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{{Otheruses}}
{{SubTabs
|sub1 = Card comparisons
|sub2 = Theme decks
}}
{{Infobox set
{{Infobox set
|image = DST logo.jpg
  |image = DST logo.jpg
|symbol_description = The Shield of Kaldra
  |symbol_description = The Shield of Kaldra
|design = [[Bill Rose]] (lead)<br/>[[Tyler Bielman]]<br/>[[Brian Schneider]]<br/>[[Mark Rosewater]]
  |design = [[Bill Rose]] (lead)<br/>[[Tyler Bielman]]<br/>[[Brian Schneider]]<br/>[[Mark Rosewater]]
|development = [[Henry Stern]] (lead) <ref>{{NewRef|latest-developments/evolution-oxidize-2004-01-16|The Evolution of Oxidize|[[Randy Buehler]]|January 16, 2004}}</ref><br/>Tyler Bielman<br/>[[Brandon Bozzi]]<br/>[[Charlie Catino|Charlie Catmandu]]<br/>Brian Schneider  
  |development = [[Henry Stern]] (lead) <ref>{{DailyRef|latest-developments/evolution-oxidize-2004-01-16|The Evolution of Oxidize|[[Randy Buehler]]|January 16, 2004}}</ref><br/>Tyler Bielman<br/>[[Brandon Bozzi]]<br/>[[Charlie Catino|Charlie Catmandu]]<br/>Brian Schneider  
|art = [[Jeremy Cranford]]
  |art = [[Jeremy Cranford]]
|release = February 6, 2004
  |release = February 6, 2004
|location=[[Mirrodin (plane)|Mirrodin]]
  |plane = [[Mirrodin (plane)|Mirrodin]]
|mechanics = Artifacts,<br/>[[Equipment]],<br/>[[Indestructible]],<br/>Pulses
  |mechanics = Artifacts, [[Equipment]], [[Indestructible]], Pulses
|keywords = [[Affinity]] (for artifacts and basic land types),<br/>[[Modular]]
  |keywords = [[Affinity]] (for artifacts and basic land types), [[Entwine]], [[Modular]]
|size = 165 <br/><small>(55 commons, 55 uncommons, 55 rares)</small>
  |size = 165 cards<br/>{{curmb|55|55|55}}
|code_expansion = DST
  |code_expansion = DST
|code_expansion_ref=<ref>{{NewRef|ask-wizards-august-2004-2004-08-02|Ask Wizards - August, 2004|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|August 02, 2004}}</ref>
  |code_expansion_ref= {{DailyRef|ask-wizards-august-2004-2004-08-02|Ask Wizards - August, 2004|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|August 02, 2004}}  
|code_development = Lettuce<ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/codename-game-2002-08-12-0|Codename of the Game|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 12, 2002}}</ref>
  |code_development = Lettuce<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/codename-game-2002-08-12-0|Codename of the Game|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 12, 2002}}</ref>
|series = [[Mirrodin block]]
  |series = [[Mirrodin block]]
|first = [[Mirrodin]]
  |first = Mirrodin
|second = [[Darksteel]]
  |second = Darksteel
|third = [[Fifth Dawn]]
  |third = Fifth Dawn
|previous = [[Mirrodin]]
  |previous = Mirrodin
|next = [[Fifth Dawn]]
  |next = Fifth Dawn
}}
}}
'''''Darksteel''''' is the second set in the [[Mirrodin block]]. It is the 31<sup>st</sup> ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' [[Set|expansion]] and was released on February 6, 2004. The [[prerelease]] was January 24–25, 2004. <ref name="DST Fact Sheet">{{NewRef|arcana/darksteel-fact-sheet-2004-01-05|''Darksteel'' Fact Sheet|Wizards of the Coast|January 5, 2004}}</ref> <ref>{{NewRef|darksteel-prerelease-primer-2004-01-21|''Darksteel'' Prerelease Primer|[[Brian David-Marshall]]|January 21, 2004}}</ref>
{{otheruses}}
'''''Darksteel''''' is the second set in the [[Mirrodin block]]. It is the 31st ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' [[Set|expansion]] and was released on February 6, 2004. The [[prerelease]] was January 24–25, 2004.<ref name="DST Fact Sheet">{{DailyRef|arcana/darksteel-fact-sheet-2004-01-05|''Darksteel'' Fact Sheet|Wizards of the Coast|January 5, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|darksteel-prerelease-primer-2004-01-21|''Darksteel'' Prerelease Primer|[[Brian David-Marshall]]|January 21, 2004}}</ref>


==Set details==
==Set details==
''Darksteel'' was the first small expansion to have 165 cards (11 extra rares and 11 extra uncommons campared to previous small expansions). The [[expansion symbol]] for the set is a miniature version of the <c>Shield of Kaldra</c>. <ref>{{NewRef|ask-wizards-october-2006-2006-10-02|Ask Wizards|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|October 31, 2006}}</ref> The set continues the heavy [[artifact]] theme of its predecessor ''[[Mirrodin]]''. Thematically the main component are [[Darksteel metal|darksteel]] artifacts, all of which are [[indestructible]]. The set also features an update of the [[lucky charms]]
''Darksteel'' was the first small expansion to have 165 cards (11 extra rares and 11 extra uncommons compared to previous small expansions). The [[expansion symbol]] for the set is a miniature version of the <c>Shield of Kaldra</c>.<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-october-2006-2006-10-02|Ask Wizards|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|October 31, 2006}}</ref> The set continues the heavy [[artifact]] theme of its predecessor ''[[Mirrodin]]''. Thematically the main component are [[Darksteel metal|darksteel]] artifacts, all of which are [[indestructible]]. The set also features an update of the [[lucky charms]]
===Marketing===
===Marketing===
''Darksteel'' was sold in 15-card [[boosters]], four [[preconstructed theme deck]]s and a [[fat pack]]. The booster packs featured artwork from <c>Shield of Kaldra</c>, <c>Arcbound Ravager</c> and <c>Eater of Days</c>.. The [[prerelease]] card was a [[foil]] [[alternate art]] <c>Shield of Kaldra</c>. This card was the first to mention a card in its [[text box]] that hadn't been printed yet. The three [[Kaldra artifacts]] form a [[mega-cycle]]. <ref>{{NewRef|whats-helm-kaldra-2004-01-29|What's a "Helm of Kaldra"?|Wizards of the Coast|January 29, 2004}}</ref> The set was accompanied by a [[The Darksteel Eye|novel]] by [[Jess Lebow]]. A 3/3 [[Beast]] [[Token]] for <c>Pulse of the Tangle</c> was offered as a [[Magic Player Rewards|Player Reward]].
''Darksteel'' was sold in 15-card [[boosters]], four [[preconstructed theme deck]]s and a [[fat pack]]. The booster packs featured artwork from <c>Shield of Kaldra</c>, <c>Arcbound Ravager</c> and <c>Eater of Days</c>. The [[prerelease]] card was a [[foil]] [[alternate art]] <c>Shield of Kaldra</c>. This card was the first to mention a card in its [[text box]] that hadn't been printed yet. The three [[Kaldra]] artifacts form a [[mega-cycle]].<ref>{{DailyRef|whats-helm-kaldra-2004-01-29|What's a "Helm of Kaldra"?|Wizards of the Coast|January 29, 2004}}</ref> The set was accompanied by a [[The Darksteel Eye|novel]] by [[Jess Lebow]]. A 3/3 [[Beast]] [[Token]] for <c>Pulse of the Tangle</c> was offered as a [[Magic Player Reward]].


===Storyline===
===Storyline===
{{Main|The Darksteel Eye}}
{{Main|The Darksteel Eye}}
"The world . . . is . . . hollow." This is the secret that [[Chunth]], the [[Tel-Jilad]] [[troll]] elder, entrusts to [[Glissa Sunseeker]] before his death at the hands of a traitor. Armed with that knowledge, Glissa fights her way through the great [[vedalken]] capital of [[Lumengrid]], down into the [[Pool of Knowledge]]. The Synod's sacred chamber contains a lacuna -- a tunnel, saturated with blue mana -- that leads to Mirrodin's secret interior. There, huge, bizarre towers of fungus-like metal called [[mycosynth]] reach up toward an immense inner sun of pure mana. As Glissa flees from her vedalken pursuers, she discovers another secret inside this plane. [[Memnarch]] is real, and he patiently waits for the elvish champion to find him. <ref>{{NewRef|feature/shedding-light-darksteel-2004-01-13|Shedding Light on ''Darksteel''|[[Rei Nakazawa]]|January 13, 2004}}</ref> In the meantime, he studies the [[blinkmoths]] and has begun to build a monument to his greatness as an artificer: the [[Darksteel Eye]], a device that will make his omniscience over Mirrodin complete.
"The world . . . is . . . hollow." This is the secret that [[Chunth]], the [[Tel-Jilad]] [[troll]] elder, entrusts to [[Glissa Sunseeker]] before his death at the hands of a traitor. Armed with that knowledge, Glissa fights her way through the great [[vedalken]] capital of [[Lumengrid]], down into the [[Pool of Knowledge]]. The Synod's sacred chamber contains a lacuna—a tunnel, saturated with blue mana—that leads to Mirrodin's secret interior. There, huge, bizarre towers of fungus-like metal called [[mycosynth]] reach up toward an immense inner sun of pure mana. As Glissa flees from her vedalken pursuers, she discovers another secret inside this plane. [[Memnarch]] is real, and he patiently waits for the elvish champion to find him.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/shedding-light-darksteel-2004-01-13|Shedding Light on ''Darksteel''|[[Rei Nakazawa]]|January 13, 2004}}</ref> In the meantime, he studies the [[blinkmoth]]s and has begun to build a monument to his greatness as an artificer: the [[Darksteel Eye]], a device that will make his omniscience over Mirrodin complete.


=== Tournament impact ===
=== Tournament impact ===
Line 37: Line 41:


==Mechanics==
==Mechanics==
[[Modular]] has artifact creatures enter the battlefield with a number of +1/+1 [[Counter|counters]] on them. If the artifact creature is put into the graveyard from play, these counters are moved to another artifact creature. <ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/arcbound-happen-2004-01-12|Arcbound To Happen|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 12, 2004}}</ref> <ref>{{WebRef| url=http://archive.wizards.com/dci/downloads/darksteelfaq012204.rtf| title=''Darksteel'' Frequently Asked Questions| accessmonthday=August 10| accessyear=2016| author=Paul Barclay| authorlink=Paul Barclay| coauthors=David DeLaney and Jeff Jordan}}
[[Modular]] has artifact creatures enter the battlefield with a number of [[+1/+1 counter]]s on them. If the artifact creature is put into the graveyard from play, these counters are moved to another artifact creature.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/arcbound-happen-2004-01-12|Arcbound To Happen|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 12, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{WebRef| url=http://archive.wizards.com/dci/downloads/darksteelfaq012204.rtf| title=''Darksteel'' Frequently Asked Questions|accessdate=August 10, 2016|author=Paul Barclay, David DeLaney and Jeff Jordan}}
</ref> <ref>{{NewRef|arcana/flavor-modular-2004-01-27|The flavor of modular|[[Magic Arcana]]|January 27, 2004}}</ref>
</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/flavor-modular-2004-01-27|The flavor of modular|[[Magic Arcana]]|January 27, 2004}}</ref>


[[Indestructible]] is also introduced and exclusively found on artifacts with the word "Darksteel" in their names. As the name suggest, permanents that are indestructible simply can not be [[Destroy|destroyed]] through any means, e.g. direct destruction effects such as <c>Wrath of God</c> or [[damage]]. The mechanic would be reused occasionally in later sets, though not exclusively bound to artifacts.<ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/enter…-matrix-2004-01-05|Enter… The Matrix|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 05, 2004}}</ref> <ref>{{NewRef|latest-developments/developing-indestructibility-2004-01-09|Developing Indestructibility|[[Randy Buehler]]|January 9, 2004}}</ref>
[[Indestructible]] is also introduced and exclusively found on artifacts with the word "Darksteel" in their names. As the name suggest, permanents that are indestructible simply can not be [[destroy]]ed through any means, e.g. direct destruction effects such as <c>Wrath of God</c> or [[damage]]. The mechanic would be reused occasionally in later sets, though not exclusively bound to artifacts.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/enter…-matrix-2004-01-05|Enter… The Matrix|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 05, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|latest-developments/developing-indestructibility-2004-01-09|Developing Indestructibility|[[Randy Buehler]]|January 9, 2004}}</ref>


The set also reprises [[Affinity]] for artifacts but also introduces Affinity for basic land types in a cycle of Golems. <ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/affinity-and-beyond-2004-01-19|To Affinity And Beyond|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 19, 2004}}</ref>
The set also reprises [[Affinity]] for artifacts but also introduces Affinity for basic land types in a cycle of Golems.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/affinity-and-beyond-2004-01-19|To Affinity And Beyond|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 19, 2004}}</ref>


===Creature types===
===Creature types===
The [[Creature type|creature type]] [[Artificer]] was introduced in this expansion.
The [[creature type]]s [[Artificer]] and [[Blinkmoth]] were introduced in this expansion.


The following creature types that are not new to ''Magic'' are used in this expansion:
The following creature types that are not new to ''Magic'' are used in this expansion:
{{columns-list|6|
{{columns-list|colwidth=8em|
*[[Angel]]
*[[Angel]]
*[[Beast]]
*[[Beast]]
Line 85: Line 89:
==Cycles==
==Cycles==
''Darksteel'' has four [[cycle]]s:
''Darksteel'' has four [[cycle]]s:
{| class="wikitable"
! Cycle name
! {{W}}
! {{U}}
! {{B}}
! {{R}}
! {{G}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Affinity Golems'''
|{{card|Razor Golem||DST}}
|{{card|Spire Golem||DST}}
|{{card|Dross Golem||DST}}
|{{card|Oxidda Golem||DST}}
|{{card|Tangle Golem||DST}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these common [[Golem]] artifact creatures has [[affinity]] for a basic land type.
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Echoing spells'''
|{{card|Echoing Calm||DST}}
|{{card|Echoing Truth||DST}}
|{{card|Echoing Decay||DST}}
|{{card|Echoing Ruin||DST}}
|{{card|Echoing Courage||DST}}
|-
|colspan="5"|These spells affect all chosen cards with the same name (i.e. destroy all enchantments with the same name) and were illustrated by [[Greg Staples]].<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/echoing-art-2007-03-14|Echoing Art|[[Magic Arcana]]|March 14, 2007}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''[[Lucky charm]]s artifacts'''
|{{card|Angel's Feather||DST}}
|{{card|Kraken's Eye||DST}}
|{{card|Demon's Horn||DST}}
|{{card|Dragon's Claw||DST}}
|{{card|Wurm's Tooth||DST}}
|-
|colspan="5"|A horizontal [[cycle]] of uncommon artifacts, each costing {{2}}, a "lucky charm" gives its controller to gain 1 life when a spell of the appropriate color is played. Each of them was illustrated by [[Alan Pollack]].
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Pulses'''
|{{card|Pulse of the Fields||DST}}
|{{card|Pulse of the Grid||DST}}
|{{card|Pulse of the Dross||DST}}
|{{card|Pulse of the Forge||DST}}
|{{card|Pulse of the Tangle||DST}}
|-
|colspan="5"|A horizontal cycle of rare spells, each costing {{1}}MM and providing a resource. The Pulse returns to its owners hand after resolution, as long as an opponent still has a higher count of the resource given.<ref>{{DailyRef|latest-developments/conditional-hammers-2004-03-05|Conditional Hammers|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|March 5, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/pulse-groffskithur-2004-04-13|Pulse of the Groffskithur|[[Magic Arcana]]|April 13, 2004}}</ref>
|}


*'''Affinity Golems''': Each of these common [[Golem]] artifact creatures has [[affinity]] for a basic land type. {{-}} <c>Razor Golem</c>, <c>Spire Golem</c>, <c>Dross Golem</c>, <c>Oxidda Golem</c>, and <c>Tangle Golem</c>.
===Mega cycle===
 
*'''"Echoing" spells''': These spells affect all chosen cards with the same name (i.e. destroy all enchantments with the same name) and were illustrated by [[Greg Staples]] {{-}} <c>Echoing Calm</c>, <c>Echoing Truth</c>, <c>Echoing Decay</c>, <c>Echoing Ruin</c>, and <c>Echoing Courage</c>. <ref>{{NewRef|arcana/echoing-art-2007-03-14|Echoing Art|[[Magic Arcana]]|March 14, 2007}}</ref>


*'''[["Lucky charms"|"Lucky charm"]] artifacts''': A horizontal [[cycle]] of uncommon artifacts, each costing {{2}}, a "lucky charm" gives its controller to gain 1 life when a spell of the appropriate color is played. Each of them was illustrated by [[Alan Pollack]] {{-}} <c>Angel's Feather</c>, <c>Kraken's Eye</c>, <c>Demon's Horn</c>, <c>Dragon's Claw</c>, and <c>Wurm's Tooth</c>
{| class="wikitable"  
! Cycle name
! {{keyrune|MRD}}
! {{keyrune|DST}}
! {{keyrune|5DN}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Kaldra Equipment'''
|{{card|Sword of Kaldra|Mirrodin}}
|{{card|Shield of Kaldra|Darksteel}}
|{{card|Helm of Kaldra|Fifth Dawn}}
|-
|colspan="4"|Each expansion symbol in the Mirrodin block is represented in the Kaldra artifacts.
|}


*'''Pulses''': A horizontal cycle of rare spells, each costing {{1}}MM and providing a resource. The Pulse returns to its owners hand after resolution, as long as an opponent still has a higher count of the resource given. {{-}} <c>Pulse of the Fields</c>, <c>Pulse of the Dross</c>, <c>Pulse of the Grid</c>, <c>Pulse of the Forge</c>, and <c>Pulse of the Tangle</c>. <ref>{{NewRef|latest-developments/conditional-hammers-2004-03-05|Conditional Hammers|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|March 5, 2004}}</ref> <ref>{{NewRef|arcana/pulse-groffskithur-2004-04-13|Pulse of the Groffskithur|[[Magic Arcana]]|April 13, 2004}}</ref>
===Pairs===
''Darksteel'' has one [[mirrored pair]].


===Mirrored pairs===
{| class="wikitable"
*'''Emissaries:''' <c>Emissary of Hope</c> and <c>Emissary of Despair</c>: Both are [[Spirits]], have a cost of 1MM, are illustrated by [[rk post]], and have a effect of gaining or losing life relative to the number of artifacts another player controls. <ref>{{NewRef|arcana/emissaries-hope-and-despair-2004-04-22|Emissaries of Hope and Despair|[[Magic Arcana]]|April 22, 2004}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="2"|Mirrored Pairs
!Description
|-
|{{card|Emissary of Hope||DST}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Emissary of Despair||DST}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|[[Spirit]]s, have a cost of 1MM, are 2/1, are illustrated by [[rk post]], and have a effect of gaining or losing life relative to the number of artifacts another player controls.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/emissaries-hope-and-despair-2004-04-22|Emissaries of Hope and Despair|[[Magic Arcana]]|April 22, 2004}}</ref>
|}


==Reprinted cards==
==Reprinted cards==
In contrast to ''Mirrodin'' reprinting a sizable number of artifact-related staples, only three cards were [[reprint]]ed for ''Darksteel''.   
In contrast to ''Mirrodin'' reprinting a sizable number of artifact-related staples, only three cards were [[reprint]]ed for ''Darksteel''.   


* <c>Fireball</c> {{-}} first printed in ''[[Alpha]]'', last seen in ''[[5th Edition]]'' <ref>{{NewRef|return-fireball-2004-01-26|The Return of Fireball|Wizards of the Coast|January 26, 2004}}</ref>
* <c>Fireball</c> {{-}} first printed in ''[[Alpha]]'', last seen in ''[[5th Edition]]'' <ref>{{DailyRef|return-fireball-2004-01-26|The Return of Fireball|Wizards of the Coast|January 26, 2004}}</ref>
* <c>Inflame</c> {{-}} first printed in ''[[Prophecy]]''
* <c>Inflame</c> {{-}} first printed in ''[[Prophecy]]''
* <c>Juggernaut</c> {{-}} first printed in ''Alpha'', last seen in ''[[Revised]]''
* <c>Juggernaut</c> {{-}} first printed in ''Alpha'', last seen in ''[[Revised]]''
===Functional reprints===
===Functional reprints===
* <c>Hoverguard Observer</c> {{-}} functional reprint of <c>Stronghold Zeppelin</c> (''[[Nemesis]]''), save for creature type
* <c>Hoverguard Observer</c> {{-}} functional reprint of {{card|Stronghold Zeppelin|Nemesis}}, save for creature type
* <c>Ur-Golem's Eye</c> {{-}} functional reprint of <c>Sisay's Ring</c> (''[[Visions]]'')
* <c>Ur-Golem's Eye</c> {{-}} functional reprint of {{card|Sisay's Ring|Visions}}
===Colorshifted===
 
* <c>Ritual of Restoration</c> {{-}} white colorshifted version of <c>Reconstruction</c> (''[[Antiquities]]'')
==Card comparisons==
{{main|Darksteel/Card comparisons}}


==Notable cards==
==Notable cards==
*<c>Æther Vial</c> {{-}} banned in [[Mirrodin block]] tournaments.
*<c>Aether Vial</c> {{-}} banned in [[Mirrodin block]] tournaments.
*<c>Arcbound Ravager</c> {{-}} banned in Mirrodin Block tournaments.
*<c>Arcbound Ravager</c> {{-}} banned in Mirrodin Block tournaments.
*<c>Skullclamp</c> {{-}} banned in [[Extended]] format tournaments. <ref>{{NewRef|skullclamp-we-hardly-knew-ye-2004-06-04|Skullclamp, We Hardly Knew Ye|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|June 4, 2004}}</ref>
*<c>Skullclamp</c> {{-}} banned in [[Modern]] and [[Extended]] format tournaments.<ref>{{DailyRef|skullclamp-we-hardly-knew-ye-2004-06-04|Skullclamp, We Hardly Knew Ye|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|June 4, 2004}}</ref>
*{{Card|Trinisphere}}{{-}}  the only card that applies a variable cost tax, by way of forcing the mana cost of all spells to be a minimum flat number. A popular (to the point of restriction) lock piece in Vintage and sees some Modern play.
*{{Card|Serum Powder}}{{-}} the only non-supplemental card (the other is the [[Conspiracy (card type)|Conspiracy]] {{Card|Backup Plan}}) to mention mulligans, by giving a player an effective extra mulligan. Sees regular Vintage Dredge play through finding {{Card|Bazaar of Baghdad}}.


==Preconstructed decks==
==Preconstructed decks==
Line 118: Line 187:
''Darksteel'' has three monocolored and one bicolored theme decks.
''Darksteel'' has three monocolored and one bicolored theme decks.
{{Decks|theme
{{Decks|theme
  |Transference|U
  |Mind Swarm|B
   |Master Blaster|R
   |Master Blaster|R
  |Mind Swarm|B
   |Swarm & Slam|GW
   |Swarm & Slam|WG
  |Transference|U
}}
}}


Line 130: Line 199:
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Sets|state=collapsed}}
{{Mirrodin|block}}
{{Mirrodin|block}}
{{Sets}}

Latest revision as of 22:25, 12 May 2024

Darksteel
 
Card comparisons
 
Theme decks
 
Darksteel
[[File:{{#setmainimage:DST logo.jpg}}|250px]]
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description The Shield of Kaldra
Design Bill Rose (lead)
Tyler Bielman
Brian Schneider
Mark Rosewater
Development Henry Stern (lead) [1]
Tyler Bielman
Brandon Bozzi
Charlie Catmandu
Brian Schneider
Art direction Jeremy Cranford
Release date February 6, 2004
Plane Mirrodin
Themes and mechanics Artifacts, Equipment, Indestructible, Pulses
Keywords/​ability words Affinity (for artifacts and basic land types), Entwine, Modular
Set size 165 cards
(55 commons, 55 uncommons, 55 rares)
Expansion code DST[2]
Development codename Lettuce[3]
Mirrodin block
Mirrodin Darksteel Fifth Dawn
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Mirrodin Darksteel Fifth Dawn
For other uses, see Darksteel (disambiguation).

Darksteel is the second set in the Mirrodin block. It is the 31st Magic: The Gathering expansion and was released on February 6, 2004. The prerelease was January 24–25, 2004.[4][5]

Set details

Darksteel was the first small expansion to have 165 cards (11 extra rares and 11 extra uncommons compared to previous small expansions). The expansion symbol for the set is a miniature version of the Shield of Kaldra.[6] The set continues the heavy artifact theme of its predecessor Mirrodin. Thematically the main component are darksteel artifacts, all of which are indestructible. The set also features an update of the lucky charms

Marketing

Darksteel was sold in 15-card boosters, four preconstructed theme decks and a fat pack. The booster packs featured artwork from Shield of Kaldra, Arcbound Ravager and Eater of Days. The prerelease card was a foil alternate art Shield of Kaldra. This card was the first to mention a card in its text box that hadn't been printed yet. The three Kaldra artifacts form a mega-cycle.[7] The set was accompanied by a novel by Jess Lebow. A 3/3 Beast Token for Pulse of the Tangle was offered as a Magic Player Reward.

Storyline

Main article: The Darksteel Eye

"The world . . . is . . . hollow." This is the secret that Chunth, the Tel-Jilad troll elder, entrusts to Glissa Sunseeker before his death at the hands of a traitor. Armed with that knowledge, Glissa fights her way through the great vedalken capital of Lumengrid, down into the Pool of Knowledge. The Synod's sacred chamber contains a lacuna—a tunnel, saturated with blue mana—that leads to Mirrodin's secret interior. There, huge, bizarre towers of fungus-like metal called mycosynth reach up toward an immense inner sun of pure mana. As Glissa flees from her vedalken pursuers, she discovers another secret inside this plane. Memnarch is real, and he patiently waits for the elvish champion to find him.[8] In the meantime, he studies the blinkmoths and has begun to build a monument to his greatness as an artificer: the Darksteel Eye, a device that will make his omniscience over Mirrodin complete.

Tournament impact

Darksteel is notorious as a very powerful tournament set. At one point it was responsible for two of four cards that were banned in Extended: Aether Vial and Skullclamp. Skullclamp was also very notorious in Standard as well for over-powering creature decks, making them very resilient even to mass destruction and providing a lot of card advantage at a very small cost. It became the first card to be banned in Standard in five years. Later other cards featured in the meta-game warping Affinity deck, especially Arcbound Ravager. Trinisphere was restricted in Vintage due to the format's capacity for one player producing large quantities of mana on the first turn and then dropping Trinisphere, preventing opponents from doing the same.

Mechanics

Modular has artifact creatures enter the battlefield with a number of +1/+1 counters on them. If the artifact creature is put into the graveyard from play, these counters are moved to another artifact creature.[9][10][11]

Indestructible is also introduced and exclusively found on artifacts with the word "Darksteel" in their names. As the name suggest, permanents that are indestructible simply can not be destroyed through any means, e.g. direct destruction effects such as Wrath of God or damage. The mechanic would be reused occasionally in later sets, though not exclusively bound to artifacts.[12][13]

The set also reprises Affinity for artifacts but also introduces Affinity for basic land types in a cycle of Golems.[14]

Creature types

The creature types Artificer and Blinkmoth were introduced in this expansion.

The following creature types that are not new to Magic are used in this expansion:

Cycles

Darksteel has four cycles:

Cycle name {W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Affinity Golems Razor Golem Spire Golem Dross Golem Oxidda Golem Tangle Golem
Each of these common Golem artifact creatures has affinity for a basic land type.
Echoing spells Echoing Calm Echoing Truth Echoing Decay Echoing Ruin Echoing Courage
These spells affect all chosen cards with the same name (i.e. destroy all enchantments with the same name) and were illustrated by Greg Staples.[15]
Lucky charms artifacts Angel's Feather Kraken's Eye Demon's Horn Dragon's Claw Wurm's Tooth
A horizontal cycle of uncommon artifacts, each costing {2}, a "lucky charm" gives its controller to gain 1 life when a spell of the appropriate color is played. Each of them was illustrated by Alan Pollack.
Pulses Pulse of the Fields Pulse of the Grid Pulse of the Dross Pulse of the Forge Pulse of the Tangle
A horizontal cycle of rare spells, each costing {1}MM and providing a resource. The Pulse returns to its owners hand after resolution, as long as an opponent still has a higher count of the resource given.[16][17]

Mega cycle

Cycle name
Kaldra Equipment Sword of Kaldra (Mirrodin) Shield of Kaldra (Darksteel) Helm of Kaldra (Fifth Dawn)
Each expansion symbol in the Mirrodin block is represented in the Kaldra artifacts.

Pairs

Darksteel has one mirrored pair.

Mirrored Pairs Description
Emissary of Hope
({W}) 		Emissary of Despair
({B}) 		Spirits, have a cost of 1MM, are 2/1, are illustrated by rk post, and have a effect of gaining or losing life relative to the number of artifacts another player controls.[18]

Reprinted cards

In contrast to Mirrodin reprinting a sizable number of artifact-related staples, only three cards were reprinted for Darksteel.

Functional reprints

Card comparisons

Main article: Darksteel/Card comparisons

Notable cards

Preconstructed decks

Main article: Darksteel/Theme decks

Darksteel has three monocolored and one bicolored theme decks.

Theme
deck name 		Colors Included
{W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Transference U
Mind Swarm B
Master Blaster R
Swarm & Slam W G

External links

References

  1. ↑ Randy Buehler (January 16, 2004). "The Evolution of Oxidize". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (August 02, 2004). "Ask Wizards - August, 2004". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 12, 2002). "Codename of the Game". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (January 5, 2004). "Darksteel Fact Sheet". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Brian David-Marshall (January 21, 2004). "Darksteel Prerelease Primer". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Brady Dommermuth (October 31, 2006). "Ask Wizards". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (January 29, 2004). "What's a "Helm of Kaldra"?". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ Rei Nakazawa (January 13, 2004). "Shedding Light on Darksteel". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 12, 2004). "Arcbound To Happen". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ Paul Barclay, David DeLaney and Jeff Jordan. "Darksteel Frequently Asked Questions". Retrieved on August 10, 2016.
  11. ↑ Magic Arcana (January 27, 2004). "The flavor of modular". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 05, 2004). "Enter… The Matrix". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. ↑ Randy Buehler (January 9, 2004). "Developing Indestructibility". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 19, 2004). "To Affinity And Beyond". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  15. ↑ Magic Arcana (March 14, 2007). "Echoing Art". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. ↑ Aaron Forsythe (March 5, 2004). "Conditional Hammers". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  17. ↑ Magic Arcana (April 13, 2004). "Pulse of the Groffskithur". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  18. ↑ Magic Arcana (April 22, 2004). "Emissaries of Hope and Despair". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  19. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (January 26, 2004). "The Return of Fireball". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  20. ↑ Aaron Forsythe (June 4, 2004). "Skullclamp, We Hardly Knew Ye". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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