Popular video game franchise crosses over with collectible card game for limited-time December release
Magic: The Gathering has announced an exciting collaboration with the popular Monster Hunter video game franchise, bringing characters and creatures from the beloved series to the collectible card game through a special Secret Lair release. The crossover represents the latest in a growing trend of successful video game partnerships for the trading card phenomenon.
Last week, the Secret Lair website posted a cryptic teaser featuring a banner with the message Hunter Rank required, which initially left fans speculating about which franchise might be joining the Magic universe. The mystery has since been solved with the official confirmation that Monster Hunter content will arrive in December.
Four drops launching in December
The Monster Hunter Superdrop collection will be available for purchase from December 1 through December 22, though availability may be limited if the drops sell out quickly. The collection consists of four separate releases, each priced at $30 for non-foil versions and $40 for foil editions.
Details about the collection were revealed at a recent press conference attended by gaming media outlets, providing fans with specific information about which Magic cards will receive Monster Hunter reimagining treatments.
The Hunt collection features five cards
The first drop, titled The Hunt, includes five reimagined cards from the Magic universe. 1) Blind Obedience, 2) Snap, 3) Village Rites, 4) Mizzium Mortars, and 5) Tooth and Nail will all receive artwork and theming inspired by Monster Hunter’s gameplay mechanics and visual style.
The Hunters showcase character cards
The second release, called The Hunters, focuses on creature cards that represent various character types. This drop includes Archaeomancer, Grand Abolisher, Grim Haruspex, Imperial Recruiter and Champion of Lambholt, each redesigned to reflect the hunter characters and classes featured throughout the Monster Hunter video game series.
The Monsters drops bring legendary creatures
Two additional releases titled The Monsters I and The Monsters II will feature legendary creature cards reimagined as iconic monsters from the video game franchise. While specific details about which cards appear in each individual drop remain unclear, the combined collection includes nine powerful legendary creatures.
The Monsters drops will feature Nezahal Primal Tide, Drakuseth Maw of Flames, Sarulf Realm Eater, Vaevictis Asmadi the Dire, Ziatora the Incinerator, Razaketh the Foulblooded, Amareth the Lustrous, Wasitora Nekoru Queen and Kalamax the Stormsire. Each card will be redesigned with artwork depicting creatures and elder dragons from the Monster Hunter universe.
Bonus cards add mystery element
Each of the four Secret Lair drops will include an additional bonus card that has not yet been revealed to collectors. This means the full collection contains at least four more cards beyond those already announced, adding an element of surprise for purchasers who won’t know what bonus content they’re receiving until their orders arrive.
All cards in the collection will feature completely new artwork and theming based on the Monster Hunter franchise while maintaining their original Magic: The Gathering gameplay mechanics and rules text.
Video game crossovers gain momentum
The Monster Hunter collaboration continues Magic’s recent success with video game intellectual property partnerships. Final Fantasy became the most financially successful Magic set of all time by a significant margin, demonstrating the appeal of bringing beloved video game franchises into the card game world.
Earlier video game crossovers produced mixed results, with sets based on Fallout, Baldur’s Gate and Assassin’s Creed experiencing varying levels of commercial success. However, recent Secret Lair releases featuring PlayStation and Sonic the Hedgehog properties proved extremely popular with collectors, suggesting growing demand for these types of collaborations.
The sealed product from the Fallout release has maintained particularly high resale values in the secondary market, indicating strong collector interest in video game-themed Magic cards that may extend beyond active players of both properties.
What collectors can expect
Monster Hunter fans and Magic collectors will have three weeks to purchase the December drops before they become unavailable through official channels. The limited-time nature of Secret Lair releases typically drives significant interest from both players and investors who view the special edition cards as collectible items with potential long-term value.
The collaboration brings together two popular gaming franchises with dedicated fan bases, potentially attracting new players to Magic while giving existing collectors unique additions to their collections.
Story credit: DRAFTSIAA
