MTG Commander event will adapt Baldur’s Gate 3 for D&D’s 50th anniversary

The next big in-store MTG Commander event will bring a unique way to adapt Baldur’s Gate 3, and it’s not as expected.

Magic: The Gathering will be returning to the Forgotten Realms in May. Stores in the US and Canada will be hosting a big Commander draft event, using Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate.

You’ll find some of Baldur’s Gate’s most recognizable characters in this set, which launched concurrently with the main Dungeons & Dragons Magic set. While this should be great fun for those going, the event is bringing something unique.

New Baldur’s Gate 3 Dungeon being added to MTG for D&D event

A special Dungeon card is being made, that adapts Baldur’s Gate 3 into the mechanic. In MTG, certain cards and abilities can “enter the dungeon” or progress through. When you enter, you choose from three based on D&D’s most popular campaigns.

When you complete a dungeon, there’s usually a reward for the player and something the opponent has to worry about. However, they’re usually designed for shorter games in other formats, meaning that multiple can be done in a game.

Developers Wizards of the Coast have created a jumbo-sized Dungeon for players to run through during their lengthier Commander games.

It’s a run-through of Baldur’s Gate 3’s iconic areas, like the Emerald Grove and the Goblin Camp. Each area has its own unique effect, like the Defiled Temple. If you sacrifice a creature when you land on this spot, you can draw a card.

Even Wizards aren’t sure about Baldur’s Gate 3 MTG Dungeon legality

However, there’s some confusion around the legality after the event surrounding the new Dungeon. Magic uses “tokens” to represent created creatures and other mechanics. Dungeons come under this banner and the official card isn’t really needed, it’s more for tracking purposes.

When asked if this would be available for official games after the event, MTG developer Matt Tabak, the Principal Editor for the TCG, said he’d only found out about it the day of the announcement.

Reddit users were also confused, as the blog doesn’t specify whether it’s now a part of the game. The current consensus around it appears to be to ask the group if they’re okay with including it. As Commander is often a casual format, house rules are often applied in non-store events. Even then, some store regulars will decide on their own.

While players of more casual formats like Commander will likely continue to use this card – especially given that new official dungeons are unlikely to come to the game any time soon – it has been confirmed that this dungeon is not Eternal legal. MTG’s head designer Mark Rosewater broke the news over on his blog, specifically saying:

“It’s just for the event, but if people enjoy it and want to casually use it, there’s nothing we can do to stop it.”

Rosewater’s statement ends with a smile, signalling that the MTG team is more than happy to let players add this new dungeon into play in non-official settings.

Legal or no, at least fans of both D&D and Magic have a new dungeon to play through for D&D’s 50th anniversary and beyond.

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