Magic the Gathering Arena's latest update has been widely anticipated for both its new Limited cards and its return to an old setting in the game's lore. In the latest Release Notes, developer Wizards of the Coast announced how the new Theros: Beyond Death card packs will impact the game as a whole.
Veteran Magic the Gathering players are likely all too familiar with Theros, the setting of a 2013 MTG block of updates and packs. With the new Beyond Death update, Wizards of the Coast intends to re-introduce several familiar gameplay mechanics, characters and abilities while expanding the Theros lore and mythology. Specifically, this update centers around planeswalkers, or travelers through various worlds. The digital version of the classic card game (Arena) debuted in 2018.
According to the patch notes, Theros: Beyond Death follows planeswalker Elspeth, a protagonist from the previous Theros sets, as she plots to escape the Underworld. To assist her, the update has introduced a new Keyword Ability called "Escape" which allows players to remove a card in their graveyards from play.
Wizards of the Coast has introduced the Gods of Theros in a card and brought back the Devotion and Constellation mechanics. While Devotion can amplify attack damage based on colored mana symbols, Constellation can control enemy creatures. Outside of new Saga cards (such as "Kiora Bests the Sea God"), The Beyond Death expansion also notes specific details around specific cards, like rival planeswalker Ashiok, creature cards (including Arasta of the Endless Web and Archon of Falling Stars), and ability cards like Acolyte of Affliction.
With the re-introduction of classic elements to the long-running card game, Magic the Gathering: Arena could be appealing to its more diehard fans. By announcing major characters like Elspeth and Ashiok in a familiar setting, Wizards of the Coast smartly caters to both newcomers and veterans alike. While the veterans can enjoy exploring the lore and characters they know and love, newer players could jump into Magic The Gathering to try out the new mechanics and end up learning more about the mythos in the process. By also including characters like Ashiok who featured in more recent packs like War of the Spark, the developer is ensuring that its audience will still have a familiar face in the midst of the old lore.
Ultimately, Wizards of the Coast's latest update should prove exciting for more experienced players and newbies alike. With the advent of Arena, there are more Magic players than ever before, and there has never been a better time to learn more about the game. And with Arena's growing player base, it seems Wizards is continuing to plan for new developments. On the eve of Theros: Beyond Death's release, the developer is already teasing the next pack - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.
Source: Wizards of the Coast