Strixhaven - Enter Magic the Gathering's School of Mages

With Strixhaven only a month and a bit away we thought it be a good idea to let everyone know what to expect from the next release from Magic the Gathering. Strixhaven is the school of mages, if you couldn't have guessed from the title, the school is broken up into 5 different colleges. Each representing a different form of magic and from this having it's own 2-colour combination to suit the college.

So let's just dive straight into the schools and look at what makes them all different to each other. As mentioned above each of the colleges has a different 2-colour combination from the colours of magic, similar to the Guilds of Ravnica. Each with it's own very different influence on magic. So without further ague let us introduce you to.... The Colleges of Strixhaven.

Lorehold - Red/White

Loreholds are diligent researchers and daring adventurers. Passionate scholars obsessed with history, they explore the past by pouring over archaeological artifacts and summoning long-dead spirits. For some students, the past is a rich tapestry worthy of disciplined study. While others wear that tapestry like a cape as they jump down into a forgotten tomb. Their motto is "Leave no stone unturned."

Prismari - Blue/Red

Prismari are the theatre kids of Strixhaven, and magic is how they express themselves. Their spells can be spectacles of raw creativity or meticulous artistic expressions. All the world's a stage, and whether their art is informed by mind or emotion, Prismari always leave a lasting impression. Their motto is "Express yourself with the elements."

Quandrix - Blue/Green

Quandrix mages are ingenious math magicians. They study patterns, fractals, and symmetries to command power over the fundamental forces of nature. They'll solve a Rubik's Cube while contemplating the metaphysical properties of the universe and can recite every number of Pi backwards. Their motto is "Math is magic."

Silverquills - White/Black

Silverquills wield the magic of words, from inspiring battle poetry to biting arcane insults. Stylish, intimidating, and tirelessly competitive, these mages are born leaders with a razor-sharp wit and natural charisma that can be used for good or for ill. Their motto is "Sharp style. Sharper wit."

Witherblooms - Green/Black

Witherblooms are goth bio majors. They draw power from the essence of living beings, whether that means enhancing nature or exploiting it. Witherbloom mages are most at home riding zombie crocs, picking herbs for potions, and hanging out in their swamp making grim jokes. Their motto is "Get your hands dirty."

What's inside the Mystical Archive?

From the colleges there is a Mystical Archive of magic going through the history of the Multiverse. Some of these spells hold great power but at Strixhaven these can be controlled. Allowing access to these spells gives everyone the chance to collect these cards from the Mystical Archive as one will be included in every booster pack. Or so that is what we have heard from Wizards of the Coast. These cards are well known in the magic work and some will be happy to see reprints of some staple cards in a mystical border.

Strixhaven Products

Along with the usual products we see with each release there will be set and draft booster packs as well as the sort after collector booster packs and themed boosters. There is also going to be this year's main commander release.

There will be five Commander decks, one for each school. Commander (2021 Edition) features 81 new cards. Each deck will focus on the colors and themes of its associated college!

The decks are named:

• Silverquill Statement
• Prismari Performance
• Witherbloom Witchcraft
• Lorehold Legacies
• Quantum Quandrix

This is all the information available for the commander decks so far, we haven't even been able to see the face cards of the commander decks.

Another special thing that is happening for this release, whether we will be able to have a proper pre-release this year or not. Is that there are different pre-release kits for each college of magic. Therefore there are 5 different packs to collect. We understand that the contents of these boxes will be the same for each college (6 draft booster, 1 foil promo card, spindown dice etc) but the packaging will represent each college. Whether the contents of the packs will vary from college to college is currently unknown to us.