Antiquities: Difference between revisions

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The set was built around an [[artifact]] theme and told the story of the [[Brothers' War]] between [[Mishra]] and [[Urza]].
The set was built around an [[artifact]] theme and told the story of the [[Brothers' War]] between [[Mishra]] and [[Urza]].
==Notable Cards==
*<c>Mishra's Workshop</c> is a powerful land that produces a large amount of mana that is only useful for casting artifacts. There are plenty of powerful artifacts that a player would be happy to cast two turns sooner thanks to this card.
*<c>Candelabra of Tawnos</c> saw play in early competitive combo decks, but is no longer considered the powerful card it once was.
*<c>Mishra's Factory</c> is arguably the best [[manland]] ever printed. It only got better with the [[Sixth Edition]] rules change.
*<c>Strip Mine</c> is a very powerful land destruction tool that many decks automatically included a maximum four of.
*<c>Urza's Tower</c>, <c>Urza's Mine</c>, and <c>Urza's Power Plant</c>, affectionately called the "Urzatron," have seen major competitive use only since 2003 for their ability to produce large amounts of mana quickly in combination.


==Storyline==
==Storyline==
Ancient artifacts of the [[Thran]] empire are discovered on the continent of [[Terisiare]], including many advanced machines of war. Two brothers, [[Urza]] and [[Mishra]], discover a stone in the [[Cave of Koilos]], but when they disturb it, it splits in two, unleashing the evil of [[Phyrexia]] on [[Dominaria]]. The ancient machines of the Thran are employed in battle once again as the [[Brothers' War]] takes place, an epic war between Urza and Mishra for control of both halves of the stone. The war culminates in the [[Sylex blast]], plunging the world into the [[Ice Age]].
Ancient artifacts of the [[Thran]] empire are discovered on the continent of [[Terisiare]], including many advanced machines of war. Two brothers, [[Urza]] and [[Mishra]], discover a stone in the [[Cave of Koilos]], but when they disturb it, it splits in two, unleashing the evil of [[Phyrexia]] on [[Dominaria]]. The ancient machines of the Thran are employed in battle once again as the [[Brothers' War]] takes place, an epic war between Urza and Mishra for control of both halves of the stone. The war culminates in the [[Sylex blast]], plunging the world into the [[Ice Age]].


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The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets: [[Bodyguard]], [[Cleric]], [[Demon]], [[Dwarf]], [[Faerie]], [[Goblin]], [[Orc]], [[Smith]], [[Treefolk]], and [[Wall]]. The creature types in '''Antiquities''' brought the total number in magic at the time to exactly 100.
The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets: [[Bodyguard]], [[Cleric]], [[Demon]], [[Dwarf]], [[Faerie]], [[Goblin]], [[Orc]], [[Smith]], [[Treefolk]], and [[Wall]]. The creature types in '''Antiquities''' brought the total number in magic at the time to exactly 100.


==Points of Interest==
==Notable cards==


*'''Antiquities''' is the first expansion to use multiple versions of a card with different artwork (outside of the [[Core Set|Core Set's]] [[basic]] lands) and the only expansion to use multiple versions on nonbasic lands.
*<c>Mishra's Workshop</c> is a powerful land that produces a large amount of mana that is only useful for casting artifacts. There are plenty of powerful artifacts that a player would be happy to cast two turns sooner thanks to this card.


*<c>Argothian Treefolk</c> has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[green]] creatures in '''Antiquities'''.
*<c>Candelabra of Tawnos</c> saw play in early competitive combo decks, but is no longer considered the powerful card it once was.


*<c>Artifact Ward</c> is the first card to use [[protection]] from artifacts and is similar to the "Wards" found in the [[Unlimited]], or second, edition.
*<c>Mishra's Factory</c> is arguably the best [[manland]] ever printed. It only got better with the [[Sixth Edition]] rules change.


*<c>Ashnod's Battle Gear</c> and <c>Tawnos's Weaponry</c> inspired the creation of [[Equipment]].
*<c>Strip Mine</c> is a very powerful land destruction tool that many decks automatically included a maximum four of.


*<c>Ashnod's Transmogrant</c>'s effect was later mirrored by the effect granted by <c>Transmogrifying Licid</c>.
*<c>Urza's Tower</c>, <c>Urza's Mine</c>, and <c>Urza's Power Plant</c>, affectionately called the "Urzatron," have seen major competitive use only since 2003 for their ability to produce large amounts of mana quickly in combination.


*<c>Atog</c> has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[red]] creatures in '''Antiquities'''. At the time of its reprinting in the [[Revised]] edition, Atog was the most common card in print. As a result of its relatively limited uses, especially without common artifacts in '''Revised''', it was generally disliked by many, and hated by some, at that time.
==Trivia==
 
{{Main|Antiquities/Trivia}}
*<c>Circle of Protection: Artifacts</c> is similar to the "Circles of Protection" found in Unlimited. Circle of Protection: Artifacts is slightly different because its [[activation cost]] is {{2}} instead of {{1}}.
*'''Antiquities''' is the first expansion to use multiple versions of a card with different artwork (outside of the [[Core Set|Core Set's]] [[basic]] lands) and the only expansion to use multiple versions on nonbasic lands.
 
*<c>Clockwork Avian</c> functions similarly to Unlimited's <c>Clockwork Beast</c> and is directly related to this card, which was popular at this time.
 
*<c>Colossus of Sardia</c> had the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among all creatures until <c>Leviathan</c> in [[The Dark]] expansion.
 
*<c>Cursed Rack</c>, with art by [[Richard Thomas]], features the same yellow, tortured doll in its art as is found on <c>Black Vise</c> and <c>The Rack</c>.
 
*<c>Golgothian Sylex</c> is one of three "expansion hoser" cards printed. The other two are <c>City in a Bottle</c> and <c>Apocalypse Chime</c>.
 
*<c>Ivory Tower</c> is the exact opposite of <c>Black Vise</c>, both of which were popular and powerful cards at the time, and were [[restricted]] as a result.
 
*<c>Jalum Tome</c> is named after [[Joel Mick]], whose initials are JLM, or "jalum" when pronounced.
 
*<c>Martyrs of Korlis</c> has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[white]] creatures in '''Antiquities'''.
 
*<c>Millstone</c> is notable for almost single-handedly making it a viable strategy to win by forcing your [[opponent]] to draw from an empty library, or "deck" him or her. This card coined the term to "mill," meaning to move a card from the top of a [[library]] into its [[owner|owner's]] [[graveyard]].
 
*<c>Mishra's Factory</c> was printed with four different artworks by [[Kaja Foglio|Kaja]] & [[Phil Foglio]], each depicting the same factory in each of the four seasons. This card later inspired the creation of <c>Blinkmoth Nexus</c>.
 
*<c>Mishra's War Machine</c> has an [[upkeep cost]] of [[discard|discarding]] a card, which is a drawback so harsh it made this a bad card. This drawback inspired the creation of <c>Masticore</c>, as its creators felt challenged to make a card that was worth playing with such a harsh drawback.
 
*<c>Mishra's Workshop</c> is the first card to restrict how the [[mana]] it produces can be used. Mishra's Workshop is the only land printed in '''Antiquities''' that has only one art associated with it.
 
*<c>Onulet</c> was originally intended to be named "Onulets," which is an anagram of <c>Soul Net</c>, but the art has only one creature in it, so the name was changed to the singluar. This name reflects the ability printed on this card.
 
*<c>Ornithopter</c> is the first card to cost {0}, demonstrating that the cost of a card from your hand is worth something by itself.
 
*<c>Sage of Lat-Nam</c> has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[blue]] creatures in '''Antiquities'''.
 
*<c>Strip Mine</c> was printed in order to provide a universal answer to <c>Library of Alexandria</c>, which proved quickly to be a very powerful card. Strip Mine has four different versions, each with a different artwork by [[Daniel Gelon]].
 
*<c>Tablet of Epityr</c> is a "Soul Net for artifacts."
 
*<c>Tawnos's Coffin</c>, like <c>Oubliette</c> before it, uses [[Phasing]] to "hide" a creature from play, which retains its [[counter|couters]], [[Aura|Auras]], and later [[Equipment]].
 
*<c>Tetravus</c> produces Tetravite tokens that cannot be [[enchant|enchanted]]. This is because its designers thought that the fate of the Aura could be confusing, since the Tetravite could be seen as returning to the Tetravus as a +1/+1 counter. It inspired the creation of <c>Pentavus</c>.
 
*<c>The Rack</c> is another permutation of Black Vise, punishing the opponent for having too few cards in hand instead of too many. Its art by [[Richard Thomas]] features the same yellow, tortured doll in its art as is found on Black Vise and Cursed Rack.
 
*<c>Titania's Song</c>'s effect continues until the end of the turn when it is destroyed because early rules were not clear as to what would happen if an [[animate|animated]] artifact stopped being a creature during combat.
 
*<c>Urza's Chalice</c> is similar to the "[[lucky charm|lucky charms]]" found in Unlimited.
 
*<c>Urza's Mine</c>, <c>Urza's Power Plant</c> and <c>Urza's Tower</c>, collectively known as the "Urzatron," each have four different versions with different artwork by a single artist in this expansion.
 
*<c>Yawgmoth Demon</c> has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[black]] creatures in '''Antiquities'''.
 
==External Links==


==External links==
*[http://www.wizards.com/magic/expert/Antiquities/Antiquities.asp Aniquities Product Page]
*[http://www.wizards.com/magic/expert/Antiquities/Antiquities.asp Aniquities Product Page]


Revision as of 11:08, 17 November 2007

Template:Expansion Nonblock

Antiquities is the second Magic expansion and was released in 1994.

The set was built around an artifact theme and told the story of the Brothers' War between Mishra and Urza.

Storyline

Ancient artifacts of the Thran empire are discovered on the continent of Terisiare, including many advanced machines of war. Two brothers, Urza and Mishra, discover a stone in the Cave of Koilos, but when they disturb it, it splits in two, unleashing the evil of Phyrexia on Dominaria. The ancient machines of the Thran are employed in battle once again as the Brothers' War takes place, an epic war between Urza and Mishra for control of both halves of the stone. The war culminates in the Sylex blast, plunging the world into the Ice Age.

Cycles

Antiquities has no cycles, except for Atog, which later became the first of the Atog mega cycle which included Auratog, Foratog, Chronatog, and Necratog from Mirage.

Creature types

About half of the creature types used in Antiquities were new, and many of the creatures in this expansion are artifact creatures. Originally, artifact creatures were printed without any creature type, except in special cases (Wall of Spears "counts as a wall," for example). This resulted in an overall limited use of creature types in this expansion. Additionally, with the printing of Antiquities, Magic had exactly 100 creature types.

The following creature types are introduced in this expansion: Archaeologist, Atog, Druid (Unlimited Edition's Ley Druid was a Cleric, and Verduran Enchantress was an Enchantress), Gaea's Avenger, Gremlin, Poltergeist, and Sage.

The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets: Bodyguard, Cleric, Demon, Dwarf, Faerie, Goblin, Orc, Smith, Treefolk, and Wall. The creature types in Antiquities brought the total number in magic at the time to exactly 100.

Notable cards

  • Mishra's Workshop is a powerful land that produces a large amount of mana that is only useful for casting artifacts. There are plenty of powerful artifacts that a player would be happy to cast two turns sooner thanks to this card.
  • Candelabra of Tawnos saw play in early competitive combo decks, but is no longer considered the powerful card it once was.
  • Strip Mine is a very powerful land destruction tool that many decks automatically included a maximum four of.
  • Urza's Tower, Urza's Mine, and Urza's Power Plant, affectionately called the "Urzatron," have seen major competitive use only since 2003 for their ability to produce large amounts of mana quickly in combination.

Trivia

Main article: Antiquities/Trivia
  • Antiquities is the first expansion to use multiple versions of a card with different artwork (outside of the Core Set's basic lands) and the only expansion to use multiple versions on nonbasic lands.

External links

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