Chris InglisThe latest card set for trading card game Magic: The Gathering released last week and marks the final set release for 2022. The Brothers’ War is the second installment to the four-part Phyrexian storyline, following on from Dominaria United that released in September. The backstory behind this set depicts the events of one of the most nostalgic and world-defining moments in Magic’s history and incorporates Universes Beyond with Transformers. The set contains 287 cards and is available to play in physical tabletop form or in Magic: The Gathering Arena.
Amidst the devastating Phyrexian invasion, Planeswalker Teferi seeks answers in the past through the legend of a bitter rivalry between two brothers, Urza and Mishra. The Brothers’ War, known also as the ‘Antiquities War’, was a conflict that shattered the plane of Dominaria with titanic mechs, colossal dreadnaughts and magical warfare, inciting a series of events that shaped the future of the entire Multiverse. First depicted in Magic’s second-ever expansion set released in 1994, ‘Antiquities’, The Brothers’ War reveals the sibling rivalry as not so much a tale of ‘good vs. evil’ as the legends depict.
With the plane entrenched in mech warfare, The Brothers’ War is a set heavily focused on artifacts. Among these include Powerstones, colourless artifact tokens first introduced in Dominaria United that can be tapped for additional mana that can’t be used on nonartifact spells. Prototype, another mechanic seen on artifact creatures, is an alternate cost for giant mechs, allowing them to enter the battlefield for less mana but with less power, toughness, and abilities. The Brothers’ War also re-introduces fan-favourite mechanics such as Meld, a keyword that combines two cards to create one oversized card, and Unearth, which allows cards to return from the graveyard, with the cost of it being exiled at the end of the turn.
As the first-ever mainline Magic set to incorporate Universes Beyond, The Brothers’ War also brings Transformers into the fray. For a true taste of nostalgia, fans can add Optimus Prime, Megatron and more to their decks, exhibited in bold mech-style borderless frames. They feel a little out of place considering the major fantasy theme of Magic: The Gathering in general, but no doubt Transformers fans are going to love them for their collection. There are also ten full-art basic lands that showcase the colossal locations and mechanical behemoths that fought underneath Urza and Mishra during the war.
The Brothers’ War is available as Draft Boosters, Set Boosters, Collector Boosters, Jumpstart Boosters, Commander decks and Bundles. For more information on The Brothers’ War set, visit the official website.
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