Magic: The Gathering fans were treated to a Web of Wonders at San Diego Comic-Con when Aaron Forsythe, Vice President of Design at Wizards of the Coast, confirmed what many suspected: the Spider-Man Magic: The Gathering is just the beginning.
“I can definitely tell you it’s more than one,” Forsythe revealed when asked how many Marvel sets are coming. “With the Spider-Man set, it’s more of an entry way into the universe, and we are super excited to announce the coming set when the time comes.”
This news crushed long-standing assumptions that Marvel’s Universes Beyond appearance would be a singular celebration. Instead, it opens the door to an expansive series of sets, each with its own mechanical identity.
Spider-Man Magic: The Gathering Web-Slinging and Mayhem Mechanics Promise Heroic Plays
Forsythe also offered insight into two brand-new mechanics coming with the Spider-Man Magic: The Gathering set.
“With Spider-Man we are introducing two new mechanics. First is web-slinging, where you return a tapped creature to your hand to play the hero. Kinda like they are swooping in and saving the day, and you get all the advantages of ETBs and get great value,” Forsythe explained. “Then with the villains you are getting Mayhem, which for seasoned Magic fans is Madness but fixed. It is a lot simpler and cleaner in terms of game rules.”
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This gives players flashy new tools for tactical combos and flavor-forward gameplay that leans into both the superpowered spectacle and emotional punch of the Spider-Verse.
Symbiotes Get Love but No Kindred Yet
Naturally, Commander players were eager to know if the set would enable a fully realized Symbiote Kindred deck. Forsythe’s answer was realistic, but hopeful.
“Oh while that would be really fun, I don’t know if we are getting enough in one set to make a Kindred deck,” he said. “We know Venom is a beloved character for Marvel fans, and there is a version of Venom in the set that I am excited to see what players build around him. I will leave it at that. But maybe in the future we can do enough to make that Kindred deck happen.”
The implication? This is just wave one for Spider-Man characters, with symbiotes possibly taking center stage in future expansions.
Spider-Man Magic: The Gathering Bring Infinity Stones to the Table… or to Your Deck?
On the most collectible front, Forsythe stayed mostly tight-lipped when asked if 1/1 representations of the Infinity Stones would be coming.
“It was something that we have discussed with Marvel and we love the collectibility of those iconic cards,” he said. “But we can’t give too much away, we are just gonna have to see what the future sets hold.”
That said, since this interview, Spider-Man Day confirmed that the Soul Stone will appear in the first set, lending even more credibility to Forsythe’s tease. Fans now have every reason to believe that the Infinity Stones could become some of the most coveted chase cards in Magic history.
Spider-Man Magic: The Gathering Takes Lessons from the Past, and Sets Mechanics from the Future
Forsythe also shared a design anecdote that gives a window into his long-term design process. When asked about mechanics that never saw the light of day, he said:
“For my entire career? I wouldn’t say there were many that didn’t happen, there were some that needed to be fixed. For example, I originally pitched the idea of Treasures as a card you would hide behind your lands and your creatures would have to go digging for them. It ended up being very clunky and slowed the gameplay down too much. We eventually fixed that mechanic and you probably know it as Hideaway.”
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This peek behind the curtain underscores the iterative brilliance of Magic’s design legacy. It is a game that constantly evolves while honoring its roots.
Teasing the Animated Series and Planeswalker Favorites
When asked about his favorite Lorwyn Five Planeswalker, Forsythe gave it to Liliana. His least favorite? Surprisingly, Ajani.
“Hmmm favorite of the Lorwyn Five would have to be Liliana, and for the least… The easy answer is Jace, but probably Ajani. He just intrigues me the least of the five.”
As for whether these iconic characters will appear in the upcoming animated Netflix series?
“It has been a pleasure working with Netflix and we have really enjoyed what they have storyboarded for us,” Forsythe said. “But unfortunately my hands are tied and I can’t share much, but we are all really excited to see the finished product.”
This silence speaks volumes. With so many nods to legacy characters and new Marvel integrations, the multiverse of Magic is only getting bigger.
Which Marvel character do you want to see slinging spells next? Would you build around Symbiotes or chase every Infinity Stone? And what mechanic from your childhood do you wish would return with a new twist? @us know your dream decklists, predictions, and wishlist.
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