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Pre-release tournaments for this upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Lorwyn Eclipsed, are set to begin on Jan. 16. While the complete preview period is slated to begin on January 5, lead designer Maro Rosewater has once again shared a lengthy list of gameplay hints ahead of schedule.

An In-depth Dive into the Significant Teasers

Among the many teasers, a few stand out. Lorwyn Eclipsed will feature a "card that tutors every round." This likely refers to a creature that enables a you to search their library each upkeep for a specific type, potentially under certain restrictions.

It could be an effect as modest as finding a land card each round, or something more powerful such as a search effect that scales depending on a board state.

He also teased a fresh piece that duplicates triggered abilities. This could be linked to a revealed character, a planeswalker that, by tapping a pair of ready creatures, can copy a triggered ability once per turn.

Another standout teaser involves an ability that will "negate every instants and sorceries your opponents have on the stack." Although the wording is somewhat ambiguous, it implies an extremely potent ability capable of addressing numerous castings at once.

Gameplay Centered Around Power and Toughness

This expansion will also include effects that reference "the gap between its power and toughness." For cards having stat lines like 1/3 or 3/1, this mechanic could prove highly meaningful.

• Additionally, a card is set to come into the play with six -1/-1 counters on it, highlighting a comeback of this hallmark counter mechanic from the first Lorwyn-Shadowmoor era.
• Another teaser mentions the phrase "if this is the third time this effect has resolved this turn," pointing to a card that rewards multiple triggers.

Creature Type Focus and Lore Hints

A significant lore teaser is a legendary card with the type line: "Legendary Creature – Elf Faerie Noble." Given the established tension between Elves and Faeries on this plane, this combined identity hints at a major narrative development.

The lead designer also confirmed the core eight creature types featured in the set: Elemental, Elf, Faerie, Giant, Goblin, Kithkin, Merfolk, and Treefolk. This reiterates a heavy tribal focus for Lorwyn Eclipsed.

Late in the list, he names "Bark of Doran," likely a nod to the famous Treefolk, suggesting a continued focus on the relationship of attack and defense.

Additional Interesting Points

In addition to these major mechanics, the set will include:

1. Several returning "kindred" spells that interact with particular tribes.
2. A broad array of keyword counters, such as charge, dream, flying, first strike, indestructible, and lifelink.
3. The return of a keyword first introduced in 2025.
4. Various creature token generators, ranging from 1/1 Faerie tokens to a 3/4 green Treefolk.

Card Title Hints and Conclusion

Lastly, Rosewater teased a few titles, like Mirrorform, Moonshadow, Gilt-Leaf’s Embrace, and Chaos Spewer. These names provide early glimpses into the set's story themes and are references to familiar concepts from the world's past.

In summary, Lorwyn Eclipsed is not only a homecoming to a beloved setting but also a test to see if contemporary Magic is able to handle the distinctive weirdness that made the original Lorwyn sets so memorable.