What's better than Ral as an otter? How about Jace as a fox?
As Magic Untapped previously reported on early last month, and focused on late last month, Magic: The Gathering will be going all in on animals with Bloomburrow. And while an all animal land wouldn't really bring a whole host of returning characters, Magic found a way. One has been confirmed to be back in Bloomborrow as part of the main party of animals fighting against calamity beasts: Ral Zarek...but as an otter.
But the total amount aren't known just yet. Who else could there be? Deer Teyo? Badger Kasmino? Ugin the....dragon? We don't exactly know the full number just yet. There are a lot of as yet not unveiled cards, and Magic always does like putting in the surprises at the last minute. A lot of opening artwork has sold fans early on of the story going in one way, only for it to break in another completely different way.
What we do know is there is at least one more human coming on board to be something else: Jace. As a fox.
However, Jace in this one might be a bit off. You know, besides for being a fox. Foxes are part of the calamity animals, so there looks like a lot of future tension. He is seen in artwork, but he hasn't been given a preview card, so him being a character, a planeswalker, or just sort of in the background isn't clear.
But it could also mean that Jace is with Ral's team. Only 6 of the ten creatures of the main party have been unveiled, so he could be there. And then again, Jace the fox could just be a bonus sheet card too, as it looks like too. The possibilities are many, and MTG being MTG, it could be one of them, some of them, or something not even listed.
All of this, however, marks a big change for Magic coming forward. While different characters taking different forms in different plains isn't exactly new, this is one where they are going all in on humans adapting 100% to a different land like this.
Bloomburrow is looking like it is going to be a popular set, with fans of things like Redwall and the furry fandom being extremely excited for it. It can also bring in younger players who are sometimes put off by, say the undead characters or more scarier themes.
And, so, two of Magic's characters will animals. So far. Technically.