April 16 Update: Due to a recently discovered printing error, the three Japanese exclusive Godzilla Series cards (collector number 385, 386, 387), will not be appearing in English or French Collector Boosters. Copies of these cards will be shipped to local game stores and individuals who purchase Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Collector Boosters will be able to receive some number of these cards from their local retailer.
Today we all got our first look at Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths. The set, revolving around giant monsters that fight other giant monsters is tapping into an existing intellectual property for special series of showcase cards.
Wizards of the Coast is partnering with Toho Studios; the company behind the Godzilla franchise. The result is that some creatures from Ikoria will receive special showcase treatments featuring art representing a monster from the Godzilla canon. These cards will receive special names that are not their name for game purposes. There is one exception: the Buy-a-Box promo is available exclusively as a Godzilla Showcase and features none other than the King of the Monsters himself.
There are a total of 19 Godzilla Series cards – the one Buy-a-Box, as well as 15 cards available in all markets. There are three additional Godzilla Series cards that will be printed exclusively in Japanese. Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths box-toppers each come with a Godzilla card and one of the 15 other Godzilla Series, except in Japan where it will be one of the 18 possible cards. The Japanese exclusive cards will appear in Collector Boosters, but will only be printed in Japanese.
One of the Godzilla Series – the Showcase version of Void Beckoner – will have multiple versions. The Godzilla Series will showcase Spacegodzilla. Originally, the name on this card would appear as Spacegodzilla, Death Corona, after the monster’s signature weapon. In light of current events, the MTG Arena release of Ikoria, will featured the card as Spacegodzilla, Void Invader. (Note: a previous version of this article erroneously stated that the new version would appear on Magic Online and in the second print run of Ikoria. This is not correct).
An Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Collector Booster will contain the following:
- 4 Foil commons or common dual lands
- 2 Foil uncommons
- 1 Foil basic land
- 1 Ikoria Commander card (any rarity)
- 1 Extended-art rare or mythic rare (43 rares, 7 mythic rares)
- 1 Foil rare or mythic rare, or foil extended-art rare or mythic rare
- 2 Showcase mutate commons or uncommons (5 common, 15 uncommon)
- 1 Showcase rare or mythic rare (10 rares, 8 mythic rares)
- 1 Foil showcase card (any rarity)
- 1 Godzilla Series Monster card (could be foil or non-foil; the Buy-a-Box mythic rare is only available in non-foil)
- 1 Foil token
The Showcase rares and mythic rares are one of the creatures with Mutate, one of three Planeswalkers, or a special land treatment, which has not been revealed at this time. You can find more information on the Ikoria treatments here. You can keep up to date with the new cards from spoiler season right here on ChannelFireball.
One new card has been banned in Commander before being officially released. Lutri, the Spellchaser features the new Companion mechanic. Companion allows you to cast a card from outside the game if the deckbuilding condition is met. Lutri asks that all non-land cards in your deck have a different name. As such, any deck that has the correct color identity could have access to Lutri as a 101st card. The other Companion cards will remain legal in the format and can be played as the 101st card, provided the condition has been met.
