MagicCon: Amsterdam hosted a Preview Panel for Magic: The Gathering (MTG) on Friday, June 28, 2024. After debuting a previously unknown beginner-focused MTG set, Foundations, the panel shifted focus to the upcoming Standard set Duskmourn: House of Horror.
A Modern Horror Plane
Duskmourn: House of Horror is set on the brand-new plane (setting) of Duskmourn, which presents as a giant haunted mansion. As the set name suggests, Duskmourn is horror-themed, but in contrast to the Gothic horror of Innistrad, Duskmourn draws inspiration from horror media of the 1970s and 1980s, creating a much more modern look.
Poster-Perfect Lands
A key part of the modern horror cultural experience is the terrifying movie poster. Duskmourn has a cycle of Full-Art Manor Lands, a set of five basic lands evoking movie poster imagery.
Rooms
Next, the panel revealed a series of artworks for a new subtype of card, the Room. While the panel did not reveal the mechanics of Rooms, nor any cards, the fact that all the artworks appeared in pairs may suggest either modal double-faced cards or split cards.
Leyline Cycle
Next, the panel revealed a new cycle of Leylines, enchantments that can start the game on the battlefield if they are in your opening hand, including Leyline of Hope, which amplifies lifegain and provides a reward for having at least 7 life more than your starting life total.
Return to Imagery
Next, the panel revealed a series of evocative images, including a possible alien abduction, MTG Spirits as television static, creepy toys and twins, and more.
Red Artifacts
Card previews continued with a pair of red artifacts: Cursed Recording, which offers to copy instant and sorcery spells before dealing potentially lethal damage to its controller, and Chainsaw, an Equipment card that acquires power-boosting rev counters whenever a creature dies.
More card previews followed, including Come Back Wrong, a black removal spell showing off the Paranormal Frame treatment; Toby, Beastie Befriender, with the Double Exposure treatment; Nowhere to Run, an enchantment with flash that has both an enters trigger and an ongoing effect; and Fear of Missing Out, an enchantment creature that reveals the return of the delirium mechanic.
Heroes
The panel then turned to the main cast of characters for Duskmourn. First up was The Wanderer, the current ruler of the plane of Kamigawa, who returns as The Wandering Rescuer, seeking to save Nashi, the Nezumi (Rat) adopted son of the late Kamigawan planeswalker Tamiyo.
Tyvar, a brawling Elf from Kaldheim and former planeswalker, has also reached Duskmourn.
Joining the search party is another figure from Kamigawa, the former planeswalker Kaito Shizuki.
From the plane of Arcavios and its School of Mages, Strixhaven, is the math-magic prodigy Zimone.
Niko, a former planeswalker born on Theros and last seen on Kaldheim, brings light to Duskmourn with their shard magic.
The heroes appear together on a Special Guest card from Duskmourn, Collected Company.
The Local: Winter
Joining the search party is Winter, an enigmatic man and native of Duskmourn with style as sharp as his blade.
Survivors
Other residents of Duskmourn are the Survivors, who try to adapt to the rooms they occupy. One Survivor, the Reluctant Rolemodel, comes in two versions, one of which adds a fiend on the ceiling behind him.
Mirror Monster Cards
Next, the panel revealed Mirror Monsters, creatures seen from unusual points of view. All Mirror Monsters will also have regular versions.
Japan Showcase
The panel then touched on the Japan Showcase aspect of Booster Fun, debuting in Duskmourn, which offers a distinctly Japanese take on the set’s themes.
Overlord and Glimmer Cycles
The Japan Showcase announcement also introduced two cards, Overlord of the Hauntwoods and Enduring Tenacity. Overlord of the Hauntwoods has the impending mechanic, now revealed to read: “If you cast this spell for its impending cost, it enters with four time counters and isn’t a creature until the last is removed. At the beginning of your end step, remove a time counter from it.”
Commander Deck Boxes
Next, the panel shifted from Duskmourn to Duskmourn Commander, revealing the packaging from the set’s four preconstructed Commander decks. Leading those decks are Zimone and Winter; the “big bad” Valvagoth; and the destiny-altering character Aminatou.
Archenemy Returns
The Duskmourn Commander decks also mark the return of the Archenemy multiplayer format, last seen in 2017’s Archenemy: Nicol Bolas. In an Archenemy game, one player, the archenemy, must take on all others and defeat them to win. Aiding the archenemy are Scheme cards, which harm one or more opponents when set in motion.
Product Lineup and Buy-a-Box Promo
The panel revealed the full Duskmourn product line-up, including Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, Prerelease kits, Bundles, and Nightmare Bundles.
It also introduced the Buy-a-Box foil promo card, the Spider-spawning green artifact creature Twitching Doll.
Duskmourn goes on full release on September 27, 2024.
