The Power of the Kaiju: Using Kaiju Inspired Magic Cards to Dominate the Game

Kaiju Inspired Magic Cards Magic: The Gathering is a popular trading card game that has been around for decades. It combines strategy, creativity, and imagination as players build decks and battle against each other. One type of card that has gained popularity in recent years is the Kaiju inspired magic cards. Kaiju refers to a genre of Japanese films that feature giant monsters attacking cities and battling each other. Popular examples of Kaiju include Godzilla, King Kong, and Mothra. These creatures are larger than life and possess incredible powers and abilities.

Last month in Tokyo, Toho Studios opened its doors to the assembled press, providing a rare look at

We re approaching these cards as fun alternate versions rather than a cohesive Godzilla storyline, so we were able to showcase all kinds of great eras of giant monster action rather than having to pick just one. Other than the inherent absurdity that this, right here, is Actual Godzilla on an Actual Magic card, what makes Lair of Behemoth s Godzilla cards fun is that, because they re alternate art cards for normal cards in the set, these are fully legal in a tournament Magic setting.

These creatures are larger than life and possess incredible powers and abilities. Magic cards that are inspired by Kaiju take their inspiration from these giant monsters. They usually depict a massive creature with unique abilities and attributes.

Godzilla Is Coming to Magic: The Gathering, and He's Bringing Friends

J okes aside, no joke: Hasbro, Wizards of the Coast, and Toho have teamed up to create a special series of Kaiju cards celebrating decades of Godzilla’s titanic scraps within the next expansion set for Magic: The Gathering. Which is fitting, because said expansion—Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths—is all about players visiting the titular plane of giant beasts and summoning their own monstrous titans to do battle, alongside the Planeswalker Vivien Reid and a mysterious man named Lukka, who forged a forbidden bond with one of Ikoria’s giant beasts and became an outcast of his society.

So how does Godzilla of all things fit in? Well, aside from the giant monster inspiration behind the setting, the King of All Monsters (and a few of his best friends) will actually be arriving in Lair of Behemoths as series of special alternate art cards —an idea actually put forward by Magic’s Japanese team when work on Ikoria began.

“From the very start, one of the central goals of this set was to create a Magic experience that delivered the building-scale monster action we grew up watching in places like the Godzilla movies,” Magic: The Gathering p roduct a rchitect Mark Heggen exclusively told io9 over email. “The team was partway through creating our own world full of giant monsters when the group that manages Magic: The Gathering in Japan came to us with the idea to actually include Godzilla in the set. It kind of blew our minds at first, but we just couldn’t stop smiling at the idea—it was such a perfect fit! The next thing we knew, they’d flown to Japan and started a great relationship with Toho Company.”

Get a Load of the Glorious Kaiju Art Stomping Into Mondo's New Godzilla Gallery

There are few more iconic giant creatures than Godzilla—he’s the king for a reason, after all. Now,

Toho were more than eager to help make it all happen. “Toho was fantastic. As soon as the collaboration began, they started sending over tons of options and reference materials,” Heggen continued. “There were always plenty of great ideas to work with. We worked together from both sides, and arrived on a final lineup that worked well for gameplay and also delivered the characters that Toho knew would speak to hardcore Godzilla fans.”

Speaking of which, check out one of those cards below, making its debut exclusively here on io9: The Titanoth Rex, whose alternate art variant is none other than Godzilla, Primeval Titan!

Other than the inherent absurdity that this, right here, is Actual Godzilla on an Actual Magic card, what makes Lair of Behemoth’s Godzilla cards fun is that, because they’re alternate art cards for normal cards in the set, these are fully legal in a tournament Magic setting. Players will still be able to tell what card the Godzilla versions are based on and they share the same rules and costs.

“We have created promotional crossover cards a few times before but those have always been silver-bordered, which means they’re for casual play only and not legal in most Magic formats,” Heggen noted, referring to past convention-exclusive bundles like the special Hasbro toy crossover cards. “Given the themes of this set and how naturally Godzilla and his friends fit in, after a lot of conversation and consideration we decided that it was finally time to welcome new faces into tournament-legal Magic cards.”

A Trip to Godzilla's Home, Toho, Made Us Want to Stomp Through Its Amazing Sets

Last month in Tokyo, Toho Studios opened its doors to the assembled press, providing a rare look at

There’ll be 16 alternate art cards in the series in total, along with three bonus cards that will only be available in the Japanese market, all reflecting different takes and eras of Godzilla’s long cinematic history. “There’s just so much great source material when it comes to Godzilla, we didn’t want to limit ourselves,” Heggen told us. “We’re approaching these cards as fun alternate versions rather than a cohesive Godzilla storyline, so we were able to showcase all kinds of great eras of giant monster action rather than having to pick just one.”

If you want a chance at getting them, they’ll be found in Magic’s special Lair of Behemoths Collectors Boosters (and not in the standard individual “Draft” booster packs), each of which will contain two random Godzilla Series Monster cards, while purchasing a full sealed draft booster pack display will also net you one random Godzilla Series Monster card. And you won’t miss out if you play Magic: The Gathering through Arena—Wizards of the Coast’s online version of the physical card game—because they’ll also appear there as special new card styles. If you purchase bundles of six or more Ikoria: Lair of Behemoth digital booster packs inside Arena’s client, you’ll receive the styles as a bonus.

Just like in the movies, these cards can be summoned onto the battlefield and engage in battles with other creatures. One example of a Kaiju inspired magic card is "Colossal Beast of Destruction." This creature is an enormous monster that can trample over smaller creatures and deal massive damage. Its art depicts a massive creature destroying everything in its path, just like a scene from a Kaiju film. Another example is "Devastating Roar of Annihilation." This card allows the player to unleash a mighty roar that destroys all creatures on the opponent's side of the battlefield. The artwork shows a ferocious monster releasing a deafening cry that shatters buildings in its wake. Kaiju inspired magic cards add an exciting and unique element to the game. They allow players to channel their inner monster and unleash devastating attacks on their opponents. These cards bring a sense of awe and wonder, just like watching a giant monster movie. Players can use these cards strategically to overpower their opponents and take control of the game. They add a thrilling new dimension to the gameplay experience and keep players engaged and entertained. In conclusion, Kaiju inspired magic cards offer a fresh and exciting take on the traditional gameplay of Magic: The Gathering. They allow players to summon and command their own giant monsters, just like in the movies. These cards add an element of awe, power, and strategy to the game, making it even more enjoyable for players of all skill levels..

Reviews for "Harnessing the Kaiju: Crafting Powerful Magic Cards with Godzilla-like Abilities"

1. Mark - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the "Kaiju inspired magic cards". As a long-time Magic player, I was excited to see a new theme, but the execution fell flat for me. The artwork was mediocre at best, and the card abilities seemed lazy and uninspired. I also found it frustrating that the Kaiju aspect of the cards didn't tie in well with the overall gameplay. It felt like a half-hearted attempt to cash in on the Kaiju trend without truly understanding how to integrate it effectively into the Magic universe. Overall, I would not recommend these cards to any serious Magic player looking for new and exciting content.

2. Sarah - 2 stars - I was initially intrigued by the idea of "Kaiju inspired magic cards", but unfortunately, they failed to deliver. The artwork was lackluster and lacked the vibrant and dynamic feel that I associate with Kaiju. Additionally, the card abilities were uninteresting and didn't offer any unique gameplay strategies. It felt like a missed opportunity to bring a fresh and exciting theme to Magic, and instead, it just felt like a gimmick. I wouldn't recommend these cards to anyone looking for a truly immersive and engaging gameplay experience.

3. Alex - 1 star - The "Kaiju inspired magic cards" were a huge letdown for me. I found the concept of combining Kaiju and Magic intriguing, but the execution was terrible. The artwork was amateurish and lacked the attention to detail that I expect from Magic cards. Moreover, the card abilities seemed unbalanced and poorly thought out, leading to frustrating and unbalanced gameplay experiences. I was hoping for a new and exciting addition to the Magic universe, but instead, I got a lackluster and unimpressive set of cards. I would not recommend these cards to anyone who appreciates the quality and craftsmanship that Magic is known for.

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