Every time we release a Universes Beyond set, we get a similar question: “Is this going to be on Magic: The Gathering Arena and Magic: The Gathering Online?” We’ve typically handled this on a set-by-set basis with an answer that has either been fully “yes” or demonstrably “no.” We’d love for the answer to always be yes, but sometimes things just don’t work out that way. But all along, we’ve wanted a more permanent solution. And with Universes Beyond sets being legal in all formats starting with this year’s releases, we need a consistent and reliable answer.
Enter Through the Omenpaths.
Through the Omenpaths releases will be digital sets that are Universes Within versions of Universes Beyond sets that otherwise wouldn’t be coming to digital Magic platforms. These digital cards will be mechanically identical to their Universes Beyond tabletop counterparts but with unique creative treatments, different art, and different names.
We will not be creating Through the Omenpaths sets mirroring every Universes Beyond set, only the ones that will not be coming to digital platforms. This lets our formats remain mechanically at parity with one another digitally without having to create patchwork solutions here or there. We are also currently only planning to create Through the Omenpaths releases for full sets that are legal in all formats.
For the remainder of 2025, two Universes Beyond sets will be coming to MTG Arena and Magic Online: Magic: The Gathering®—FINAL FANTASY™ and Magic: The Gathering® | Avatar: The Last Airbender™.
One 2025 set, Magic: The Gathering® | Marvel’s Spider-Man (as well as future Marvel sets) will not be coming to digital Magic platforms. Instead, we will release our first Through the Omenpaths set on September 23. We’ll have more information on that set as we get closer to the release date.
I think this is just insane and super confusing. Another huge indicator that the Marvel sets (and probably all of UB) should have never entered Standard. Just make them Commander-only, and you never have this problem. They could release certain UB sets to Arena and not have to push the others if there were digital licensing issues.
Now, instead, we have a huge break in paper/digital that will presumably last and repeat forever. This makes deck list sharing and importing more difficult. This makes watching the game much more difficult. This makes learning the limited environment much more difficult. This is just way confusing and way stupid imo. I guess it’s a huge win for Arena players who didn’t want Marvel in the game but that’s about the only positive I can come up with.