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Magic: The Gathering likely to get a World of Warcraft set with D&D crossover
Wizards of the Coast has announced a Dungeons & Dragons: World of Warcraft crossover, prompting speculation that Magic: The Gathering will receive its own World of Warcraft set in 2027. The potential release would extend Magic’s lucrative Universes Beyond strategy while fitting its established fantasy themes more naturally than some recent crossovers.
Magic has three Universes Beyond sets planned for 2027, with one expected to involve Marvel and two still unannounced; a 9 April release is among the available slots. World of Warcraft shares familiar Magic elements including elves, zombies, dragons, spells and distinct regions, and the crossover could let Wizards reuse artwork across D&D and Magic. Wizards has previously linked the two games through Magic sets and D&D sourcebooks, while World of Warcraft’s physical trading card game ended in 2013.
In short
- A World of Warcraft Magic set is widely expected in 2027.
- The D&D crossover strengthens the case for a Magic release.
- It would suit Magic’s fantasy-focused Universes Beyond plans.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
World of Warcraft features a richly developed fantasy setting with dragons, elves, distinct magical regions and factions that align naturally with Magic's colour philosophy and established mechanics, making it a more thematically coherent fit than some recent crossovers. The Universes Beyond strategy has proven commercially vital to sustaining Magic's production schedule and competitive ecosystem; a WoW set would efficiently leverage existing artwork, appeal to overlapping fan bases and generate revenue that enables continued investment in the game.
The case against
Magic has historically derived its strength from original intellectual property and deeply developed lore; excessive reliance on external licenses risks undermining the game's identity as a self-sufficient world rather than a vehicle for marketing other franchises. Resources devoted to licensed properties could instead strengthen Magic's own worlds and narratives; players who valued Magic when grounded in its original mythology may experience fatigue as the game becomes increasingly fragmented across external properties.
Explained simply
Magic: The Gathering is a strategy card game in which players build decks of characters, creatures and spells, then play against each other. Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game, while World of Warcraft is an online game set in a fantasy world; both are owned by Wizards of the Coast’s parent company, Hasbro.
Wizards has increasingly made Magic sets based on other fictional worlds through a line called Universes Beyond. The company has also connected Magic and Dungeons & Dragons before, and World of Warcraft shares familiar fantasy elements such as dragons, elves and magic. These links help explain why the games might cross over, and why such a set could matter to players and collectors.