Upcoming MetaZoo Sets: Legacy, War, SCP & Beyond
MetaZoo recently announced some changes to their upcoming product lineup. Details remain sparse for the time being, but here is a brief summary of what we know:
Legacy
The first update came with the announcement of Legacy. This surprise set represents a culmination of the entire Cryptid Nation Block, which consists of the following: Cryptid Nation, Nightfall, Wilderness, UFO, Seance, Native and War.
The set is currently up for pre-order through MetaZoo’s online Marketplace, available in both premium Spellbooks and blister packs. Partner stores also have pre-orders available, with exclusive blister packs only available through partners. The “premium” Spellbook differs from a typical Spellbook in that it has 12 packs instead of 10, a variety of promos as opposed to the typical one per set, and also includes a set of dice. I would expect the Aura deck to have a holographic Aura Page in it like Seance, Native and Cryptid Nation have had.
In terms of the contents, Legacy has been announced to be composed primarily of reprints of popular Pages from all Cryptid Nation sets. Furthermore, “many new (and previously unreleased) older cards will make their debut appearances!”
Legacy is expected to ship late September.
War
With Legacy’s announcement also came the unfortunate news that War would be delayed. According to MetaZoo’s initial roadmap for 2023, War was scheduled to be released in August. There is no further information about when War will be released, but I hope it will still be some time in 2023.
War is intended to be the final set within the Cryptid Nation block. Expect to see functional reprints of some Beasties key to MetaZoo’s lore in this set, along with the regular sampling of cryptids and elements of folklore in every MetaZoo set. It would be fantastic to see new versions of Sam Sinclair, Indrid Cold, Adam Ackler, Rose Robinson. Beasties that have not seen functionally unique versions that could also pop in War might be: Chupacabra, Hodag, Fresno Nightcrawlers, Sinkhole Sam, and Quetzalcoatlus.
SCP
The set scheduled to follow War was SCP, as the annual spooky set released close to Halloween. I do not know much about SCP, except that it is an online group where individuals research sightings and encounters and seek to educate others.
With War now delayed, and SCP will inevitably shift back as well. However, I have a suspicion that the set may not come to fruition. There is nothing official from MetaZoo to confirm this theory, but they have made clear in recent MetaZoo Hours and other public statements that they are shifting focus to more kid-friendly content. I think this has a lot to do with the recent collaboration with Sanrio. With Hello Kitty on the team, things can only get so dark. And from what was described about the SCP set, it sounds quite graphic and scary.
Again, there is nothing official stating SCP is no more, this is just a theory from me.
Seven Seas
The next release planned after War and SCP is Seven Seas, which has been stated to have an early 2024 release date. Seven Seas is planned to be a transitional set between the Cryptid Nation and Yokai Island, and will also be the next set to feature Fusion Auras, this time with Water as the focus rather than Native’s Earth Fusion Auras.
Hello Kitty
Based on the recent success of the Hello Kitty promo giveaway at San Diego Comic Con, I imagine plans to move ahead with a full set release are being expedited. The bits and pieces we know so far indicate it will have around 80 Pages in it, feature Sanrio-themed Terra, and not share functionality with the SDCC promo set. I for one am very much looking forward to seeing Hello Kitty in MetaZoo booster packs.
Yokai Island
Yokai Island will be the next block of MetaZoo sets that will focus on Japanese folklore and Yokai. Yokai Island base set will also introduce Wind as a new Aura type and will see MetaZoo printed in Japanese for the first time. Not much more is known about this part of MetaZoo’s future.