Take this with the requisite grain of salt, but it appears that Wizards of the Coast accidentally leaked three of the premier cards from its upcoming Standard expansion set Hour of Devastation. Unconfirmed spoilers incoming!
This morning, a reddit user published screenshots they claim were circulating in a private group. The (alleged) screenshots show the French version of Magic’s website for the Standard Showdown event featuring three new Hour of Devastation cards as possible rewards. The current version of that French site does not currently show any new cards.
WARNING: Below you will find (possible and unconfirmed) spoilers for the story for Hour of Devastation. You have been forewarned!
Again…spoiler warning!
The screenshots show two new planeswalkers: Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh and Samut, the Tested. Nicol Bolas is expected to make a return in Hour of Devastation so his appearance shouldn’t be shocking. Samut, on the other hand, is a new character from Amonkhet (Samut, Voice of Dissent) who would appear to have found her spark in Hour of Devastation. This would be the second time a new character undergoes a significant change and earns their self a new card, as Xenagos, the Reveler started as a planeswalker in Theros and then ascended to godhood as Xenagos, God of Revels in Born of the Gods.
If these screenshots are accurate, this would appear to be the biggest leak of powerful cards since the end of 2015 when Kozilek, the Great Distortion was leaked ahead of Oath of the Gatewatch. Wizard’s reaction to that leak was loud and indignant because it was from a third party source but this (unconfirmed) leak appears to have come from Wizards itself. I don’t envy the Wizards employees who have to deal with the fallout from today’s (again unconfirmed) leaks.
This story is developing…