MTG Assassin’s Creed Explained: Mechanics, Assassins, and Returning Favorites

The upcoming crossover set for Assassin’s Creed in Magic The Gathering’s Universes Beyond is bound to be a hit, featuring exciting new MTG mechanics such as Freerunning, beloved character cameos, and valuable reprints.

The design team at MTG consistently puts forth effort to accurately translate Universes Beyond properties, crafting unique mechanics that honor the beloved pop-culture worlds and their devoted fan base.

The Universes Beyond treatment has been extended to include the Assassin’s Creed franchise, allowing games from various titles within Ubisoft’s prestigious collection to receive recognition.

From stealthy gameplay mechanics to a roster of beloved Assassin’s Creed characters, we will analyze some of the most powerful aspects of this Universes Beyond set.

New and Returning Mechanics

MTG Assassin's Creed Hidden Blade — WotC

Universes Beyond: Assassin’s Creed introduces a balance of stealth and action to the tabletop through the implementation of the new Freerunning mechanic, along with the familiar mechanics of Historic, Disguise, and Cloak.

As the set strongly emphasizes these mechanics, MTG games featuring Universes Beyond: Assassin’s Creed will revolve around cunning and unexpected tactics, rather than a direct display of strength.

Freerunning

Freerunning is a recently introduced capability that is being featured in Universes Beyond: Assassin’s Creed. This feature enables players to cast a spell for a reduced cost if they have dealt damage to an opponent with a Commander or Assassin Creature during the same turn.

Freerunning encourages players to strategically deal damage at the optimal moment in order to flood the board with members of the Brotherhood.

Disguise and Cloak

The return of Disguise and Cloak from Murders at Karlov Manor ensures that fans of Magic’s murder mystery set will once again experience a sense of skulduggery that they have come to love.

These abilities enable players to place cards in a face-down position and provide them with Ward 2 protection. These cards can then be revealed to surprise opponents and activate a variety of effects upon entering the battlefield.

Historic

Legendary spells, Artifacts, and Sagas are all grouped together under the category of Historic cards. This umbrella term encompasses a variety of cards in the set, ranging from Pieces of Eden to beloved Assassins.

This Universes Beyond set includes a cycle of Sagas, each aligned with a different color of mana, in line with the focus on Historic cards. These Sagas depict significant moments and tales from the vast world of Assassin’s Creed.

Since Sagas still hold a special place in the hearts of MTG players, their incorporation into Assassin’s Creed’s complex and ongoing narrative is sure to be well received by fans.

All Assassin’s Creed Characters in Universes Beyond

MTG Assassin's Creed EIvor — WOTC/Ubisoft

Universes Beyond: Assassin’s Creed has a multitude of amazing characters from the extensive Assassin’s Creed franchise, guaranteeing that both loyal followers and new enthusiasts will soon find their favorite.

Each Assassin, including Altair and Eivor, has been masterfully transformed into a MTG card, seamlessly incorporating their unique abilities and personalities into their gameplay.

For example, Edward Kenway allows players to sail the open waters while using Assassins, Pirates, and Vehicles to plunder their rivals.

As the leader of the Brotherhood, demonstrate your skills alongside Ezio Auditore, utilizing the new Freerunning skill to recruit Assassins at a lower cost and potentially secure victory by depleting opponents’ remaining lives.

Step effortlessly past your opponents’ defenses and strike a fatal blow as the Assassin-turned-Templar Shay Cormac.

This set also includes many other popular Assassins, as well as familiar modern-day characters like Shaun and Rebecca, and historical figures like Leonardo Da Vinci and Cleopatra.

Below are all the Assassin’s Creed characters who will be joining MTG through this Universes Beyond set:

Adewale
Alexios
Al-Tayr Ibn La’Ahad
Arbaaz Mir
Arno Dorian
Anne Bonny
Aya of Alexandria
Aveline de Grandpré
Basim Ibn Ashaq
Bayek of Siwa
Cleopatra
Desmond Miles
Edward Kenway
Eivor
Evie Frye
Ezio Auditore from Florence
Jacob Frye
to have
Haytham Kenway
Layla Hassan
Leonardo da Vinci
Lydia Frye
Kassandra
Mary Read
Ratonhnhaké:ton
Rebecca Crane
Roshan
Shao Jun
Shaun Hastings
Shay Cormac
Sigurd
Socrates
Surtr
The Capitoline Triad (Juno, Jupiter, and Minerva)

With MTG’s already established Assassin Creature type and Thunder Junction’s Outlaws, players have a strong foundation to create Assassin-themed decks without delay.

The game Universes Beyond: Assassin’s Creed also features the highly coveted Pieces of Eden, ancient artifacts left behind by the precursor Isu civilization. By collecting these powerful items, players can harness their godlike abilities in any deck they desire.

Assassin’s Creed: Bringing Back Reprinted Cards in a Renaissance

In addition to the 80 new cards, Universes Beyond: Assassin’s Creed also includes important reprints that are ideal for enhancing a range of decks. These reprints are accompanied by stunning new artwork, immersing the cards completely in the world of Assassin’s Creed.

This set offers a variety of valuable cards, from mana-cheap removal such as Go for the Throat and Murder that fit perfectly with the theme, to highly sought-after reprints like Sword of Feast and Famine and Cover of Darkness. It is a true treasure trove for both MTG collectors and players seeking to enhance their decks with powerful spells.

The release date for Universes Beyond: Assassin’s Creed is July 5th.