The next Magic: The Gathering Universes Beyond set is coming soon, and it will explore the battle between Assassins and Templars of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed. Iconic characters from across the franchise will enter the world of Magic, from heroes like Altair and Ezio to villains like Haytham Kenway.
We have an exclusive look at three cards that will make their Magic debut in the Assassin’s Creed set. Two of them are creature cards–one fits nicely into artifact decks, the other can disable an opponent’s biggest creature for a turn–while the third is a legendary artifact, both in Magic and in Assassin’s Creed.
First, here’s Loyal Inventor:
- Loyal Inventor (Creature – Human Artificer)
- Costs 2 generic and 1 blue mana to cast
- 2 power/3 toughness
- Vigilance
- Ability: When Loyal Inventor enters the battlefield, you may search your library for an artifact card, reveal it, then shuffle. Put that card into your hand if you control an Assassin. Otherwise, put that card on top of your library.
Any cards that let you search your library for a card are powerful tools, and Loyal Inventor gives you a sizable creature along with the search. Any blue artifact deck should consider adding Loyal Inventor, as he has the potential to turn a game in your favor simply by entering the battlefield.
Next, we have Tax Collector:
- Tax Collector (Creature – Human Advisor)
- Costs 1 generic and 1 white mana to cast
- 2 power/2 toughness
- When Tax Collector enters the battlefield, choose one:
- Tax – Until your next turn, spells your opponents cast one generic mana more to cast.
- Detain – Detain target creature an opponent controls. (Until your next turn, that creature can’t attack or block and its activated abilities can’t be activated.)
Tax Collector has flexibility other 2/2 creatures for two mana lack, as it can make a difference at any point in the game. Drop it early to delay your opponent’s gameplan for a turn, or drop it late to lock down an imposing creature and give yourself some room to breathe; it’s a win-win.
Finally, here’s our last reveal, Apple Of Eden, Isu Relic:
- Apple Of Eden, Isu Relic (Legendary Artifact)
- Costs 4 generic mana to cast
- Tap, pay 4 life, sacrifice Apple of Eden: Look at target opponent’s hand and exile those cards face down. You may play those cards this turn, and mana of any type can be spent to cast them. Until end of turn, whenever you play a land or cast a spell this way, its owner draws a card. At the beginning of the next end step, return the exiled cards to their owner’s hand. Activate only as a sorcery.
Sometimes you wonder what your opponents are hiding in their hands. The Apple of Eden here lets you not only find out, but turn a big play against them from right under their noses. It will need to be paired with Treasures or other permanents that can make mana of any color, but in the right deck, the Apple can win you the game at a moment’s notice.
The Magic: The Gathering Universes Beyond Assassin’s Creed set launches July 5.
