5 Must-Know Facts About the Edge of Eternities Prerelease

Edge of Eternities card art | Illustration by Andreas Zafiratos

Edge of Eternities (EOE) looks like a thrilling set, if only because it’s so far from what Magic has explored in the past. There’s always been some science-fiction elements in Magic; look at The Brothers’ War, effectively fought by mechs Urza and Mishra built, or the much more recent Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty that fully embraced technology within the fantasy.

As such, the EOE prerelease looks like an excellent event to hit up. It’s our first chance to play with the new cards and explore the world ourselves, and a great opportunity to catch up with the Magic community. But what is the prerelease, and where can you participate?

What Is the Edge of Eternities Prerelease?

Edge of Eternities card art | Illustration by Sergey Glushakov

Edges of Eternities is Magic’s first space-faring set, bringing the flavor of a space opera to our traditionally high fantasy card game as we explore a setting unlike anything else explored in Magic. The prerelease will be our first chance to crack packs and play with the newest cards.

What Format Is Prerelease?

The format for prerelease is Sealed, a form of Limited Magic. You’ll receive six Play boosters and build a 40-card deck using the cards opened in those packs, plus basic lands provided by your local game store.

What Comes in a Prerelease Kit?

The Prerelease Kits for Edge of Eternities contain the following, per Wizard’s website:

• 6 Edge of Eternities Play Boosters
• 1 Tradition foil year-stamped rare or mythic rare
• 1 Deck box
• 1 Spindown die

Notably, the spindown dice that come in prerelease kits come in multiple colors!

When Is Prerelease Week?

Prerelease week always takes place the week before the set’s official paper release. Edge of Eternities releases August 1, so the prerelease events take place July 25-31, the preceding weekend. Most events will be held between Friday-Sunday (July 25-27).

Where Is the Prerelease?

Prereleases take place at your local game store! The easiest way to locate the nearest prerelease is via Wizard’s Store Locator. All you need to do is follow the link, fill in your ZIP code, address, etc., and you’ll find a list of registered LGSs and their upcoming events!

Who Goes to Prereleases?

Everybody! Prereleases are one of the most casual Magic events around. The point is to bring the community together, crack open some new cards, and celebrate the game. In my experience, prereleases attract much wider crowds than your average FNM or Commander night, and they’re super friendly to players of all skillsets and experiences. If you’re a new player and nervous about going to your first event, a prerelease is ideal!

Is Going to Prerelease Worth It?

Prerelease events typically cost ~$35, and you get six Play boosters plus the bonus rare and the spindown. You also get to play a few hours of Magic! Players typically get 45 minutes to build their deck, with three 45-minute rounds to play their matches. Factoring in the occasional game going to time, and people getting settled, you’re looking at around four hours of Magic fun.

It’s worth it if you enjoy playing Magic, especially Limited. If you don’t enjoy it, or if you prefer a higher-stakes tournament, it probably won’t be worth the cost. You aren’t opening $35 dollars worth of cards on average, so a lot of the value you get from the tournament comes from playing the game and chatting with other Magic players, though there's prize support at these events, too. If Limited or casual events aren’t your thing, you might want to wait for a different event, like the Standard Showdown or a Regional Qualifier.

Edge of Eternities Sealed Simulator

If you want to practice the Sealed format a bit before its debut, you can look forward to the Draftsim Sealed Simulator giving you a hand! The full gallery for Edge of Eternities drops on July 18, and the simulator should be updated within a day of that dropping. It’s a great way to familiarize yourself with new cards and mechanics before playing with the cards in person.

Wrap Up

Edge of Eternities card art | Illustration by Lie Setiawan

Prereleases are one of my favorite Magic events because they always draw a wide crowd and I get to see players I might not see at other events. Sealed is a great format for these as it provides a fairly even playing field for everybody, even the newest players, so don’t be afraid to come if you’re a new player interested in their first paper Magic event!

Are you looking forward to prerelease? What about Edges of Eternities? Let me know in the comments below or on the Draftsim Discord!

Stay safe, and thanks for reading!