Last updated on April 19, 2024
Midnight Clock | Illustration by Alexander Forssberg
Curious about what's coming to MTG for the rest of the year? Or how many Magic sets on average you can expect going forward?
Then let's dive into what Wizards of the Coast has announced for 2024 and do a bit of speculation.
Spoiler: It’s a whole lot!
Upcoming Releases (2024)
Release to Memory | Illustration by Alayna Danner
Here you have a comprehensive list of every upcoming MTG product that has been officially announced to date. Wizards provided this graphic for 2024's release order and there is so much to cover.
What’s the Next Release for MTG?
The next release for MTG will be Modern Horizons III.
Modern Horizons III
Coming on June 14, 2024, is Modern Horizons III. This is a set that promises cards that transform into planeswalkers. It shows off Collector's Edition Commander decks, promises complexity, draftability on Arena, and of course, reprints for Modern.
- COLLECT ALL 4 COLLECTOR’S EDITION DECKS—Get a bundle of 4 Modern Horizons 3 Collector’s Edition Commander Decks (Graveyard Overdrive, Tricky Terrain, Creative Energy, and Eldrazi Incursion)
- EXCLUSIVE COLLECTOR’S EDITION FOIL TREATMENT—All 100 cards in each Collector’s Edition deck feature a special foil treatment introduced for the very first time—Ripple Foil cards that gleam in a pattern like ripples in a pool of water
- BORDERLESS PROFILE COMMANDERS—Meet the new stars of your collection with an up-close, profile view of your commanders. Each deck includes 2 Legendary Creature cards featuring a striking Borderless Profile alt-art treatment and dressed to impress in Ripple Foil
- INTRODUCING 60 COMMANDER CARDS—These decks introduce a total of 60 never-before-seen cards to Magic: The Gathering, with 15 introduced in each deck
- POWERFUL RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX—Win with style with powerful all-foil decks that are ready to defeat your opponents right out of the box
Universes Beyond: Assassin's Creed
Put Assassin's Creed on the calendar for July 5, 2024, for modern and historical adventures as the first set to include Beyond boosters.
- EXPLORE WITH 7-CARD BEYOND BOOSTERS—Open 7-card packs full of classic characters, items, and moments from your favorite Assassin’s Creed games with a box of 24 Beyond Boosters
- LEAP INTO HISTORY—Assassin’s Creed emerges from the shadows to join Magic: The Gathering! Freerun through ancient locales with your favorite Assassins, equip deadly weapons, and ensure your targets are history
- TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH—Bring the beloved video game series to your tabletop with new art and thematic game mechanics sure to delight Assassin’s Creed and Magic fans alike
- TRACK DOWN ELUSIVE RELICS—In each pack you’ll find 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, at least 1 shining Traditional Foil card, and at least 1 card with full, Borderless art—no scouring the streets required for these collectibles
- FOIL & BORDERLESS CARD IN EVERY PACK—Every Beyond Booster includes at least 1 shining Traditional Foil card and 1 Borderless Card featuring gorgeous alt-art that extends all the way to the edges of the card
Bloomburrow
The anthropomorphic animals (animals that behave like humans) could be best described as having charm, but it remains to be seen if Magic's charms will be represented by any cards in Bloomburrow.
- TINY TAILS, BIG ADVENTURE—Put your best paw forward and enter the world of Bloomburrow; fight beside mice, frogs, bats, birds, lizards, squirrels, and other critters as you restore the balance of peace in the Valley and prove that bravery comes in all sizes!
- FUN TO OPEN. FUN TO PLAY—Get the best of Draft and Set Boosters, combined into one! Play Boosters are great for Limited play and fun to open, with a possibility of Art cards, Showcase cards, additional Rares, and a foil card in every pack
- BEST BOOSTER FOR PLAYING WITH FRIENDS—Specially balanced for Limited play, grab 6 Play Boosters to build a deck and battle your friends in Sealed games, or grab 3 packs and pass them around to build decks in a Booster Draft
- MAY CONTAIN MULTIPLE RARES—Each Play Booster contains 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of a Borderless Mythic Rare card from Magic’s history
- SHINING FOIL IN EVERY PACK—Every booster also includes at least 1 shining Traditional Foil card of any rarity; in 20% of packs you’ll also find a Traditional Foil Land card
Duskmourn: House of Horrors
This horror-filled set is closer to that of the 70s and 80s with top-down flavor. Duskmourn: House of Horrors will be creepy right around Halloween 2024.
Pioneer Masters
Wizards tells us that by the end of 2024, Pioneer Masters, a draftable set, will fill the gaps between Pioneer and what is available on Arena.
Previously Released
From the latest to the earliest, these are all the Magic: The Gathering sets released in 2024.
Outlaws of Thunder Junction
Outlaws of Thunder Junction is themed around the wild, wild west, with the main characters being iconic villains and anti-heroes from Magic's recent history.
It is plump with plots, introduced mounts, and cares about assassins, mercenaries, pirates, rogues, and warlocks. Organizers and players fired off Thunder Junction events on April 19, 2024.
- SADDLE UP FOR A WILD RIDE—Join Oko’s crew of deadly desperados as they plot a brazen heist in the frontier world of Thunder Junction, Magic’s first western-themed setting
- FUN TO OPEN. FUN TO PLAY—Get the best of Draft and Set Boosters, combined into one! Play Boosters are great for Limited play and fun to open, with a possibility of Art cards, Showcase cards, additional Rares, and a foil card in every pack
- THE BEST OF THE WEST—Each Play Booster contains 1–5 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of a Borderless Mythic Rare card from Magic’s history
- BREAKING NEWS CARD IN EVERY PACK—Every Play Booster contains at least 1 Breaking News card, a reprint featuring new art and a front page news-style frame reporting the spell as a crime; do you dare become that spell-casting outlaw?
- SHINING FOIL IN EVERY PACK—Every booster also includes at least 1 shining Traditional Foil card of any rarity; in 20% of packs you’ll also find a Traditional Foil Land card (which may even feature a Full-Art Western Landscape)
Fallout
The crossover between Fallout and Magic is represented by four commander decks as the different surviving factions, plus collector boosters. We were treated to junk which functions like an impulsive drawn clue token. Rad counters represent radiation eating away your mind/library of spells, and the ever-divisive energy returned from a long hiatus. On March 8, 2024, the spoiled cards were released.
- THE VAULTS ARE OPEN—Journey through the wastes with four 100-card decks, each introducing never-before-seen Magic cards featuring fan-favorite characters, thematic game mechanics, and art that explores the post-nuclear world of the Fallout series
- GET ALL 4 FALLOUT COMMANDER DECKS—This bundle includes all 4 Magic: The Gathering Fallout Commander Decks, with 1 Hail Caesar deck, 1 Scrappy Survivors deck, 1 Science! deck, and 1 Mutant Menace deck
- BATTLE YOUR FELLOW WASTELANDERS—Battle your friends in epic 3–5 player MTG games full of strategic plays and social intrigue; ready-to-play right out of the box, these preconstructed decks let you jump straight into the action
- COLLECT SPECIAL FALLOUT CARD TREATMENTS—Each deck comes with a Collector Booster Sample pack containing 2 special alt-frame cards, including 1 Rare or Mythic Rare card
- EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAY AND MORE—Each deck also comes with 10 double-sided tokens, 1 life tracker, 1 strategy guide, and 1 deck box (can hold 100 sleeved cards)
Murders at Karlov Manor
Murders at Karlov Manor is a murder mystery set on the plane of Ravnica. It was released on February 9, 2024, and focuses less on the guilds and more on detective mechanics surrounding solving puzzles and uncovering mysteries. Murders at Karlov Manor is the first set packaged into play boosters. If you're looking to dive into the investigations and suspect what is around every corner, turn up the cards of Murders at Karlov Manor!
- INTRODUCING PLAY BOOSTERS—Get the best of Draft and Set Boosters, combined into one! Play Boosters are great for Limited play and fun to open, with a possibility of multiple Rares and at least 1 shining foil card in every pack
- TRACK THE CLUES. CRACK THE CASE—Play detective as you collect evidence, don disguises, and identify suspects to decipher the deadly murder mystery at the heart of Ravnica
- PACKS MAY CONTAIN MULTIPLE RARES—Each MKM Play Booster contains 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of a special Borderless Mythic Rare card from Magic’s history
- SHINING FOIL CARD IN EVERY PACK—Every Play Booster contains 1 shining Traditional Foil card of any rarity; in 20% of packs you’ll also find a Traditional Foil Land card (which may even be Full-Art!)
- MAY CONTAIN ART CARDS, A PLAY BOOSTER EXCLUSIVE—Now found only in Play Boosters, some packs also contain an Art Card showcasing a piece of art from the Murders at Karlov Manor set, sometimes with a foil signature from the artist
Ravnica Remastered
Ravnica Remastered is a set about a fan-favorite plane released on January 12, 2024. It is the first release of the new year and is a great way to revisit some of Magic's most (in)famous cards and popular draft formats.
We get some classic cards like Krenko, Mob Boss, Niv-Mizzet, Parun, Massacre Girl, and the full shock land cycle. The reprints come from nine different sets, and feature lots of different art, including anime and retro frames. Ravnica Remastered is available in collector boosters and draft boosters.
Make sure to check out the Ravnica Remastered set article for all the details!
- BECOME A CARD-CARRYING GUILD MEMBER—There’s no place like Ravnica; walk through familiar streets with a bustling crowd of reprinted favorites from Ravnica’s past and the ten unique guilds that keep the city running
- RETRO CARD IN EVERY PACK—Take a turn down memory lane with the inclusion of a special Retro card in every booster!
- RARE OR MYTHIC RARE IN EVERY PACK—Every pack contains at least 1 card of rarity Rare or higher and may contain up to 3, including 1 possible Rare or Mythic Rare with a shining Traditional Foil treatment
- BEST BOOSTERS FOR DRAFTING—Draft Boosters are designed to draft a deck and play with friends; everyone grabs 3 packs and passes them around to pick cards. Add some lands and you're ready for epic 2-player battles
- PLAY A GAME THAT FUSES ART, STORIES & STRATEGY—Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game that weaves deep strategy with art and mechanics that explore the themes of a particular world and story—whether you want to play a casual game with friends, collect cool cards, or get competitive, Magic welcomes you to The Gathering
How Many Magic Product Releases Are There Per Year?
There are about 10 Magic product releases per year. When looking at Wizards' Set Archive, since 2020 there's been:
- Four Standard sets per year, with the caveat that 2023 had five counting the MAT “micro-set”. Each set contains from two to five Commander preconstructed decks.
- Four or five supplemental sets per year.
- A couple of Commander-specific sets per year, the exception being 2021, which included Commander products for Strixhaven, but had no Commander-specific standalone set.
All in all, it looks like a fairly consistent yearly output, with an increasing focus on Commander. It's also worth noting that some of the most iconic “Universes Beyond” IPs go straight to Commander (Warhammer 40K, Doctor Who) or are special sets with a lot of Commander support (like Lord of the Rings).
If you include Secret Lair products… Well, as Jeff mentions in the Ultimate List of All Magic Sets in Order, “I’m only counting ‘sets' as those that came with booster packs. This prevents a headache because listing every single Commander pre-con and Secret Lair would be painful for everyone involved.”
How Often Does MTG Release New Sets?
Wizards averages roughly one new set per month! As you saw in the previous section, in the last four years Wizards kept a steady pace of about:
- Four Standard sets per year.
- About four or five supplemental sets per year.
- About two Commander-focused sets per year (on top of Commander products included in Standard or supplemental sets).
How Many MTGA Releases Are There?
Magic Arena's releases mirror MTG tabletop's Standard cadence – whenever there's a new Standard set, it's also available for Arena (usually a couple of days earlier). A small Alchemy set is often released about a month after its Standard release, usually containing about 30 Arena-only cards that are fresh digital-only takes and address balance needs.
Some supplemental sets, like The Lord of the Rings, also make their way to MTGA.
On the other hand, Arena does not support the Commander format, so Commander-only sets like Warhammer 40K and the Commander decks included in Standard sets are not released on Arena.
“Remastered” sets have not followed a regular cadence, so it's hard to say. For example, in 2024, Ravnica Remastered was available for tabletop and MTGO, but not Arena, while Shadows over Innistrad Remastered was an Arena-only release.
How Many MTG Online Releases Are There?
MTGO very closely follows tabletop's release schedule, including (unlike Magic Arena) many of the Commander-related products. Not all of them though, due to technical hurdles.
Are Release Dates the Same Worldwide?
Yes, set releases are global and simultaneous. Pre-release events are restricted to local availability, though.
Does MTG Arena Release at the Same Time as Paper?
MTG sets are usually available on Arena a few days earlier than on paper.
Notice that not all tabletop sets are released on Arena, though. Commander-only sets (like Warhammer 40K), or most of the Commander-only cards from sets like March of the Machines: Commander or Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Commanders, are not released on Arena.
How Does the Release Schedule Affect Standard Rotation?
As of 2023, Standard rotation happens every three years instead of two. As far as you've been told by Wizards in their “Revitalizing Standard” article, the recent changes to Standard rotation don't seem to have affected their release schedule.
To accommodate this pace, Standard rotation was skipped during 2023 and will return in the fall of 2024. This change, which Wizards specifically mentioned was aimed at revitalizing tabletop Standard, doesn't seem to change how often or when they release products.
How Many Total Magic Products Have Been Released?
Well, it's complicated.
If you define “product” as “Stuff that you can click on and buy from Wizards' Product Page,” then a quick, rough, off-the-cuff, back-of-envelope, not-including-bundles tally would determine that tabletop products, per set, include:
- Play Boosters,
- Set Boosters,
- Draft Boosters,
- Collector Boosters,
- Jumpstart Boosters,
- Between two and four Commander Decks.
Not all sets have all the above products, so again off-the-cuff let's say about half a dozen products per set on average.
As you've seen, MTG releases roughly a set per month, so things quickly add up to about fifty or sixty products per year.
That's not counting Secret Lair drops (a massive headache, as Jeff noted), ancillary products like playmats and tokens, tickets to MagicCon, digital cosmetics like companions, or Avatars in Magic Arena!
In short: Wizards is a for-profit company, Magic is their billion-dollar baby worth checking every quarter, and MTG spans more than three decades and multiple platforms and tons of different formats. And, above all, Magic players are a wonderfully varied bunch that range from Spikes to Vorthos and from extremely casual to hardcore competitive. Wizards has therefore a very reasonable incentive to create a wide array of products that cater to all its different players.
At the end of the day, Magic products are as varied and complex as the game itself, and as numerous as its countless fans.
Wrap Up
Release the Gremlins | Illustration by Izzy
And there you go!
You'll have nearly one Magic set per month this year, and judging by the number of sets released since 2020, it looks likely that Wizards will keep launching roughly a set per month during 2024.
This monthly cadence may not be the easiest on your wallet (nor our sanity, for those of us who are fond of keeping track of everything), but it seems certain that you won't run out of Magic anytime soon. The Draftsim blog stays well-stocked with the information you want. Let me know if there are any sets you’re excited about this year in the comments, and thanks for making Draftsim your #1 place for Magic!
Note: this post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, you’ll help Draftsim continue to provide awesome free articles and apps.
Follow Draftsim for awesome articles and set updates:
1 Comment
I don’t like the idea of a frozen standard for nearly 1 more year.
Add Comment