Shadows over Innistrad Remastered Spoilers and Set Information

Pedro Furtado (djorso) November 7, 2022 Collecting, MTG Products, Set Overview

Last updated on November 21, 2022

Imprisoned in the Moon | Illustration by Ryan Alexander Lee

One of the most asked questions from MTG Arena players is, “When will more sets be available to play on Explorer?” There’s a bunch of MTG blocks that haven’t been released on the digital platform like Theros, Khans of Tarkir, and Shadows over Innistrad.

SOI was a great block with the Shadows over Innistrad and Eldritch Moon sets, and it had a lot of great cards and mechanics. Now it’s going to be remastered and released on MTG Arena. Based on what’s already been done with Amonkhet Remastered and Kaladesh Remastered we can take a few guesses at what’s going to be done with this remaster.

Shadows over Innistrad Remastered has been announced for mid-2023, and that’s all we know for now. Let’s have a look at that block to see what to expect for its Arena remaster!

Shadows over Innistrad Remastered Basic Information

Angel (Shadows over Innistrad) | Illustration by Magali Villeneuve

Set Details

Set Symbol	TBA
Set Code	SOR
Hashtag	TBA
Number of Cards	TBA
Rarities	TBA
Mechanics	TBA

Important Dates

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About the Set: The Story

Nevermore (Innistrad) | Illustration by Jason A. Engle

Shadows over Innistrad and Eldritch Moon follow the story of the Gatewatch post-Battle for Zendikar block, the formation of the Oath of the Gatewatch, and the battle against Kozilek and Ulamog. Weird things are happening in Innistrad and the Gatewatch must resort to seeking aid from Sorin Markov and Liliana Vess.

Nahiri has a vendetta against Sorin and makes her move to bring Emrakul, the Promised End to destroy the plane of Innistrad. Liliana joins the Gatewatch and they fight a horde of Eldrazi-like horrors and monsters thanks to Emrakul’s influence on the plane.

Sorin fights Nahiri. Emrakul is then Imprisoned on the Moon and the day is saved.

Set Mechanics

Transforming Double-Faced Cards

As an Innistrad-related block there’s bound to be transforming double-faced cards. After all Innistrad was the set that introduced the mechanic. TDFCs have two sides: one is normal and the other is “transformed.” Transform has a trigger to allow you to change between the two sides of a card.

In some cases you only transform once after reaching a threshold or paying some mana, like with Kessig Prowler or Archangel Avacyn. Other cards, like most of the werewolves, transform based on the number of spells cast in a turn (zero spells transform a werewolf into human and two spells transform a human into werewolf). In this case the transformation happens between turns.

Delirium

Delirium is a graveyard mechanic that cares about having four or more types of cards in your graveyard. Important cards with this mechanic are Grim Flayer and Ishkanah, Grafwidow.

Emerge

Emerge is a mechanic that lets you sacrifice another creature when you cast a spell with it. If you do that you pay less mana to cast the spell equal to the sacrificed creature’s mana value. Good cards with emerge include Distended Mindbender and Elder Deep-Fiend.

Although those cards cost 7+ mana, they can be cast for cheaper than that by sacrificing a 3- or 4-drop.

Escalate

Escalate is a mechanic on modal sorceries and instants that allows you to pay more than the mana cost to have more options. It’s similar to mechanics like entwine where you can choose one mode or both.

Escalate spells usually have three modes and you can choose one, two, or three depending on the mana spent. Powerful cards with escalate are Collective Brutality and Collective Defiance.

Investigate

Investigate is a mechanic found on all sorts of cards. Whenever you investigate you create a Clue token. A Clue is an artifact that you can pay two to sacrifice and draw a card, also known as to “crack a Clue.” In other words, you can pay two mana later and draw a card when you investigate.

Tireless Tracker is a staple in various formats and lets you investigate whenever a land comes into play under your control. Tamiyo’s Journal and Confirm Suspicions are other fine examples of investigate cards.

Madness

Madness was brought back to this block for two reasons: flavor (the world’s going crazy thanks to Emrakul’s presence) and mechanical (the set has a heavy graveyard and discard component). While discarding a madness card you can cast it for its madness cost, which can reduce the cost of the spell and allow it to be cast with flash or at instant speed. Fiery Temper is a good madness spell, as is Murderous Compulsion.

Skulk

A creature with skulk can’t be blocked by creatures of greater power. As a “more Limited than Constructed mechanic” and without a lot of powerful cards, I don’t think there will be that many skulk cards in this remaster. Startled Awake and Wharf Infiltrator are examples of this mechanic.

Speculation

There are two main reasons for this set’s remaster. The first is to release Shadows over Innistrad and Eldritch Moon cards on MTG Arena and evolve the Explorer format further into Pioneer. Lots of staples from those sets are played in Pioneer and other formats, so those cards will almost surely be reprinted. The second is to add a Shadows over Innistrad block Draft experience, which will be close to the block’s Draft experience.

Several cards from outside the block also got reprints with the release of Amonkhet Remastered and Kaladesh Remastered. One speculation I see all over the web is that Snapcaster Mage could be printed in this set and that it’s going to be legal in Historic only because it’s not legal in Pioneer. It makes sense because it’s a cool card from Innistrad. Other iconic cards that could be in this set include Invisible Stalker, Geist of Saint Traft, and Heartless Summoning.

We can also speculate about the Limited archetypes from the set that could be available to be drafted:

Azorius () spirits
Dimir () zombies
Rakdos () vampires
Gruul () werewolves
Selesnya () humans
Golgari () delirium
Simic () investigate/Clues
Boros () go-wide aggro
Orzhov () sacrifice/aristocrats
Izzet () spells

Official Spoilers

There aren’t any official spoilers yet. Stay tuned!

Notable Cards

The lists below are all cards that are staples from Constructed formats and could be played in the Explorer, Historic, and Pioneer formats from each set. These cards are very likely to make the cut in the remaster based on Constructed needs. There are other relevant cards from these sets that are already available on MTG Arena thanks to other releases like Jumpstart: Historic Horizons.

Shadows over Innistrad

Eldritch Moon

Available Products

I’m sure that the boosters from Shadows over Innistrad Remastered will be available on MTG Arena since it’s an exclusive for the platform and it won’t be released in physical boosters or be available on MTGO. You’ll be able to get them in the MTG Arena Store or Draft them.

Wrap Up

Apothecary Geist (Shadows over Innistrad) | Illustration by Franz Vohwinkel

I’m very excited for this release! It contains iconic cards for a lot of formats like Brawl (Gisa and Geralf Historic Brawl decks?), and cards for Constructed formats like Historic and Explorer which will enable new builds and strengthen already existing archetypes.

What do you think about this set? Do you agree with my speculations? Let me know in the comments below or in the Draftsim Discord. And if you’re an MTG Arena player like me you should definitely have Arena Tutor by your side.

Thanks for reading, stay safe folks. Until the next time!

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Pedro Furtado (djorso)

Pedro started playing Magic way back when in Fourth Edition. After a long hiatus, he now plays mostly MTG Arena Standard and Limited. His biggest MTG regret is trading a bunch of Force of Wills for Serra Angels.