Ravnica: City of Guilds: Difference between revisions

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  |symbol description = A tower
  |symbol description = A tower
  |design team = [[Mark Rosewater]] (lead),<br/>[[Mike Elliott]],<br/>[[Aaron Forsythe]],<br/>[[Tyler Bielman]],<br/>[[Richard Garfield]]
  |design team = [[Mark Rosewater]] (lead),<br/>[[Mike Elliott]],<br/>[[Aaron Forsythe]],<br/>[[Tyler Bielman]],<br/>[[Richard Garfield]]
  |development team = [[Brian Schneider]] (lead)<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/af83|Strike a Chord|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|September 09, 2005}}</ref>,<br/>[[Randy Buehler]],<br/>[[Henry Stern]],<br/>[[Matt Place]],<br/>[[Mark Gottlieb]],<br/>Aaron Forsythe
  |development team = [[Brian Schneider]] (lead)<ref>{{NewRef|latest-developments/strike-chord-2005-09-09|Strike a Chord|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|September 09, 2005}}</ref>,<br/>[[Randy Buehler]],<br/>[[Henry Stern]],<br/>[[Matt Place]],<br/>[[Mark Gottlieb]],<br/>Aaron Forsythe
  |art director = [[Jeremy Cranford]]
  |art director = [[Jeremy Cranford]]
  |date_release = October 7, 2005
  |date_release = October 7, 2005
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  |size = 306<br/><small>(20 basic lands, 110 commons, 88 uncommons, 88 rares)</small>
  |size = 306<br/><small>(20 basic lands, 110 commons, 88 uncommons, 88 rares)</small>
  |code_expansion = RAV
  |code_expansion = RAV
  |code_development = Control
|code_expansion_ref=<ref>{{NewRef|news/cube-drafts-and-ravnica-drafts-return-2013-09-09|Cube Drafts and Ravnica Drafts Return!|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|December 8, 2013}}</ref> 
  |code_development = Control <ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/codename-game-2002-08-12-0|Codename of the Game|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 12, 2002}}</ref>
  |block name = [[Ravnica block]]
  |block name = [[Ravnica block]]
  |first set = [[Ravnica: City of Guilds]]
  |first set = [[Ravnica: City of Guilds]]
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  |next set = [[Guildpact]]
  |next set = [[Guildpact]]
}}
}}
'''''Ravnica: City of Guilds''''', shortened as '''''Ravnica''''' (pronounced /'''''RAV'''-ni-kah''/, /''rav-'''nik ''-uh''/, or /'''''RAV'''-nih-kuh''/)<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/askwizards/0905|Ask Wizards|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|September 15, 2005}}</ref>, is the first set in the [[Ravnica block]]. It is the 36<sup>th</sup> ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' [[expansion]] and was released on October 7, 2005. The [[prerelease]] was September 24–25, 2005,<ref name="Ravnica Revealed">{{DailyRef|mtgcom/arcana/714|''Ravnica'' Revealed|Wizards of the Coast|December 16, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/mr33|Codename of the Game|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 12, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/feature/212|Developing the Return|[[Erik Lauer]]|September 10, 2012}}</ref>
'''''Ravnica: City of Guilds''''', shortened as '''''Ravnica''''' (pronounced /'''''RAV'''-ni-kah''/, /''rav-'''nik ''-uh''/, or /'''''RAV'''-nih-kuh''/)<ref>{{NewRef|ask-wizards-september-2005-2005-09-01|Ask Wizards|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|September 15, 2005}}</ref>, is the first set in the [[Ravnica block]]. It is the 36<sup>th</sup> ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' [[expansion]] and was released on October 7, 2005. The [[prerelease]] was September 24–25, 2005,<ref name="Ravnica Revealed">{{NewRef|arcana/ravnica-revealed-2004-12-16|''Ravnica'' Revealed|Wizards of the Coast|December 16, 2004}}</ref>
 
==Set details==
==Set details==
''Ravnica: City of Guilds'' contained 306 black-bordered cards (88 rare, 88 uncommon, 110 common, and 20 basic lands<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/feature/284|The Essence of Basic Land|[[Jeremy Cranford]]|September 12, 2005}}</ref>). "Ravnica" is a [[multicolor]] oriented set.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/mr192|City Planning, Part I|[[Mark Rosewater]]| September 05, 2005}}</ref> The design is based around four two-color pairs, including cards in which those pairs of colors work in concert.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/feature/287|Getting Your Philosophy|[[Mark Rosewater]]|October 03, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/mr194|City Planning, Part III|[[Mark Rosewater]]|September 12, 2005}}</ref> All the multicolor cards in the set Ravnica block are associated with one of the four guilds. The appearance of a guild symbol in the background of a card's text box identifies that card's guild affiliation.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/af88|Framing ''Ravnica''|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|October 14, 2005}}</ref> The guild symbols have no effect on game play. ''Ravnica: City of Guilds'' also introduced the [[Mana#Colors of mana|hybrid]] mana system used throughout the Ravnica block. The [[expansion symbol]] of the set is a tower, which stands for the overdeveloped cityscape of the [[Ravnica|plane of Ravnica]].<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/askwizards/1006|Ask Wizards|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|October 31, 2006}}</ref>
''Ravnica: City of Guilds'' contained 306 black-bordered cards (88 rare, 88 uncommon, 110 common, and 20 basic lands<ref>{{NewRef|essence-basic-land-2005-09-12|The Essence of Basic Land|[[Jeremy Cranford]]|September 12, 2005}}</ref>). "Ravnica" is a [[multicolor]] oriented set.<ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/city-planning-part-i-2005-09-05|City Planning, Part I|[[Mark Rosewater]]| September 05, 2005}}</ref> The design is based around four two-color pairs, including cards in which those pairs of colors work in concert.<ref>{{NewRef|getting-your-philosophy-2005-10-03|Getting Your Philosophy|[[Mark Rosewater]]|October 03, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/city-planning-part-iii-2005-09-19|City Planning, Part III|[[Mark Rosewater]]|September 12, 2005}}</ref> All the multicolor cards in the set Ravnica block are associated with one of the four guilds. The appearance of a guild symbol in the background of a card's text box identifies that card's guild affiliation.<ref>{{NewRef|latest-developments/framing-ravnica-2005-10-14|Framing ''Ravnica''|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|October 14, 2005}}</ref> The guild symbols have no effect on game play. ''Ravnica: City of Guilds'' also introduced the [[Mana#Colors of mana|hybrid]] mana system used throughout the Ravnica block. The [[expansion symbol]] of the set is a tower, which stands for the overdeveloped cityscape of the [[Ravnica|plane of Ravnica]].<ref>{{NewRef|ask-wizards-october-2006-2006-10-02|Ask Wizards|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|October 31, 2006}}</ref>


"Ravnica" (''ravnìca''; равнѝца) is a Serbo-Croatian word for "plain".<ref>[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ravnica "ravnica"] {{Em}} Wiktionary</ref><ref>[http://www.eudict.com/?lang=croeng&word=ravnica "ravnica"] {{Em}} EUdict</ref> The influence of Eastern Europe is not only reflected in this etymology of the expansion name but throughout the flavor of the set.<ref>John Dale Beety. (August 8, 2012.) [http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/misc/24645-Return-To-Ravnica-For-Those-Whove-Never-Been.html "Return to Ravnica (for Those Who've Never Been)"], StarCityGames.com.</ref>
"Ravnica" (''ravnìca''; равнѝца) is a Serbo-Croatian word for "plain".<ref>[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ravnica "ravnica"] {{Em}} Wiktionary</ref><ref>[http://www.eudict.com/?lang=croeng&word=ravnica "ravnica"] {{Em}} EUdict</ref> The influence of Eastern Europe is not only reflected in this etymology of the expansion name but throughout the flavor of the set.<ref>John Dale Beety. (August 8, 2012.) [http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/misc/24645-Return-To-Ravnica-For-Those-Whove-Never-Been.html "Return to Ravnica (for Those Who've Never Been)"], StarCityGames.com.</ref>


The expansion set was well-received, particularly because of its innovative "guild model",<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/mr193|City Planning, Part II|[[Mark Rosewater]]| September 12, 2005}}</ref> and won the 2005 Origin Awards for Best Collectible Card Game or Expansion.<ref>Allan Sugarbaker. (July 1, 2006.) [http://ogrecave.com/2006/07/01/2005-origins-award-winners-announced/ "2005 Origins Award winners announced"], OgreCave.com.</ref>
The expansion set was well-received, particularly because of its innovative "guild model",<ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/city-planning-part-ii-2005-09-12|City Planning, Part II|[[Mark Rosewater]]| September 12, 2005}}</ref> and won the 2005 Origin Awards for Best Collectible Card Game or Expansion.<ref>Allan Sugarbaker. (July 1, 2006.) [http://ogrecave.com/2006/07/01/2005-origins-award-winners-announced/ "2005 Origins Award winners announced"], OgreCave.com.</ref>
===Marketing===
===Marketing===
''Ravnica: City of Guilds'' was sold in 75-card [[tournament deck]]s, 15-card [[boosters]], four [[preconstructed theme deck]]s and a [[fat pack]]<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/arcana/908|Ravnica Fat Pack|[[Magic Arcana]]|September 19, 2005}}</ref>. All products except the boosters contained a random [[Pro Tour Player Cards|Pro Tour Players Card]]. The booster packs featured artwork from <c>Savra, Queen of the Golgari</c>, <c>Moroii</c>, <c>Loxodon Hierarch</c>, <c>Helldozer</c> and <c>Circu, Dimir Lobotomist</c> The [[prerelease]] was held on September 24–25, 2005<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/feature/285|Choose Your Own Ravnica Adventure|[[Brian David-Marshall]]|September 19, 2005}}</ref>; the [[prerelease card]] was a [[foil]] [[alternate art]] <c>Gleancrawler</c>. The [[release card]] a <c>Dimir Guildmage</c>.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/arcana/921|''Ravnica'' Release Event Promo Card|[[Magic Arcana]]|October 06, 2005}}</ref> The name of the set was changed from ''Ravnica'' to ''Ravnica: City of Guilds'' at a late stage to convey that the guilds were central to the design.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/mm/252|Modern Tales, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 17, 2013}}</ref> It was accompanied by the [[Ravnica, City of Guilds (novel)|novel of the same name]] by [[Cory J. Herndon]].
''Ravnica: City of Guilds'' was sold in 75-card [[tournament deck]]s, 15-card [[boosters]], four [[preconstructed theme deck]]s and a [[fat pack]]<ref>{{NewRef|arcana/ravnica-fat-pack-2005-09-19|Ravnica Fat Pack|[[Magic Arcana]]|September 19, 2005}}</ref>. All products except the boosters contained a random [[Pro Tour Player Cards|Pro Tour Players Card]]. The booster packs featured artwork from <c>Savra, Queen of the Golgari</c>, <c>Moroii</c>, <c>Loxodon Hierarch</c>, <c>Helldozer</c> and <c>Circu, Dimir Lobotomist</c> The [[prerelease]] was held on September 24–25, 2005<ref>{{NewRef|feature/choose-your-own-ravnica-adventure-2005-09-19-0|Choose Your Own Ravnica Adventure|[[Brian David-Marshall]]|September 19, 2005}}</ref>; the [[prerelease card]] was a [[foil]] [[alternate art]] <c>Gleancrawler</c>. The [[release card]] a <c>Dimir Guildmage</c>.<ref>{{NewRef|arcana/ravnica-release-event-promo-card-2005-10-06|''Ravnica'' Release Event Promo Card|[[Magic Arcana]]|October 06, 2005}}</ref> The name of the set was changed from ''Ravnica'' to ''Ravnica: City of Guilds'' at a late stage to convey that the guilds were central to the design.<ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/modern-tales-part-1-2013-06-17|Modern Tales, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 17, 2013}}</ref> It was accompanied by the [[Ravnica, City of Guilds (novel)|novel of the same name]] by [[Cory J. Herndon]].


===Flavor and storyline===
===Flavor and storyline===
{{Main|Ravnica, City of Guilds (novel)}}
{{Main|Ravnica, City of Guilds (novel)}}
Following in the tradition of recent previous ''[[Magic]]'' blocks, ''Ravnica'' takes place in a plane of the [[multiverse]] that was previously unexplored in the game's backstory. The world of Ravnica is an ecumenopolis, a vast city that covers the entire surface of its planet<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/arcana/894|The Basics of the Setting|[[Magic Arcana]]|August 29, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/arcana/896|The Basics of the Setting, Part II|[[Magic Arcana]]|August 31, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/arcana/898|Wallpaper of the Week: ''Ravnica'' Forest|[[Magic Arcana]]|September 02, 2005}}</ref>, and is home to a diverse assortment of sentient races.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/feature/283|Life in the Big City|[[Rei Nakazawa]]|September 05, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/feature/288|Urban Flavor|[[Jay Moldenhauer-Salazar]]|October 10, 2005}}</ref> For ten thousand years, there has been a power struggle between the ten [[Guilds of Ravnica]], political factions that each represent a combination of two of Magic's five colors.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/arcana/918|Guild Symbols in Art|[[Magic Arcana]]|October 03, 2005}}</ref> Ten millennia ago, the [[Guildpact (spell)|Guildpact]] was signed by the [[parun]]s, ending active warfare between them and ushering in an era of peace. But now, on the eve of the celebrations of the accord's ten thousandth anniversary, a sinister force threatens the survival of that peace.
Following in the tradition of recent previous ''[[Magic]]'' blocks, ''Ravnica'' takes place in a plane of the [[multiverse]] that was previously unexplored in the game's backstory. The world of Ravnica is an ecumenopolis, a vast city that covers the entire surface of its planet<ref>{{NewRef|arcana/basics-setting-2005-08-29|The Basics of the Setting|[[Magic Arcana]]|August 29, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{NewRef|arcana/basics-setting-part-ii-2005-08-31|The Basics of the Setting, Part II|[[Magic Arcana]]|August 31, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{NewRef|feature/wallpaper-week-ravnica-forest-2005-09-02|Wallpaper of the Week: ''Ravnica'' Forest|[[Magic Arcana]]|September 02, 2005}}</ref>, and is home to a diverse assortment of sentient races.<ref>{{NewRef|feature/life-big-city-2005-09-05|Life in the Big City|[[Rei Nakazawa]]|September 05, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{NewRef|feature/urban-flavor-2005-10-10|Urban Flavor|[[Jay Moldenhauer-Salazar]]|October 10, 2005}}</ref> For ten thousand years, there has been a power struggle between the ten [[Guilds of Ravnica]], political factions that each represent a combination of two of Magic's five colors.<ref>{{NewRef|feature/guild-symbols-art-2005-10-03|Guild Symbols in Art|[[Magic Arcana]]|October 03, 2005}}</ref> Ten millennia ago, the [[Guildpact (spell)|Guildpact]] was signed by the [[parun]]s, ending active warfare between them and ushering in an era of peace. But now, on the eve of the celebrations of the accord's ten thousandth anniversary, a sinister force threatens the survival of that peace.


==Themes and mechanics==
==Themes and mechanics==
''Ravnica'' introduced [[hybrid]] cards with entirely new [[mana symbol]]s ("Guild mana").<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/af85|''Ravnica'': Review and Preview|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|September 23, 2005}}</ref> Each symbol is a circle halved diagonally, in which the top left half is one color and the bottom right half another. A smaller version of the color's icon (sun for white, skull for black, etc.) appears in the corresponding half. These mana symbols mean that mana of either color may be used to pay it. The cards with these mana symbols have a colored [[border]] that fades from left to right, out of one color and into the other.
''Ravnica'' introduced [[hybrid]] cards with entirely new [[mana symbol]]s ("Guild mana").<ref>{{NewRef|latest-developments/ravnica-review-and-preview-2005-09-23|''Ravnica'': Review and Preview|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|September 23, 2005}}</ref> Each symbol is a circle halved diagonally, in which the top left half is one color and the bottom right half another. A smaller version of the color's icon (sun for white, skull for black, etc.) appears in the corresponding half. These mana symbols mean that mana of either color may be used to pay it. The cards with these mana symbols have a colored [[border]] that fades from left to right, out of one color and into the other.


''Ravnica'' also introduced a heavy "auras matter" theme, being the second block (after ''[[Urza's Saga]]'') to place any sort of mechanical focus on the enchantment subtype. Although there are no mechanics directly related to auras, cards like <c>Gatherer of Graces</c>, <c>Bramble Elemental</c>, and the Magemark cycle definitely encouraged the use of the local enchantments.
''Ravnica'' also introduced a heavy "auras matter" theme, being the second block (after ''[[Urza's Saga]]'') to place any sort of mechanical focus on the enchantment subtype. Although there are no mechanics directly related to auras, cards like <c>Gatherer of Graces</c>, <c>Bramble Elemental</c>, and the Magemark cycle definitely encouraged the use of the local enchantments.
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|<c>Razia, Boros Archangel</c><br/><c>Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran</c>
|<c>Razia, Boros Archangel</c><br/><c>Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran</c>
|''[[Radiance]]''
|''[[Radiance]]''
|Radiance is an [[ability word]] that appears on spells and abilities that affect every creature that shares a color with the [[target]] [[creature]]. When played on multicolored cards, the effect spreads to all that card's colors.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/af96|The Legion of Beatdown|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|December 09, 2005}}</ref>
|Radiance is an [[ability word]] that appears on spells and abilities that affect every creature that shares a color with the [[target]] [[creature]]. When played on multicolored cards, the effect spreads to all that card's colors.<ref>{{NewRef|latest-developments/legion-beatdown-2005-12-09|The Legion of Beatdown|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|December 09, 2005}}</ref>
|-
|-
|[[House Dimir]]
|[[House Dimir]]
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|<c>Szadek, Lord of Secrets</c><br/><c>Circu, Dimir Lobotomist</c>
|<c>Szadek, Lord of Secrets</c><br/><c>Circu, Dimir Lobotomist</c>
|[[Transmute]]
|[[Transmute]]
|A player may pay a certain amount of mana and discard a card with Transmute from his or her hand. Doing this allows the player to find a card with the same [[converted mana cost]] from that player's [[library]] and put it into his or her hand.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/af84|Perplexing Choices|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|September 16, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/af92|Secrets of the Secret Guild|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|November 11, 2005}}</ref>
|A player may pay a certain amount of mana and discard a card with Transmute from his or her hand. Doing this allows the player to find a card with the same [[converted mana cost]] from that player's [[library]] and put it into his or her hand.<ref>{{NewRef|latest-developments/perplexing-choices-2005-09-16|Perplexing Choices|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|September 16, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{NewRef|latest-developments/secrets-secret-guild-2005-11-11|Secrets of the Secret Guild|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|November 11, 2005}}</ref>
|-
|-
|[[Golgari Swarm]]
|[[Golgari Swarm]]
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|<c>Sisters of Stone Death</c><br/><c>Savra, Queen of the Golgari</c>
|<c>Sisters of Stone Death</c><br/><c>Savra, Queen of the Golgari</c>
|[[Dredge]]
|[[Dredge]]
|Cards with dredge may be returned from the [[graveyard]] to their owner's hand, provided that player opts to skip drawing a card and instead puts a number of cards from the top of his or her library into the graveyard.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/af90|Golgari Query|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|October 28, 2005}}</ref>
|Cards with dredge may be returned from the [[graveyard]] to their owner's hand, provided that player opts to skip drawing a card and instead puts a number of cards from the top of his or her library into the graveyard.<ref>{{NewRef|latest-developments/golgari-query-2005-10-28|Golgari Query|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|October 28, 2005}}</ref>
|-
|-
|[[Selesnya Conclave]]
|[[Selesnya Conclave]]
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|<c>Chorus of the Conclave</c><br/><c>Tolsimir Wolfblood</c>
|<c>Chorus of the Conclave</c><br/><c>Tolsimir Wolfblood</c>
|[[Convoke]]
|[[Convoke]]
| A player playing a spell with Convoke may [[tap]] some of his or her creatures to pay part or all of the mana cost. Each creature tapped reduces the cost by one mana of that creature's color, or by one colorless mana.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/af87|Completing the Conclave|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|October 07, 2005}}</ref>
| A player playing a spell with Convoke may [[tap]] some of his or her creatures to pay part or all of the mana cost. Each creature tapped reduces the cost by one mana of that creature's color, or by one colorless mana.<ref>{{NewRef|latest-developments/completing-conclave-2005-10-07|Completing the Conclave|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|October 07, 2005}}</ref>
|}
|}


===Creature types===
===Creature types===
The creature types [[Archon]] and [[Lammasu]] were introduced in ''Ravnica: City of Guilds''.
The creature types [[Archon]] and [[Lammasu]] were introduced in ''Ravnica: City of Guilds''.
The following [[Creature type|creature types]] that are not new to ''Magic'' are used in this expansion:
{{columns-list|6|
*[[Angel]]
*[[Archer]]
*[[Avatar]]
*[[Barbarian]]
*[[Beast]]
*[[Berserker]]
*[[Bird]]
*[[Boar]] <small>(retroactively)</small>
*[[Camel]] <small>(retroactively)</small>
*[[Cat]]
*[[Centaur]]
*[[Cleric]]
*[[Crocodile]]
*[[Demon]]
*[[Druid]]
*[[Dragon]]
*[[Drake]]
*[[Druid]]
*[[Dryad]]
*[[Elemental]]
*[[Elephant]]
*[[Elf]]
*[[Faerie]]
*[[Gargoyle]]
*[[Giant]]
*[[Goblin]]
*[[Golem]]
*[[Gorgon]]
*[[Griffin]]
*[[Horror]]
*[[Hound]]
*[[Human]] <small>(retroactively)</small>
*[[Hydra]] <small>(retroactively)</small>
*[[Imp]]
*[[Insect]]
*[[Knight]]
*[[Leviathan]]
*[[Lizard]]
*[[Mercenary]]
*[[Minion]] <small>(retroactively)</small>
*[[Minotaur]]
*[[Ogre]]
*[[Ooze]]
*[[Plant]]
*[[Rogue]]
*[[Shade]]
*[[Shaman]]
*[[Shapeshifter]]
*[[Skeleton]]
*[[Soldier]]
*[[Sphinx]]
*[[Spider]]
*[[Spirit]]
*[[Troll]]
*[[Vampire]]
*[[Vedalken]]
*[[Viashino]]
*[[Warrior]]
*[[Wizard]]
*[[Wolf]]
*[[Wurm]]
*[[Zombie]]
}}


==Cycles==
==Cycles==
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''Ravnica'' has two [[cycle]]s:
''Ravnica'' has two [[cycle]]s:
*'''Come into play Auras''': Each of these Enchant Creature - [[Aura]]s do something when they enter the battlefield (e.g. when <c>Strands of Undeath</c> is resolved, target player discards two cards) {{-}} <c>Faith's Fetters</c>, <c>Fists of Ironwood</c>, <c>Flight of Fancy</c>, <c>Galvanic Arc</c> and <c>Strands of Undeath</c>.
*'''Come into play Auras''': Each of these Enchant Creature - [[Aura]]s do something when they enter the battlefield (e.g. when <c>Strands of Undeath</c> is resolved, target player discards two cards) {{-}} <c>Faith's Fetters</c>, <c>Fists of Ironwood</c>, <c>Flight of Fancy</c>, <c>Galvanic Arc</c> and <c>Strands of Undeath</c>.
*'''Hunted creatures''': Each of these rare creatures' casting costs included two mana of the appropriate color. Each had greater-than-average [[power]], [[toughness]], and abilities for its cost, but caused one or more [[token]] creatures to enter the battlefield under an opponent's control to balance the cost {{-}} <c>Hunted Lammasu</c>, <c>Hunted Phantasm</c>, <c>Hunted Horror</c>, <c>Hunted Dragon</c>, and <c>Hunted Troll</c>.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/arcana/913|''Ravnica'' Hunted Tokens 1|[[Magic Arcana]]|September 26, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/arcana/961|''Ravnica'' Hunted Tokens 2|[[Magic Arcana]]|December 01, 2005}}</ref>
*'''Hunted creatures''': Each of these rare creatures' casting costs included two mana of the appropriate color. Each had greater-than-average [[power]], [[toughness]], and abilities for its cost, but caused one or more [[token]] creatures to enter the battlefield under an opponent's control to balance the cost {{-}} <c>Hunted Lammasu</c>, <c>Hunted Phantasm</c>, <c>Hunted Horror</c>, <c>Hunted Dragon</c>, and <c>Hunted Troll</c>.<ref>{{NewRef|feature/ravnica-hunted-tokens-1-2005-09-26|''Ravnica'' Hunted Tokens 1|[[Magic Arcana]]|September 26, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{NewRef|arcana/ravnica-hunted-tokens-2-2005-12-01|''Ravnica'' Hunted Tokens 2|[[Magic Arcana]]|December 01, 2005}}</ref>


==Reprinted cards==
==Reprinted cards==
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*{{Prodpage|ravnica-city-of-guilds|Ravnica: City of Guilds}}
*{{Prodpage|ravnica-city-of-guilds|Ravnica: City of Guilds}}
*[http://www.wizards.com/magic/OrbOfInsight_Ravnica.asp ''Ravnica'' Orb of Insight] {{Em}} Wizards of the Coast
*[http://www.wizards.com/magic/OrbOfInsight_Ravnica.asp ''Ravnica'' Orb of Insight] {{Em}} Wizards of the Coast
* {{DailyRef|mtgcom/arcana/897|''Ravnica'' Preview Trailer|[[Magic Arcana]]|September 01, 2005}}
* {{NewRef|ravnica-preview-trailer-2005-09-01|''Ravnica'' Preview Trailer|[[Magic Arcana]]|September 01, 2005}}


{{Ravnica|block}}
{{Ravnica|block}}
{{Sets}}
{{Sets}}

Revision as of 07:47, 11 August 2017

For other uses, see Ravnica (disambiguation).
Ravnica: City of Guilds
Set Information
Set symbol
Themes and mechanics Enchantments,
Guilds,
Hybrid mana
Keywords/​ability words Convoke,
Dredge,
Radiance,
Transmute
Set size 306
(20 basic lands, 110 commons, 88 uncommons, 88 rares)
Expansion code RAV[2]
Development codename Control [3]

Ravnica: City of Guilds, shortened as Ravnica (pronounced /RAV'-ni-kah/, /rav-nik -uh/, or /RAV-nih-kuh/)[4], is the first set in the Ravnica block. It is the 36th Magic: The Gathering expansion and was released on October 7, 2005. The prerelease was September 24–25, 2005,[5]

Set details

Ravnica: City of Guilds contained 306 black-bordered cards (88 rare, 88 uncommon, 110 common, and 20 basic lands[6]). "Ravnica" is a multicolor oriented set.[7] The design is based around four two-color pairs, including cards in which those pairs of colors work in concert.[8][9] All the multicolor cards in the set Ravnica block are associated with one of the four guilds. The appearance of a guild symbol in the background of a card's text box identifies that card's guild affiliation.[10] The guild symbols have no effect on game play. Ravnica: City of Guilds also introduced the hybrid mana system used throughout the Ravnica block. The expansion symbol of the set is a tower, which stands for the overdeveloped cityscape of the plane of Ravnica.[11]

"Ravnica" (ravnìca; равнѝца) is a Serbo-Croatian word for "plain".[12][13] The influence of Eastern Europe is not only reflected in this etymology of the expansion name but throughout the flavor of the set.[14]

The expansion set was well-received, particularly because of its innovative "guild model",[15] and won the 2005 Origin Awards for Best Collectible Card Game or Expansion.[16]

Marketing

Ravnica: City of Guilds was sold in 75-card tournament decks, 15-card boosters, four preconstructed theme decks and a fat pack[17]. All products except the boosters contained a random Pro Tour Players Card. The booster packs featured artwork from Savra, Queen of the Golgari, Moroii, Loxodon Hierarch, Helldozer and Circu, Dimir Lobotomist The prerelease was held on September 24–25, 2005[18]; the prerelease card was a foil alternate art Gleancrawler. The release card a Dimir Guildmage.[19] The name of the set was changed from Ravnica to Ravnica: City of Guilds at a late stage to convey that the guilds were central to the design.[20] It was accompanied by the novel of the same name by Cory J. Herndon.

Flavor and storyline

Main article: Ravnica, City of Guilds (novel)

Following in the tradition of recent previous Magic blocks, Ravnica takes place in a plane of the multiverse that was previously unexplored in the game's backstory. The world of Ravnica is an ecumenopolis, a vast city that covers the entire surface of its planet[21][22][23], and is home to a diverse assortment of sentient races.[24][25] For ten thousand years, there has been a power struggle between the ten Guilds of Ravnica, political factions that each represent a combination of two of Magic's five colors.[26] Ten millennia ago, the Guildpact was signed by the paruns, ending active warfare between them and ushering in an era of peace. But now, on the eve of the celebrations of the accord's ten thousandth anniversary, a sinister force threatens the survival of that peace.

Themes and mechanics

Ravnica introduced hybrid cards with entirely new mana symbols ("Guild mana").[27] Each symbol is a circle halved diagonally, in which the top left half is one color and the bottom right half another. A smaller version of the color's icon (sun for white, skull for black, etc.) appears in the corresponding half. These mana symbols mean that mana of either color may be used to pay it. The cards with these mana symbols have a colored border that fades from left to right, out of one color and into the other.

Ravnica also introduced a heavy "auras matter" theme, being the second block (after Urza's Saga) to place any sort of mechanical focus on the enchantment subtype. Although there are no mechanics directly related to auras, cards like Gatherer of Graces, Bramble Elemental, and the Magemark cycle definitely encouraged the use of the local enchantments.

Ravnica: City of Guilds introduced four of the ten Ravnica block bicolored guilds, each of which with its own keyword or ability word.

Guild Colors Guild symbol Legendary guild members Keyword or ability word Notes
Boros Legion {R/W}
Ravnica block Boros Legion crest
Ravnica block Boros Legion crest
 Razia, Boros Archangel
Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran 		Radiance Radiance is an ability word that appears on spells and abilities that affect every creature that shares a color with the target creature. When played on multicolored cards, the effect spreads to all that card's colors.[28]
House Dimir {U/B}
Ravnica block House Dimir crest
Ravnica block House Dimir crest
 Szadek, Lord of Secrets
Circu, Dimir Lobotomist 		Transmute A player may pay a certain amount of mana and discard a card with Transmute from his or her hand. Doing this allows the player to find a card with the same converted mana cost from that player's library and put it into his or her hand.[29][30]
Golgari Swarm {B/G}
Ravnica block Golgari Swarm crest
Ravnica block Golgari Swarm crest
 Sisters of Stone Death
Savra, Queen of the Golgari 		Dredge Cards with dredge may be returned from the graveyard to their owner's hand, provided that player opts to skip drawing a card and instead puts a number of cards from the top of his or her library into the graveyard.[31]
Selesnya Conclave {G/W}
Ravnica block Selesnya Conclave crest
Ravnica block Selesnya Conclave crest
 Chorus of the Conclave
Tolsimir Wolfblood 		Convoke A player playing a spell with Convoke may tap some of his or her creatures to pay part or all of the mana cost. Each creature tapped reduces the cost by one mana of that creature's color, or by one colorless mana.[32]

Creature types

The creature types Archon and Lammasu were introduced in Ravnica: City of Guilds.

Cycles

For cycles that are part of the guild mega cycles, see Ravnica block#Mega cycles.

Ravnica has two cycles:

Reprinted cards

Functional reprint

Colorshifted

Strictly better

Notable cards

Preconstructed decks

Main article: Ravnica: City of Guilds/Theme decks

The preconstructed theme decks are:

Theme
deck name 		Colors Included
{W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Charge of the Boros W R
Dimir Intrigues U B
Golgari Deathcreep B G
Selesnya United W G

References

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  12. ↑ "ravnica" — Wiktionary
  13. ↑ "ravnica" — EUdict
  14. ↑ John Dale Beety. (August 8, 2012.) "Return to Ravnica (for Those Who've Never Been)", StarCityGames.com.
  15. ↑ Template:NewRef
  16. ↑ Allan Sugarbaker. (July 1, 2006.) "2005 Origins Award winners announced", OgreCave.com.
  17. ↑ Template:NewRef
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  32. ↑ Template:NewRef
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  34. ↑ Template:NewRef

External links

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