Away From Keyboard - Magic: The Gathering - TMNT
Feature
So when Hooked Gamers were invited to preview the new Universes Beyond: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set, I was excited. I knew the art of the cards would do the set justice—with legendary artist Kevin Eastman even returning to provide signature "Headliner" art—but the event itself promised something even more social. Located at the apt Easey's in Collingwood—a restaurant famously housed in end-of-the-line train carriages perched on a rooftop—the setting felt like a slice of 1980s NYC grit. It was the perfect place to test out the new game format: Turtle Team-Up.
Cowabunga, Dudes!
Unlike the usual cutthroat nature of a Magic tournament, the Turtle Team Up format is a cooperative experience. It pits a team of up to four players (each taking the role of one of the four brothers) against Shredder and his Foot Clan goons.
The standalone Turtle Team-Up box contains four pre-made 60-card decks, each tailored to a specific Turtle's personality and playstyle. Leonardo leads with a White deck focused on "Alliance" and board presence; Raphael brings the heat with Red aggression; Donatello handles the Blue "Machines" and artifact synergy; and Michelangelo brings the Green/White "Party" vibes.
The "automated" enemy is controlled by a special Boss and Event deck. While the game is designed to run itself, having a fifth person act as a "Dungeon Master" for the Boss deck could add a fun, villainous flair to the proceedings.
The Perfect Dojo for Novices
The Turtle Team Up format is arguably the best way to introduce new friends to Magic. Because it's cooperative, the "information gap" that usually makes learning Magic intimidating is gone. An experienced player can sit alongside three novices, working together to discuss hand management and working together to defeat the bosses randomly encountered throughout the game.
Facing the Foot Clan
Each turn for the Boss (or Bosses) reveals a couple of Event cards. These function like sorceries or "schemes," bringing in Foot Ninja tokens that need to be blocked or triggering "Villainous Mayhem" that drains the team's shared life total.
Then there are the Bosses themselves. You might start by facing a single villain like Baxter Stockman, but as you deplete their life total, the game escalates. By Stage Three, you're facing three bosses simultaneously. Each has a passive or active skill that changes the flow of the game—some might give all Foot Ninjas deathtouch, while others, like Shredder himself, might force you to exile cards from your library every time he deals damage.
New Mechanics
As well as the new format, several new mechanics have been introduced for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set.
Sneak
Sneak allows spells to be cast at an unexpected time, often for a lesser cost, with the additional cost of returning an unblocked attacker you control to its owner's hand. Creatures cast for their sneak costs enter attacking, and some spells may have additional effects when cast for their sneak costs!
Disappear
The sudden appearance of an enemy during a battle is always cause for concern (as is the case with the Sneak mechanic), but their sudden disappearance can be just as worrisome. The disappear ability word groups abilities that care if a permanent left the battlefield under your control this turn.
Mutagen tokens
These can be sacrificed to put +1/+1 counters on your creatures, letting your team "level up" as the fight intensifies. During our Turtle Team Up event, these Mutagen Tokens (in combination with the card April O'Neil, Human Element) helped to bring down several of the Bosses.
The Cards
Between the Pizza themed basic lands and the high-contrast "Silhouette" art treatments, the set is a visual love letter to the franchise. Each of the Ninja Turtles feature heavily, as do Splinter, Shredder, Bebop and Rocksteady.
Another great aspect is the pizza themed land cards, with each colour featuring a fitting topping on the pizza.
Product Lineup
● Turtle Team-Up Box
This is the centerpiece of the set, containing four pre-built 60-card Hero decks, the automated Enemy deck (featuring 11 Bosses and 17 Events), and four Play Boosters to customize your team.
● The Pizza Bundle
A "stuffed to the crust" box featuring 9 Play Boosters, 1 Collector Booster, and 30 "Pizza-themed" basic lands (including five foils). It even comes in a special pizza-box storage case.
● Commander Deck: "Turtle Power!"
A 100-card deck featuring all four Turtles together under a single Commander identity, built for MTG's most popular social format.
● Play Boosters.
● Collector Boosters
● Draft Night Box
A new format-in-a-box that includes 12 Play Boosters for a sealed draft and a Collector Booster to serve as the grand prize for the winner.
The Universes Beyond: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set officially launches on March 6, 2026. The Turtle Team Up format feels like a real winner. It transforms Magic from a duel into a Saturday morning cartoon episode where teamwork actually matters.
Whether you're a veteran looking for a fresh way to play or you're trying to convince your non-MTG friends that "it's basically just a board game, I promise," this set is a radical addition to the collection.
Just remember: no mushrooms on the pizza.
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