In Magic: The Gathering, every set’s new mechanics are designed to reflect the world in which that set takes place. Sets about the ten-guild city plane of Ravnica involve at least ten distinct mechanics that empower a playstyle representing each guild, while sets taking place in the Greco-Roman Theros often have mechanics that represent that world’s awe for the gods and legendary heroes. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Wizards of the Coast opts to introduce so many new planes to Magic: The Gathering canon. New worlds with new lore details empower it to come up with innovative new mechanics that make use of the setting.
However, Magic: The Gathering sometimes goes back to old planes too. The last two mainline Magic sets were about the Gothic plane of Innistrad, which Magic: The Gathering has visited two separate times before. Old sets can still inspire compelling new mechanics as long as Wizards of the Coast crafts strong new storylines that use the setting in new ways. There’s no better example of that than early 2022’s Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty. This new set brings the game back to Kamigawa for the first time since 2005, and thanks to some drastic changes to the setting, Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty sends a clear message about how old planes can still contribute new ideas to Magic.
How Kamigawa Reflects on Magic: The Gathering
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty stands out from most sets that return to old planes because of how drastically Kamigawa has changed. Usually, planes undergo at least a little bit of change between visits, with major characters from those worlds coming and going, but Kamigawa is completely different. What was once a world based on medieval Japanese history and culture, as well as Shinto mythology, is now partially far-future cyberpunk society. Kamigawa’s technology has advanced drastically since Magic: The Gathering first came there, but some parts of the plane still hold onto the world’s spiritual roots. Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty aims to explore the tension between tradition and progress that every society experiences.
The return to Kamigawa isn’t remarkable just because it’s old. The original three Kamigawa sets are often regarded as a low point in Magic: The Gathering’s history, suffering from serious balance issues and featuring far too many weak cards for players’ tastes. As a result, the world of Kamigawa was looked on negatively and Wizards of the Coast showed no intention of revising it for years. Now, however, there’s a lot of excitement around Kamigawa again because of how drastically this Magic: The Gathering plane has changed. Instead of abandoning Kamigawa forever, Magic is turning it on its head, reimagining its core gameplay ideas by reimagining the plane itself.
If Wizards of the Coast wants to make more sets on old planes, then it should change those planes as drastically as it did for Kamigawa. Fans haven’t seen places like Alara and Lorwyn in a great many years, so it wouldn’t be that strange if there’s been some major societal or magical upheaval in the meantime. Magic: The Gathering can get bold new mechanics out of old planes if Wizards of the Coast first takes a second pass at that world’s lore. It doesn’t need to rewrite them from the ground up; it just needs to examine the central theme of each of those planes, then introduce major new characters or setting details that contrast with the plane’s original concept. With the help of that contrast, it can use old mechanics in surprising new ways, which in turn can inspire wholly new mechanics.
Exploring Magic: The Gathering’s World
New planes are undoubtedly helpful in searching for new mechanics that can redefine how Magic: The Gathering plays. The magical school of Strixhaven, for instance, provided some valuable new takes on instants and sorceries through the Magecraft and Learn keywords. Old planes can contribute too, though. A return to Alara could help explore how the territories of Magic’s five colors have shifted since the original Alara sets, showing how much progress the game is made. Whether or not Magic returns to old planes in the near future, Kamigawa’s new uses for ninjutsu and phasing provide compelling evidence for the value of tracing Magic: The Gathering’s steps back to the past.
Magic: The Gathering is available now pysically and digitally through Magic: The Gathering Arena. The Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty expansion releases on February 18, 2022.
