Magic: The Gathering Launches Two New Digital Tools on a Massive Scale

With the Commander Legends Prerelease and launch days coming, Wizards of the Coast is launching two new digital tools for Magic: The Gathering on a massive scale: EventLInk and the Magic: The Gathering Companion app. Product Manager Bill Stark announced the news on Monday, and explained how each of them works.

Currently in open beta, the Event Link is a browser-based software that lets your local Wizards Play Network (WPN) store to organize sanctioned Magic events, and it replaces the older technology called WER. The Commander Legends Prerelease will be the first time WPN retailers can use Eventlink in masse.

Credit: Wizards of the Coast

For players, the Magic: The Gathering Companion app is a great tool to participate at your local Magic events, and they can start using it for the Commander Legends Prerelease whether it's an at-home Prerelease due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or in a region where it's safe to play in-store. You can download the app on iOS and Android, and you will need to use a Wizards Account, the new sign-on account system for MTG Arena and everything that requires a login from Wizards of the Coast. If you don't have one, you can sign-up here. Those who sign-up for Commander Legends Prerelease using the Companion app will receive a participation promo version of Sengir, the Dark Baron:

Of course, players can still participate in the Commander Legends Prerelease without the Companion app.

Stark summed up functions of the Companion app:

> Find out who you're paired against

> Receive your table assignment so you know where to sit

> Check the standings to see how you're doing

> Enter the result of your match

> Receive notifications when a new round starts

In a WPN event, all you have to do is ask the staff for the entry code to the event, then you can enter that code into your Companion app to join the event so you can get pairings, match slips, standings, and other notifications straight to your mobile device.

In addition to using the Companion app to participate in your local game store's events, you can also use it to organize your own tournament at home with family and friends.

Commander Legends product and events will be available on Magic Online on Thursday, November 19, 2020. The tabletop version will be released on Nov. 20.

Related: MTG Commander Legends Decklists Revealed