While not everything is for everyone, Wizards of the Coast is relentless with releases this year. Double Masters 2022’s spoiler season isn’t even over, and we’re already being inundated with new information and mechanics. Only for MTG Arena, Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate promises an assortment of unique cards alongside reprints and remastered old cards.
Despite its name, Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate features more than just cards from Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate. Alongside remastered and reprinted cards from this set, Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate also features “new cards and reprints from Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms.” These cards are said to provide “even more D&D flavor.”
Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate Release Date
Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate is scheduled to release on MTG Arena on Thursday, July 7th. As a digital-only product, this set will not have a prerelease event.
Instead of a traditional prerelease event, Wizards of the Coast has organized an “Early Access” event. This was last done for Streets of New Capenna. In this event, fans and friends can watch streamers and content creators share the first gameplay from Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate. The Early Access event will be broadcast from July 5th at 1 pm EST to July 6th at 1 pm EST.
For those looking to preorder Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate, preorders begin on the 23rd of June. Alongside packs of Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate or the Set Mastery Pass, the preorder bundles offer immediate in-game rewards. The Wyll Pack Bundle offers the Wyll, Pact-Bound Duelist sleeve at purchase. Meanwhile, the Lae’zel Play Bundle offers the Lae’zel, Githyanki Warrior sleeve, and Chardalyn Dragon pet upon purchase.
Read More: Top Five MTG Baldur’s Gate Singles to Buy
Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate Mechanics
Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate features three brand-new mechanics. As designed-for-digital mechanics, these mechanics take advantage of MTG Arena’s digital format. Subsequently, many of these mechanics are not well suited to paper play. Here’s a rundown of Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate’s mechanics and what they do.
Specialize – This new activated ability lets you pay mana and discard a colored permanent or land of your choice to change your card into a new card. The change that takes place depends on which color you discarded.
Double Team – This new triggered ability activates when attacking. When a creature with Double Team attacks, if it’s not a token, a duplicate of the original is conjured into your hand. After this, both cards lose the Double Team ability.
Boon – Boon is a new-to-Arena mechanic that will not be exclusive to the Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate set. This new mechanic is a way to represent delayed triggers, similar to an emblem, but once they trigger, they disappear.
Read More: These Baldur’s Gate Cards Don’t Play as They Read!
Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate Spoilers
Spoilers for Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate will begin to be unveiled on the 22nd of June 2022. With only 81 cards to reveal, the spoiler season for Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate will be remarkably short, only spanning six days. The initial previews are available in an MTG Arena announcements post from Wizards of the Coast.
Following the announcement from Wizards, spoiler duty will be given to prominent figures in and around the Magic: the Gathering community. With spoilers unveiled on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and in articles, check out WotC’s list cataloging who’ll be spoiling this set.
As always, alongside Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate spoilers, we’ll provide our analysis and hot takes about some of the most exciting cards released. Below is a list cataloging the articles we’ve written about Alchemy Horizons: Baldur’s Gate.