MagicCon Philadelphia 2023: The Best Cosplay Of The Convention

Magic: The Gathering's vast community descended on the City Of Brotherly Love over the weekend, with MagicCon Philadelphia bringing new cards and competitions all centering around Wizards Of The Coast's popular tabletop card game.

Among the previews of the new set March Of The Machines and furious MTG Pro Tour action, the Cosplay Contest featured some incredible works from both experienced and first-time cosplayers. Magic's vast pool of characters was well represented during the contest, with no repeat characters showing up among the 18 total entrants.

The contest split entries into three categories depending on the experience of the cosplayer. One member of each of the three classes--Novice, Journeyman, and Master--received a Judge's Award highlighting their costumes, while the top two prizes Best In Show and Runner-Up were chosen from the entire pool of contestants.

We've assembled some of the best costumes we could find as we traversed the show floor, and we've linked to each cosplayer's social media accounts so you can check out more of their work. Some of the cosplayers we found ended up winning awards during the contest, which we will note in each entry.

Magic: The Gathering's latest set, Phyrexia: All Will Be One, is available now in draft, set, and collector's boosters. The next set, March Of The Machines, which will mark the end of the game's current story arc, is set to launch April 18 digitally in Magic: The Gathering Arena, and April 21 in physical form. Preview events are scheduled for April 14-20 at local game stores. Wizards of the Coast has also shared first details on the upcoming Lord Of The Rings set, Tales From Middle-earth, which will launch in June.

Vraska and Elspeth

Left: Zbexx, dressed as Vraska, Betrayal's Sting

Right: TaaliaVess, dressed as Elspeth Tirel

Skanos and Jace

Left: mryg_s, dressed as Skanos Dragonheart

Right: MC_Cow, dressed as Jace Cowboy (original take on Jace Beleren)

Elesh Norn

Endlessforrest, dressed as Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines

Wrenn And Seven

TheFangBanger / xojackielantern, dressed as Wrenn and Seven

NOTE: This cosplay won the Judge's Award for the Journeyman class.

Elspeth

Digital_GF, dressed as Elspeth, Sun’s Champion

NOTE: This cosplay won Best In Show Runner-Up.

Xira

MythicMikaela, dressed as Xira, The Golden Sting

NOTE: This cosplay won the Judge's Award in the Masters class.

Ulamog

Houstofcards, dressed as Ulamog, Ceaseless Hunger

Garruk, Onyx, and Chandra

Left: TanakhtCosplay, dressed as Garruk, Relentless

Middle: GobertHicks, dressed as Professor Onyx

Right: tappytoeclaws, dressed as Chandra

Jace and Liliana

FamilyTheGathering, dressed as Jace, The Perfected Mind (left) and Liliana, Waker Of The Dead (right)

Ashnod

Emmara21, dressed as Ashnod, The Uncaring

Elesh Nornv

Darkpactcosplay, dressed as Elesh Norn, Mother Of Machines

Vorinclex

blarney_armory, dressed as Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider

NOTE: This cosplay won Best In Show.

Olivia

Ofthelilies_, dressed as Olivia, Crimson Bride

Blue Mana

Caitlin as Blue Mana