Lorwyn Eclipsed
MTG Arena Returns to the Dual-Aspect Plane
Wizards of the Coast launches Lorwyn Eclipsed on MTG Arena January 20, 2026, with the tabletop release following on January 23. This marks the first full return to the Lorwyn-Shadowmoor plane since 2008. The set features transforming double-faced cards, new mechanics Vivid and Blight, and brings back classic tribal strategies. Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Seanan McGuire crafted the story, which wrapped up in December 2025.
The Jim Henson Company created “The Ballad of Squen and Cragg,” a puppet-driven musical short film featuring two Boggarts exploring the duality between Lorwyn’s eternal day and Shadowmoor’s endless night. This collaboration puts Magic’s original worldbuilding at the forefront, offering a creative promotional approach that stands apart from typical product crossovers.
✨ Set Release Details
MTG Arena: January 20, 2026
Tabletop: January 23, 2026
Prerelease Events: January 16-22, 2026
Lorwyn Eclipsed revisits the plane for the first time in full since 2008. The original Lorwyn and Shadowmoor blocks released in 2007-2008. The plane now exists with both aspects side-by-side rather than alternating, separated by shifting auroras. Players can view preview information and check the latest gaming news for related coverage.
📖 Story by Seanan McGuire
The main story concluded in December 2025 with Episode 7 released December 16. Seanan McGuire, a Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author, wrote the narrative following four Strixhaven students—Tam, Sanar, Kirol, and Abigale—on their journey through Lorwyn-Shadowmoor.
Story formats available on DailyMTG, The Magic Story Podcast, and YouTube. Side stories continue to release throughout the preview season. For related entertainment news, check out coverage of Cyberpunk 2077 developments.
🎭 Jim Henson Company Collaboration
The Jim Henson Company produced “The Ballad of Squen and Cragg,” a rock ballad featuring puppet Boggarts from both Lorwyn and Shadowmoor aspects. Characters designed by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop appear in this original promotional content.
This collaboration focuses on Magic’s original IP rather than external crossovers, using the puppetry techniques that created The Dark Crystal and other classic works. The short film explores the identity crisis of creatures split between the plane’s two aspects. More gaming insights available at Arc Raiders updates.
⚡ Set Mechanics
Vivid: An ability word that counts the number of colors among permanents you control (between zero and five). Each vivid ability uses this number differently for various effects.
Blight: A keyword action where you put -1/-1 counters on a creature you control. Often appears as a cost to activate powerful abilities. The set uses -1/-1 counters as the main counter type, the first since Hour of Devastation.
Transform: Double-faced cards with transform costs paid at the beginning of your first main phase. Creatures can shift between Lorwyn and Shadowmoor aspects by paying the transform cost.
Returning Mechanics: Changeling (creatures with all creature types), Persist (creatures return with -1/-1 counter), Convoke (tap creatures to help pay costs), Wither (damage as -1/-1 counters), and Evoke (alternate casting cost with sacrifice).
🃏 Oko: Double-Faced Planeswalker
Oko appears as a transforming double-faced planeswalker with five abilities across both faces. The card costs 2U (two colorless mana plus one blue) and starts with 3 loyalty. At the beginning of your first main phase, you can pay one mana to transform Oko between his two aspects. This design reflects the plane’s transformation theme while requiring strategic planning to maximize value from both sides.
Oko, Lorwyn Liege
Mana Cost: 2U | Starting Loyalty: 3
Blue Face – Loyalty Builder
Oko, Shadowmoor Scion
No Mana Cost | Back Face
Green Face – Payoff Side
⚖️ Card Analysis
The Lorwyn Liege face provides loyalty-building with +2 and +1 abilities but offers limited immediate impact. The +2 grants all creature types permanently, creating synergy with the ultimate ability but having narrow applications outside specific strategies. The +1 reduces power by 2 until your next turn, providing defensive utility.
Shadowmoor Scion delivers stronger effects requiring loyalty investment. The -1 mills three cards and returns a permanent to hand, offering card advantage and graveyard synergy. The -3 creates two 3/3 Elk tokens for board presence. The -6 ultimate grants +3/+3, vigilance, and hexproof to creatures of a chosen type.
Transform timing occurs at the beginning of your first main phase, requiring one turn of protection before flipping. Unlike previous game-breaking cards, this version appears balanced for Standard play with setup requirements limiting immediate impact.
📅 MTG Arena Event Schedule
Events open at 8 a.m. PT (UTC-08:00) on start dates. After March 8, times shift to UTC-07:00. All dates confirmed via official Arena announcements.
Midweek Magic: Momir format (opens Tuesday 2 p.m. PT)
Flashback Draft: Murders at Karlov Manor
Arena Powered Cube returns with updated card list
Qualifier Play-In: Best-of-Three Pioneer format
Qualifier Weekend: Pioneer format championship
Midweek Magic: MTG | Avatar: The Last Airbender Sealed
Flashback Draft: Modern Horizons 3
Quick Draft: Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender
Lorwyn Eclipsed releases on MTG Arena
Midweek Magic: Jump Into Lorwyn Eclipsed
Tabletop Release: Global availability for physical products
Quick Draft: Lorwyn Eclipsed
Lorwyn Eclipsed Sealed: Arena Direct event
February Qualifier Play-In: Best-of-One Standard format
February Qualifier Play-In: Best-of-Three Standard format
February Qualifier Weekend: Standard format
Arena Championship 11: Details to be announced
🏆 Competitive Results
Michael DeBenedetto-Plummer won Arena Championship 10. Arena Championship 11 takes place February 21-22, 2026.
January Qualifier events use Pioneer format with Best-of-Three Play-In on January 9 and Qualifier Weekend January 10-11. February Qualifiers feature Standard format with Best-of-One Play-In January 31, Best-of-Three Play-In February 6, and Qualifier Weekend February 7-8.
Qualifier tokens earned through seasonal rewards deliver to MTG Arena inboxes. Players must claim tokens before events start. December 2025 season rewards distributed at 12:05 p.m. PT on December 31.
📦 Preorder Bundle Changes
MTG Arena transitions to two preorder bundles starting with Lorwyn Eclipsed. The Pass Bundle no longer available for preorder. The new structure provides immediate value at set release rather than requiring gameplay to unlock rewards.
Pack Bundle
Collection Building Focus
- 45 Store Packs from Lorwyn Eclipsed
- 5 Mythic Packs NEW
- 5 Golden Packs
- 1 Exclusive Card
- Depth Art Showcase
- Custom Card Sleeve
Play Bundle
Limited Play Maximization
- 4 Draft Tokens 2X MORE
- 2 Sealed Tokens 2X MORE
- 20 Play-In Points 4X MORE
- Instant Qualifier Play-In Entry
- 1 Exclusive Card
- Depth Art Showcase
- Custom Card Sleeve
- Special Companion
💡 Bundle Structure Rationale
The Pass Bundle removal addresses immediate value concerns. Previous structure required gameplay to earn Set Mastery rewards, creating a delayed experience. Pack and Play Bundles provide instant engagement with either 50 packs to open or tokens for immediate Limited play.
Play Bundle price increased from $25 to $50 with enhanced contents:
- Draft tokens: 2 → 4 (doubled)
- Sealed tokens: 1 → 2 (doubled)
- Play-In Points: 5 → 20 (quadrupled)
Wizards continues monitoring player feedback for future bundle adjustments. More gaming industry updates at PS5 security developments.
🔗 Official Resources
Official January 5 updates
Lorwyn Eclipsed details
Card reveal timeline
Vivid, Blight, Transform
Read full episodes
Product types and variants
🎮 Related Gaming Coverage
The coverage discussed Lorwyn Eclipsed’s January 20 MTG Arena release and January 23 tabletop launch. Information included the new Oko planeswalker card with transform mechanics, event schedules through February, and updated preorder bundle structure. The Jim Henson Company collaboration and Seanan McGuire’s story contributions were covered. Official sources provided mechanics details including Vivid and Blight, competitive event dates, and bundle pricing changes from previous offerings.