The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth is set to be Magic: the Gathering’s best-selling set in the next few months. Even though the main set was released in June, Wizards of the Coast had planned a holiday release for November 3
It wasn’t initially clear exactly what the holiday release would entail until today’s preview panel at MagicCon Las Vegas, where we learned that it will feature new scene boxes and new card styles in “special edition” Collector Boosters. Let’s take a look at all of the new Lord of the Rings cards coming this Winter!
Don’t miss our coverage of the latest The Lost Caverns of Ixalan previews, the new Jurassic Park cards included in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, the Secret Lair Spookdrop 2023, as well as the new Ravnica Remastered previews,
Reprints With the Lord of the Rings Art of Greg and Tim Hildebrandt
Greg and Tim Hildebrandt are the artists behind some of the most notable Lord of the Rings art, specifically for LOTR calendars.
For the holiday release of The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, Wizards has matched 20 pieces of art by the Brothers Hildebrandt with 20 Magic cards. Check out the first five examples: Pact of Negation, Seasons Past, Sylvan Tutor, Shelob, Whose Lair is Death, and Abyssal Persecutor!
The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Borderless Poster Cards
I’m a sucker for the Magic cards that don’t look like Magic cards, and the poster-style frames are far and away my favorite example. The “special edition” The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Collector Boosters that are a part of the holiday release will include poster variants of 20 mythic rares from the main set.
Each of those 20 cards will also have 100 serialized versions.
New Scroll Showcase Frames
Wizards is adding a second new frame to the Special Edition Collector Boosters: the showcase scroll frame. This new frame will be applied to all of the new-to-Magic cards from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, as well as the rares and mythics from the Commander decks.
Check out 12 examples below, as well as nine new Nazgul variants!
Four New Scene Boxes
The final element of The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth’s holiday release will be four new scene boxes. Scene boxes, which contain a pre-determined set of six cards that fit together to make a panoramic scene, were also a part of the original set’s release. All of the cards in these new scene boxes are brand new, mechanically unique cards.
The Might of Galadriel
The Might of Galadriel shows Galadriel repelling an army of Orcs at the edge of Lorien. It contains six new cards: Arboreal Alliance, Galadriel, Light of Valinor, Rally the Galadhrim, Galadriel’s Dismissal, Mists of Lorien, and Galadhrim Brigade.
Aragorn at Helm’s Deep
Aragorn at Helm’s Deep depicts Aragorn fighting the battle at the Hornburg. Its six new cards are: Anduril, Narsil Reforged, Aragorn, Hornburg Hero, Legolas’s Quick Reflexes, Gimli’s Reckless Might, Isengard Unleashed, and Rohirrim Chargers.
Flight of the Witch-King
Flight of the Witch-King shows the Witch-King rallying the forces of Sauron to march on Minas Tirith. It includes six new cards: Call Forth the Tempest, Nazgul Battle-Mace, Witch-king, Sky Scourge, Mordor on the March, Fell Beast of Mordor, and Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress.
Gandalf in the Pelennor Fields
Gandalf in the Pelennor Fields shows Gandalf revealing the true extent of his powers as he battles the Witch-King in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It includes: Olorin’s Searing Light, Sorcerous Squall, Rammas Echor, Ancient Shield, Courageous Resolve, Gandalf of the Secret Fire, and Fell Beast’s Shriek.
The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Holiday Release Key Dates
- Release: November 3, 2023