Spirit Sorcerer | Background Illustration by RIFU
The Magic products don’t stop rolling out and Wizards is keeping us informed well ahead of schedule. With official confirmation that each set in 2027 will have at least four precons, it’s time to speculate where those bucks deserve to go.
Marvel: Darkhold Destiny promises to bring us something a touch more magical than most Marvel releases, and the Strange Academy precon features one of the biggest magical heroes in the game. Here’s everything we know about the next Marvel precon!
Stay up to date on the latest spoilers on Draftsim’s Spoiler page, and check out our comprehensive catalog of Commander precons, which will be updated as we learn more about this deck!
What Is Marvel: Darkhold Destiny Commander?
Marvel: Darkhold Destiny Commander, set code MDC, includes all the cards printed in the Marvel: Darkhold Destiny precons. The code could also encompass MDD cards that aren’t printed in the precons but also aren’t appropriate for the main set, like Scene Box cards.
- SUMMON THE MIGHTY, THE MYSTIC, AND THE MONSTROUS—Bring the might of the Marvel Universe to the battlefield as you combat your friends with a ready-to-play deck featuring your favorite Marvel characters
- WIELD THE POWER OF THOR—Bring the hammer down with Thor leading your Asgardian armies and build up forces of power 4 or more; hold the greatest power at the table to become truly godlike
- 30 NEW COMMANDER CARDS—Each ready-to-play deck includes 30 Commander cards entirely new to Magic: The Gathering
- 2 FOIL COMMANDERS—Command your deck in style with 2 Legendary Creature cards featuring a shiny Traditional Foil treatment, including 1 with special Borderless art
- EPIC MULTIPLAYER BATTLES—Magic’s most popular multiplayer play format, Commander is an action-packed, free-for-all battle full of strategic plays and social intrigue (best with 3–5 players)
When Does Strange Academy Release?
Strange Academy will release alongside the main set on April 9, 2027. No cards from it will be legal prior to that date; once released, it will be legal in Eternal formats like Commander, Legacy, and Vintage.
How Much Will Strange Academy Cost?
Each Marvel: Darkhold Destiny Commander deck will be available in two versions: The base version and the Collector’s Edition version, which will have the same cards but all 100 will be in surge foil.
The MSRP of the base precon is $75, which is the big price jump from about $50 you’d expect from a Universes Beyond product. But the preorder market price on TCGplayer is currently $90.50.
The MSRP of the surge foil precon is $160, and the market price on TCGplayer a whopping $230.
It’s important to consider that precon prices can fluctuate wildly and that the current prices are complete gambles: No cards have been revealed from the precons.
Who Is the Darkhold Destiny Commander Deck For?
First and foremost, Strange Academy is for Magic players with an interest in Marvel or an affinity for the character Doctor Strange. It’s also great for players who care about the themes of the precon: Spellslinger and blink will get some amount of support here, based on the themes of the deck.
Strange Academy Commander and Theme
While none of the cards have been revealed, the key art for the deck promises Doctor Strange in the command zone with an Esper () color identity. I’m expecting something akin to Abuelo, Ancestral Echo that enables the flicker shenanigans and, because this is 2027, draws cards when you activate it or something. As for a backup commanders, I’d speculate on Wong or the Ancient One, but my knowledge of Strange is pretty limited to the MCU, so there might be better options.
The themes are blink and spellcasters, the latter of which makes me assume there will be a sorcerer subtheme. But I really expect blink to be the core of the deck because that’s what gets the most support.
I’d expect blink decks to be the ones that take the most from this precon. Unless Wizards pursues a wildly aggressive multicolor theme, there should be at least decent blinks spells for commanders like Brago, King Eternal, Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines, and Aminatou, the Fateshifter, to name but a few of the many commanders that would benefit from such a release.
Speculation
The dream reprint here would be Displacer Kitten, a very valuable staple that even ties together spellcasting and flicker effects, though I fear it might be too flavorfully tied to D&D. Other staples that might see reprints include Soulherder, Ghostly Flicker, and Deadeye Navigator—all of which feel like they have the flavor to match.
For Esper flicker, I’d expect to see it be more controlling, with an emphasis on enters abilities that generate card advantage either by drawing cards or interacting with other creatures. I’d love an Archaeomancer riff with a multiplayer mechanic like encore or myriad, perhaps a functional copy of a card like Riptide Gearhulk or Luminate Primordial.
Commanding Conclusion
Illustration by RIFU
I’m looking forward to Strange Academy the most, if only because its theoretically broad themes feels like the deck likely to drop the most staples. Blink cards are generically good enough that this could offer some exciting cards for many decks within its color, not just the blink archetype.
What do you think of the initial information? Are you looking forward to a more fantastical Marvel set rather than one set in New York? Let me know in the comments below or on the Draftsim Discord! And check out The Daily Upkeep newsletter to stay up to date on all the latest MTG news.
Stay safe, and thanks for reading!
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