After an 18-year absence, Magic: The Gathering is returning to the fan-favourite plane of Lorwyn and its twisted reflection, Shadowmoor. The first premier set of 2026, Lorwyn Eclipsed, is built on a foundation of duality, pitting the idyllic, fairy-tale world of eternal day against a chaotic realm of perpetual night. For long-time players, it’s a return to classic tribal themes, while for new players, it’s an introduction to one of Magic’s most unique settings.
This set is packed with returning mechanics, powerful new cards, and a full product line-up designed for every type of player. This MTG Lorwyn Eclipsed Guide will be a resource for everything revealed so far, from the key release dates to the new Commander decks.
Quick-Reference Set Details
- Set Name: Lorwyn Eclipsed
- Release Date: January 23, 2026
- Prerelease Window: January 16–22, 2026
- Key Themes: Duality (Light vs. Shadow), Typal (Tribal) Synergies, -1/-1 Counters, and Hybrid Mana.
The Mechanics of an Eclipsed World
Lorwyn Eclipsed re-introduces several beloved mechanics, updated with modern design sensibilities. The core of the set revolves around the plane’s split personality.
- Transforming Double-Faced Cards (DFCs): To represent the shift between the idyllic Lorwyn and the corrupted Shadowmoor, many characters are printed as DFCs. At the beginning of your first main phase, you’ll have the option to pay a mana cost to transform your permanents, shifting their abilities and allegiance from light to shadow.
- New Keyword – Blight: The influence of Shadowmoor introduces the “Blight” mechanic, which focuses on -1/-1 counters. “Blight N” forces a player to distribute N -1/-1 counters among creatures they control. This gets around abilities like Hexproof and Ward, creating new strategic decisions.
- New Keyword – Behold: This mechanic rewards players for committing to a creature type. A card with “Behold [Creature Type]” will grant a bonus effect if you either control a creature of that type or can reveal one from your hand.
- Returning Favourites: The set sees the return of classic mechanics like Hybrid Mana, allowing for greater deck-building flexibility, as well as Evoke, Persist, and Changeling to support the set’s strong typal themes.
The Cards Everyone Will Be Watching
The initial spoilers for Lorwyn Eclipsed have revealed several powerful and collectible cards that are already generating significant discussion.
The face of the set is the new planeswalker, Oko, Lorwyn Liege. This transforming card starts as a Blue-aligned planeswalker in his Lorwyn form, but can be transformed by paying Green mana into Oko, Shadowmoor Scion, a much darker version of the character.
For collectors, the ultimate chase card will be the Serialized Bitterbloom Bearer. This is a special version of a classic Lorwyn card, Bitterblossom, featuring new artwork by Rebecca Guay. There will only be 500 serialized copies in existence, available exclusively in Collector Boosters.
The most impactful reprint for competitive players is potentially Bloom Tender. This powerful Elf Druid has been a staple in the Commander format for years, and its reintroduction into Standard is expected to make a significant impact on ramp and multi-colour strategies.
A Collector's Dream: The Special Art and Card Treatments
Beyond the chase mythics, Lorwyn Eclipsed is filled with a variety of special art and foil treatments that will make opening packs a unique experience. As a set focused on duality and fairy-tale aesthetics, the “Booster Fun” is a major highlight.
- Reversible Shock Lands: A full cycle of five borderless “shock lands” (like Steam Vents and Blood Crypt) are included in the set. One side of the card features artwork depicting a location in the bright world of Lorwyn, while the other shows its twisted counterpart in Shadowmoor.
- Fable Frame Showcase: In keeping with the storybook theme, a selection of cards will feature the “Fable Frame,” a special showcase treatment with unique, flowing art borders.
- Japan Showcase & Special Guests: The set sees the return of the popular Japan Showcase treatment, featuring alternate art from Japanese illustrators. There is also a “Special Guests” sheet of 20 cards—ten from Lorwyn’s history and ten from Shadowmoor’s—reimagined with new art.
- Fracture Foils: A special “fracture foil” treatment will also be available on certain cards, offering a unique and highly textured shine for collectors.
A Guide to the Lorwyn Eclipsed Product Lineup
This set comes with a full range of products for every type of player.
- Play Boosters & Collector Boosters: The standard for any new set. Play Boosters are designed for both drafting and opening, while Collector Boosters are packed with foils, alternate art, and the only chance to find the serialized Bitterbloom Bearer.
- Bundle: A great entry point for collectors, the Bundle contains 9 Play Boosters, a foil alt-art promo card of Kinbinding, a pack of basic lands, and an oversized spindown die.
Commander Decks
Two 100-card preconstructed decks are being released, showcasing the set’s dual themes.
- “Dance of the Elements” is a five-colour Elemental typal deck led by Ashling, the Limitless. This deck focuses on using the Evoke mechanic and creating token copies of your creatures for explosive turns.
- “Blight Curse” is a Jund (Black/Red/Green) deck led by Auntie Ool, Cursewretch. This deck is built around the new Blight mechanic, spreading -1/-1 counters across the board to weaken your opponents’ creatures and gain advantages.
The Impact on Commander
While Lorwyn Eclipsed is a Standard-legal set, its impact on the Commander format is expected to be significant, extending well beyond the two preconstructed decks.
The new commanders themselves are already generating a lot of excitement. Ashling, the Limitless is being discussed as one of the most powerful five-colour Elemental commanders ever printed, enabling complex strategies with evoke creatures and token copying. Auntie Ool, Cursewretch finally provides a dedicated Jund (-1/-1 counters) commander, giving a home to many disparate cards from sets like Amonkhet and Shadowmoor.
The main set is also rich with Commander staples. The reprint of Bloom Tender provides a crucial ramp piece for multi-colour decks. The set is also filled with powerful new “typal” support cards—cards that care about a specific creature type. This means existing Commander decks for Elves, Merfolk, Faeries, Goblins, and Elementals will all be getting powerful new tools and upgrades.
The Lorwyn Eclipsed Pre-release at WLC
The official prerelease window for Lorwyn Eclipsed runs from January 16-22, 2026. This is the first chance for players to get their hands on the new cards and play with them in a casual tournament setting.
We are excited to announce that tickets for the WLC Prerelease event on Saturday, January 17th, are now live! Join us to be among the first to play with this incredible new set. Each player will receive a Prerelease Pack containing 6 Play Boosters to build a 40-card deck and will compete in three friendly rounds.
Spots are limited and are expected to sell out. You can book your ticket online now via our Events Calendar.
While You Wait for Lorwyn...
Lorwyn may feel a little way off, but the world of Magic: The Gathering is always moving. This is the perfect time to explore some of the other incredible sets currently available at WLC.
Whether you’re a fan of the recent standard sets or the hugely popular Universes Beyond crossovers, there’s always something new to discover.
Get More From Every Purchase with WLC Rewards!
With so many exciting sets to collect, there’s never been a better time to join the new WLC Rewards Programme.
Earn points on every purchase, both online and in-store, and convert them into discounts on your next order.
Shop Your Way
Discover our full range of singles and sealed products online, or visit us in-store for the ultimate treasure hunt!
Our Address: Unit 101, Westwood Business Park, Margate CT9 4JJ.
Store Hours
- Monday: 10am – 4pm
- Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 6pm
- Sunday: 11am – 4pm
Connect & Engage
For sneak peeks at new arrivals and all the latest WLC news, become part of our fantastic Discord Community, and follow our Instagram and Facebook pages.
Contact Us
Unit 101, Westwood Business Park, Margate CT9 4JJ
Follow us on social media
@welovecollectibles
Mon: Closed
Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 6:00pm
Sunday: from 11am – 4:00pm