This week, Wizards of the Coast announced that they’re cancelling their Beginner Box product, for the upcoming Universes Beyond set, Star Trek. Though eager fans don’t need to be concerned about any other products in the set, this is still likely to be a disappointment to Trek fans who may have seen it as a convenient, great value way to start their Magic: The Gathering journey.

It really was a fantastic value proposition too. The recommended retail price was set at just $34.99, and the Beginner Box contained 10 themed, 20 card Jumpstart half-decks, 2 playmats, 2 d20 spindown life-counters and 2 tutorial guides. Two of the half-decks functioned as tutorial decks to give players an instant way of learning MTG via play.

Overall contents aside, we’re unsure as to which specific cards would have been included in the Beginner Box. We don’t even know which themes would have been included for each half-deck. We do know that they would have provided a great entry point to MTG, and tons of ways to experiment with the combinations of half-decks.

Why Was the Star Trek Beginner Box Cancelled?

Reportedly, the Beginner Box was the lowest selling product in the entirety of the MTG Star Trek Universes Beyond range. With a wide range of cards and boxes being produced, as well as just how packed the 2026 MTG schedule has been, it proved too difficult to get the Beginner Box over the finish line. With Star Trek celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, and the huge appeal of the set to Trek fans who may not have a great deal, if any, familiarity with MTG, it’s a real shame that the best product for newcomers is now no more.

However, it’s clear that the more lucrative products for Wizards of the Coast have survived, and though it seems odd to remove a product which could potentially widen the audience for MTG in the long term, it’s clear that the best short term decision was made, from a short term point of view. It would have been madness to cut out Commander Decks, Collector Boosters or the like, for example!

So even though we’re not happy with the decision, we totally understand it from a commercial perspective. We’re also still looking forward to the MTG Star Trek set, which launches on NOvember 13th, 2026.

Check out our look at the special card variants in Star Trek, and our review of the re-themed deckbuilding game, Star Trek: Star Realms.