Universes Within
Universes Within is the collective name for rebranded Magic multiverse versions of Universes Beyond cards. The term was first coined by Scryfall, and then adopted by Wizards of the Coast internally.[1] It is not an official product name.[2] When Wizards of the Coast started bringing rebranded sets to LGSs, the "SLX program" name was used.[3] Cards printed under this program all have the set code "SLX".
Description
The non-canon cards and the rebranded cards are considered equivalent game pieces, meaning you can only play up to four copies total of the rebranded version and Universes Beyond version combined in your deck. The Information below the text box has the special SLX set code and the SLD card number that it equals.[4][5] All rebranded cards have the same rarity as the original. If a Universes Beyond card with an IP-specific creature type (e.g. astartes) would be rebranded, it would receive a brand new creature type in the rebranded version. The <IP name> and <unique new creature type> would be one-for-one in the rules much like the names of the Godzilla skinned cards.[6]
History
In 2021, Wizards of the Coast pledged to create and print in-multiverse versions of mechanically unique non-canon Secret Lair cards, approximately six months after their original release of the Secret Lair.[7] These would become available as part of The List, and were said to be findable in Set Boosters for as long as players still were interested in opening them.
At their introduction, one in eight Set Boosters contained one of these cards, while another one in eight set boosters would contain a different card from the List.[8] According to Mark Heggen, R&D wanted the in-world equivalents those to be around and people able to get their hands on them.[9] They were not meant to be the ‘chase objects’. After 10 years, they wanted the "other-IP" ones "to be the cool ones that had a little bit more cachet and would be a bit more interesting to see". The in-world equivalents would be the ones that were there for people who were just looking for the gameplay.[9]
In November 2024, Wizards of the Coast went back on the promise to always create Universes Within versions of mechanically unique Secret Lair cards. Mark Rosewater explained that since The List and Set Boosters had been phased out, Wizards was in a conundrum. Although they still wanted to create non-Secret Lair versions, they could no longer guarantee that these would always be different from what the Secret Lair had offered. They might keep the same name, and represent the same character/object/place - hence, it wouldn't always be a “Universe Within” version.[10] This came true with the release of the Spring Flourishes promo cards in January 2025, which were still part of the D&D universe.[11] In addition, it was announced that upcoming mechanically unique Secret Lair cards would become available for purchase in local WPN stores.[3] The selected Secret Lair Drops available for WPN stores to sell will be identical to the non-foil Drops available on the Secret Lair website.[12] This implied that no more future Secret Lairs would be rebranded. However, Mark Rosewater later stated that they are still able and, on occasion, will reprint cards in a Universes Within version.[13]
In April 2025, Wizards of the Coast announced Through the Omenpaths, a series of digital sets that are Universes Within versions of Universes Beyond sets that otherwise wouldn't be coming to digital Magic platforms.[14] These digital cards will be mechanically identical to their Universes Beyond tabletop counterparts but with unique creative treatments, different art, and different names.
Secret Lair cards
Other "Universes Within" reprints
Wizards of the Coast originally did only commit to do Universes Within versions of Secret Lairs. Larger Universes Beyond sets like Warhammer 40K, Lord of the Rings and Doctor Who wouldn't receive 1:1 Universe Within versions, but R&D reserved the right to make them for individual cards if the need arose.[19][20] According to Mark Rosewater, the biggest problem, from a business standpoint, with making a Universes Within card for every Universes Beyond card was that there wasn’t a large enough audience to offset the huge cost of such an undertaking.[21] So far, only cards with non-IP specific names have been reprinted. This avoided the need to rename them.
Through the Omenpaths
Through the Omenpaths sets, introduced in 2025, are Universes Within versions of Universes Beyond sets that otherwise wouldn't be coming to digital Magic platforms.[14] These digital cards will be mechanically identical to their Universes Beyond tabletop counterparts but with unique creative treatments, different art, and different names. There won't be Through the Omenpaths sets mirroring every Universes Beyond set, only the ones that will not be coming to digital platforms (for example, because of digital licensing issues). This allows formats to remain mechanically at parity with one another. Individual Through the Omenpaths cards may be reprinted in paper.[22]
| Date | Universes Beyond Set | Equivalent digital set |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-09 | Marvel's Spider-Man | Through the Omenpaths 1 |
Rules
201. Name
From the Comprehensive Rules (July 25, 2025—Edge of Eternities)
- 201.3. Some cards with different English names are treated as though they had the same English name. Pairs of cards with this property have names that are interchangeable.
From the Comprehensive Rules (July 25, 2025—Edge of Eternities)
- 201.4g Some cards have interchangeable names (see rule 201.3). For all game purposes, these cards have the same name. If a player chooses the name of a card which has interchangeable names, the name of each of those cards has been chosen.
213. Information below the text box
From the Comprehensive Rules (July 25, 2025—Edge of Eternities)
- 213.1d Some cards with interchangeable names include information about a specific version of a card with that interchangeable name. See rule 201.3.
Notable cards
- When Wizards of the Coast reprinted the Universes Within card Arvinox, the Mind Flail as part of the Miracle Worker Duskmourn Commander deck, the information below the text box that the card equals to SLD #340 (Mind Flayer, the Shadow) was left off in error.[23] Wizards of the Coast planned to address future situations using a game rule update.
- Because it's not rebranded as a different character, Themberchaud is officially the only card in the SLX program without an interchangeable name or the set code equivalence information below the text box.
See also
References
- ↑ a b Clayton Kroh and Adam Styborski (December 13, 2022). "A First Look at Phyrexia: All Will Be One". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 29, 2024). "is "universes within" an official term, or just slang/grokkable?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Blake Rasmussen (January 13, 2025). "A Secret Lair Test Is Coming to Your Local WPN Game Store". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Aaron Forsythe (June 7, 2021). "There will be a different treatment that indicates that the cards are related.". Twitter.
- ↑ Streets of New Capenna Prebeat (Video). Weekly MTG. YouTube (March 4, 2022).
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 12, 2022). "If you were to print a magic version of one of the Warhammer 40k cards, it'll have to keep its typeline right?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (June 7, 2021). "Secret Lair Universes Beyond Update". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023.
- ↑ WeeklyMTG: Secret Lair October Superdrop Reveal (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (October 16, 2021).
- ↑ a b Tom Marks (February 17, 2022). "Exclusive: Street Fighter MTG Crossover Cards and February Secret Lairs Revealed". IGN.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 1, 2024). "Wizards has promised to print in-universe versions of mechanically unique cards.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (January 13, 2025). "Earn D&D-Themed Promo Cards with Magic Presents: Spring Flourishes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ WPN (January 13, 2025). "Mechanically Unique Secret Lair Drops Coming to the WPN". Wizards Play Network.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 2, 2025). "Am I missing something or were the people telling me it was discontinued misunderstanding?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Blake Rasmussen (April 21, 2025). "Through the Omenpaths and Digital Universes Beyond Updates". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic: The Gathering (October 22, 2021). "TGIF, folks!". Twitter.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 14, 2022). "What's New on The List for Streets of New Capenna". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 23, 2021). "Is Hawkins National Laboratory going to receive the same “the list treatment” as the other ST secret lair cards?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b c d e Mark Rosewater (September 5, 2025). "Mechanically Unique Secret Lair Cards". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 26, 2022). "Is it too much to ask for in-universe versions of the LOTR set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 15, 2022). "will the new cards in the wh40k commander set be printed into a regular set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 11, 2023). "If Wizards really wanted to, and could convince the necessary people, then could a Universes Within version of every Universes Beyond card be made?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 2, 2025). "Could you see Through the Omenpaths cards ever getting a paper printing?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Reprints of Universes Within cards no longer have card equivalencies as per Rule 201.3c?. Reddit (September 20, 2024).