Wizards of the Coast has printed a staggering 4,693 Magic: The Gathering cards in 2023, which jumps to 9,465 when factoring in unique art and variants. The overwhelming amount of art has led to concerns about legibility and card comprehension. The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Holiday Release features visually striking Rock Poster treatment on twenty cards, which has divided the MTG community. The Rock Poster variants hold a moderate premium on paper, but are cheaper digitally, potentially leading to increased usage in the game. MTG Pro and Streamer Andrea Mengucci has voiced concerns about the issue and suggested a feature to disable alt arts for opponents on Magic Online. However, there is no guarantee that this feature will be implemented due to the market for collectible cards. Additionally, MTG Arena players are missing out on the new Rock Poster card styles and most of The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, leading to disappointment and confusion among the community. The reason for withholding these card styles is unclear, but it is speculated that resource allocation for the re-released set Khans of Tarkir may be a factor. The community hopes to see these card styles appear in the future, but it remains to be seen if Wizards will make that happen.
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Controversial MTG Art Availability Baffles Players
