Magic: The Gathering is rolling out a new Marvel-themed set centered on superheroes and villains, and the card pool includes Winter Soldier, Icy Assassin, a rare that captures the legendary assassin Bucky Barnes in two striking visual treatments.
The character arrives as an Orzhov (black and white) legendary human assassin with Vigilance and Menace, attributes that fit his aggressive combat style. At base, Winter Soldier sits as a 2/2 creature, but his power scales with equipment. For every weapon or tool you attach to him, he gains plus two power, making him potentially dangerous if you load him up with the right arsenal. The catch: his toughness stays fixed, creating a potential vulnerability despite his offensive upside.
The card includes a resurrection mechanic that rewards strategic play. If Winter Soldier hits the graveyard, you can pay five mana to bring him back into play and automatically attach an equipment card to him in the process. That benefit comes with a cost: a finality counter on the card ensures that the next time he dies, he gets exiled rather than returning to the graveyard again, putting a natural cap on how many times you can recycle him.
Two versions showcase different artistic approaches. The standard version (card number 0239) depicts Winter Soldier perched on a rooftop, his metallic arm gripping a knife, rendered by artist Riccardo Federici in a moody, dramatic style. A second printing uses a new logo treatment debuted in this set that mirrors the borderless character cards from Magic's recent Final Fantasy crossover. This variant (number 377) leans into comic book aesthetics, drawn by Todd Nauck, a veteran in the medium.
The dual artwork gives collectors options depending on whether they want the grittier, cinematic feel of Federici's piece or the more traditional superhero comic vibe of Nauck's design. Both treatments capture different aspects of the Winter Soldier character, allowing players to choose based on personal preference and deck aesthetics.
Author Emily Chen: "The equipment synergy makes this card immediately interesting for limited play, but the finality counter prevents it from being a get-out-of-jail-free card forever."
Comments