They said the Ikoria set would be all about beasts
When Wizards of the Coast said that the next Magic: The Gathering set, Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, would center around giant monsters, this isn’t what I had in mind.
Announced this morning, Wizards has struck a deal with Toho Ltd to use Godzilla in Magic. That means the King of Monsters is heading to all forms of Magic, including paper, Magic Online and Magic Arena. The set is still due for a spring 2020 premiere (the physical paper release is moved back in some countries due to COVID-19, but it will hit Arena on April 16), and you can find the titular king in the gallery below in card form.
Godzilla is a 5-cost 7/3 legendary creature (dinosaur) that has trample, and the text “lethal damage dealt to creatures you control is determined by their power rather than their toughness.” Wizards also shared a bit of story for the set to go along with the tie-in craziness: “Ikoria introduces players to Lukka, a proud member of the Coppercoats, the military unit that protects the city of Drannith from Ikoria’s savage monsters. Lukka’s world is forever changed when he forms a mystical connection with a ferocious, winged cat. Such bonds are treasonous in Drannith, forcing Lukka to flee from the very home he was sworn to protect. Now an outcast monster ‘bonder,’ Lukka must survive the wilds of Ikoria with the help of planeswaker Vivien Reid.” Always nice to see Vivien back in the fold, especially after Nissa is so dominant in standard right now, cramping her green planeswalker style.
Wizards says there will be several “Godzilla Monster Series cards,” to the tune of 16 in English and three more localized to Japan only. Since I know Magic players need specifics, here is the exact wording from Wizards on how to get these cards: “by purchasing a draft booster pack display through a Wizards Play Network store. Each sealed draft booster pack display will contain a random Godzilla Series Monster card. Ikoria: Lair of Behemoth Collector Boosters will also contain two random Godzilla Series Monster cards. The Godzilla Series Monster cards will not appear in draft booster packs.”
In Arena things are much simpler. They’ll appear as card styles and as a bonus for Ikoria bundles of “six or more boosters.” Way easier!
