Unknown Event
The Unknown Event is a regular surprise event run during MagicCons and hosted by Gavin Verhey.[1] Each event has a unique theme and set up with a few recurring elements.
Decks are constructed using a unique chaos sealed deck that includes packs from the latest set release but may also include non-draft booster packs (e.g. Set Boosters), Mystery Booster boosters, and/or boosters from other sets. All card pools also include a selection of playtest cards designed specifically for the Unknown Event.[2]
Players use a "rolling pairing" system to reduce waiting times. Player pairings occur on an ad hoc basis as players approach the judge after deck construction, after a round, or after they've taken a break.[2] By pairing players as they are ready to play, attendees are free to move between convention events and the Unknown Event. Each event consists of three rounds.
The event is run twice during the MagicCon (one event per day over two days) with the Saturday event usually run in support of a charity.
2023
Philadelphia
The Philadelphia event was themed after Mirrans vs. Phyrexians. Players were assigned to either team and played chaos-sealed matches with Mystery Booster and Phyrexia: All Will Be One boosters, along with a "handful" of cards with playtest stickers, featuring unique designs for the event. The latter were 62 newly designed test cards designed solely by Gavin himself.[1]
The charity supported by the Saturday event was Black Girls Code.
Minneapolis
The event returned to Minneapolis with new, unique designs for the test cards. Unlike the bare test card stickers used in Philadelphia, the stickers now have the regular card frame to help distinguish the test card from the base card used.[3]
Chaos-sealed decks were built using three March of the Machine draft boosters, one March of the Machine set booster, two Mystery Booster boosters, along with a "handful" of playtest cards. A total of 62 new cards were designed for this event, as well as 11 playtest planes.[2] While matches were occurring one of six playtest plane cards affected all players in the event. The planes would rotate after approximately 20 minutes but if players were in the middle of a turn when that occurred, the plane wouldn't take effect until the beginning of the next upkeep.
The charity supported by the Saturday event was The Trevor Project.
Barcelona
The event at Barcelona used a unique chaos commander sealed deck format.[4] Decks were 60 cards with a commander but matches were played 1v1 with players starting at 30 Life, in a similar set up to Brawl. The card pool consisted of three draft boosters of Commander Masters, two draft boosters of The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, one Tales of Middle-earth set booster, and ten Unknown Event playtest cards.[5][6] As with Commander Masters draft, all eligible commanders with one or fewer colors in their color identity were treated as if they have partner. A total of 62 new cards were designed for this event.[4]
Gen Con
A special one-off Unknown Event was run at Gen Con Indiana.[7] Due to the short time frame between MagicCon Barcelona and Gen Con, the Unknown Event used the same format and playtest cards as MagicCon Barcelona.[4] The only new card introduced was the event prize card.[8]
| Card name | Code | Card text | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen, Confider of Ages | MZ03 |      Legendary Creature — Human Wizard |
Prize card for the Unknown event at Gen Con Indiana. |
Las Vegas
As the last event of the season, Las Vegas used a modified format with players receiving two test card packs. A "Vegas" pack with new card designs and a "Barcelona" pack that was a repack of previous fan favorites.[9] Prior to the event, Gavin hosted a "You Make the Unknown Card" panel where attendees were able create three special cards for what, at the time, they believed would be a future Unknown event. A twist reveal meant the cards were actually designed for the Las Vegas event and each player got a copy of one at random.[10] A total of 31 new cards were designed for the event in addition to the three created at the panel.[11]
The event used the same chaos commander sealed deck format as Barcelona. Players received three draft boosters of Commander Masters, three draft boosters of Wilds of Eldraine, one pack of playtest card reprints from previous Unknown events, one pack of playtest cards designed for the event, and one of the three cards design at the "You Make the Unknown Card" panel at random.[11]
The charity supported by the Saturday event was Extra Life.
2024
Chicago
Prior to MagicCon Chicago Gavin previewed an Unknown event card on the Tolarian Community College series Shuffle Up & Play.[12] The card was a hit to the theme of the legendary creatures in the event — each one representing a Magic: The Gathering content creator.
The Chicago event built off the previous year's format by using a chaos commander sealed deck format.[13] Decks were 60 cards with a commander but matches were played 1v1 with players starting at 30 Life, in a similar set up to Brawl. As with the 2023 events at Barcelona and Las Vegas, players were able to use the "monocolor Partner" rule — where all eligible commanders with one or fewer colors in their color identity are treated as if they have partner. To capture the mystery theme of Murders at Karlov Manor, all players started each game with their commander face down and only reveled them when they were cast for the first time.[13]
The card pool consisted of three draft boosters of Commander Masters, two draft boosters of The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, one Tales of Middle-earth set booster, ten Unknown Event playtest cards, and one of the three cards designed at the "You Make the Unknown Card" panel at random. Thirteen of the playtest cards were reprints from previous events that had worked well and been popular. 48 cards were new designs, for a total of 61 playtest cards.
The charity supported by the Saturday event was The Trevor Project.
Amsterdam
TBA.
References
- ↑ a b Gavin Verhey (February 20, 2023). "My 62 Secret Magic Playtest Cards! (Video)". Good Morning Magic. YouTube.
- ↑ a b c Gavin Verhey (May 10, 2023). "Emrakul & Chatterfang!? Koma & Toski!? 62 Unknown Magic Cards! (Video)". Good Morning Magic. YouTube.
- ↑ u/iOvercompensate (May 6, 2023). "Gavin’s unknown Minneapolis". Reddit. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023.
- ↑ a b c Gavin Verhey (August 10, 2023). "A Sorcery As Your Commander?! And More Wild Designs in Gavin's Playtest Cards (Video)". Good Morning Magic. YouTube.
- ↑ u/Jondare (July 29, 2023). "Playtest cards from Gavins UNKNOWN event at MC Barcelona". Reddit.
- ↑ u/nava_7777 (July 30, 2023). "My full review of MagicCon Barcelona's "Unknown Tournament Featuring Gavin Verhey"". Reddit.
- ↑ Unknown with Gavin Verhey. Gen Con (August 2, 2023). Archived from the original on August 2, 2023.
- ↑ InklinCustoms (August 3, 2023). "I had a blast at @GavinVerhey Unknown Event!!!". Twitter.
- ↑ u/Devilsora (September 23, 2023). "More Unknown Playtest Cards from MagicCon Vegas". Reddit.
- ↑ Gavin Verhey (September 23, 2023). "Full house for my You Make the Unknown Card panel at #mcvegas!!". Twitter.
- ↑ a b Gavin Verhey (September 27, 2023). "Fans Made Magic Playtest Cards! The 34 Unknown Cards of MagicCon Las Vegas (Video)". Good Morning Magic. YouTube.
- ↑ Brian Lewis, Gavin Verhey, Rachel Weeks, George (February 5, 2025). "Rachel Weeks' Commander Is The Colossal Dreadmaw - Shuffle Up & Play 44 (Video)". Tolarian Community College. YouTube.
- ↑ a b I Made WHAT as Magic Cards?? The Gavin Unknown Playtest Cards of MagicCon Chicago! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (February 29, 2024).