Designing Magic: The Gathering Sets for Expansive Properties

Designing a Universes Beyond set presents unique challenges compared to standard Magic Multiverse expansions. While traditional sets are built to meet specific mechanical needs like a creature grid, crossover properties often come with vast, pre-existing lore that must be captured within a single set.

The process begins with business data and R&D evaluation. R&D categorizes potential properties into three buckets: a great fit, not a good fit, or a challenging fit with high potential. Once a partnership is secured, the design team begins with a whiteboard activity to identify core moods, themes, characters, and memorable events.

For expansive properties like Star Trek, which includes 13 series and 14 movies, the task is to represent a massive collection of source material. Unlike standard sets, where designers aim to build just enough world to support the cards, Universes Beyond must navigate the sheer scale of established universes to ensure fans see the elements they expect.