Magic: The Gatherings most controversial change is coming to Dungeons & Dragons starting with its first official World of Warcraft expansion

Date:
Fri, 31 Jul 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Description:
Universes Beyond is perfect for Dungeons & Dragons, and it's starting with World of Warcraft.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The worlds most famous MMMORPG is officially joining the worlds best TTRPG, as Wizards of the Coast just revealed that World of Warcraft will get an official Dungeons & Dragons release later this year letting you bring Azeroths species, locations, bosses, and player builds to your table.

The gameplay expansion is due to launch as part of D&D s Season of Champions on November 17, 2026, and it kickstarts a new-ish approach for the tabletop game one that arguably borrows the most controversial aspect of Wizards
other hit game, Magic: The Gathering . However, you wont catch me
complaining.

Because while the promise of nine new and updated subclasses, seven WoW dungeons to explore, over 60 spells to play around with among so many other additions is exciting, two words might overshadow this launch as they tease the arrival of plenty more otherworldly tie-ins (It has already told us Star Wars is coming down the line). Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Blizzard Entertainment) This W orld of Warcraft expansion will kickstart D&D s Universes Beyond era. And whatever you think of UB in Magic , its easily most at home in this Dungeons
& Dragons form. A multiverse of wonder For the uninitiated, Universes Beyond is the branding used in Magic: The Gathering to denote cards featuring an IP that Wizards hasnt developed. It has brought us game pieces featuring characters and places from Lord of the Rings , Jurassic Park , Marvel , and soon Star Trek, among plenty more. You may like Mark Rosewater has made me excited for Magic's next Universes Beyond set Wish you could play Baldur's Gate 3 on Nintendo Switch 2? Another brilliant D&D RPG just hit the platform in time for its latest free update Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is one of the
best expansions I've ever played here's why

I love it. I first picked up the TCG because of its tie-ins (after seeing D&D and Stranger Things inspired cards), and having heard designers like Mark Rosewater talk so passionately about their approach to Universes Beyond card design, I cant help but mimic their infectious joy.

Though I cant pretend the whole community shares my feelings. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Blizzard Entertainment) Whether its because UB now makes up three of every six sets released each year and the bloat some believe this many releases in general adds, the higher costs that come with UB products compared to in-universe expansions, or simply a dislike for the external IP and a belief its vibe doesnt gel with Magics, you can find many reasons for Universes Beyond hatred.

Dungeons & Dragons , however, should dodge a lot of these community complaints. In fact, I could see the Universes Beyond expansion being widely loved by the community. Above and Beyond For a start, if anyone hates this approach, they can ignore it. This same strategy has been suggested by
Wizards to folks who dislike UB in Magic: The Gathering, but outside of fan-made formats like Planar Standard its simply not viable in competitive formats you have to follow the meta. In Commander you have to accept that
your opponents will play the legal cards they want to play. What to read next Inside Disney World's Mandalorian Smugglers Run Unreal overhaul The 28 best Xbox Series X games to play right now Final Fantasy 14: Evercold will revitalize the long-running MMO with all-new content and gameplay features here are the top three things I can't wait to try

In D&D, however, the game is designed for you to pick and choose what is/isnt incorporated into the world. Some DMs ban certain subclasses, or only accept
a small selection of spells. In contrast, others (like myself) will invite
not only all official content but plenty of homebrew sources to their tables. (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast / Blizzard Entertainment) Speaking of, either through unofficial fan creations or official adaptations created using the free Open Game License / System Reference Document (which allows folks to create their own 5e-compatible content using the core Dungeons & Dragons rules) theres already a lot of external IP ready to access either in roundabout ways like through Steinhardts Guide to the Eldritch Hunts Bloodborne inspirations, or in more explicit capacities like Doctors and Daleks .

I think weve all also played in a game where someone has taken inspiration from pop culture to build a character. Ive built a tarroka deck-wielding Fire Genasi Bard to recreate X-Men s Gambit, and in one of my earliest D&D games two people at the table were clearly playing fantasy Han Solo and Chewbacca (and will likely love the offical Star Wars expansion D&D is offering up
after WoW) .

Entering D&D s weird world of roleplaying can be a tough experience at first, so being able to lean on familiarity, especially in an official capacity like Universe Beyond, makes the game more accessible and also simply helps players have the fun they want to have.

Thats already the approach for in-universe expansions. Theres Greyhawk for high fantasy lovers, Dark Sun if you want a more mature, violent setting, Spelljammer if you want a space-themed adventure, and Strixhaven if you want to enjoy magic school drama, to name a few. Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast) (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast) (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast) (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast) Image 1 of 4 View Original Image 2 of 4 View Original Image 3 of 4 View Original Image 4 of 4 View Original Well have to wait and see how D&Ds approach to Universes Beyond evolves over time, but I dont see any downsides.

Its a game all about creating the adventure you want to have. Universes
Beyond wont change that. If anything, it should only make that goal a heck of a lot easier for so many players. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/magic-the-gatherings-most-controversial-chang e-is-coming-to-dungeons-and-dragons-starting-with-its-first-official-world-of- warcraft-expansion


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