Standard Showdown returns with release of Murders at Karlov Manor

Illus.: Julia Metzger

Wizards of the Coast is relaunching its Standard Showdown event with the release of the next Magic: The Gathering set, Murders at Karlov Manor.

"Bringing back Standard Showdown is one piece of our efforts to revitalize Standard," WotC states.

The top players at these events, which are to be hosted at Wizards Play Network (WPN) stores and venues, are being promised special promos as prizes.  For those outside of the Asia-Pacific region, that includes Year of the Dragon Lunar New Year editions of two cards: Dragonlord's Servant and Sarkhan Ubroken.

Other special cards that players can win include new Omenpath basic land cards.

"The Omenpath Basic Lands will be full-art, traditional foil cards that showcase how some of our heroes have been traversing the planes of the Multiverse," explains WotC.

Standard Showdown kicks off February 9.  Check your local game stores for events.

Barry White

Barry White is a longtime Magic: The Gathering player, having started in 1994 shortly before the release of 'Fallen Empires.' After graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno, he went on to a 15-year journalism career as a writer, reporter, and videographer for three different ABC affiliate newsrooms.