Magic Online Weekly Announcements, May 2, 2023
Posted on May 02, 2023
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THE LEAD
March of the Machine: The Aftermath on MTGO
After the battle of the Multiverse has been won, what becomes of the story’s key figures? All is explained in the 50-card micro-set March of the Machine: The Aftermath! This Standard-legal expansion – which has a set code of MAT – releases on Magic Online next Thursday, May 11 at 10 a.m. Pacific time (17:00 UTC).
You can get more descriptions about each 5-card booster’s contents in this article from Wizards of the Coast.
MAT will not be redeemable, though regular and foil digital sets will exist inside the game. Though MAT will be live in the Collection scene on May 3, reprints newly added to formats will not be legal until the on-sale date.
The booster will sell for $2.49 USD in the MTGO Store. Because the set is not designed for Limited play, the main way to get the cards will be by purchasing boosters. (Note: Cards in the set will be available for use in future Cubes)
Like most expansions, extended-art and etched versions of the cards will be available in the Curated slot of Treasure Chests when those update on Wednesday, May 17. They will also appear in the Booster Fun slot of each pack.
PREMIER PLAY
Standard Qualifier This Sunday
Top Magic: the Gathering players descend on Minneapolis for this weekend’s Pro Tour at MagicCon. You can turn their latest ideas on the Standard metagame into a Regional Championship invitation for this fall!
MTGO’s Standard Qualifier is set for this Sunday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific time (14:00 UTC).
The Qualifier’s entry option is 40 MOCS Season 2 Qualifier Points and the Top 2 finishers earn seats at that RC round that starts in late September. Prizes pay out to the Top 64!
Click the Premier Play Information link at the top of this Blog for full details. For more details on tabletop Regional Championships, visit magic.gg.
ALTERNATE PLAY
Magic 30 Cube Returns Tomorrow
As part of Magic: the Gathering’s 30th Anniversary celebration, Magic Online is running a special recurring Cube concurrently with each MagicCon event. With the festival in Minneapolis upon us, the Magic 30 Cube returns for a week of play starting tomorrow at 10 a.m. Pacific time (17:00 UTC).
Each iteration features changes prescribed by the Cube’s original designer Carmen Handy. The aim of the Cube is to showcase at least one card from each major Magic release over three decades. Like February’s update, there are just seven changes for this edition:
| IN | OUT |
|---|---|
| Archangel Elspeth | Elspeth, Knight-Errant |
| Hoarding Broodlord | Rune-Scarred Demon |
| Chandra, Hope's Beacon | Chandra, Dressed to Kill |
| Wrenn and Realmbreaker | Scurry Oak |
| Invasion of Tolvada | Spirit-Sister's Call |
| Borborygmos and Fblthp | Maelstrom Wanderer |
| Invasion of Innistrad | Rend Flesh |
The full Cube card list can be viewed on this page.
Entry options for this Phantom event (your choice – League or single-elimination Queue) have returned to the regular 10 Event Tickets or 100 Play Points.
Alternate Play Schedule
Here’s a look at the schedule of events coming up between now and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™. Each description mentions whether or not the Draft is Phantom – cards won’t be added to players’ collections in Phantom events. All event transitions are at 10 a.m. PT.
- May 10-24 – Vintage Cube is back for a two-week run to support the Season 1 MOCS Showcase on May 20 (twitch.tv/magic). (Phantom)
- May 24-31 – How many Phyrexian incursions into planes have there been? One of the most famous ones is among the most beloved old draft formats – it’s Invasion Block (IPA) Flashback! (Phantom)
- May 31-June 7 – Another famous Phyrexian battle front was the plane of Rath. We’ll head back there via Tempest Remastered. (Phantom)
- June 7-14 – Emblematic of March of the Machine and back for the first time in four years – it’s Battle of the Planes! (Phantom)
- June 14 – LTR Release – We are still considering out options for this week …
WEEKLY UPDATES
Redemption Update
Redemption Tokens for Phyrexia: All Will Be One are now on sale in the MTGO Store. Tokens for March of the Machine go on-sale Wednesday, May 17.
The Dominaria United Tokens have run out. The Brothers' War is still available in the MTGO Store. The Brothers’ War is about half-gone – when supplies run out, they are gone for good!
For more details on the redemption program, click here.
March of the Machine on MTGO
Want to learn all about what we’re offering for the multiplanar battle spectacular that is March of the Machine? Go read the article now for info on:
- A new Art Bundle
- How to Battle on MTGO
- Alternate Play Schedule, including Magic 30 Cube and Vintage Cube
- Our next All-Access
- Odds and Ends
Magic Online Format Challenges Every Weekend
Format Challenges are the first step toward qualifying for Premier Play through your favorite Magic formats and provide excellent prizes for those looking to test their mettle in their favorite formats. Learn more about Premier Play qualification to get started today.
Magic Online's Format Challenges run as shown on the schedule below.
On weekends featuring Showcase Challenge events, the Format Challenge that starts at either 6 a.m., 8 a.m., or 10 a.m. Pacific time is pre-empted by the Showcase Challenge; Format Challenges scheduled at other times remain in place.
NOTES:
CONSTRUCTED
- In MOCS Season 2, Vintage and Standard Challenges are never pre-empted
- 32-Player events require 32 players to fire and give prizes to the Top 32.
- Pauper and Vintage Challenges are always 32-Player tournaments.
- All other events listed require 64 players to fire and give prizes to the Top 64.
LIMITED
- 32-Player Limited Challenge events are 6 rounds with no playoff
- 64-Player Limited Challenge events are 7 rounds with no playoff
| TIME (PT) | FRIDAY | SATURDAY | SUNDAY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 a.m. | Vintage Challenge | ||
| 1:00 a.m. | 32-Player Limited Challenge | 32-Player Limited Challenge | |
| 2:00 a.m. | Pauper Challenge | ||
| 4:00 a.m. | 32-Player Legacy Challenge | Modern Challenge | |
| 6:00 a.m. | 32-Player Standard Challenge | Pioneer Challenge | |
| 8:00 a.m. | Modern Challenge | Legacy Challenge | |
| 10:00 a.m. | Vintage Challenge | Pauper Challenge | |
| 12:00 p.m. | 32-Player Limited Challenge | 32-Player Limited Challenge | |
| 2:00 p.m. | Pioneer Challenge | Standard Challenge | |
| 4:00 p.m. | 32-Player Limited Challenge | ||
| 6:00 p.m. | Modern Challenge | Modern Challenge |
Check out the Magic Online Format Challenges page for further event details.
Patch Notes - May 3, 2023
- The March of the Machine: The Aftermath card set will begin appearing in the Collection scene (see The Lead above for info on release)
- Aegar, the Freezing Flame will correctly not trigger in situations where it blocks and an attacking creature wasn’t dealt excess damage
- Tapping Strixhaven Stadium will no longer cause the game to crash for its controller
- Battle cards will correctly be castable from the graveyard with Muldrotha, the Gravetide’s ability
- Double-faced cards with a legendary creature on its front face will correctly display the legendary frame style
Next Scheduled Downtime - To Be Determined
The downtime that was planned for tomorrow has been converted to a live patch. We will announce the next downtime once we determine it.