Shadows Over Innistrad is the latest set in Magic’s Arena of the Planeswalker line. It’s a full, base set, so you don’t need the first set to play like you did with Battle for Zendikar. Since I’ve already reviewed Arena of the Planeswalkers, I’ll cut to the chase with this new set.

If you were to only buy one Arena of the Planeswalker products, Shadows Over Innistrad would be the one to get. The box is packed full of great stuff, and even though you only get 4 Planeswalkers (the fifth figure is the werewolf form of another) you get more bang for your buck than with the original base set.

For starters, three of the four Planeswalkers are multicolored: Sorin (black/white), Nahiri (red/white), and Arlinn (red/green). You also get more miniatures overall in the box, including new Hero units. These are basically an in-between. More powerful than regular minions, but not as powerful as Planeswalkers. The Cryptoliths (plastic tree-like things) can be destroyed, unlike terrain in the original set.

Overall Shadows Over Innistrad comes across as more polished that the original base set. It’s also the same price, $30.

So like I said earlier: if you were to only to get one Arena of the Planeswalkers sets, this is the one to get. Realistically? Get one of each. Having all the extra figures, spells, and Planeswalkers only makes the game that much better. While the release schedule of items isn’t as aggressive as Heroscape’s was, that may be the saving grace in the end of Arena of the Planeswalkers. It would be really nice to see them do a base set, small expansion, then repeat the pattern each year.

A copy of Magic: The Gathering – Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows Over Innistrad was provided free for review by Hasbro.

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Hasbro’s PR company just sent out a new release with two high-res images of Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows Over Innistrad along with the contents of the set:

• 5 Planeswalker figures
• 4 Hero Figures
• 15 Squad Figures
• 4 dual-sided cardboard terrain boards
• 2 Glyphs
• 20 Damage Markers
• 20-sided die
• 8 combat dice
• 13 Army cards
• 48 Spell Cards
• turn marker
• 8 counters
• 6 1-Hex Sand Tiles
• 3 twisted relic terrain pieces
• 2-hex Sand Tiles.

The new base set will hit in Fall 2016 for $29.99 at most major retailers, hobby stores, and on HasbroToyShop.com.

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Arriving August 1st, Arena of the Planeswalkers: Shadows Over Innistrad is stand-alone set instead of just an expansion to the popular Arena of the Planeswalkers game. While the box image isn’t clear, we know we’ll be getting 5 Planeswalkers: Sorin, the Innistrad version of Jace, and what possibly looks like Arlinn and Nahiri. I can’t really make out the fifth one.

MSRP will be $29.99.

I’m really glad Hasbro is still supporting the game, though I miss the wave-style releases of figures that Heroscape used.

UPDATE: It’s been brought to my attention that both the 4th and 5th Planeswalkers in the box are Arlinn in her human and werewolf form.

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The long-awaited return to Innistrad is right around the corner! On April 8th, Wizards of the Coast will be releasing the set fans have been eagerly awaiting, Shadows over Innistrad. The 297 card set will be released in booster packs, fat packs, and intro decks. Also, in May, we’ll see this year’s gift box with a Shadows of Innistrad theme.

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We all know about Magic Duel Decks by now. Each set contains tw0 60 card decks with a specific theme and are meant to go well against each other. Blessed vs Cursed sees Holy Warriors against the undead…and each deck contains 6 cards from the Shadows over Innistrad set. The set will be $19.99, and should hit shelves on February 26th.

Will you side with the Light, or the Dark?

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