Universes Within

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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]

Description

Wizards of the Coast creates and prints in-multiverse versions of mechanically unique non-canon Secret Lair cards, approximately six months after their original release of the Secret Lair.[3] These become available as part of The List, and are findable in Set Boosters for as long as players are still interested in opening them.

The non-canon cards and the canon cards are be considered as equivalent game pieces, meaning you can only play up to four copies total of the Magic 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 to.[4][5] All rebranded cards have the same rarity as the original. If a Universes Beyond card with a IP-specific creature type (e.g. astartes) would be rebranded, it would receive a brand new creature type in the Magic 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]

At their introduction, one in eight Set Boosters contained one of these cards, while another one in eight set boosters will contain a different card from the List.[7] According to Mark Heggen, R&D wants the in-world equivalents those to be around and people able to get their hands on them.[8] They are not meant to be the ‘chase objects’, 10 years from now, they want the "other-IP" ones "to be the cool ones that have a little bit more cachet and are a bit more interesting to see" The in-world equivalents are the ones that are there for people who are just looking for the gameplay.[8]

Wizards of the Coast has only committed to do Universes Within versions of Secret Lairs. Larger UB sets like Warhammer 40K, Lord of the Rings and Doctor Who won't receive 1:1 Universe Within versions, but R&D reserves the right to make them for individual cards if the need arises.[9][10] According to Mark Rosewater, the biggest problem, from a business standpoint, with making a Universes Within card for every Universes Beyond card is there isn’t a large enough audience to offset the huge cost of such an undertaking.[11]

Card list

Drop SLD# Card SLX# Universes Within Related Article The List of Notes
The Walking Dead[12]
2020-10
143 Rick, Steadfast Leader 018 Greymond, Avacyn's Stalwart Greymond Wilds of Eldraine
2023-09
Rebranded
characters
are natives of
Innistrad
144 Daryl, Hunter of Walkers 022 Hansk, Slayer Zealot Hansk
145 Glenn, the Voice of Calm 021 Gregor, Shrewd Magistrate Gregor
146 Michonne, Ruthless Survivor 020 Enkira, Hostile Scavenger Enkira
147 Negan, the Cold-Blooded 023 Malik, Grim Manipulator Malik
581 Lucille 019 Gisa's Favorite Shovel Gisa
Stranger Things
2021-10
340 Mind Flayer, the Shadow 001 Arvinox, the Mind Flail Arvinox Streets of New Capenna[13]
2022-05
Rebranded
characters
are natives of
Innistrad
341 Chief Jim Hopper 007 Sophina, Spearsage Deserter Sophina
342 Dustin, Gadget Genius 005 Hargilde, Kindly Runechanter Hargilde
343 Eleven, the Mage 003 Cecily, Haunted Mage Cecily
344 Lucas, the Sharpshooter 002 Bjorna, Nightfall Alchemist Bjorna
345 Max, the Daredevil 004 Elmar, Ulvenwald Informant Elmar
346 Mike, the Dungeon Master 006 Othelm, Sigardian Outcast Othelm
347 Will the Wise 008 Wernog, Rider's Chaplain Wernog
609 Hawkins National Laboratory /
The Upside Down[14]
009 Havengul Laboratory /
Havengul Mystery
Havengul
Street Fighter
2022-02
428 E. Honda, Sumo Champion 010 Baldin, Century Herdmaster Baldin Phyrexia: All Will Be One[1]
2023-02
Rebranded
characters
are natives of
Dominaria
429 Ryu, World Warrior 011 Vikya, Scorching Stalwart Vikya
430 Ken, Burning Brawler 012 Aisha of Sparks and Smoke Aisha
431 Blanka, Ferocious Friend 013 The Howling Abomination Howling Abomination
432 Chun-Li, Countless Kicks 017 Zethi, Arcane Blademaster Zethi
433 Dhalsim, Pliable Pacifist 016 Tadeas, Juniper Ascendant Tadeas
434 Guile, Sonic Soldier 014 Immard, the Stormcleaver Immard
435 Zangief, the Red Cyclone 015 Maarika, Brutal Gladiator Maarika
D&D: Honor Among Thieves
2023-03
728 Themberchaud TBA TBA
1237 Xenk, Paladin Unbroken TBA
1238 Simon, Wild Magic Sorcerer TBA
1239 Forge, Neverwinter Charlatan TBA
1240 Holga, Relentless Rager TBA
1241 Doric, Nature's Warden / Doric, Owlbear Avenger TBA
1242 Edgin, Larcenous Lutenist TBA
Tomb Raider
2023-11
1501 Lara Croft, Tomb Raider TBA TBA
Doctor Who: Regeneration
2023-12
1580 Rose Noble TBA TBA
1581 The Meep TBA
1582 The Celestial Toymaker TBA
1583 The Fourteenth Doctor TBA
1584 The Fifteenth Doctor TBA

Rules

201. Name

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

  • 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 (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

  • 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 (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

  • 213.1d Some cards with interchangeable names include information about a specific version of a card with that interchangeable name. See rule 201.3.

See also

References

  1. 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.
  2. Mark Rosewater (February 29, 2024). "is "universes within" an official term, or just slang/grokkable?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  3. 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.
  4. Aaron Forsythe (June 7, 2021). "There will be a different treatment that indicates that the cards are related.". Twitter.
  5. Streets of New Capenna Prebeat (Video). Weekly MTG. YouTube (March 4, 2022).
  6. 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.
  7. WeeklyMTG: Secret Lair October Superdrop Reveal (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (October 16, 2021).
  8. 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.
  9. Mark Rosewater (February 26, 2022). "Is it too much to ask for in-universe versions of the LOTR set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  10. Mark Rosewater (September 15, 2022). "will the new cards in the wh40k commander set be printed into a regular set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  11. 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.
  12. Magic: The Gathering (October 22, 2021). "TGIF, folks!". Twitter.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.