The Brothers’ War depicts huge moment in Magic: The Gathering universe – new expansion is out now and even has Transformers

Wizards of the Coast has launched The Brothers’ War today in stores and on MTG Arena. The latest expansion to Magic: The Gathering and a set with many story and lore details in the background. Oh, and transformers. 

This set builds upon an event that was briefly touched on in MtG’s second-ever expansion set. The ‘Antiquities War’ or ‘The Brothers’ War’ saw brothers Urza and Mishra come head to head and change the face of the multiverse forever. 

Here’s a little more about the story happening in The Brothers’ War:

“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, also 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.”

What’s also super-interesting with this set is the inclusion of ‘Universe Beyond’ with a mainline MtG set. I wasn’t joking about Transformer before, as they are here. You’ll be able to include Optimus Prime or Megatron in your decks as a Legendary Artifact Creature. There are 15 Transformers cards in total as a Mythic Rare that you can find in Set and Collectors Boosters. Plus, there are “Shattered Glass” cards that depict an alternative universe where the Decepticons are the good guys and the Autobots are evil. These are the same 15 cards but with new art. These cards are only legal in Commander, Legacy and Vintage. 

Many of the cards in this set are artifacts, as the battlefield in the Brothers’ War features a lot of mech warfare. This is also where you’ll find the key mechanics in this set.

Powerstones are colourless artifact tokens that were first introduced in Dominaria United, which can be tapped for additional mana, but the mana can’t be used on non-artifact spells. 

Prototype is a new ability seen on artifact creatures that lets you summon them for an alternative, less-expensive cost, but they enter with less power/toughness and even abilities. 

And then there’s Meld coming back into action, a keyword combining two cards that create one oversized card and creature to do battle.

Unearth is back, too, the ability which allows you to return a card from the graveyard, but it’s exiled at the end of that turn.

Since there are so many artifacts in this set, and with a lot of them getting a re-print for the first time (or in a long time), there’s some alternative art. It comes in the form of ‘Retro Artifacts,’ and there are 63 artifacts from across MtG’s history to collector in this form, which you’ll find in Set, Draft and Collector’s Boosters. 

Brothers’ War features some new beautiful full-art basic land cards. Each depicts one of the collosol mechanical behemoths that fought during the War. 

Are you cracking some Brothers’ War? Let me know in the comment section below which cards you want to open the most.