendary creatures representing characters from the same plane teaming up against the Phyrexian invasion, in some cases giving birth to unexpected alliances. This cycle can also be viewed as a mega-cycle if combined with the Commander decks of this set, as the five mythic rare shard-colored legendary creature team-up combinations appear there.

Double cycles

Cycle name
Rare Team Ups	Errant and Giada	Hidetsugu and Kairi	Rankle and Torbran	Kogla and Yidaro	Ghalta and Mavren	Drana and Linvala	Baral and Kari Zev	Yargle and Multani	Djeru and Hazoret	Inga and Esika
	Ten rare dual-colored legendary creatures representing characters from the same plane teaming up against the Phyrexian invasion, in some cases giving birth to unexpected alliances.
Gold Signposts	Marshal of Zhalfir	Halo Forager	Stormclaw Rager	Rampaging Geoderm	Botanical Brawler	Sculpted Perfection	Joyful Stormsculptor	Elvish Vat Keeper	Mirror-Shield Hoplite	Mutagen Connoisseur
	Ten uncommon dual-colored cards, each a signpost for a draft archetype.
Gold Signpost Invasions	Invasion of Xerex // Vertex Paladin	Invasion of Amonkhet // Lazotep Convert	Invasion of Azgol // Ashen Reaper	Invasion of Ergamon // Truga Cliffcharger	Invasion of Moag // Bloomwielder Dryads	Invasion of New Capenna // Holy Frazzle-Cannon	Invasion of Kaladesh // Aetherwing, Golden-Scale Flagship	Invasion of Lorwyn // Winnowing Forces	Invasion of Kylem // Valor's Reach Tag Team	Invasion of Pyrulea // Gargantuan Slabhorn
	Ten uncommon dual-colored Siege Battles, each a signpost for a draft archetype.
Life-gain taplands	Tranquil Cove	Dismal Backwater	Bloodfell Caves	Rugged Highlands	Blossoming Sands	Scoured Barrens	Swiftwater Cliffs	Jungle Hollow	Wind-Scarred Crag	Thornwood Falls
	Ten common lands that enter the battlefield tapped, gain the controller one life, and can tap for 2 different colors of mana. Reprinted from Khans of Tarkir. In this printing, each card shows the Phyrexian invasion of a different plane.

Mini-cycles

Cycle name
Mythic Rare Invasions	Invasion of Innistrad // Deluge of the Dead	Invasion of Tarkir // Defiant Thundermaw	Invasion of Shandalar // Leyline Surge
	Three monocolored mythic rare Siege Battles ( and are instead represented together in Invasion of New Phyrexia // Teferi Akosa of Zhalfir as ).

Pairs

Matched Pair		Description
Invasion of Alara // Awaken the Maelstrom ()	Invasion of Ravnica // Guildpact Paragon ()	Two Siege Battles that depict the first planes that were designed to focus on multicolour factions: Shards of Alara (Shards) and Ravnican guilds (Color Pairs). The back faces of the Battles mechanically represent the factions of the plane working together: an allusion to every shard color Ultimatum in Awaken the Maelstrom and an allusion to Niv-Mizzet Reborn, the Living Guildpact in Guildpact Paragon. The color identity of both faces is either all colors (Alara) or none (Ravnica).
Zephyr Singer ()	Ancient Imperiosaur ()	Two rare creatures with convoke and an ability that puts a number of counters based on the number of creatures that convoked it.
Archpriest of Shadows ()	Doomskar Warrior ()	Two rare Humans with Backup and a triggered ability that activates when dealing damage to a player or battle.
Knight of the New Coalition ()	Preening Champion ()	Two common Knights that create a multicolored-blue token upon entering the battlefield.
Ichor Drinker ()	Placid Rottentail ()	Two common 1/1 for one M, that have an ability whereby paying mana and exiling it from the graveyard, it puts two +1/+1 counters on the battlefield.

Mega-mega cycles

• The Omnath cycle is "compleated" with Omnath, Locus of All, the WUBRG member.
• The Mirran swords cycle is completed with Sword of Once and Future, the member.

Reprinted cards

• All ten gainlands, first printed in Khans of Tarkir, last seen as a complete cycle in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.
  • Tranquil Cove
  • Dismal Backwater
  • Bloodfell Caves
  • Rugged Highlands
  • Blossoming Sands
  • Scoured Barrens
  • Swiftwater Cliffs
  • Jungle Hollow
  • Wind-Scarred Crag
  • Thornwood Falls
• Fairgrounds Trumpeter, first printed in Kaladesh.
• Inspired Charge, first printed in Magic 2011, last seen in Jumpstart.
• Kitesail, first printed in Worldwake, last seen in Jumpstart 2022.
• Monastery Mentor, first printed in Fate Reforged, last seen in Double Masters 2022.
• Negate, first printed in Morningtide, last seen in Starter Commander Decks.
• Phyrexian Gargantua, first printed in Apocalypse, last seen in Jumpstart.
• Skittering Surveyor, first printed in Dominaria, last seen in Jumpstart.
• Stoke the Flames, first printed in Magic 2015.
• Vanquish the Weak, first printed in Ixalan, last seen in Zendikar Rising.

Notable cards

• Yargle and Multani is the first vanilla creature printed in a premier set in 25 months. It also supplants the highest printed power from Impervious Greatwurm.
• Monastery Mentor is the only monowhite card with prowess printed in a premier set since itself and others in Fate Reforged, despite white being "secondary" in prowess.
• Malady Invoker is the first new card since 2009's New Phyrexia's Tormentor Exarch to use -0/-N. Both are bends in templating, as the expected method would be dealing damage.

Misprints

• The artist credits for both Furnace Host Charger and Phyrexian Archivist are incorrectly listed as Daniel Romanovsky in all languages. The correct artist credit is Andreas Zafiratos.

Preconstructed decks

March of the Machine features five Commander decks that are released as a regular part of a set's product line.

Theme deck name	Color Identity					Commander
Growing Threat	W		B			Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos
Cavalry Charge	W	U	B			Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir
Call for Backup	W			R	G	Bright-Palm, Soul Awakener
Divine Convocation	W	U		R		Kasla, the Broken Halo
Tinker Time		U		R	G	Gimbal, Gremlin Prodigy

Gallery

Key art

• 

  Featuring Realmbreaker on New Phyrexia by Grzegorz Rutkowski.

• 

  Featuring Elesh Norn, Quintorius Kand, Teferi Akosa, and Thalia by Billy Christian.

• 

  Featuring Ghalta, Zimone Wola, Linvala, and Teferi Akosa.

• 

  Featuring Chandra Nalaar, Dina, Esika, Borborygmos, Dhiren Baral, and Kairi.

• 

  Featuring Elspeth Tirel.

• 

  Featuring Linvala, Teferi Akosa, Chandra Nalaar, Zimone Wola, and Quintorius Kand by Billy Christian.

• 

  "Godsend Flash," featuring Elspeth Tirel by Alex Dos Diaz.

• 

  "Archangel Neon Elspeth," featuring Elspeth Tirel by Valentina Remenar.

External links

• Emily Teng (April 11, 2023). "Planeswalker's Guide to March of the Machine: The Phyrexian Invasion of the Multiverse". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• March of the Machine - Official Teaser Trailer (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (February 19, 2023).
• March of the Machine - Official Official Cinematic (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (March 30, 2023).
• March of the Machine - Card Previews, Battle Card Type, New Mechanics (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (March 30, 2023).
• Mark Rosewater (May 8, 2023). "March of the Machine Vision Design Handoff Document, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Mark Rosewater (July 31, 2023). "State of Design 2023". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Official product page.
• WPN product page.