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{{Main|The Dark}}
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== Trivia by color ==


*<c>Ashes to Ashes</c> and <c>Dust to Dust</c> not only have related names, they also have similar costs and effects.
=== Blue ===
 
*<c>Merfolk Assassin</c> combos with <c>War Barge</c>, which is also printed in this expansion, to kill any creature for {{3}},{{T}}.
*<c>Ball Lightning</c> has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[red]] creatures in ''The Dark''. It inspired many hasty disposable creatures, including <c>Skizzik</c>, <c>Blistering Firecat</c>, <c>Spark Elemental</c> and <c>Lightning Serpent</c>. Before receiving [[errata]], Ball Lightning only had to be sacrificed "at the end of the turn during which it was summoned" instead of at the end of any turn, allowing some loopholes around its intended impermanence before errata was issued to fix it. This artwork can also be found in the artwork of <c>Dwarven Shrine</c>.
*<c>Water Wurm</c> is the only [[blue]] wurm.
 
*<c>Carnivorous Plant</c> has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[green]] creatures in ''The Dark''. It was the first Wall without "Wall" in its name, leading many players to think that it could attack.
 
*<c>City of Shadows</c> inspired the creation of <c>Altar of Shadows</c>.
 
*<c>Coal Golem</c> has an ability that allows any deck to cast <c>Ball Lightning</c>. It inspired the creation of the Attendant cycle in the ''[[Invasion]]'' expansion, each of which has a similar ability that allows any deck to cast one of the corresponding Legendary Dragons from the Legendary Dragon cycle in the same set.
 
*<c>Dark Heart of the Wood</c> is the first multicolor non-creature card.
 
*<c>Diabolic Machine</c> has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[artifact]] creatures in ''The Dark''.
 
*<c>Eater of the Dead</c> has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[black]] creatures in ''The Dark''.


=== Black ===
*<c>Frankenstein's Monster</c> is one of only a few cards named after a literary source. It is also the only card that stipulates three different types of counters that can be put on it, something that is avoided today.
*<c>Frankenstein's Monster</c> is one of only a few cards named after a literary source. It is also the only card that stipulates three different types of counters that can be put on it, something that is avoided today.
*<c>Murk Dwellers</c> likely inspired the creation of cards that gain a power bonus when attacking, such as <c>Charging Bandits</c>, <c>Hollow Dogs</c>, and <c>Ravenous Skirge</c>.
*<c>Nameless Race</c> is the only creature without a [[creature type]].
*<c>Rag Man</c> is mentioned in the [[flavor text]] of <c>Dauthi Trapper</c>.


*<c>Gaea's Touch</c> was initially misprinted with all its text, [[expansion symbol]], and [[mana cost]] shifted to the left.
=== Red ===
 
*<c>Ball Lightning</c> 's artwork is referenced in the artwork of <c>Dwarven Shrine</c> from ''[[Odyssey]]''.
*<c>Goblin Rock Sled</c> created confusion for having "Goblin" in its name but not in its creature type, making it unclear to many at the time how it interacted with other cards in ''The Dark'' that referenced Goblins.
*<c>Goblin Rock Sled</c> created confusion for having "Goblin" in its name but not in its creature type, making it unclear to many at the time how it interacted with other cards in ''The Dark'' that referenced Goblins.
*<c>Inferno</c> inspired the creation of <c>Bloodfire Colossus</c>.
*<c>Inferno</c> inspired the creation of <c>Bloodfire Colossus</c>.
*<c>Mana Clash</c> is the only card with a casting cost of {{R}} that can potentially win the game on the first turn without any other assistance. This card is named after one of a few names considered for a time for the title of the game of '''Magic''', which was considered too common a word to trademark; ": the Gathering" was later added to "Magic" to make it unique.


*<c>Knights of Thorn</c> has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[white]] creatures in ''The Dark''.
=== Green ===
 
*<c>Gaea's Touch</c> was initially misprinted with all its text, [[expansion symbol]], and [[mana cost]] shifted to the left.
*<c>Land Leeches</c> is strictly better than <c>Hornet Cobra</c>, which appeared just one expansion prior in the ''[[Legends]]'' expansion.
 
*<c>Leviathan</c> is the first creature printed with double-digit power and toughness and had the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among all creatures until <c>Polar Kraken</c> in the [[Ice Age]] expansion.
 
*<c>Mana Clash</c> is the only card with a casting cost of {{r}} that can potentially win the game on the first turn without any other assistance. This card is named after one of a few names considered for a time for the title of the game of '''Magic''', which was considered too common a word to trademark; ": the Gathering" was later added to "Magic" to make it unique.
 
*<c>Marsh Gas</c> is strictly better than <c>Hell Swarm</c>, which appeared just one expansion prior in the ''Legends'' expansion.
 
*<c>Marsh Goblins</c> and <c>Scarwood Goblins</c> are the first non-Legendary multicolored creatures.
 
*<c>Marsh Viper</c> is the only creature in this expansion with the [[Poison]] mechanic.
*<c>Marsh Viper</c> is the only creature in this expansion with the [[Poison]] mechanic.
*<c>Venom</c> gave the ability of <c>Thicket Basilisk</c>, <c>Cockatrice</c> and <c>Infernal Medusa</c> a name to be referred by.
*<c>Whippoorwill</c>, along with <c>Frozen Shade</c> and <c>Blinking Spirit</c>, confused many players by depicting a creature apparently in mid-flight in its art without actually having [[flying]]. This kind of disparity between art and ability is actively avoided in modern cards.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/make-no-mistake-2003-11-10|Make No Mistake|[[Mark Rosewater]]|Monday, November 10, 2003}}</ref>


=== Colorless ===
*<c>City of Shadows</c> inspired the creation of <c>Altar of Shadows</c>.
*<c>Coal Golem</c> has an ability that allows any deck to cast <c>Ball Lightning</c>. It inspired the creation of the Attendant cycle in the ''[[Invasion]]'' expansion, each of which has a similar ability that allows any deck to cast one of the corresponding Legendary Dragons from the Legendary Dragon cycle in the same set.
*<c>Maze of Ith</c> was restricted in the [[Vintage]] format from October 1994 until April 1999 for its ability to slow games significantly. This card was heavily played due to its power, and under old [[Mulligan]] rules resulted in many opening hands without mana sources.
*<c>Maze of Ith</c> was restricted in the [[Vintage]] format from October 1994 until April 1999 for its ability to slow games significantly. This card was heavily played due to its power, and under old [[Mulligan]] rules resulted in many opening hands without mana sources.
*<c>Merfolk Assassin</c> combos with <c>War Barge</c>, which is also printed in this expansion, to kill any creature for {{3}},{{T}}.
*<c>Murk Dwellers</c> likely inspired the creation of cards that gain a power bonus when attacking, such as <c>Charging Bandits</c>, <c>Hollow Dogs</c>, and <c>Ravenous Skirge</c>.
*<c>Nameless Race</c> is the only non-[[artifact]] creature without a [[creature type]].
*<c>Rag Man</c> is mentioned in the [[flavor text]] of <c>Dauthi Trapper</c>.
*<c>Reflecting Mirror</c> is the first card to have the ability to change the target of another spell.
*<c>Reflecting Mirror</c> is the first card to have the ability to change the target of another spell.
*<c>Safe Haven</c> has an ability that originally functioned at [[interrupt]] speed because there were a few cards (such as <c>Red Elemental Blast</c>) at the time that could kill a creature at interrupt speed. It inspired the creation of <c>Cold Storage</c>.
*<c>Safe Haven</c> has an ability that originally functioned at [[interrupt]] speed because there were a few cards (such as <c>Red Elemental Blast</c>) at the time that could kill a creature at interrupt speed. It inspired the creation of <c>Cold Storage</c>.
*<c>Sorrow's Path</c> is voted to be "the worst card (in terms of power) ever made" by [[Mark Rosewater]].  
*<c>Sorrow's Path</c> is voted to be "the worst card (in terms of power) ever made" by [[Mark Rosewater]].  
*<c>Stone Calendar</c> inspired the creation of the Medallion cycle in the ''[[Tempest]]'' expansion, which further inspired the Familiar cycle in the ''[[Planeshift]]'' expansion and the Warchief cycle in the ''[[Scourge]]'' expansion.
*<c>Stone Calendar</c> inspired the creation of the Medallion cycle in the ''[[Tempest]]'' expansion, which further inspired the Familiar cycle in the ''[[Planeshift]]'' expansion and the Warchief cycle in the ''[[Scourge]]'' expansion.


*<c>Tormod's Crypt</c> has the most powerful [[graveyard]] removal effect for its cost of any card. Today, no set with a graveyard theme would ever include a card this powerful.
=== Multicolor ===
*<c>Dark Heart of the Wood</c> is the first [[multicolored]] non-creature card, and the first [[enemy color]] pair card. Cards for the other four enemy color pairs were not printed until ''[[Mirage]]''.
*<c>Marsh Goblins</c> and <c>Scarwood Goblins</c> are the first non-Legendary multicolored creatures.


*<c>Venom</c> gave the ability of <c>Thicket Basilisk</c>, <c>Cockatrice</c> and <c>Infernal Medusa</c> a name to be referred by.
== Top power & toughness ==
Sorted by decreasing combined power and toughness.
*<c>Leviathan</c> (10/10) had the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among all creatures until <c>Polar Kraken</c> in the ''[[Ice Age]]'' expansion; it is also the first creature printed with double-digit power and toughness.
*<c>Carnivorous Plant</c> (4/5) has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[green]] creatures in ''The Dark''. It was the first Wall without "Wall" in its name, leading many players to think that it could attack.
*<c>Diabolic Machine</c> (4/4) has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[artifact]] creatures in ''The Dark''.
*<c>Eater of the Dead</c> (3/4) has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[black]] creatures in ''The Dark''.
*<c>Ball Lightning</c> (6/1) has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[red]] creatures in ''The Dark''.
*<c>Knights of Thorn</c> (2/2) has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[white]] creatures in ''The Dark''.


*<c>Water Wurm</c> is the only [[blue]] wurm.
==References==
{{Reflist}}


*<c>Whippoorwill</c>, along with <c>Frozen Shade</c> and <c>Blinking Spirit</c>, confused many players by depicting a creature apparently in mid-flight in its art without actually having [[flying]]. This kind of disparity between art and ability is actively avoided in modern cards.
[[Category:Magic set trivia]]
[[Category:Trivia]][[Category:Expansions and sets]]

Latest revision as of 18:38, 26 June 2021

The Dark/Trivia
 
 

Trivia by color

Blue

Black

Red

  • Ball Lightning 's artwork is referenced in the artwork of Dwarven Shrine from Odyssey.
  • Goblin Rock Sled created confusion for having "Goblin" in its name but not in its creature type, making it unclear to many at the time how it interacted with other cards in The Dark that referenced Goblins.
  • Inferno inspired the creation of Bloodfire Colossus.
  • Mana Clash is the only card with a casting cost of {R} that can potentially win the game on the first turn without any other assistance. This card is named after one of a few names considered for a time for the title of the game of Magic, which was considered too common a word to trademark; ": the Gathering" was later added to "Magic" to make it unique.

Green

Colorless

  • City of Shadows inspired the creation of Altar of Shadows.
  • Coal Golem has an ability that allows any deck to cast Ball Lightning. It inspired the creation of the Attendant cycle in the Invasion expansion, each of which has a similar ability that allows any deck to cast one of the corresponding Legendary Dragons from the Legendary Dragon cycle in the same set.
  • Maze of Ith was restricted in the Vintage format from October 1994 until April 1999 for its ability to slow games significantly. This card was heavily played due to its power, and under old Mulligan rules resulted in many opening hands without mana sources.
  • Reflecting Mirror is the first card to have the ability to change the target of another spell.
  • Safe Haven has an ability that originally functioned at interrupt speed because there were a few cards (such as Red Elemental Blast) at the time that could kill a creature at interrupt speed. It inspired the creation of Cold Storage.
  • Sorrow's Path is voted to be "the worst card (in terms of power) ever made" by Mark Rosewater.
  • Stone Calendar inspired the creation of the Medallion cycle in the Tempest expansion, which further inspired the Familiar cycle in the Planeshift expansion and the Warchief cycle in the Scourge expansion.

Multicolor

Top power & toughness

Sorted by decreasing combined power and toughness.

References

  1. Mark Rosewater (Monday, November 10, 2003). "Make No Mistake". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.