Following the launch of Streets of New Capenna via Magic: The Gathering Arena, new events, Alchemy/Historic rebalance changes, and the first organized Play-In event are dropping during the month of May.
The new Standard-legal set, Streets of New Capenna (SNC) is live on MTG Arena, containing several codes players can cash in on for free booster packs and card sleeves. WotC also released an additional code for XP following the update that is only available until May 5. In addition to the new Magic set, several Alchemy nerfs and buffs are scheduled to go into effect on May 5. Jump In! packets were updated and the month of May within MTG Arena is packed with casual and high-level competitive events.
May 25 MTG Arena announcements update
An MTG Arena update that is scheduled to take place on June 2 is slated to introduce “new looks and some improvements to player experience,” according to WotC. All Standard-legal booster packs will have a Mythic pack option as well, and a back-arrow is being added for players browsing an event in the Play blade.
Also starting on June 2, MTG Arena players will no longer have to manually swap rebalanced cards when using a deck in different formats. The swap will automatically occur from now on. Buttons within the deck builder have been restyled and rearranged to prevent accidents from taking place when deleting or crafting in bulk. And WotC is adding a folder within the deck builder for Starter decks, along with another folder titled “My Decks.”
Alchemy is getting another drop of cards on June 2, containing a total of 30 cards from the Alchemy: New Capenna expansion. WotC is also reducing the number of Rares within the distribution of an expansion while increasing the number of Uncommon rarity cards. And two Alchemy MTG Arena-specific events will take place at the time of the June 2 New Capenna expansion release.
Premier Alchemy: New Capenna Draft
Running from June 2 to 6, MTG Arena players can Draft in Alchemy, creating opportunities to collect cards within the format without having to purchase Alchemy booster packs. Similar to a Standard-legal Draft, players will pull from a total of three SNC booster packs. The one Common rarity card within each pack is replaced with an Alchemy: New Capenna card instead that can be any rarity.Â
Here is the breakdown of rarity drops for that replaced card within an SNC booster pack at the Alchemy: New Capenna Draft event, according to WotC.Â
- 58 percent of the booster packs contain an Uncommon rarity card
- 38.57 percent of the booster packs contain a Rare rarity card
- 6/43 percent of booster packs contain a Mythic Rare rarity cardÂ
- A Rare will appear twice as often as a Mythic Rare
The entry fee and payouts for the Alchemy Draft event are the same as Premium Draft within the Standard-legal format, 1,500 gems or 10,000 gold.
Into the Future event
The Into the Future event will return from June 2 to 4, showcasing preconstructed decks that spotlight new cards and synergies. There is no event fee charge to play within the Into the Future event. All rewards are Alchemy: New Capenna booster packs, 1,000 gold, and Mastery XP for participating.
May 11 MTG Arena Banned and Restricted announcement
Wizards of the Coast banned Winota, Joiner of Forces, and Tibalt’s Trickery from the new Explorer format, effective on May 12. The Explorer format within MTG Arena is an eternal format that is paving the way for the Pioneer format. Unlike the Historic format, which is also eternal, it does not contain any MTG Arena digital-only cards or any cards that have been rebalanced.
Organized play MTG Arena events
A total of three high-level tournaments will take place within MTG Arena during the month of May: the Arena Open and two Play-In events. The Arena Open will take place from May 14 to 15, showcasing SNC Sealed and Draft. Day one will feature best-of-one and best-of-three matches while day two is only best-of-three.
Digital organized play begins via MTG Arena with the first Play-In event of 2022. This is a qualifier tournament that can earn players an invitation to the May Qualifier Weekend tournament. Players will compete in best-of-one phantom Sealed New Capenna matches on May 21. All players who reach six wins earn an invite to the Qualifier Weekend taking place from May 28 to 29.
A second Play-In event is scheduled to take place from May 27 to 28. This is a best-of-three phantom Sealed SNC event. A total of four wins will earn players an invite to the May Qualifier taking place from May 28 to 29.
New Capenna MTG Arena events
A total of five New Capenna MTG Arena events will take place in May, featuring art golden age Showcase card styles for a number of cards. Each of these events is a part of The Rise of the Five Families Festival that features gameplay within Alchemy Singleton via best-of-one format and showcases a unique emblem.
- Rise of the Maestros emblem: “Once during each of your turns, you may cast an instant or sorcery spell from your graveyard by sacrificing a creature in addition to paying its other costs. If a spell cast this way would be put into your graveyard, exile it instead.”
- Rise of the Obscura emblem: “Whenever you attack, target attacking creature Connives.”
- Rise of Cabaretti emblem: “Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, Scry one. If this is the second time this ability has resolved this turn, draw a card instead.”
- Rise of Riveteers emblem: “Whenever you sacrifice a creature, you may return target creature card with lesser mana value from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.”
- Rise of Brokers emblem: “You may cast spells from the top of your library by removing a counter from a creature you control in addition to paying their other costs.”
All five Rise of the Five Families Festival events will run from May 12 to 27.
- Maestros: May 12 to 15
- Obscura: May 15 to 18
- Cabaretti: May 18 to 21
- Riveteers: May 21 to 24
- Brokers: May 24 to 27
An entry fee is required for each event, costing either 2,500 gold or 500 gems. All rewards are golden age Showcase card styles for up to five cards in each event via a total of five wins. Once in the event, players can compete in any number of matches without having to worry about losses.
Midweek Magic May events
Midweek Magic events begin on Tuesday of each week at 10am CT and end on Friday of that week at 1am CT.
- New Capenna Bot Draft: May 3 to 5
- Standard: May 10 to 12
- Artisan: May 17 to 19
- On the Edge: May 24 to 26
- Historic Pauper: May 31 to June 2
Quick Draft May MTG Arena events
Quick Draft MTG Arena events use bots to Draft. Once the Draft is complete, players will match up against other players.
- Kaldheim: April 29 to May 13
- New Capenna: May 13 to 27
- Strixhaven: May 27 to June 10
- New Capenna: June 10 to 24
- Innistrad: Midnight Hunt: June 24 to July 8
MTG Arena Metagame Challenge
The MTG Arena Standard Metagame Challenge returns with the release of SNC. Players can enter the event starting on May 27 and it will run until May 30. A total of 30 SNC booster packs and gold can get earned with up to seven wins in the event.
Players can also participate in the Explorer Metagame Challenge taking place from May 6 to 9.
Other MTG Arena events
- SNC Constructed: May 20 to 23
- Turf Brawls: May 27 to June 2
- Sealed New Capenna: April 28 to May 20
May MTG Arena Ranked rewards
The May MTG Arena Ranked season will run from April 30 to May 31 at 2pm CT.
- Bronze: One SNC booster pack
- Silver: One SNC booster pack and 500 gold
- Gold: Two SNC booster packs, 1,000 gold, and a Sleep with the Fishes card style
- Platinum: Three SNC booster packs, 1,000 gold, a Sleep with the Fishes, and a Hostile Takeover card style
- Diamond: Four SNC booster packs, 1,000 gold, a Sleep with the Fishes, and a Hostile Takeover card style
- Mythic: Five SNC booster packs, 1,000 gold, a Sleep with the Fishes, and a Hostile Takeover card style
Update May 11 3pm CT: The MTG Arena announcements were updated following a banned and restricted announcement for the Explorer format.
Update May 25 4:30pm CT: Recent announcements from WotC were added to the May MTG Arena announcements.
