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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the latest IP to arrive in Magic: The Gathering, and at first glance it might seem like a surprising crossover. However, hardcore fans of the franchise will likely welcome the addition. After kicking off the year with the impressive set Lorwyn Eclipse, Wizards of the Coast is back with its first major crossover of the year bringing the turtle squad to the battlefield.
Spider-Man was the last crossover set that really resonated with me, largely because I was a big Spidey fan growing up. While Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was also part of my childhood, I wouldn’t call myself a die-hard fan of the series. Still, the franchise is such a massive household name that most people, even casual fans, will instantly recognize the characters.
The TMNT set features 190 cards which is a predominantly smaller release even compared to Spider-Man which had about 300 cards. Overall this set is aimed for a more draftable one and also introduces a few flavored mechanics. Mutagen tokens represent the iconic green ooze and can be sacrificed to give a creature a +1/+1 counter, making it stronger. Sneak lets you return an unblocked attacker to your hand to cast a spell for a cheaper cost during combat, creating surprise plays. There’s also Disappear, which rewards you if one of your permanents left the battlefield that turn, encouraging sacrifice and clever timing.
While Spider-Man didn’t include any preconstructed Commander decks, something we haven’t seen from a set in quite a while, TMNT will feature one called the Turtle Power! Commander Deck fully focusing on synergy. The deck’s main face commander features all four turtles together, but players can also choose to run each turtle individually available as a secondary commander option.
The TMNT set dropped with the usual range of Play Boosters and Collector Boosters, giving both players and collectors new chases, especially the four turtles illustrated by Kevin Eastman, the co-creator of TMNT. The artwork varied a lot with TMNT similar to Spider-man giving a nod to comics and TV. My favourite ones I pulled have to be the Daniel Elson ones, featuring the younger turtles which gives me Cartoon Network vibes.
Overall, TMNT’s arrival in Magic: The Gathering definitely scratches that nostalgia itch. With classic IPs like this, Magic continues to draw interest from outside its traditional player base. Whether it’s casual fans or collectors, each Universes Beyond release aims to capture the attention of a wider audience, and it’s clearly working.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Magic: The Gathering is available now from your local game and TCG shops.
