Summary
Magic: The Gatheringhas been branching out over the last few years and including outside IPs in their game, and their latest collaboration is set to bring back something the game hasn’t done since 1999.Magic’sUniverses Beyondproductshave been met with mixed reception. However, most players are happy so long as Wizards of the Coast decides to include cards for an IP that the players are interested in.
Recently,Magichas dipped its toes into video game crossovers with games likeFortniteandFallout. The next collaboration to be released is Magic’s crossover with the popularAssassin’s Creedfranchise. This collaboration was likely planned to generate excitement for theupcomingAssassin’s Creed Shadows.Players have already gotten to see some of the set’s cards previewed, revealing a break with a long-standing Magic tradition.
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Magic: The Gathering’s Assassin’s Creed Cards Feature Historical Figures
These Historical Figures Also Appear In Assassin’s Creed Games
TheAssassin’s Creedfranchise has always dabbled in historical fiction. That means including real-life characters like Leonardo Da Vinci, Edward Teach (better known as Blackbeard), and Yusuke, who will be one of theplayable protagonists ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows. This use of historical figures has also been reflected in theMagic: The Gatheringtie-in set forAssassin’s Creed, with figures like Da Vinci and the pirates Mary Read and Ann Bonny featuring on some of the new cards.
While otherUniverses Beyondproducts have featured the likenesses of real people, they typically feature actors in their roles, with the character represented on the card being fictional. For example, an artist’s rendition of Chris Pine appears on the card Edgin, Larcenous Lutenist, which was a tie-in with theDungeons & Dragonsmovie. TheAssassin’s Creedcards are the first time in a long time that Magic is making new cards featuring historical figures, but it is something the game used to do more in its earlier days.
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Magic Hasn’t Featured New Historical Figures Since 1999
The Set Portal Three Kingdoms Was The Last Time Magic Featured Historical Figures
Early inMagic’s history, the game was still trying to find a strong identity. That meant there were cards based on legends like Aladdin, and historical figures like Nebuchadnezzar. While not a creature card, Albert Einstein also appeared in the art for the card Presence of the Master.
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The time thatMagicincluded the most references to real-world history was in itsPortal Three Kingdomsset, which was based on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Historical figures in the set included the likes of Sun Quan on the card Sun Quan, Lord of Wu, and Xiahou Dun.Portal Three Kingdomswas released back in May 1999, meaning it has been over 25 years sinceMagicreleased a set including new historical figures on their cards.
Now, withMagic’sAssassin’s Creedtie-in, players are getting a chance to play with some more interesting figures from across history. While it is unlikely players will ever see historical figures in a mainlineMagicset again, it does appear as thoughUniverses Beyondproducts like this one are fair game for real people to show up in. It will be interesting to see what other historical figuresMagic: The Gatheringprints in the new set as more of the cards continue to be spoiled.
