Rise of the Eldrazi

Rise of the Eldrazi is the fifty-third Magic expansion and will be released in April 2010 as the third set in the Zendikar block. Prerelease events will be held April 17-18, 2010. Launch parties will be held April 23-25, 2010.

Set Details

Rise of the Eldrazi is set like its predecessors Zendikar and Worldwake on the plane of Zendikar and continues the story line from those sets. However, unlike the two preceding sets it is not Land-themed but focuses on a race of colorless creatures called the Eldrazi. Other themes and mechanics from the preceding sets will also not return.

The colorless spells featured in the set have translucent boxes through which larger artwork can be seen.

Unlike other third sets in a block, Rise of the Eldrazi is a large expansion and contains 248 cards including Basic lands which also usually are not reprinted in the third expansion of a block.

Mechanics

The set features a number of large colorless creatures called Eldrazi which were previewed with Eye of Ugin from the previous set, Worldwake. The first creature to be shown was Kozilek, Butcher of Truth which also features the mechanic Annihilator which forces the defending player to sacrifice a number of permanents when the creature with Annihilator attacks. The set also contains the first Instant and Sorcery spells without colored mana in their casting cost. For this purpose the set also brings back Tribal cards.

The Eldrazi Theme is further enhanced by the use of a mechanic nicknamed "Brood lineage" which produces 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature tokens that can be sacrificed to add to the mana pool. Some of these are produced with actually colored Eldrazi Drone creatures.

Another subtheme of the set is the heavy use of defender and Walls.

Level up is a new mechanic which allows creatures to gain benefits permanently in exchange for a mana investment. Totem armor on the other hand is a mechanic on Auras which replaces the destruction of the enchanted permanent with the destruction of the aura. Rebound is another mechanic to get more use out of Instants. When an Instant with Rebound is cast from hand, the card is exiled as it resolves and its controller may cast it again at the beginning of his or her next upkeep.

The set features more than one Planeswalker and Sarkhan Vol will make a return appearance as Sarkhan the Mad, though his original card will not be reprinted. Gideon also makes an appearance in the form of a card.

Flavor

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And Carnage Shall Follow

”