Duskmourn preview cards include a nasty little blue book

It’s preview season for Duskmourn, the new high-concept card set for Magic: The Gathering, and that means lots of new card images are showing up online, inspired by 1980s-era slasher movies and the gooey secretions from retro shows like Stranger Things. If you’ve got an eye for good horror, and an ear eager to hear about new rules and mechanics, have I got a few images for you.

First up is Marina Vendrell’s Grimoire, a blue-mana-powered artifact with some interesting new mechanics. The younger Vendrell child may have brought about the creation of the entire plane of Duskmourn by making a pact with a moth-shaped demon, but who among us hasn’t made a few mistakes in our youth? This particular card allows the caster to remove the restriction on hand size, and draw cards instead of gaining life. Also? You don’t lose the game when you get run down to zero life. Instead, your game is over only when you run out of cards in your hand. Shown here is the standard card, as well as the more sought-after alternate art treatment, which has some whizz-bang spectral tech along the margins.

Next up is The Rollercrusher Ride, a legendary enchantment fueled by red mana. Its effect, called delirium, was first introduced with Shadows over Innistrad in 2016. It can deal massive damage when cast, and adds additional destruction based on what you’ve got sitting in your graveyard. Also? Look carefully at the card on the right and you’ll notice there’s another creepy little guy in there, perched on top of the central tower. It’s one of many cards in the set with subtle, especially haunted art styles.

The Rollercrusher Ride is also available in a similar techno-bordered treatment with alternate art.

Previews for Duskmourn began Aug. 19. The set arrives in Magic: The Gathering – Arena on Sept. 24 and at retailers as a physical product on Sept. 27.