Star Trek: Deep Space Nine wasn’t exactly short on unlikely romances, but I don’t think it’d be unpopular to say Rom and Leeta’s was among the best. Quark’s awkward younger brother and the station’s beautiful Bajoran dabo girl hardly seemed destined for a storybook ending, especially with traditional Ferengi customs standing in the way. Yet they gradually became one of the show’s sweetest surprises, offering a welcome bit of warmth and even comedic relief at times amid the serious nature of the looming Dominion War.
Arguably the most important Rom and Leeta moment was obviously in Season 5’s “Ferengi Love Songs,” one of Deep Space Nine‘s most romantic episodes and one that put the unlikely couple’s relationship to the ultimate test. Fans will remember that Rom’s insistence on a traditional Ferengi marriage contract didn’t sit well with Leeta, but he ultimately realized that there are more important things than customs and money. The episode delivered a genuinely heartwarming resolution, setting the stage for one of the franchise’s most endearing marriages.
Nearly three decades later, Star Trek is revisiting that beloved romance, with Rom and Leeta officially rekindling their love in an unexpected new release arriving this week.
Rom and Leeta are officially reuniting in Magic: The Gathering‘s massive Star Trek crossover, with the beloved Deep Space Nine couple receiving a brand-new card celebrating their unlikely romance. Appropriately titled “Rom and Leeta, Unlikely Pair,” the card brings the two characters together in a fitting tribute to one of the franchise’s best relationships.
The card also features a heartwarming bit of flavor text that perfectly captures why their romance worked despite their very different backgrounds:
“It was a perfect match. Rom had the heart of a Bajoran and Leeta had the Ferengi flare for business.”
Beyond being a lovely tribute to the couple, “Rom and Leeta, Unlikely Pair” is also a pretty useful card. It’s a red legendary creature with 4 power and 3 toughness, costing 4 mana to play. Its defining ability is called Seek Out, which rewards players whenever they draw their second card on their turn.
When that happens, Rom and Leeta create two tapped Treasure tokens. For those unfamiliar with Magic, Treasure tokens are essentially temporary resources that can be sacrificed to generate mana, the currency used to play cards and activate abilities. Since these tokens enter the battlefield tapped, players generally need to wait until they untap before using them, which is what makes the ability decent.
The card is a fitting mechanic for the couple, translating Leeta’s business instincts into a potentially lucrative in-game partnership. Players who can consistently draw additional cards can ostensibly keep generating Treasure tokens, so they have more resources to work with.
Rom and Leeta are included in the Federation Fleet Commander deck, which brings together characters from across the franchise under the leadership of Jean-Luc Picard, with Captain Janeway also serving as an alternative commander. Other familiar faces include Seven of Nine, Ezri Dax, Miles O’Brien, and Geordi La Forge.
The larger Magic: The Gathering x Star Trek crossover is officially out today, November 13, featuring four themed Commander decks, collectible booster packs, and special Scene Boxes that combine individual cards into mosaic artwork celebrating iconic franchise moments. However, Wizards of the Coast has warned that some products are facing production and shipping delays, including Commander decks in North America, meaning some fans may need to wait a little longer to get their hands on Rom and Leeta’s adorable reunion.
- Video Game(s)
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Magic: The Gathering, Magic the Gathering Commander, Magic: The Gathering – Battlegrounds, Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012, Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers, Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012, Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013, Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014, Magic: The Gathering Arena
- Created by
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Richard Garfield
- Main Genre
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Fantasy
- Release Date
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August 5, 1993
