Why Magic: The Gathering Fans are Excited for Xerex as a Future Expansion Set
Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game that has been popular with players for decades. One of the things that makes the game so compelling is the wide range of settings that players can explore, each with its unique characteristics and themes. In March of the Machine, players got a glimpse of the plane of Xerex, and it quickly became a fan favorite. Despite only ever having three cards depicting it, Xerex topped polls as the setting that Magic: The Gathering fans would most like to see as a full expansion set.
The Poll Results
In a poll conducted by Magic’s head designer, Mark Rosewater, Xerex received 27.5 percent of the vote. The poll asked readers which planes from March of the Machine they would most like to see get a full set in the future. Xerex beat out more well-known planes like Fiora, Lorwyn-Shadowmoor, and Kaladesh.
The Appeal of Xerex
So why are Magic: The Gathering fans so excited about Xerex? For starters, it is one of the most obscure and underused settings in the game. Xerex has only ever appeared on three cards, and one of those was a not-legal Stairs to Infinity card from Planechase. The other two, Invasion of Xerex and Xerex Strobe-Knight, were the plane’s first appearance in a premiere set. This limited exposure has only added to Xerex’s allure.
But Xerex is also unique in other ways. Described as a world where physics and mathematics don’t follow our normal understanding, Xerex is a world of optical illusions, impossible staircases, and disorienting gravity. The art we’ve seen has been heavily inspired by the artist M.C. Escher, and the plane’s concept is unlike anything else we’ve seen in Magic: The Gathering.
The Potential of a Xerex Expansion Set
While Xerex’s limited exposure and unique concept make it an exciting setting, the question remains: can it support a whole expansion set? The answer is uncertain, but that hasn’t stopped Magic: The Gathering fans from speculating about what a Xerex set could look like.
Mark Rosewater himself has expressed surprise at Xerex’s popularity, but he’s also intrigued. He’s asked readers what they would expect from a Xerex set, and the responses have been varied. Some fans have suggested that a Xerex set could delve into abstract concepts like math and illusions, while others have imagined a set with a heavy focus on artifacts and artifacts-matter themes.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of whether or not Xerex becomes a full expansion set, its popularity among Magic: The Gathering fans is a testament to the game’s ability to capture players’ imaginations with its diverse settings and themes. And while Xerex may be obscure and underused, it is clear that it has struck a chord with the community.
As Magic: The Gathering continues to evolve and introduce new planes, it will be interesting to see if Xerex gets more attention in future sets. Whether it does or not, it will always hold a special place in the hearts of fans who have embraced its weird and unknowable nature.
In addition to Xerex, other settings like Alara, Tarkir, and Lorwyn-Shadowmoor also received high marks in the poll for previously released settings that fans would like to see revisited. These results suggest a desire for long-absent worlds instead of recent successes like Innistrad, Kamigawa, and Zendikar. It will be fascinating to see how these trends shape the future of Magic: The Gathering and what new settings and themes the game will explore next.
In conclusion, Xerex may be a relatively unknown and underused setting in the Magic: The Gathering universe, but it has captured the imagination of fans and emerged as a top contender for a future expansion set. Its unique concept and limited exposure have only added to its appeal, and fans are eager to see how Wizards of the Coast would handle a set based on this world of optical illusions and disorienting gravity. Whether or not Xerex becomes a full expansion set remains to be seen, but its popularity is a testament to the power of Magic: The Gathering to captivate players with its diverse settings and themes.
