MTG Head Designer Hints at Avengers-Scale Marvel Crossover — Spider-Man Set “Wanted to Be Bigger,” No Commander Decks
MTG head designer Mark Rosewater said the original plan for the Magic–Marvel collaboration was to release one or more smaller Universes Beyond sets first, then follow with a larger crossover — and that while working on Marvel’s Spider-Man, the team realized the set “wanted to be bigger than that.”
- The Soul Stone card and crossover hints
- Commander decks and fan concerns
- Universes Beyond legality and community reaction
What Rosewater said
Mark Rosewater explained that the initial plan for the Marvel collaboration was to start with smaller sets and later build to a larger crossover. However, he said the team found that Marvel’s Spider-Man *“wanted to be bigger than that.”*
According to Rosewater, that change in scope required additional energy and time during development, which affected what could be completed for the Spider-Man release.
Set sizes and release dates
Marvel’s Spider-Man, a Universes Beyond set, will include a pool of **231 base cards** and additional special reprints and art styles. The set is scheduled to release on **September 26**.
By comparison, the previous Magic set, Edge of Eternities (released in July), included **276 base cards**. Wizards of the Coast also announced an Avatar Universes Beyond release planned for **November**.
The Soul Stone card and crossover hints
The reveal of a The Soul Stone card in Marvel’s Spider-Man prompted fan discussion that a larger Marvel crossover could be coming. Rosewater’s comments about expanding the Marvel collaboration align with those fan theories.
The Infinity Stones are prominent in Marvel lore, and the original Infinity Gauntlet storyline is often cited in these conversations.
Commander decks and fan concerns
Rosewater confirmed that Marvel’s Spider-Man will have **no dedicated Commander decks**. He attributed that omission to the development effort required to make the set larger.
Several fans noted the absence of Commander products, since Commander decks are a major part of MTG’s product lineup.
Universes Beyond legality and community reaction
Separately, Universes Beyond sets being legal in **Standard** has been a point of controversy among parts of the community. The rapid release schedule — three sets within four months (Edge of Eternities in July, Marvel’s Spider-Man in September, and Avatar in November) — has also been mentioned by fans as a factor in ongoing discussion.
This article reports the facts Rosewater and Wizards of the Coast have shared about the Marvel collaboration and its immediate effects on the Spider-Man release.
