Everything We Learned From Magic: The Gathering's Dominaria United Debut
While Wizards Presents has put the Magic: The Gathering community into a 2023-reveal-induced haze, there are still two more Standard-legal sets launching this year. Dominaria United, the start of the Phyrexian invasion arc that carries through to next year’s March of the Machine, has kicked off its preview season with a debut of its mechanics and planeswalkers, and there’s a lot to take in.
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From a new way to play with Sagas to the Phyrexian compleation of one of its most-beloved characters, Dominaria United is shaping up to be a revitalisation of Magic we’ve been sorely in need of. Here’s everything revealed about the set in its debut stream.
Our last trip to Dominaria in 2018 introduced Sagas, a new enchantment type that took the game by storm. Each turn, you proceed to the next chapter of the Saga and trigger its effects, usually ending in a big, boisterous effect to reward you for keeping it in play for so long. It was so popular we later saw it return in Theros: Beyond Death, Kaldheim, Modern Horizons 2, and Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.
Dominaria United’s Sagas have a slightly different take, thanks to the new read ahead mechanic. Sagas with read ahead don’t need to start at the first chapter – you’re free to place as many lore counters on them as you like and go straight to the effect you want. However, the catch is doing so will prevent any of the previous effects from triggering.
For example, The Phasing of Zhalfir allows you to either phase up to two permanents out, or just read ahead and get straight to the final, board-wiping step if you need to deal with the board there and then.
One of Magic’s most infamous mechanics is banding. Long
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