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|symbol description = The Shield of Kaldra | |symbol description = The Shield of Kaldra | ||
|design team = [[Bill Rose]] (lead)<br/>[[Tyler Bielman]]<br/>[[Brian Schneider]]<br/>[[Mark Rosewater]] | |design team = [[Bill Rose]] (lead)<br/>[[Tyler Bielman]]<br/>[[Brian Schneider]]<br/>[[Mark Rosewater]] | ||
|development team = [[Henry Stern]] (lead) <ref>{{ | |development team = [[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 | ||
|art director = [[Jeremy Cranford]] | |art director = [[Jeremy Cranford]] | ||
|date_release = February 6, 2004 | |date_release = February 6, 2004 | ||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
|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|2004-08-02}}</ref> | |code_expansion_ref=<ref>{{NewRef|ask-wizards-august-2004-2004-08-02|Ask Wizards - August, 2004|Wizards of the Coast|2004-08-02}}</ref> | ||
|code_development = Lettuce<ref>{{ | |code_development = Lettuce<ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/codename-game-2002-08-12-0|Codename of the Game|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 12, 2002}}</ref> | ||
|block name = [[Mirrodin block]] | |block name = [[Mirrodin block]] | ||
|first set = [[Mirrodin]] | |first set = [[Mirrodin]] | ||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
|next set = [[Fifth Dawn]] | |next set = [[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">{{ | '''''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> | ||
==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>{{ | ''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]] | ||
===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>{{ | ''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]]. | ||
===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>{{ | "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. | ||
===Tournament impact=== | ===Tournament impact=== | ||
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==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>{{ | [[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=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}} | ||
</ref> <ref>{{NewRef|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>{{ | [[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> | ||
The set also reprises [[Affinity]] for artifacts but also introduces Affinity for basic land types in a cycle of Golems. <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> | ||
===Creature types=== | ===Creature types=== | ||
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*'''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>. | *'''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>. | ||
*'''"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>{{ | *'''"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> | *'''[["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> | ||
*'''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>{{ | *'''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> | ||
===Mirrored pairs=== | ===Mirrored pairs=== | ||
*'''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>{{ | *'''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> | ||
==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>{{ | * <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>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]]'' | ||
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*<c>Æther Vial</c> {{-}} banned in [[Mirrodin block]] tournaments. | *<c>Æther 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>{{ | *<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> | ||
==Preconstructed decks== | ==Preconstructed decks== | ||
Revision as of 14:00, 9 August 2016
- For other uses, see Darksteel (disambiguation).
| Darksteel | |
|---|---|
| Set Information | |
| Set symbol | |
| Themes and mechanics |
Artifacts, Equipment, Indestructible, Pulses |
| Keywords/ability words |
Affinity (for artifacts and basic land types), Modular |
| Set size |
165 (55 commons, 55 uncommons, 55 rares) |
| Expansion code | DST[2] |
| Development codename | Lettuce[3] |
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 campared 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 Player Reward.
Storyline
"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: Æther 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. Trinispherewas 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 type Artificer was introduced in this expansion.
The following creature types that are not new to Magic are used in this expansion:
- Angel
- Beast
- Cat
- Dragon
- Drake
- Drone
- Dryad
- Elemental
- Elephant
- Gargoyle
- Goblin
- Golem
- Horror
- Insect
- Leviathan
- Myr
- Ogre
- Ooze
- Rat
- Shaman
- Shapeshifter
- Slith
- Soldier
- Spider
- Spirit
- Vedalken
- Wall
- Warrior
- Wizard
- Wolf
- Wurm
- Zombie
Cycles
Darksteel has four cycles:
- Affinity Golems: Each of these common Golem artifact creatures has affinity for a basic land type. — Razor Golem, Spire Golem, Dross Golem, Oxidda Golem, and Tangle Golem.
- "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 — Echoing Calm, Echoing Truth, Echoing Decay, Echoing Ruin, and Echoing Courage. [15]
- "Lucky charm" artifacts: A horizontal cycle of uncommon artifacts, each costing
, 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 — Angel's Feather, Kraken's Eye, Demon's Horn, Dragon's Claw, and Wurm's Tooth
- Pulses: A horizontal cycle of rare spells, each costing
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. — Pulse of the Fields, Pulse of the Dross, Pulse of the Grid, Pulse of the Forge, and Pulse of the Tangle. [16] [17]
Mirrored pairs
- Emissaries: Emissary of Hope and Emissary of Despair: 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. [18]
Reprinted cards
In contrast to Mirrodin reprinting a sizable number of artifact-related staples, only three cards were reprinted for Darksteel.
- Fireball — first printed in Alpha, last seen in 5th Edition [19]
- Inflame — first printed in Prophecy
- Juggernaut — first printed in Alpha, last seen in Revised
Functional reprints
- Hoverguard Observer — functional reprint of Stronghold Zeppelin (Nemesis), save for creature type
- Ur-Golem's Eye — functional reprint of Sisay's Ring (Visions)
Colorshifted
- Ritual of Restoration — white colorshifted version of Reconstruction (Antiquities)
Notable cards
- Æther Vial — banned in Mirrodin block tournaments.
- Arcbound Ravager — banned in Mirrodin Block tournaments.
- Skullclamp — banned in Extended format tournaments. [20]
Preconstructed decks
Darksteel has three monocolored and one bicolored theme decks.
| Theme deck name |
Colors Included | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Master Blaster | R | ||||
| Mind Swarm | B | ||||
| Swarm & Slam | W | G | |||
| Transference | U | ||||
External links
References
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- ↑ Paul Barclay. "[archive.wizards.com/dci/downloads/darksteelfaq012204.rtf Darksteel Frequently Asked Questions]"
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