Magic: The Gathering players have been exploring Zendikar Rising for months now and it is just about time to retire that Limited format and move on to the next phase of this Standard era - Kaldheim. When Kaldheim launches in paper and on Magic Arena, players will have a chance to get their hands on a brand new full set of cards to draft or add to their Constructed decks.

Kaldheim is a Norse influenced set featuring some exciting new mechanics, as well as some old favorites. Sagas and modal double face cards are back alongside new mechanics like Boast and Foretell. The marketing for the set has been leaning very heavily into heavy metal and how well that vibe combines with a world of vikings. The Magic: The Gathering cinematic trailer for Kaldheim just arrived and continues to lean into that strategy with a short, but action packed peek at where things stand on Kaldheim and what villains and heroes may emerge.

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The trailer features two planesewalkers who will likely be recognizable to longtime fans of the card game - Kaya and Tibalt. It seems clear that Tibalt is being positioned as the villain this time around, which won't come as a surprise to anyone who has been following along with the companion lore for the set, while Kaya is taking on more of the heroic role. The trailer is a little shorter than some of the other recent Magic cinematics, but is still well worth checking out...

It's hard to compare to the now iconic War of the Spark cinematic trailer that kicked off this new era of Magic cinematic marketing, but the Kaldheim short certainly seems to capture the tone and vibe that Wizards is going for this time around. There's a bit less world-building than we've seen in some of the recent trailers, but establishing some of the key characters, monsters, and items is still an impressive feat for just a minute and half.

Pre-release events kick off tomorrow on Magic Arena and the set should be available everywhere by February 5. Players should check with their game stores early to see what product will be available and if there will be any events. Most Magic events are still cancelled at this point, so fans may want to consider visiting Magic Arena for their launch tournament fix instead.

In the coming days as the pre-release kicks off, we should learn a ton more about Kaldheim mechanics, archetypes, and more. Start studying early so that you'll be prepared for a new standard era and the upcoming draft format.

Magic: The Gathering - Kaldheim releases February 5, 2021. Other Magic: The Gathering sets are available now at game shops or digitally in Magic Arena.

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Source: Wizards of the Coast