10 Universes Beyond Crossovers We'd Love to See in Magic: The Gathering
- Gregory Thornberry
- Jul 27
- 4 min read
Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond line has brought legendary franchises like The Lord of the Rings, Fallout, Final Fantasy, Marvel, and Warhammer 40,000 into the world's most popular trading card game.
While Wizards of the Coast hasn't revealed what's next beyond the currently announced collaborations like The Hobbit, it's always fun to imagine which worlds could join Magic in the future.
Here are ten franchises we'd love to see receive the Universes Beyond treatment.
10. Red Dead Redemption
"You, sir, are a fish!"
The card possibilities based on Arthur Morgan's open-world adventures are endless.
Legendary outlaws, horseback pursuits, train robberies, and tense standoffs would give Magic a fresh take on the Western genre while still feeling mechanically familiar.
Why it fits
Legendary Gunslingers
Horse Mounts
Treasure tokens
Bandits and bounty hunters
9. Terminator
The Terminator franchise has enough iconic characters to build several Commander decks.
Imagine a card with Arnold wearing his iconic leather jacket and sunglasses. "I'll be back." "Hasta la vista, baby". The cards just write themselves!
Artifacts would finally take center stage, while time travel could create some incredibly unique mechanics.
Imagine opening booster packs containing:
T-800
Sarah Connor
John Connor
Skynet
Why it fits
Artifact creatures
Vehicles
Time-travel themes
Human vs. Machine conflict
8. Back to the Future
At first glance, Back to the Future may seem like an unusual choice, but Magic has already shown it can embrace lighter franchises.
"Wait a minute, Doc. Are you telling me that you built a legendary vehicle... out of a DeLorean?"
Why it fits
Legendary Vehicles
Time counters
Alternate timelines
Inventor characters
7. Rick and Morty
"Wubba Lubba Dub Dub!"
If Wizards wanted another humorous crossover, few franchises offer more creative freedom than Rick and Morty.
Portal guns, bizarre alien worlds, alternate dimensions, and unpredictable science experiments almost write themselves as Magic cards.
Just don't make a Jerry card!
Why it fits
Chaos mechanics
Portal effects
Alternate realities
Weird legendary creatures
6. Studio Ghibli
Spirited Away is a masterpiece and one of my all time favorite movies. What I wouldn't give for a No-Face card!
This would easily become one of the most beautiful Universes Beyond sets ever printed.
Imagine cards inspired by:
Spirited Away
Princess Mononoke
Howl's Moving Castle
My Neighbor Totoro
Instead of focusing on combat, the set could lean heavily into enchantments, Spirits, and legendary creatures.
Why it fits
Spirit creatures
Enchantments
Sagas
Gorgeous artwork
5. Fullmetal Alchemist
Alchemy and Magic already feel like close relatives.
Edward and Alphonse Elric could headline one of the most mechanically interesting Universes Beyond releases ever.
Sacrifice mechanics would perfectly capture Equivalent Exchange.
Why it fits
Artifact themes
Sacrifice strategies
Legendary siblings
Homunculi
4. Attack on Titan
Maybe they shouldn't make an AoT set. A Levi Ackerman Commander would be insanely overpowered. Just ask Zeke.
Honestly though, few anime series feel as naturally compatible with Magic as Attack on Titan.
Titan Shifters could become transforming double-faced cards, while ODM Gear practically begs to become Equipment.
The only obstacle is licensing. Attack on Titan already has established collectible card game partnerships, so a Magic collaboration could be more complicated than some other franchises.
Still, if it ever happened, it would likely become one of the biggest anime-themed Magic releases ever produced.
Why it fits
Transform mechanics
Equipment
Giant creatures
Military factions
3. The Legend of Zelda
If you asked Magic players to build a Universes Beyond wishlist, The Legend of Zelda would probably appear near the top of most lists.
The franchise already contains nearly everything Magic loves:
Legendary heroes
Ancient artifacts
Dragons
Dungeons
Sages
Monsters
Epic bosses
It's difficult to imagine a franchise that fits Magic's gameplay better.
Why it fits
Equipment
Dungeons
Sagas
Legendary creatures
2. Game of Thrones
A deck built around "The Mountain" vs one built around "The Hound"!
An Arya Commander finally checking Cersei off her list.
Plus, who wouldn't want to beat a Joffrey deck? Would he be a Commander, or a Creature?
Game of Thrones already feels like a Magic expansion waiting to happen. Every great house could easily become its own Commander deck.
Why it fits
Five-color factions
Dragons
Political mechanics
Legendary families
1. Warcraft
If there is one crossover that feels almost inevitable someday, it's Warcraft. As a 20-year WoW veteran, I constantly wonder why this hasn't happened yet.
Magic and Warcraft have shared fantasy DNA for decades.
Orcs.
Elves.
Undead.
Dragons.
Demons.
Paladins.
Mages.
The universe already contains nearly every creature type and mechanic that Magic players love.
Commander decks could feature:
Alliance
Horde
Scourge
Burning Legion
Meanwhile, legendary creatures like Thrall, Arthas, Jaina Proudmoore, Illidan Stormrage, and Sylvanas Windrunner could become instant collector favorites.
If Wizards of the Coast ever announced Warcraft as a Universes Beyond set, it would likely become one of the biggest crossover releases in Magic history.
But let's pattern it off Classic WoW and Warcraft 3, not current Retail please.
Why it fits
Nearly every major Magic creature type
Iconic legendary characters
Rich lore
Endless Commander possibilities
Fingers Crossed on the Future Universes Beyond
Universes Beyond has shown that almost any world can be adapted into Magic: The Gathering when the mechanics and licensing align. While there's no guarantee that any of these franchises will ever receive their own set, imagining how they might play is part of the fun.
Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know which franchise deserves a Universes Beyond set next.
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