Godzilla and His Kaiju Buddies to Destroy All Monsters in New Set Coming to Magic: The Gathering!

As both a Kaiju fan and a Magic: The Gathering player, I nearly just fainted...

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...Wizards of the Coast, the gaming company behind hugely popular fantasy card game, Magic: The Gathering, have announced that, in collaboration with TOHO CO., LTD, a new set is coming to the game which will feature Godzilla and other Kaiju from his films! The cards are a feature of the set which is called ​Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.

From the official press release: The King of the Monsters makes his debut in Magic: The Gathering! Wizards of the Coast, in a groundbreaking collaboration with TOHO CO., LTD, is proud to announce that the iconic monsters from the 'Godzilla' franchise are coming to Magic: The Gathering. The Godzilla Series Monster cards are a special feature of the upcoming premier card set, Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.

“Magic: The Gathering’s rich and engaging multiverse offers such unique opportunities to explore new worlds like Ikoria, filled with incredible monsters that are larger than life,” said Kyoko Yoshida, Sr Manager, Japan Sales and Marketing, Wizards of the Coast. “Collaborating with TOHO CO., LTD to bring the Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah and more onto the same world to battle with Magic’s Planeswalkers and new creatures for a first-of-its-kind collaboration is an extraordinary experience that we can’t wait for players to enjoy.”

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths is the spring 2020 premier card set for Magic: The Gathering and introduces players to a brand new world full of incredible monsters and the humans that bond with them. The set introduces players to Lukka, a proud member of the Coppercoats, the military unit that protects the city of Drannith from Ikoria’s savage monsters. Lukka’s world is forever changed when he forms a mystical connection with a ferocious, winged cat. Such bonds are treasonous in Drannith, forcing Lukka to flee from the very home he was sworn to protect. Now an outcast monster “bonder,” Lukka must survive the wilds of Ikoria with the help of planeswaker Vivien Reid.

Each Godzilla Monster Series card will feature a monster from the pantheon of the Godzilla franchise as a Magic card from Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths. There will be a total of 16 Godzilla Series Monster cards available in English, with three more available only in Japanese.

Here's the full list:

·         Anguirus, Armored Killer

·         Babygodzilla, Ruin Reborn

·         Biollante, Plant Beast Form

·         Bio-Quartz Spacegodzilla

·         Destoroyah, Perfect Lifeform

·         Dorat, the Perfect Pet

·         Ghidorah, King of the Cosmos

·         Gigan, Cyberclaw Terror

·         Godzilla, Doom Inevitable

·         Godzilla, King of the Monsters

·         Godzilla, Primeval Champion

·         King Caesar, Ancient Guardian

·         King Caesar, Awoken Titan

·         Mothra, Supersonic Queen

·         Rodan, Titan of Winged Fury

·         Spacegodzilla, Void Invader

·         (Crystalline Giant – Japanese only) (Kiryu)

·         (Dirge Bat – Japanese only) (Battra)

·         (Mothra’s Great Cocoon – Japanese only)

Fans will only be able to obtain Godzilla, King of the Monsters (while supplies last) by purchasing a draft booster pack display through a Wizards Play Network store. Each sealed draft booster pack display will contain a random Godzilla Series Monster card. Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Collector Boosters will also contain two random Godzilla Series Monster cards. The Godzilla Series Monster cards will not appear in draft booster packs.

The Godzilla Series Monster cards will also appear in Magic: The Gathering Arena as card styles. Players will receive the card styles as a special bonus when purchasing Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths bundles of six or more booster packs inside the Magic: The Gathering Arena client.

Excuse me for a second while I wipe the drool from my lips. 

As both a Magic player and a Godzilla fan, this is incredibly exciting news. Two huge fandoms are coming together for the first time ever, and Magic players will soon be able to smash opposing monsters with the enormous power of Godzilla and other Kaiju. BRING. IT. ON!

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths releases April 16, 2020 on Magic: The Gathering Arena, with full retail store worldwide release on May 15, 2020. For more info on the set, visit the site here. 

Until then, check out some of our favorite new cards below, and see the full set here. 

By Matt Konopka