Through the Omenpaths and adapting Universes Beyond sets to MTG Arena and Magic Online.

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.

  • MysticKetchupOPEnglish
    11·
    3 days ago

    I’m wondering if this is because Marvel also has Marvel Snap which they don’t want Arena competing with. Or the rights for both paper and digital were just too high for Wizards

    Regardless of the reason, yay for more Universes Within! This makes it a lot easier for them to reprint those cards in paper as well since the art + creative is already done

    • MikeMA
      5·
      3 days ago

      I think this has to be it. No way Marvel wants “Spider man card game” to turn up Arena first in search results over Marvel Snap. And this confused me when they first announced a Marvel set given that Snap was already a thing.

      I think this is a win for Arena, but it will be super confusing not having the same card names/artwork across paper and digital especially for anyone who plays both. Have to learn everything twice I guess. Deck list importing just got a lot harder too.

      • MysticKetchupOPEnglish
        4·
        3 days ago

        Yeah the mismatch between paper/digital is going to be annoying. What makes it worse is that it’s a mess that could have been entirely avoided had they just not tried to push UB within everywhere

  • EvuEnglish
    4·
    3 days ago

    What a headache. I mean I guess on the one hand this is a minor victory for people like me who prefer Universes Within cards. But on the other hand, I think Wizards has completely lost touch with how hard it is for the average player to know which cards are legal in which formats. This is only going to make that worse. It also underscores just how much they’ve hamstrung themselves by putting art on their cards that they’re not free to use as they like.

  • Meh [comrade/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    6·
    3 days ago

    I guess it’s nice to have ready made universes within versions for printing proxies, but I suppose it depends on how effective they are at fitting the setting and feel of mtg. Spiderman with the serial numbers filed off would be an additional slap in the face for people who like the mechanical function of a card but don’t like capeshit

  • MikeMA
    6·
    3 days ago

    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.