Marvel: Darkhold Destiny Commander Decks: Everything We Know So Far

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Marvel is coming back to Magic. Marvel: Darkhold Destiny was announced at New York Comic Con and arrives with four new Commander decks. Here is everything confirmed so far, plus our first read on which deck fits which kind of player.

Release date and price

The decks release on April 9, the same day as the main set. Retailers list them at $74.99 each, the same price as the Marvel Super Heroes decks, and there is a Collector’s Edition of every deck with Surge Foil cards. Prerelease events are expected the weekend before release. Official previews usually start a few weeks before launch, so expect the full decklists in March.

What is in each box

Every deck is a ready-to-play 100-card list with 30 cards that are new to Magic, two traditional foil legends (one of them borderless), ten double-sided tokens and a deck box.

The four decks

Lords of Hel

Black-red, with Hela on the box. The theme is generating tokens and sacrificing them. Expect an aristocrats deck: make a wide board, then turn your creatures into card draw, drain and removal. Great if you like grinding games and big death triggers.

Midnight Sons

White-black, led by Blade. Vampire typal with a lifegain angle, and the early previews suggest you will also spend life for value. Typal decks are easy to pilot and easy to upgrade, which makes this a strong pick for newer players.

Gods of Asgard

Naya, with Thor on the box. The tagline is power matters and godlike gear: creatures with power 4 or greater, backed by Equipment. The most straightforward deck of the four if you like attacking with big threats.

Strange Academy

Esper, with Doctor Strange on the box. Spellcasters and blink: flicker your creatures to reuse their enter-the-battlefield effects. Likely the most complex deck of the four, and a good fit for experienced players.

Cards you can already see

A handful of cards from the main set are already out, including the legendary artifact The Darkhold and Hela, Mistress of Darkness. Two more, Beta Ray Bill and Doctor Strange, Master of Magic, come early in the Marvel’s History of Heroes Secret Lair on November 2, but they are not legal until the set releases.

Which deck should you watch?

If you want a first Commander deck, keep an eye on Midnight Sons or Gods of Asgard: both have a clear plan. If you already own a few decks and like value engines, Lords of Hel and Strange Academy look like the most interesting builds. We will publish a full upgrade guide for each deck as soon as the lists are revealed.

Want the full schedule of upcoming decks? See our upcoming Commander precons calendar, or check how the current Marvel decks compare in which precon should you buy.