MTG Marvel Super Heroes Mechanics: Every New Mechanic Explained

Magic: The Gathering's Marvel Super Heroes set introduces several new mechanics inspired by superhero comics. Wizards of the Coast showcased the mechanics during the set's debut stream ahead of release. Each mechanic is designed to capture the powers, teamwork, and larger-than-life moments of the Marvel Universe. This guide explains every MTG Marvel Super Heroes mechanic and how they work.

Power-Up

Power-Up is a new mechanic designed to capture the feel of characters unleashing their powers at crucial moments. It is an activated ability that can only be used once.

When activating a creature's power-up ability, you put a certain number of +1/+1 counters on them. This also serves as a marker that you've used their power-up ability. Some power-up abilities may also come with additional effects.

If a creature with power-up just entered the battlefield, you can discount their power-up cost by their mana cost. For example, Kang the Conqueror's power-up ability costs five colorless and three blue mana while his mana cost is two colorless and two blue mana. If you activate his power-up on the same turn, it will cost three colorless and one blue mana instead. However, you'll have to pay his ability's full cost if you use it at a later turn.

Teamwork

The new teamwork mechanic represents characters working together to accomplish something. This new mechanic can be found on some modal instants and sorceries in this set. It is an additional cost that requires you to tap any number of creatures you control until you hit the teamwork cost's power threshold.

For example, Murdock's Crusade is a sorcery with Teamwork 4. Its teamwork cost requires you to tap any number of creatures you control with total power 4 or more. If you do, you can choose both of this spell's modes. Other cards with teamwork could provide either an additional effect or an upgraded effect.

Plan

Plan is a new enchantment subtype introduced in Magic: The Gathering's Marvel Super Heroes set. These cards each come with two triggered abilities: one to progress the plan and another to reward you for completing them.

For example, Doom Reigns Supreme is a plan that makes each opponent lose 1 life and you gain 1 life whenever a Villain you control enters. Whenever this trigger happens, this enchantment will get a plan counter. After it gets its fifth plan counter, you sacrifice this plan and get its reward trigger. In this case, completing this plan lets you make a target opponent exile the top five cards of their library. Afterwards, it lets you cast up to two spells from among the exiled cards without paying their mana costs.

The plan subtype may be referenced by other spells or abilities in this set.

Connive

Connive is a returning mechanic that first appeared in Streets of New Capenna as the Obscura mechanic. It also appeared as a villain mechanic in Marvel's Spider-Man. This mechanic helps you filter your hand and can also make the conniving creature stronger.

When a creature connives, you draw a card then discard a card. If you discard a nonland card from conniving, you put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.

Transforming Modal Double-Faced Cards

Another returning mechanic this set is the presence of transforming modal double-faced cards. This mechanic first appeared in last year's Marvel's Spider-Man set, representing the dual identities that comic book characters have.

Each of these cards has two faces, and you can choose which one to cast. However, transforming modal double-faced cards enter with their front face if they enter the battlefield without being cast. Unlike previous modal double-faced cards that can't transform on the battlefield, these cards have abilities that enable their transformation.

Mjölnir, Hammer of Thor and Worthy

Mjölnir, Hammer of Thor features a special worthy mechanic that only appears in this card in the set. This mechanic flavorfully conveys how Mjölnir can only be wielded by the worthy. In Magic: The Gathering, legendary non-villains that are red and/or white are considered worthy.

This new mechanic only applies to this artifact's equip cost. It is possible for non-worthy creatures to wield Mjölnir if it's attached to them through other means. Additionally, a creature wielding the hammer of Thor that becomes unworthy won't cause this artifact to unequip from them.

The Mind Stone and Harness

The Mind Stone was revealed as the Infinity Stone in Marvel Super Heroes during the MagicCon Las Vegas 2026 preview panel. Like The Soul Stone from Marvel's Spider-Man, this white-aligned Infinity Stone can also be harnessed. Once it's been harnessed, its harness ability will trigger at the beginning of each of your end steps. Although you can activate The Mind Stone's harness ability multiple times, it can only be harnessed once.

The Marvel Super Heroes set brings several new mechanics to Magic: The Gathering while also expanding on ideas introduced in previous Marvel releases. Whether you're building decks around Power-Up, progressing a Plan, or harnessing an Infinity Stone, understanding these mechanics is key to mastering the set.

Magic: The Gathering's Marvel Super Heroes will have its prerelease events running from June 19 to 25. The full tabletop release for this set is scheduled to be on June 26.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 12:55 AM.