In this edition:

Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Events

Two major competitive events featuring Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit are happening on MTG Arena this month! If you love Limited Magic as much as we do, you're in for a treat.

Arena Direct for Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Sealed
(August 14–23)

The first Arena Direct starring this new set is currently underway! Players will have the opportunity to test their mettle in Best-of-One matches of Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Sealed through August 23. Prizes include gems and MTG Arena packs for three to six wins and, while supplies last, Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Collector Booster boxes for players who earn seven wins!

Please visit the Arena Direct page and the official terms and conditions for more details regarding this event.

Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Contender Draft
(August 24–September 29)

0028_MTGHOB_Main: Thorin's Last Stand 0055_MTGHOB_Main: Sound the Trumpets 0068_MTGHOB_Main: Gathering of Darkness 0115_MTGHOB_Main: Tidings of War 0119_MTGHOB_Main: Beorn the Fierce

Contender Draft is back on the menu! The high-stakes drafting experience will return from August 24–September 29. Featuring a similar event structure to Premier Draft but with prizing more like competitive events, Contender Draft offers players the chance to engage in a bold challenge full of competition and creative deck building. Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Contender Draft will be held from August 24–September 29.

Event Details

  • Event open: August 24, 2026, at 8 a.m. Pacific (15:00 UTC)
  • Signup close: September 29, 2026, at 8 a.m. Pacific (15:00 UTC)
  • Event end: September 29, 2026, at 11 a.m. Pacific (18:00 UTC)
  • Entry: 3,000 Gems or 20,000 gold
  • Event Length: 7 Wins or 3 losses
  • Rewards:
    • 3 Wins: 1,400 gems, 3 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit packs
    • 4 Wins: 2,800 gems, 6 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit packs
    • 5 Wins: 3,200 gems, 8 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit packs
    • 6 Wins: 4,200 gems, 10 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit packs + 4 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit mythic packs
    • 7 Wins: 7,200 gems, 12 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit packs + 10 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit mythic packs + "Draft Contender" player title

Arena Championship Qualifier Events for August 2026

If you've dreamed about playing MTG Arena at the highest competitive level, your next opportunity to head down that path begins this week! August's Best-of-One Arena Championship Qualifier Play-In will be held on August 22, followed by the Best-of-Three event on August 28 and culminating in the Qualifier Weekend from August 29–30. The format for August's qualifier events is Timeless.

Qualifier events present some of MTG Arena's fiercest competition and offer a path to the Arena Championship for players who succeed!

See this article for more details on Qualifier Play-In and Qualifier Weekend events.

Introducing Player Reporting

As MTG Arena's social capabilities continue to expand, it's important that players feel empowered to keep their play experience safe. With that goal in mind, we're introducing a new tool as part of tomorrow's update that will allow you to report other players for harmful or inappropriate behavior on MTG Arena.

Grant Reid has written an article explaining how the in-game reporting tool works, the criteria for reporting, and how submitted reports are processed and handled by human beings.

Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Brawl Decks

Four new Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit Brawl decks are now available in the MTG Arena Store! Each deck offers a different play style and stars beloved legends from Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™. Keep reading to see what's in each deck!

Foundation Deck: Brawl | Thorin, King of Durin's Folk

11,700 gems

0003_MTGHOB_SceneNew: Thorin, King of Durin's Folk 0014_MTGHOB_Main: Fíli the Pathfinder 0017_MTGHOB_Main: Kíli the Resourceful 0177_MTGHOB_Main: Orcrist, Goblin-cleaver 0170_MTGHOB_Main: The Arkenstone

▲ Click to Reveal Decklist

1 Thorin, King of Durin's Folk 1 Path to Exile 1 Arcane Signet 1 Lightning Greaves 1 Battlefield Forge 1 Clifftop Retreat 1 Command Tower 1 Fíli and Kíli, Joyous 1 Ori, Plate Stacker 1 Long-Lost Lances 1 Dragon-Cursed Halls 1 Bofur, Reliable Guardian 1 Dáin, Lord of the Iron Hills 15 Plains 1 Iron Hills Blacksmith 1 Kíli the Resourceful 1 Lost to Legend 1 Vow to Erebor 1 An Unexpected Party 1 Celebrate the Mountain-king 1 Dwarven Shortsword 1 Fíli the Pathfinder 1 Thorin's Last Stand 1 The Arkenstone 14 Mountain 1 Warchanter Skald 1 Óin the Brave 1 Bombur, Gentle Dreamer 1 Dori, Bearer of Friends 1 Dáin Ironfoot 1 Gimli's Axe 1 Glóin, Dwarf Emissary 1 The Misty Mountains Cold 1 Fearless Liberator 1 Vault Robber 1 Balin, Loremaster 1 Diamond Pick-Axe 1 Mines of Moria 1 The Lonely Mountain 1 Dwalin, Weaponmaster 1 Dáin's Company 1 Stone of Erech 1 Bifur, Melodic Rider 1 Iron Hills 1 Dwarven Mattock 1 Thrór's Map 1 Orcrist, Goblin-cleaver 1 Bearded Axe 1 Dwarven Hammer 1 Plundering Barbarian 1 Big Score 1 Dwarven Reinforcements 1 Smashing Success 1 Storm-Kiln Artist 1 Unexpected Windfall 1 Sword of Wealth and Power 1 Treasure Vault 1 Shatter the Sky 1 Toolcraft Exemplar 1 Rally the Ranks 1 Priest of Ancient Lore 1 Blazing Firesinger 1 Gleaming Splendor 1 Furycalm Snarl 1 Sundown Pass 1 Echoing Cavern 1 Mace of the Valiant 1 Leyline Axe 1 Bilbo's Gambit 1 Stone by Sunlight 1 Forge Anew 1 Settle the Wreckage 1 Stone-Giant of High Pass

Foundation Deck: Brawl | Thranduil, the Elvenking

15,380 gems

0167_MTGHOB_Main: Thranduil, the Elvenking 0036_MTGHOB_Main: Elrond, Moon-Reader 0493_MTGLTR_CharBox: Legolas's Quick Reflexes 0035_MTGLTR_CommOthr: Arwen, Weaver of Hope

▲ Click to Reveal Decklist

1 Thranduil, the Elvenking 1 Most Decrepit Old Bird 1 Elrond, Moon-Reader 1 Roll-Roll-Roll-Roll 1 Arwen's Gift 1 Uncover the Moon-Letters 1 Lórien Revealed 1 Arwen, Weaver of Hope 1 Birds of Paradise 1 Elvish Archdruid 1 Elvish Warmaster 1 Heroic Intervention 1 Rampant Growth 1 Tireless Provisioner 1 Drowned Catacomb 1 Hinterland Harbor 1 Underground River 1 Woodland Cemetery 1 Legolas's Quick Reflexes 1 Thranduil's Decree 1 Rivendell 6 Island 1 Guardian of the Halls 1 Woodland Weavemaster 1 Down in the Valley 1 Mirkwood Pathmaker 1 Shower of Arrows 1 Wood Elves 1 Celeborn the Wise 1 Elven Chorus 1 Galion, Elvenking's Butler 1 Elvish Mystic 1 Toxic Deluge 1 Cantankerous Keepers 8 Forest 1 Mirkwood 1 Galadriel of Lothlórien 7 Swamp 1 Silvan Reveler 1 Thranduil's Company 1 Elvenking's Halls 1 Elven Passage 1 Gloom Ripper 1 Moon-Vigil Adherents 1 Deathrite Shaman 1 Elvish Elegy 1 Perennial Gravewarden 1 Deathbloom Ritualist 1 Bitter Downfall 1 Dawnhand Eulogist 1 Bloom Tender 1 Shaman of the Pack 1 Live or Die 1 Unforgiving Aim 1 Leaf-Crowned Visionary 1 Reclamation Sage 1 Springbloom Druid 1 Door of Destinies 1 Command Tower 1 Arcane Signet 1 Watery Grave 1 Overgrown Tomb 1 Hedge Maze 1 Shipwreck Marsh 1 Deathcap Glade 1 Dreamroot Cascade 1 Bilbo's Burglaring 1 Fauna Shaman 1 Wildborn Preserver 1 Beast Whisperer 1 Champions of the Perfect 1 Voice of the Woods 1 Undercity Sewers 1 Underground Mortuary 1 Reflecting Pool 1 Echoing Cavern 1 Harmonized Crescendo 1 Haunting Voyage 1 Banner of Kinship 1 Vanquisher's Banner 1 Chronicle of Victory 1 Necklace of Girion

Foundation Deck: Brawl | Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit and Sam, Loyal Attendant

14,090 gems

0461_MTGLTR_FBComm: Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit 0476_MTGLTR_FBComm: Sam, Loyal Attendant 0012_MTGLTR_CommOthr: The Gaffer 0083_MTGHOB_Main: The Sackville-Bagginses 0005_MTGHOB_SceneNew: Bag End Banquet

▲ Click to Reveal Decklist

1 Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit 1 Sam, Loyal Attendant 1 The Gaffer 1 Swords to Plowshares 1 Night's Whisper 1 Gilded Goose 1 Prosperous Innkeeper 1 Anguished Unmaking 1 Arcane Signet 1 Chromatic Lantern 1 Brushland 1 Command Tower 1 Isolated Chapel 1 Sunpetal Grove 1 Bilbo, Fellow Conspirator 1 Bag End Banquet 1 Belladonna Took 1 Dawn of a New Age 1 Hobbit's Sting 1 Shire Shirriff 8 Plains 1 Rosie Cotton of South Lane 1 The Battle of Bywater 9 Swamp 1 Minas Tirith 1 Call of the Ring 1 Gollum, Patient Plotter 1 The Sackville-Bagginses 1 Claim the Precious 1 One Ring to Rule Them All 1 Voracious Fell Beast 1 Meriadoc Brandybuck 1 Revive the Shire 1 Shortcut to Mushrooms 1 Peregrin Took 1 Stew the Coneys 1 Tireless Provisioner 1 Fortifying Provisions 1 Shower of Arrows 1 Late to Dinner 1 Scavenger's Talent 1 Giant's Skewer 1 Savor 1 Supper for Spiders 1 Tasteful Offering 1 Midnight Snack 1 Experimental Confectioner 5 Forest 1 Taste of Death 1 Trail of Crumbs 1 Heaped Harvest 1 Return from the Wilds 1 Spider Food 1 Elanor Gardner 1 Wicked Wolf 1 Orchard Strider 1 Wolf's Quarry 1 The Shire 1 Savvy Hunter 1 Gluttonous Troll 1 Shelob, Child of Ungoliant 1 Restless Cottage 1 Butterbur, Bree Innkeeper 1 Shire Terrace 1 Hobbit Hole 1 Saradoc, Master of Buckland 1 Birds of Paradise 1 Heroic Intervention 1 The Notary Hobbits 1 Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff 1 Woodland Cemetery 1 Bilbo's Ring 1 The Black Gate 1 Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress 1 Godless Shrine 1 Shattered Sanctum 1 Deathcap Glade 1 Overgrown Tomb 1 Overgrown Farmland 1 Temple Garden 1 Food Coma

Foundation Deck: Brawl | Sauron, Lord of the Rings

16.260 gems

0478_MTGLTR_FBComm: Sauron, Lord of the Rings 0477_MTGLTR_FBComm: Saruman, the White Hand 0114_MTGLTR_Main: Witch-king of Angmar 0009_MTGHOB_SceneNew: Smaug the Impenetrable 0046_MTGHOB_MEClass: Relic of Sauron

▲ Click to Reveal Decklist

1 Sauron, Lord of the Rings 11 Mountain 9 Swamp 1 Saruman, the White Hand 1 Relic of Sauron 1 Feed the Swarm 1 Reanimate 1 Toxic Deluge 1 Blasphemous Act 1 Arcane Signet 1 Command Tower 1 Dragonskull Summit 1 Drowned Catacomb 1 Sulfur Falls 1 Sulfurous Springs 1 Underground River 1 Dragon-Cursed Halls 1 Smaug the Impenetrable 1 Dragon's Desire 1 Riddles in the Dark 1 Scroll of Isildur 1 Storm of Saruman 1 Call of the Ring 1 Gollum, Riddle Master 1 Supper for Spiders 1 Along the Crooked Way 1 Azog, Moria's Ruin 1 My Precious 1 Rhovanion Rampager 1 The Master of Lake-town 1 Head of the Hunt 1 Firemind Vessel 1 One Ring to Rule Them All 1 Warg Rider 1 Shadow of the Enemy 1 Witch-king of Angmar 1 Barad-dûr 1 Moria Marauder 1 Inside Information 1 Fires of Mount Doom 1 Desolation of Smaug 1 Spiteful Banditry 1 Sauron's Ransom 1 The Great Goblin 1 The Balrog, Durin's Bane 1 Stalactite Stalker 1 Gorbag of Minas Morgul 1 Mordor Trebuchet 1 Stir Up Trouble 1 Talisman of Creativity 1 Warren Soultrader 1 Venerated Stormsinger 1 Goblin Fireslinger 1 Talisman of Indulgence 1 Bothersome Noisemaker 1 Dark-Dweller Oracle 1 Goblin Rabblemaster 1 Goblinslide 1 Brash Taunter 1 Mauhúr, Uruk-hai Captain 1 Dalkovan Outrider 1 Bolg of the North 1 Uglúk of the White Hand 1 Murderous Redcap 1 Goblin-town 1 Talisman of Dominance 1 Shipwreck Marsh 1 Watery Grave 1 Stormcarved Coast 1 Steam Vents 1 Blood Crypt 1 Haunted Ridge 5 Island 1 Gnashing of Teeth 1 Isolation at Orthanc 1 Cast into the Fire 1 Claim the Precious 1 Gollum's Bite

Event Schedule

The full Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit event schedule is available here.

Competitive Play Schedule

All times listed are Pacific time (UTC-07:00; UTC-08:00 after November 1).

Premier Play

Qualifier Play-In events are single-day tournaments in which players compete to earn invitations to that month's Qualifier Weekend events.

Qualifier Weekend events are two-day events in which eligible players compete for invitations to upcoming Arena Championship events.

Qualifier tokens earned through seasonal rewards are delivered to your MTG Arena inbox. Remember to claim them before the event starts!

August Qualifier Format: Timeless

  • August 22: Best-of-One Qualifier Play-In
  • August 28: Best-of-Three Qualifier Play-In
  • August 29–30: Qualifier Weekend

August Season Rewards

Players will receive their rewards for the August 2026 season at the start of the September 2026 ranked season (12:05 p.m. PT on August 31).

You must have played at least one ranked game in the respective format to receive seasonal rewards.

  • Bronze Reward: 1 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit pack
  • Silver Reward: 1 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit pack + 500 gold
  • Gold Reward: 2 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit packs + 1,000 gold + Dwarven Mauler card style
  • Platinum Reward: 3 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit packs + 1,000 gold + Dwarven Mauler and Elven Passage card styles
  • Diamond Reward: 4 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit packs + 1,000 gold + Dwarven Mauler and Elven Passage card styles
  • Mythic Reward: 5 Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit packs + 1,000 gold + Dwarven Mauler and Elven Passage card styles
Dwarven Mauler (Depth Art) Elven Passage (Depth Art)