Magic: The Gathering Brings Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to New York City

The upcoming TMNT set aims to present the Big Apple in a warmer, more lived-in light compared to the recent Spider-Man crossover.

Feb. 19, 2026 at 7:31pm

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Magic: The Gathering's latest Universes Beyond crossover, featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is set to revisit the plane of New York City after the lukewarm reception to last year's Spider-Man set. The TMNT set, led by senior narrative designer Crystal Frasier, is taking a different approach by focusing on the Turtles' more intimate, street-level perspective of the city, in contrast to Spider-Man's more distanced, iconic view.

Why it matters

The TMNT set's approach to New York City represents an effort by Wizards of the Coast to address some of the criticisms leveled at the Spider-Man crossover, which felt disconnected from the broader theming of Magic. By leaning into the Turtles' homey, neon-tinged vision of the city, the new set aims to better integrate the setting into the overall flavor and mechanics of the cards.

The details

The TMNT set will feature new mechanics like Alliance, which triggers abilities based on another creature entering the battlefield, and Disappear, a new take on the Revolt mechanic. The art and design of the set also emphasize a more lived-in, nighttime perspective of New York, with repurposed urban spaces and a focus on the city's various light sources, like streetlights and neon signs.

  • The TMNT set is set to release on March 6, 2026.
  • The previous Spider-Man set was released in 2025.

The players

Crystal Frasier

The senior narrative designer at Wizards of the Coast and the lead narrative designer on the TMNT set.

Eric Engelhard

The design lead for the TMNT set.

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What they’re saying

“We knew going in that going back to New York right after Spider-Man, people were going to wonder about [differences]. So we had a lot of time to figure out how does New York feel for Spider-Man versus Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

— Crystal Frasier, Senior Narrative Designer (io9)

“It's also a sort of darker and more neon take. I loved watching the art come in—a lot of the set takes place at night; it really just has a very different vibe [to Spider-Man].”

— Eric Engelhard, Design Lead (io9)

What’s next

The TMNT set is set to release on March 6, 2026, providing Magic: The Gathering players with a new perspective on the plane of New York City.

The takeaway

The TMNT set's approach to New York City represents an effort by Wizards of the Coast to better integrate the setting into the overall flavor and mechanics of the cards, addressing some of the criticisms leveled at the previous Spider-Man crossover.