We've been dabbling in the world of
Magic: The Gathering this year, in part because the cards themselves are transformative and dynamic and meta-shifting, and update on a semi-regular basis. Not at all unlike additions and nerfs to always-on games. And heck, the
Hearthstones and
GWENTs of the gaming world came from a real-world place, so it makes sense to follow the OG.
Speaking of, the folks at
Wizards of the Coast recently invited players to a Vampire wedding, by way of new card set,
Crimson Vow. The new set, horror-themed and packing lots of vampiric and gothic punch, has already hit
MTG Arena, and will arrive for table-top MTG November 19.
Here's some lore surrounding the addition, written in some kind of red... ink?
Set in the lavish halls of the affluent Voldaren Estate on the fan-favourite Innistrad plane, Crimson Vow is brimming with Vampire goodness (including Dracula-inspired cards) as it unites Vampires with Werewolves in an epic conclusion to Magic’s Halloween-themed saga. The set contains 267 cards and releases on MTG Arena today and for tabletop on 19 November.
The eternal night of Midnight Hunt has been averted, yet darkness still threatens to befall the plane of Innistrad. Crimson Vow follows the journey of Sorin, an iconic Vampire Planeswalker, who attempts to thwart the fiendish Vampire noblewoman, Olivia Voldaren, and her plans to wed herself to the Markov bloodline and assuming control over the plane.
Great feasts, extravagant costumes and eternally undead patrons await the wedding ceremony of Crimson Vow, which introduces fiendish new mechanics in the fight to return day to Innistrad. Blood tokens are the signature mechanic of Vampires and can be sacrificed in addition to discarding a card to draw another card. Humans fighting against the horrors of the night also have a unique ability of their own, with the new mechanic, Training, providing a +1/+1 counter whenever a creature attacks with another creature of greater power. For new spells, Cleave can be used to alter their function by omitting words in their description, allowing for more tactical play against opponents.
Paying homage to iconic gothic lore, Crimson Vow resurrects the legendary Vampire Dracula, who appears in multiple alternate forms in foil and non-foil treatments.
Fang Frame card treatments are available alongside the Count, each decorated with a unique border design as extravagant as the characters they contain.
Returning from Midnight Hunt, Eternal Night Legendary Creatures, Lands also feature in Crimson Vow. These will be available in Draft Boosters, Set Boosters and Collector Boosters, including the Crimson Vow Bundle.
You can
learn more right here, but this new set and the horror theme in general is just a reminder of the breadth of themes explored across the whole of the MTG universe, and just another reason to poke your head in, if you haven't yet.