Lightning Helix | Strixhaven Mystical Archive | Art by Minttu Hynninen
6, May, 25

MTG Players Celebrate New Long-Awaited MTG Arena Reprints Update

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A huge win for digital Magic players!

This upcoming weekend is going to be a big one for Magic: The Gathering Arena. In addition to the official launch of Pioneer on the platform, we’re also getting a suite of changes to how reprints are handled. This MTG Arena reprints update has been in the works for a while now, and we’ve known most of these changes are coming well in advance. There’s a nice extra surprise in there, however, which is sure to please those who enjoy fancy card styles.

It’s great to see changes like this on a platform as notoriously stingy as MTG Arena. Players agree, too. Since the changes were officially announced yesterday, there’s been an outpouring of positive sentiment around Arena. It may not be enough to convert the deep-set economy skeptics, but this update will make Arena better for everyone.

The MTG Arena Reprints Update

MTG Arena Reprints Update Lightning Helix

The upcoming MTG Arena reprints update was announced yesterday, in an official article from Wizards. It packs a number of big changes, all of which will be going live along with the Pioneer launch on May 10th.

Most significant among these changes is the update to card crafting. Previously, different printings of cards at different rarities required Wildcards of those rarities to be crafted. Lightning Helix’s Mystical Archive printing would need rare Wildcards, for example, despite the card being printed at uncommon elsewhere on Arena.

Now, however, all versions of a card will be craftable using the Wildcard of their lowest-rarity printing. In Lightning Helix’s case, you’ll be able to craft Mystical Archives copies with uncommon Wildcards instead of rare ones.

On top of the crafting changes, you’ll also now only need one copy of a given printing to run a full playset of it in your deck. Provided you have four copies of a card across all styles, you can mix and match with any style you own. Duplicate protection will also stop you from opening more than one of a reprinted card you already own a playset of, which is a nice bit of extra value. To top it off, card styles purchased in the shop can now be applied to any printing of a card, rather than requiring a specific one.

These are great changes, and help to avoid awkward situations where players accidentally craft high-rarity printings of cards they need. It also makes alternate art much more accessible on the platform, which is a big win for fans of Booster Fun.

“Rare WOTC W”

MTG Arena Reprints Update Hour of Victory
Hour of Victory | Aetherdrift | Art by Aaron Miller

We knew about most of those changes already, but it’s great to see them fully confirmed. Along with the crafting change, it’s a big boost to the cosmetic economy on Arena. Players have been complaining about these issues for years. Seeing them addressed all at once is cathartic.

Upon seeing the MTG Arena reprints update announced, many players took to social media to praise Wizards’ decisions. In fact, it’s been one of the most universally positive receptions to a Magic announcement I’ve seen in ages. Amid Universes Beyond controversy and pricing issues, it’s refreshing to see a purely positive change.

“Holy shit… Its finally happening. This is amazing news. Feels like Christmas”

stamatt45, via r/MagicArena

The bulk of the comments on the r/MagicArena thread covering the changes shared stamatt45’s enthusiasm. The crafting changes, in particular, got a great response. Fulvano said “Really like the lowest rarity crafting change. Good stuff!” This reaction isn’t particularly surprising. MTG Arena is a notoriously stingy game, after all, so moves like this that give players more value for their Wildcards are incredibly rare. Friendly_Ad3295 even called it a “Rare WOTC W.” High praise indeed from such a critical community.

That said, no update is perfect. Many in the thread pointed out the huge number of Wildcards they’ve sunk into alternate art in the past, which won’t be refunded once this change comes into effect. Players like CatsAndPlanets and hexa-john are feeling a little rough right about now for that reason. Wizards could well implement some kind of refund for players like these, but I’d say it’s unlikely.

This problem aside, the changes are a huge positive for Magic’s flagship digital client. With a ton of great stuff arriving on May 10th, things are looking up for MTG Arena right now.

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