MTG Innistrad: Crimson Vow card previews include a powerful new ring

The Gathering: Magic and the Gathering A spooky double-feature ends on Thursday, with the second set of cards taken from Innistrad’s plane. The Gathering Arena – Magic Innistrad: Crimson Vow This is the sequel Midnight Hunt in InnistradAvailable at retail starting in November, the e-book is called ‘The Architect of Product Design. Here’s your first look at what’s in store, with commentary by product architect Mike Turian and world building and narrative design manager Meris Mullaley.

Mullaley states that Crimson VowFans should have a lot fun. Magic’s deep lore. When Midnight Hunt Wizards was published in October. It featured five longform stories by K. Arsenault Rivera. They’re still available online if you’d like to get up to speed with the narrative, or just need a dose of meaty pulp fiction in your life. The annual Harvestide ritual was a major event in the realm’s history. It was intended to bring back the equilibrium of night and day. A deadly attack by werewolves interrupted the ritual. As a result, the land has been thrown into endless night — the perfect setting for hungry vampires to come out and play.

The centerpiece of this particular set, Mullaley says, is Olivia Voldaren’s wedding. The vampire is eager to consolidate her power in Innistrad, uniting two of the plane’s most powerful families. Her groom? None other than Innistrad’s first and most powerful vampire, Edgar Markov. That means it’s up to the Gatewatch (or at least what’s left of it, following the death of Gideon Jura) to crash the party and free the human population.

Image: Wizards of the Coast

Image: Wizards of the Coast

Turian states that the players can expect to find more than 30 of these vampire cards in their main set. Blood tokens will accompany them, which can be produced by specific actions and used to enhance the vampire’s power.

Disturb is the name of the returning mechanic in this set. It’s function has been tweaked from past incarnations, Turian says. It allows you to transform a creature or enchantment into a creature on Dorothea the Vengeful Victim. You can expect other clever ways to leverage this type of double-sided card throughout the set.

Image: Wizards of the Coast

Training is a new mechanism for this set. This allows creatures to become more powerful and fight alongside more powerful creatures.

Image by Wizards of the Coast

Image: Wizards of the Coast

The Savior of Ollenbock is a soldier-like creature that wields twin chakrams. It was one of the first examples shared with media. Once they’ve been all charged up, hopefully their death will help splash some additional chaos on the battlefield by bringing a few exiled creatures back into play.

Finally, cleave ups the cost of a card in order to “literally cleave the words out” Turian says, making those spells more powerful. Dig Up and other cards that contain this mechanic could be a valuable asset.

Image Credit: Wizards of the Coast

Image: Wizards of the Coast

For Commander fans, be sure to check out the Vampiric Bloodline red/black preconstructed deck. It features Strefan the Maurer Progenitor. You’ll find lots of the hungry undead inside. Millicent the Restless Revenant is leading the Spirit Squadron’s preconstructed deck. This brings many ghosts and spirits to this party.

Image: Wizards of the Coast

Commander-focused cards will also be available in Sets and Collector Boosters. Turian mentions that the Wedding Ring is a special card. It’s an artifact that creates a duplicate of itself on your opponent, allowing you to draw cards and gain life whenever they would.

It’s one of those great MagicCards that feel like a troll, when they are used but which are actually thematically relevant and mechanically fascinating.

Innistrad: Crimson Vow Digital formats will be available on November 11th, while physical cards can be purchased at retailers on November 19. You can purchase the full range of products, including digital formats such as Draft, Set, Collector and Theme Boosters, as well a Bundle or Gift Bundle. Cards can also be preordered at your local gaming shop or online.