Invasion block: Difference between revisions

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The '''Invasion block''' was the sixth [[block (Sets)|block]], consisting of the [[large expansion]] [[Invasion]] and the two [[small expansion]]s [[Planeshift]] and [[Apocalypse]] ([[Image:Apocalypse.gif]]).
|noitalic=1
|sub1 = Preconstructed theme decks
}}
The '''Invasion block''' is the sixth [[block]], consisting of the [[large expansion]] ''[[Invasion]]'' ({{keyrune|INV}}) and the two [[small expansion]]s ''[[Planeshift]]'' ({{keyrune|PLS}}) and ''[[Apocalypse]]'' ({{keyrune|APC}}). The block came out in 2000–2001.


This block was characterized by it's multicolored nature, with an inordinately large amount of gold cards. Even mono-colored cards in the sets had multi-color elements, either by having bonuses granted by other colors, or off-color activation costs. Pushing this to the extreme, Invasion block made [[Domain]] a large theme, as seen in cards like <c>Draco</c> and <c>Coalition Victory</c>. The mechanic found throughout this block is [[Kicker]], which allows players to pay additional costs when playing the spell in order to gain additional affects. Good examples of the kicker mechanic include <c>Skizzik</c> and <c>Urza's Rage</c>. [[Split card]]s also first appeared in this block, which contained two different spells and players would have to choose which one to play. The most heavily played example of this is <c>Fire // Ice</c>, which was heavily played when it was Standard legal, and still is in many Extended and even Legacy and Vintage deck archetypes.
This block was centered around the idea of multiple colors working in synergy, with an inordinately large amount of gold cards. Many mono-colored cards in the block also played to the multicolor theme, either in bonuses granted by other colors or off-color activation costs. In this way, ''Invasion'' was a precursor of the later [[Ravnica block]].


There was a cycle of Apprentices, Battlemages and Masters for each color.  Battlemages appeared in Planeshift while the other two were in Invasion.  The Battlemages have allied color kicker costs while the other two had 2 allied color abilities.
[[Keywords]] introduced in this block: [[Kicker]].


[[Gating]] appeared in Planeshift.
Themes present throughout the block included [[multicolor]] strategy, [[tribal (theme)|tribal]] themes, [[Domain]] cards, [[Gating]] cards, and [[Kavu]] creatures.
 
==Mega cycles==
There are two four-card [[mega-cycle]]s in the ''Invasion'' block, each started in ''[[Invasion]]'' with two [[allied colors]] cards and finished in ''[[Apocalypse]]'' with two [[enemy colors]] cards.
{| class="wikitable"
! Cycle name
! {{W}}{{U}}
! {{U}}{{B}}
! {{U}}{{R}}
! {{G}}{{U}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Gold counterspells'''
|{{card|Absorb|Invasion}} <br/> (<c>Healing Salve</c>)
|{{card|Undermine|Invasion}} <br/> (<c>Bump in the Night</c>)
|{{card|Suffocating Blast|Apocalypse}} <br/> (<c>Lightning Strike</c>)
|{{card|Mystic Snake|Apocalypse}} <br/> (<c>Grizzly Bears</c>)
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these multicolored spells has {{U}}{{U}} in its casting cost and includes a <c>Counterspell</c> attached to a color appropriate effect.
|-
! Cycle name
! {{G}}{{W}}
! {{G}}{{U}}
! {{B}}{{G}}
! {{R}}{{G}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Mutations'''
|{{card|Aura Mutation|Invasion}} <br/> ([[Enchantments]])
|{{card|Aether Mutation|Apocalypse}} <br/> ([[Creatures]] - [[bounce]])
|{{card|Death Mutation|Apocalypse}} <br/> ([[Creatures]] - [[destroy]])
|{{card|Artifact Mutation|Invasion}} <br/> ([[Artifacts]])
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these multicolored spells has {{G}} in its casting cost, destroys or disrupts resources, and creates a number of 1/1 [[Saproling]] creature [[token]]s equal to the resource's converted mana cost.
|}
 
There is an additional three-card [[mega-cycle]] in the ''Invasion'' block,  where one card was printed in each set.
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Cycle name
! {{keyrune|INV}}
! {{keyrune|PLS}}
! {{keyrune|APC}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Land [[Kavu]]s'''
|{{card|Slimy Kavu|Invasion}} <br/> ([[Swamp]])
|{{card|Kavu Recluse|Planeshift}} <br/> ([[Forest]])
|{{card|Tundra Kavu|Apocalypse}}<br/> ([[Plains]] or [[Island]])
|-
|colspan="4"|Each of these Kavu is a red 2/2 creature with a mana cost of {{2}}{{R}} and an [[activated ability]] requiring to [[tap]] {{T}} to change a land's type into another. The first two change the land into the allies of red, while the last one changes it into the color's enemies.
|}
 
==Tokens==
[[Magic Player Reward]]s provided some cardboard [[token]]s for the block. However, because [[Magic Online]] needs to represent all the tokens in the game, art needs to be created for even the most insignificant tokens. For those, Magic Online is the only place it appears.<ref>{{DailyRef|hippos-and-reflections-2002-08-15|Hippos and Reflections|[[Magic Arcana]]|August 15, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|penumbra-tokens-2002-08-22|Penumbra tokens|[[Magic Arcana]]|August 22, 2002}}</ref>
 
==Development codes==
On the development codenames for the Invasion block, MTG.com columnist [[Mark Rosewater]] writes:
{{cquote|Invasion block codenames were cities with Chinese names. I believe this theme was picked by [[Mike Elliott]] because it fit our recent hard-to-spell kick. The original choices were actually so complicated that we had to change them.
<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/codename-game-2002-08-12-0|Codename of the Game|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 12, 2002}}</ref>}}


==Theme decks==
==Theme decks==
{{Main|Invasion (block)/Preconstructed theme decks}}
{{Main|Invasion block/Preconstructed theme decks}}
==Sets==
<center>
<table border="0">
<tr>
  <th>
  <imagemap>
  File:INV logo.png|250px
  default [[Invasion]]
  desc none
  </imagemap>
  </th>
  <th>
  <imagemap>
  File:PLS logo.jpg
  default [[Planeshift]]
  desc none
  </imagemap>
  </th>
  <th>
  <imagemap>
  File:APC logo.jpg
  default [[Apocalypse]]
  desc none
  </imagemap>
  </th>
</tr>
</table></center>
 
==References==
{{reflist}}


{{Set-stub}}
{{Block|state=collapsed}}
{{sets}}
{{Weatherlight Saga}}
[[Category:Expansions and sets]]
[[Category:Invasion block| ]]

Latest revision as of 22:41, 1 February 2022

Invasion block
 
Preconstructed theme decks
 

The Invasion block is the sixth block, consisting of the large expansion Invasion () and the two small expansions Planeshift () and Apocalypse (). The block came out in 2000–2001.

This block was centered around the idea of multiple colors working in synergy, with an inordinately large amount of gold cards. Many mono-colored cards in the block also played to the multicolor theme, either in bonuses granted by other colors or off-color activation costs. In this way, Invasion was a precursor of the later Ravnica block.

Keywords introduced in this block: Kicker.

Themes present throughout the block included multicolor strategy, tribal themes, Domain cards, Gating cards, and Kavu creatures.

Mega cycles

There are two four-card mega-cycles in the Invasion block, each started in Invasion with two allied colors cards and finished in Apocalypse with two enemy colors cards.

Cycle name {W}{U} {U}{B} {U}{R} {G}{U}
Gold counterspells Absorb (Invasion)
(Healing Salve) 		Undermine (Invasion)
(Bump in the Night) 		Suffocating Blast (Apocalypse)
(Lightning Strike) 		Mystic Snake (Apocalypse)
(Grizzly Bears)
Each of these multicolored spells has {U}{U} in its casting cost and includes a Counterspell attached to a color appropriate effect.
Cycle name {G}{W} {G}{U} {B}{G} {R}{G}
Mutations Aura Mutation (Invasion)
(Enchantments) 		Aether Mutation (Apocalypse)
(Creatures - bounce) 		Death Mutation (Apocalypse)
(Creatures - destroy) 		Artifact Mutation (Invasion)
(Artifacts)
Each of these multicolored spells has {G} in its casting cost, destroys or disrupts resources, and creates a number of 1/1 Saproling creature tokens equal to the resource's converted mana cost.

There is an additional three-card mega-cycle in the Invasion block, where one card was printed in each set.

Cycle name
Land Kavus Slimy Kavu (Invasion)
(Swamp) 		Kavu Recluse (Planeshift)
(Forest) 		Tundra Kavu (Apocalypse)
(Plains or Island)
Each of these Kavu is a red 2/2 creature with a mana cost of {2}{R} and an activated ability requiring to tap {T} to change a land's type into another. The first two change the land into the allies of red, while the last one changes it into the color's enemies.

Tokens

Magic Player Rewards provided some cardboard tokens for the block. However, because Magic Online needs to represent all the tokens in the game, art needs to be created for even the most insignificant tokens. For those, Magic Online is the only place it appears.[1][2]

Development codes

On the development codenames for the Invasion block, MTG.com columnist Mark Rosewater writes:

“  Invasion block codenames were cities with Chinese names. I believe this theme was picked by Mike Elliott because it fit our recent hard-to-spell kick. The original choices were actually so complicated that we had to change them.

[3]

 ”

Theme decks

Main article: Invasion block/Preconstructed theme decks

Sets

References

  1. ↑ Magic Arcana (August 15, 2002). "Hippos and Reflections". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Magic Arcana (August 22, 2002). "Penumbra tokens". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 12, 2002). "Codename of the Game". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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