Metagame: Marvel Super Heroes' First Week

00Comment iconComment iconComment iconComment icon

Marvel brought quite a few surprises, substantial changes to Legacy and Vintage, and even led to one of the fastest bans in Magic history!

Writer image

Translated byRomeu

Writer image

Revised byTabata Marques

Edit Article

Marvel Super Heroeslink outside website, the main Universes Beyond set of 2026, arrived with a bang. Despite still making timid appearances in Standard and Pioneer, Magic's collaborative expansion with Marvel made big waves in Modern, Legacy, Vintage, and even triggered one of the fastest bans in Pauper's history.

Jennifer Walters was a highlight for Selesnya decks, and Namor, the Sub-Mariner is just a few steps away from being considered a staple in Standard Izzet lists. In Modern and Legacy, Loki, God of Mischief showed that Orcish Bowmasters' presence in the Metagame is not enough to stop him, but eternal formats have another challenge with The Fantasticar, which could join the game's Banned and Restricted list in the future.

Standard

Loading icon

Despite a timid appearance, with one copy in most lists, Jennifer Walters has established itself as a card present in all Selesnya Ouroboroid lists. After all, a Voice of Victory that also has a mana sink ability is precisely what Badgermole Cub decks are looking for.

Loading icon

Speaking of Cub, Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu appeared with four copies in a Simic Rhythm variant, allowing the use of extra mana from dorks on the same turn they enter. The list also included Kang the Conqueror as a Time Warp with a body for the Nature's Rhythm toolbox.

Loading icon

A Mono Green version also made Top 32 of one of the Challenges using Shang-Chi, Enduring Vitality, and The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl for explosive turns, with a vague possibility of infinite mana if we have all three cards on board and enough mana to activate Squirrel Girl and Badgermole Cub to generate extra mana.

Loading icon

Shang-Chi also brought Insidious Roots back on the radar, but the deck still proved less efficient than other green variants in the Metagame.

Loading icon
Loading icon

Namor, the Sub-Mariner appeared in several Izzet variants, even in Spellementals, where it would theoretically be a less synergistic card. There is a strong chance he will become a pillar of these strategies in the coming weeks, splitting slots between maindeck and sideboard.

Loading icon

Jeskai Artifacts, which has been on the rise in recent weeks, gained new win conditions with Iron Man Armor and Castle Doom. The land also showed up in a Jeskai Equipments list with Mjolnir, Hammer of Thor and The Mighty Thor, Jane Foster.

Loading icon

Gruul Delirium also returned to the radar with Rapid Rescue, a replacement for Seed of Hope, a card that left Standard after the last rotation and significantly reduced the deck's consistency.

Pioneer

Loading icon

As in Standard, Jennifer Walters was also a precise inclusion in Selesnya Ouroboroid decks in Pioneer.

Loading icon

The other cards had a more timid presence. Hex Magic appeared in an Izzet Lotus Combo list, while Kid Loki appeared with four copies in Izzet Cauldron, which has started to grow in the format.

Loading icon

Speedball, New Warrior appeared with two copies in a Boros Heroic list, although these slots seem more like a test than a future staple at the moment.

Modern

Loading icon

Namor the Sub-Mariner was included in the Sideboard of a Mono Blue Belcher list as an alternative win condition that takes advantage of the high number of blue mana symbols in the deck's spells.

Loading icon

Loki, God of Mischief was a pleasant surprise in both Modern and Legacy. Despite being dismissed for dying to Orcish Bowmasters, one of Marvel's most iconic villains turned out to be an efficient card advantage source if we can target him each turn cycle, a task made easy with Relic of Progenitus, which opened space for the card in an Esper Ketramose list.

Loading icon

Loki also reinforced recent iterations of Grinding Station, where Mishra's Bauble, Sewer-veillance Cam, and even Station itself are ways to trigger him.

Loading icon

As expected, Hex Magic became a potential staple for Ruby Storm due to its interaction with Desperate Ritual, and appeared in most Challenge lists this weekend.

Loading icon

Likewise, it is no surprise that Avengers Disassembled appeared in Boros Ponza lists, since besides interacting with the deck's game plan, it also works as a cheap sweeper.

Loading icon

Although it has not established itself in any strategy, Mjölnir, Hammer of Thor was a common one-of in Sideboards across various archetypes, likely in the expectation of testing an uncounterable instant-speed Pyroclasm.

Pauper

The first week of Marvel Super Heroes was definitely eventful for Pauper. The PFP announced the possibility of a ban one week after the set's release, which materialized: Seeker of Skybreak was banned this Monday due to its two-card combo with Hawkeye's Bow.

Loading icon
Loading icon
Loading icon
Loading icon

The combo was inserted into several variants, but ultimately proved too efficient in the Naya version, where it was complemented by a "go wide" line through interactions between Bitter Reunion and Pursue the Past with Sneaky Snacker, while also maintaining the "go big" strategy with Sacred Cat and Basilisk Gate.

Loading icon

Due to the hype, the other cards from Marvel Super Heroes were practically overshadowed and will need another week or two to establish themselves in the Metagame. HYDRA Assault Robot, Machinesmith Automaton, and the new Vision of Love are the most promising cards in the absence of the Hawkeye Combo.

Legacy

Loading icon
Loading icon

Loki, God of Mischief is making its case to become a Legacy staple for reasons similar to Modern, but with more opportunities to abuse triggers. However, we need to talk about the real elephant in the room.

Loading icon
Loading icon
Loading icon
Loading icon

The Fantasticar appeared in every archetype capable of generating fast mana and playing multiple spells in a turn, becoming the most efficient backup in Legacy's history for combo decks like Doomsday or Storm.

The card can be inserted with little to no effort and, with three other spells, turns into 16 power with Haste and Flying at a very low cost. With Dark Ritual, Lotus Petal, and archetypes already prone to explosive turns, it is possible this card will not remain in Legacy's Metagame forever.

Vintage

Loading icon

The number of Raker Shops copies in Vintage Challenges with a full set of The Fantasticar says a lot about what the new artifact can do in a Metagame where Moxes and Black Lotus are allowed. There is no scenario where the format does not start revolving around the possibility of a hit-kill with the new artifact, nor is there a future where it is not also restricted.

Wrapping Up

That's all for today!

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!

Thanks for reading!