Earlier this month Magic: The Gathering fans were taken by surprise when a brand new format was revealed for the collectible card game. The last time this happened was the announcement of Pioneer in 2019, but this time around, the new format is all about the Magic Arena platform.
Alchemy is a brand new format that will only be playable and collectible through Magic Arena, the contemporary digital home of Magic: The Gathering. The format includes brand new cards and rebalanced cards and is a bit of a digital twist on the popular Standard format.
The idea of a digital only format is pretty intriguing and it offers the designs the chance to play around in a new space with different potential and different limitations. As more Alchemy cards are released with each new set, it will be very exciting to see what kind of wild combos and builds the community comes up with. It will also be very interesting to see how much the Alchemy meta varies from the Standard meta…
What is Alchemy?
Alchemy is our new MTG Arena play mode based on the Standard format that incorporates new-to-digital Magic alongside rebalanced Standard cards to create a fast, ever-evolving experience for our players.
An Ever-Evolving Play Mode
Build decks with Standard cards, new-to-digital cards, and rebalanced cards in a new MTG Arena play mode that evolves as fast as our players.
New-to-Digital Cards
Alchemy will launch with 63 new-to-digital Magic cards featuring mechanics designed specifically for digital play, and players can expect more new cards alongside every Standard set release.
Rebalanced Magic Cards
Alchemy features rebalanced versions of existing Standard cards to shake up the meta for digital play. Players can expect these regular changes to the format to create a dynamic play experience between Standard set releases.
How to Play Alchemy
Like Historic, Alchemy will be a new digital-only format playable on MTG Arena. You will be able to play Alchemy in Best-of-One and Best-of-Three matches, both ranked and unranked.
Alchemy will also feature in upcoming special events, such as Midweek Magic, Festivals, etc.
How much do Alchemy boosters cost?
Players will be able to purchase Alchemy boosters either individually for 1,000 gold or fifteen for 3,000 gems—the same price as Standard set boosters.
A special Alchemy bundle containing 20 Alchemy boosters will be available for 3,000 gems or 15,000 gold—limit one purchase per player.
That covers just about everything we know at this point concerning the new Alchemy format, but definitely check back in throughout the holidays and in early 2022 for a lot more details. Game Rant will continue to provide updates, news, and strategy guides as more information about the format and its cards is revealed.
Magic: The Gathering is available now in game shops or digitally on Magic Arena.