Magic: The Gathering is heading to the world of Star Trek from 6 November (pre-release), with a raft of new Universes Beyond cards introducing iconic heroes, villains, monsters, ships and dramatic story arcs from the iconic sci-fi franchise.
While standalone, the set should feel right at home in the world of Magic: The Gathering, particularly given the recent introduction of a science fiction-inspired universe (such as that seen in the Edge of Eternities set), as well as previous Universes Beyond forays through Doctor Who.
We anticipate Spacecraft cards from Edge of Eternities will have particular synergies here, as well as cards featuring planets, sci-fi weaponry and other space-bound paraphernalia. Of course, with multiple commander decks and plenty of other cards waiting in Star Trek booster packs, there should be plenty of inner set synergy as well – perfect for those getting into MTG for the first time, and anyone else who enjoys a good sci-fi romp.
Thanks to Wizards of the Coast, ScreenHub has one exclusive preview card to show off, featuring the debut of a Star Trek: The Next Generation hero who perhaps deserved more than she got.
Please welcome Tasha Yar, Out of Time.
Magic: The Gathering – Star Trek preview card – quick links
Magic: The Gathering – Star Trek preview card: Tasha Yar, Out of Time
Tasha Yar, Out of Time will come in two variants: the standard Magic: The Gathering style card, and the new LCARS (Library Computer Access and Retrieval System) frame card. If you manage to nab her, you’ll find a very handy red mana card that allows you to play around with other cards in exile.
Tasha Yar, Out of Time costs one generic mana, one red mana. She’s got haste, so she can attack immediately when she’s played, for two damage. When she dies – and with just one toughness, it’s very possible – you may exile the top card of your library and then, until the end of your next turn, you can play that card.
While exile is a tricky mechanic to make work for you, it can help to speed up your plays as long as you’re planning ahead and figuring out how best to use it. This mechanic also depends heavily on chance. You could exile a land card from the top of your library, which could be handy if you’ve missed a land drop on your turn. You could also exile an important enchantment, instant or sorcery which may be deployed at just the right time within your next turns.
Of course, you could exile something important that you can’t get back in subsequent turns, but that’s the fun and chance of playing Magic: The Gathering.
As an added bonus for deploying Tasha Yar, Out of Time, you can also exile this card from your graveyard for a cost of two generic mana, one red mana to create a token copy that is sacrificed at the beginning of your next end step (a neat nod to series events). Get in another attack with her haste ability, then later she’ll be sacrificed and you can exile another card from the top of your library.
When to use Tasha Yar, Out of Time
Tasha Yar, Out of Time is useful as a two-drop creature with haste and two power. She might come in handy during draft, for rounds of standard play. Her exile mechanic will be useful for speeding up your plays in this format as well, although this will depend on which cards end up in your exile.
She may also help out in other formats, if you can make her exile mechanics work well.
A card like Cosmogoyf cares about how many cards you own in exile, and Tasha Yar can add three (including herself). Crackling Drake cares about how many instants and sorcery cards are in exile (and the graveyard) and Tasha Yar could also help there, if you get lucky.
Working alongside Ketramose, the New Dawn, Tasha Yar, Out of Time can also give you card draw (at the cost of losing life) using her secondary ability.
For a fun bit of synergy, this card is like Laelia, the Blade Reforged, although with a one-cheaper cost and alternative secondary abilities. For the right kind of deck she could turn out to be very useful, as well as being a gorgeous illustrated card in both forms.
