Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths: Difference between revisions
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''Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths'' also features the return of [[Human]] tribal,<ref>[https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/human-history-2020-03-30]</ref> [[hybrid mana]] and '''[[cycling]]'''.<ref name="Mechanics"/> | ''Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths'' also features the return of [[Human]] tribal,<ref>[https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/human-history-2020-03-30]</ref> [[hybrid mana]] and '''[[cycling]]'''.<ref name="Mechanics"/> | ||
Color-wise, the set is [[enemy color]] themed, leaning into [[wedges]] for the apex predator legends and associated [[triome]]s. Unlike ''[[Khans of Tarkir]]'', this implementation of wedges focuses on the common enemy color (ex. for the {{W}}{{B}}{{G}} wedge, [[Indatha]] is primarily black, while [[Abzan]] is primarily white.) | Color-wise, the set is [[enemy color]] themed, leaning into [[wedges]] for the apex predator legends and associated [[triome]]s. Unlike ''[[Khans of Tarkir]]'', this implementation of wedges focuses on the common enemy color (ex. for the {{W}}{{B}}{{G}} wedge, [[Indatha]] is primarily black, while [[Abzan]] is primarily white.) Additionally, there are no three-colour cards below Rare rarity, and fixing is less prevalent, sculpting a format where enemy pairs are prevalent, but the allied pairs are more probable than wedge decks. | ||
===Card types=== | ===Card types=== | ||
The set introduces the '''[[Otter]]''' [[creature type]] and reintroduces the '''[[Shark]]''' type.<ref name="Maro's Ikoria Teaser/> It also features the first standard-legal '''[[Brushwagg]]''' since ''[[Mirage]]'' (<c>Almighty Brushwagg</c>), and the first [[black-bordered]] '''[[Squirrel]]''' since ''[[Odyssey]]'' (<c>Helica Glider</c>). | The set introduces the '''[[Otter]]''' [[creature type]] and reintroduces the '''[[Shark]]''' type.<ref name="Maro's Ikoria Teaser/> It also features the first standard-legal '''[[Brushwagg]]''' since ''[[Mirage]]'' (<c>Almighty Brushwagg</c>), and the first [[black-bordered]] '''[[Squirrel]]''' since ''[[Odyssey]]'' (<c>Helica Glider</c>). | ||
Revision as of 11:02, 9 April 2020
 | This article documents an upcoming release. |
| Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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[[File:{{#setmainimage:ILB logo.png}}|250px]] | |||||
| Set Information | |||||
| Set symbol | |||||
| Symbol description | A monstrous eye | ||||
| Design |
Mark Rosewater (lead) Andrew Veen Corey Bowen David Humpherys Peter Lee[1] | ||||
| Development |
David Humpherys (lead) Andrew Brown George Fan Donald Smith, Jr Jiachen Tao Gavin Verhey[2] | ||||
| Art direction | Cynthia Sheppard | ||||
| Release date |
April 17, 2020 (Asia) May 15, 2020 (other) | ||||
| Plane | Ikoria | ||||
| Themes and mechanics | Human tribal, keyword counters, wedge colors | ||||
| Keywords/ability words | Mutate, companion, cycling | ||||
| Set size | 274 + | ||||
| Expansion code | IKO[4] | ||||
| Development codename | Cricket | ||||
| Non-block expansions | |||||
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| Magic: The Gathering Chronology | |||||
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Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths is the 84th Magic expansion. It was originally scheduled to be released on April 24, 2020. Due to the 2019-2020 coronavirus pandemic, the paper release was advanced to April 17, 2020 for Asia, and delayed until May 15, 2020 for the other continents, while Magic Online and MTG Arena release on April 16, 2020.[5][6][7]
Set details
| “ | There's Always a Bigger Monster | ” |
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths makes use of monster movie tropes,[8] and is especially inspired by Kaiju (a Japanese genre of films featuring giant monsters like Godzilla).[9] The set is mostly designed bottom-up, but there are also some top-down individual card designs.[10] Monsters are the focal point of the set. Monsters are fighting other monsters, and monsters are fighting humans and their cities.[9]
The set contains 274 cards (TBA basic lands, TBA commons, 80 uncommons, 53 rares, 15 mythic rares), and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards. A unique Buy-a-Box promotional card is also considered to be part of the set. Cards with an alternate card frames have another card number than the original version. The Buy-a-Box is #275, borderless planeswalkers are numbered #276-278, Showcase cards are numbered #279-313, and the extended artwork cards are numbered #314-363. The Bundle promo is numbered #364, and the Godzilla Series Monster cards are numbered #370-387. Finally, there are the FNM-treatment cards from the Universal promo pack numbered #365-369. Both regular and foil versions of most of these cards may be found in the Collector Boosters.
The set's expansion symbol is a monstrous eye. The Showcase cards are connected to the mutate mechanic. They feature a comic book style.[9]
Storyline
The setting is Ikoria, a plane of beasts and monsters.[11] As the world of Ikoria developed, humans quickly realized what types of defenses were needed to stave off monsters. The humans were quick to become both militaristic and ingenious. Unfortunately for the humans, the monsters of Ikoria have begun to mutate and the fortresses that were previously successful at protecting humans have now become fodder for the monsters to annihilate. Featured planeswalkers are Vivien Reid, Lukka and Narset.
The cards that represent the Story Spotlights in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths are:
Marketing
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths is sold in regular 16-card Draft Boosters (one card being a marketing card), mono-colored Theme Boosters, Collector Boosters, the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths bundle and five Commander decks.[11] The Draft Boosters feature artwork from Vivien, Monsters' Advocate, Kogla, the Titan Ape and TBA. The Theme Boosters feature art from TBA (Monsters), TBA 
, Cunning Nightbonder (
), TBA (
), and TBA (
). The Collector Boosters feature TBA. The Monsters Theme Booster replaces the White Theme Booster.
Godzilla Series Monster cards
Each booster box contains a box topper.[12] For the box toppers Wizards of the Coast partnered with Toho Corporation to feature its iconic monsters such as Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah. These cards are called the Godzilla Series Monster cards.[9]
Each booster box has a single-card Box Topper pack featuring a foil Godzilla Series Monster card. In Japanese boosters, there are 18 different Box topper cards in foil (three found only in Japanese language). In all other languages, there are 15 different box toppers. WPN stores will have an additional foil Godzilla card as part of the Buy-a-Box promotion.[9]
The 19th card with this treatment is the Buy-a-Box card, which only exists in its Godzilla Series form.
Events
- Magic Online and MTG Arena release: April 16, 2020.[7]
- Tabletop Prerelease / Release: April 17, 2020 (Asia) / May 15, 2020 (North America, Europe, Latin America, and Australia/New Zealand).[7]
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic stores are allowed to sell Prerelease Packs and Commander Decks for players to take home without participating in an in-store event, and they may also enroll players in at-home Prerelease events.[13][14]
- Commander Nights: April 27–June 18. A weekly Commander league with rotating rules and achievement-based prizes.[15]
Promotional cards
- Prerelease: a stamped card that can be any rare or mythic rare of Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths .
- Other events: cards from the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths universal promo pack.
- The seasonal dark-frame promos are: Flourishing Fox, Heartless Act, Forbidden Friendship, Migration Path and Sprite Dragon.
- Buy-a-Box: foil Godzilla, King of the Monsters (Zilortha, Strength Incarnate, but only available in its Godzilla Series form[16])
- Bundle promo: foil alternate art Colossification[17]
- Box topper:
Tokens/emblems/markers
The sixteenth card in the boosters is a token or emblem, with advertisements on the back side. There is also a set of double-sided keyword counters on a punch card.[19]
- Punch card: First strike (
), hexproof (), lifelink (), menace (), reach (), +1/+1 (
). - Punch card: Flying (), flying (), deathtouch (), trample (), vigilance (), +1/+1 ().
- 1/1 Cat creature with lifelink, created by Cubwarden.
- 1/1 Cat Bird creature with flying, created by Skycat Sovereign.
- 1/1 Human Soldier creature, created by Bastion of Remembrance, Forbidden Friendship, Garrison Cat, General's Enforcer and Valiant Rescuer.
- 8/8 Kraken creature, created by Ominous Seas.
- */* Shark creature with flying, created by Shark Typhoon.
- Artifact named Feather with "
, Sacrifice Feather: Return target Phoenix card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped," created by Everquill Phoenix. - 1/1 Dinosaur creature with haste, created by Forbidden Friendship.
- 3/3 Beast creature, created by Trumpeting Gnarr and Vivien, Monsters' Advocate.
- */* Dinosaur Beast creature with trample, created by Quartzwood Crasher.
Themes and mechanics
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths is noted to be about "building your own monsters".[20][21] This is represented by the keyword ability mutate.[22][23] You can mutate a creature you control by paying the mutate cost and placing the card below or above a non-Human creature. That creature gains all abilities printed on the card with Mutate. A creature can be mutated multiple times.[24] Mutate was first referred to on the silver-bordered card Surgeon General Commander in Unsanctioned.[25]
The set also introduces the mechanic companion. The companion ability lists a deckbuilding rule. If your starting deck follows that rule, then the legendary creature can serve as your chosen companion. Once during the game, you may cast your chosen companion from your sideboard: if your companion dies, it doesn't return to the sideboard but instead goes to the graveyard per usual.
The set makes use of keyword counters.[19] These were introduced on a test card in the Mystery Booster set (Recycla-bird with Flying counters). The set uses twelve different types of counters (thirteen including loyalty counters).[24] The others are bounty, foreshadow, +1/+1, deathtouch, first strike, flying, hexproof, lifelink, menace, reach, trample and vigilance counters.[23] Note that double strike and indestructible counters only appear on cards in the C20-set, and not in Ikoria itself. Some creatures gain variable ability counters, and tying into the theme of granting keywords there are several creatures that rewarded creatures with particular keywords (keyword "lords").
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths also features the return of Human tribal,[26] hybrid mana and cycling.[23]
Color-wise, the set is enemy color themed, leaning into wedges for the apex predator legends and associated triomes. Unlike Khans of Tarkir, this implementation of wedges focuses on the common enemy color (ex. for the wedge, Indatha is primarily black, while Abzan is primarily white.) Additionally, there are no three-colour cards below Rare rarity, and fixing is less prevalent, sculpting a format where enemy pairs are prevalent, but the allied pairs are more probable than wedge decks.
Card types
The set introduces the Otter creature type and reintroduces the Shark type.[24] It also features the first standard-legal Brushwagg since Mirage (Almighty Brushwagg), and the first black-bordered Squirrel since Odyssey (Helica Glider).
The set also introduces the Lukka planeswalker type.
Cycles
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths has at least seventeen cycles, including one double cycle. There is also at least one mirrored pair.
| Cycle name |
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mythos | Mythos of Snapdax | Mythos of Illuna | Mythos of Nethroi | Mythos of Vadrok | Mythos of Brokkos |
| Five rare monocolored spells that become better if the associated wedge mana was also spent to cast it. | |||||
| Apex powers | Will of the All-Hunter | Boon of the Wish-Giver | Call of the Death-Dweller | Blitz of the Thunder-Raptor | Charge of the Forever-Beast |
| Five uncommon monocolored spells that are associated with one of the Apexes. | |||||
| X mutants | Huntmaster Liger | Archipelagore | Insatiable Hemophage | Auspicious Starrix | |
| Five uncommon creatures with mutate and a triggered ability that scales based off the number of times it mutated. | |||||
| Counter cyclers | Splendor Mare | Void Beckoner | Sanctuary Smasher | Titanoth Rex | |
| Five uncommon creatures with cycling that put a given keyword counter on a creature when cycled. | |||||
| Mentors | Keensight Mentor (vigilance) | (flying) | Duskfang Mentor (lifelink)[2] | Frillscare Mentor (menace) | Hornbash Mentor (trample) |
| Five uncommon Humans, that when they enter the battlefield put a given keyword counter on a creature, and tap to put a +1/+1 counter on creatures with that keyword. | |||||
| Modal creatures | Helica Glider | Wingfold Pteron | |||
| Five common creatures that enter the battlefield with your choice of one of two keyword counters. | |||||
| Cycle name |
|
|
|
|
|
| Keyword lords | Skycat Sovereign (flying) | (flash) | Labyrinth Raptor (menace) | Quartzwood Crasher (trample) | Frondland Felidar (vigilance) |
| Five rare allied colored creatures, each one of which has an evergreen keyword ability and gives creatures you control with that keyword an additional ability. | |||||
| Bonders | Jubilant Skybonder (flying) | Cunning Nightbonder (flash) | Sonorous Howlbonder (menace) | Proud Wildbonder (trample) | Alert Heedbonder (vigilance) |
| Five uncommon hybrid mana allied colored Humans, each one of which cares about creatures you control with a specific evergreen keyword. | |||||
| Cycle name |
|
|
|
|
|
| Mythic humans | General Kudro of Drannith | Rielle, the Everwise | Chevill, Bane of Monsters | ||
| Five mythic rare enemy colored legendary Humans. | |||||
| Signpost creatures | General's Enforcer | Sprite Dragon | Skull Prophet | Savai Thundermane | Parcelbeast |
| Five uncommon enemy colored creatures, each a signpost for a draft archetype. | |||||
| Signpost spells | Dire Tactics | Channeled Force | Back for More | Zenith Flare | Primal Empathy |
| Five uncommon enemy colored noncreature spells, each a signpost for a draft archetype but is also generically powerful. | |||||
| Hybrid mutants | Necropanther | Lore Drakkis | Boneyard Lurker | Trumpeting Gnarr | |
| Five uncommon enemy colored creatures with a mutate cost that uses hybrid mana. | |||||
| Cycle name |
|
|
|
|
|
| Apexes | Snapdax, Apex of the Hunt | Illuna, Apex of Wishes | Nethroi, Apex of Death | Vadrok, Apex of Thunder | Brokkos, Apex of Forever |
| Five mythic rare wedge colored legendary creatures with mutate. | |||||
| Ultimatums | Ruinous Ultimatum | Eerie Ultimatum | Emergent Ultimatum | ||
| Five rare wedge colored sorceries with powerful effects and mana costs in the format MMNNNOO. This completes the cycle started in Shards of Alara. | |||||
| Enchantments | Offspring's Revenge | Song of Creation | Death's Oasis | ||
| Five rare wedge colored enchantments. | |||||
| Crystals | Savai Crystal | Ketria Crystal | Indatha Crystal | Raugrin Crystal | Zagoth Crystal |
Five uncommon wedge colored mana stones, one for each triome. Each costs  and has cycling  .
| |||||
^ While the 
color pair cares about flash, flash isn't something that makes sense for a keyword counter, so the black mentor instead cares about lifelink. The other allied pairs care about flying (
), menace (
), trample (
) and vigilance (
).[27]
Double cycles
Mirrored pairs
- Cycling bears: Two common Humans. Each is a bear with cycling and has a triggered ability whenever you cycle another card — Drannith Stinger () and Drannith Healer ().
Reprinted cards
The following cards have been reprinted:
- Bristling Boar, first printed in Core Set 2019, last seen in Mystery Booster.
- Cathartic Reunion, first printed in Kaladesh, last seen in Mystery Booster.
- Capture Sphere, first printed in Guilds of Ravnica, last seen in Mystery Booster.
- Essence Scatter, first printed in Magic 2010, last seen in Mystery Booster.
- Fertilid, first printed in Morningtide, last seen in Battlebond.
- Pacifism, first printed in Mirage, last seen in Mystery Booster.
Functional reprints
- Savai Sabertooth is a functional reprint of Prowling Caracal, including creature types, and a functional reprint of Blade of the Sixth Pride, Devilthorn Fox, Dromoka Warrior, Knight of New Benalia, Oreskos Swiftclaw and Raptor Companion, except for creature types.
- Flame Spill is a near functional reprint, and black border version, of Super-Duper Death Ray from Unstable.
Preconstructed decks
Planeswalker decks are discontinued for expansions.[28] For this set, they are replaced by five Commander decks (Ikoria Commander). This is essentially Commander 2020 aligning with Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.[29] The 71 new cards in the decks are set on the world of Ikoria, but the reprints can be from anywhere. There are a handful of cards from the main Ikoria set in these decks in the reprint slots, but the number is fairly small. The cards are only legal in Eternal formats like Legacy, Vintage, and Pauper. They have their own expansion symbol and set code (C20) to set them apart.
| Theme deck name |
Color Identity | Commander | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
| Ruthless Regiment | W | B | R | Jirina Kudro | ||
| Arcane Maelstrom | U | R | G | Kalamax, the Stormsire | ||
| Symbiotic Swarm | W | B | G | Kathril, Aspect Warper | ||
| Timeless Wisdom | W | U | R | Gavi, Nest Warden | ||
| Enhanced Evolution | U | B | G | Otrimi, the Ever-Playful | ||
Notable cards
- The Godzilla Series Monster card Spacegodzilla, Death Corona had an unfortunate name in view of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic that developed after its creation.[18] All reprint editions of the set will remove this card. On MTG Arena, it was renamed to Spacegodzilla, Void Invader. And in Magic Online, the card won't be distributed in Treasure Chests. Note that this is a special version of the card Void Beckoner, which will not be affected by any changes.
- Kogla, the Titan Ape is a reference to King Kong. Its rules text is similar to the M11 "titan trigger". While well-known in relation to Godzilla as a western Kaiju-esque creation, it has no special treatment likely due rights owned by another company.
- Lutri, the Spellchaser was banned in Commander the day it was spoiled.[30][31]
- Shark Typhoon is a reference to the Sharknado franchise.
- Farfinder and Mysterious Egg join the short list as the fourth and fifth colourless non-Eldrazi creatures, and the first commons.
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 6, 2020). "More Than Meets The Ikoria". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Credits. Magicthegathering.com (April 3, 2020).
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 22, 2020). "What is Ikoria's three-letter set code?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ [3]
- ↑ Magic Announcement Stream (Video). Magic: the Gathering. YouTube (September 4, 2019).
- ↑ Wizards Europe (October 11, 2019). "We're happy to announce the release dates for two upcoming sets in 2020!". Twitter.
- ↑ a b c Wizards of the Coast (March 26, 2020). "Changes to the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Release Schedule". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 30, 2020). "Human History". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c d e Mike Turian (April 2, 2020). "Collecting Ikoria". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 12, 2019). "Is Ikoria more of a top-down world or a bottom-up one?.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b WPN. "Product info". Wizards Play Network.
- ↑ Weekly MTG: Jumpstart!. Twitch.tv/magic (February 20, 2020).
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 11, 2020). "Event Guidelines and Accomodations". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 23, 2020). "In-Store Plaay Suspended in NA, EU and LATAM". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ WPN (January 20, 2020). "Scheduling Opens Next Week: Commander Nights". Wizards Play Network.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 3, 2020). "I was just informed that Zilortha, Strength Incarnate, the buy-a-box promo, would only be available in Godzilla form.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ https://www.kotaku.com.au/2020/04/ikoria-lair-of-behemoths-spoilers-magic-the-gathering/
- ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (April 2, 2020). "Statement on Spacegodzilla". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Jeffrey Dohm-Sanchez (November 25, 2019). "Details Revealed for 'Magic: The Gathering' 'Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths' Product Line". ICv2.com.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 04, 2019). "I missed the announcement of the sets for next year.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 04, 2019). "Can I get a maybe on Host/Augment being in Ikoria?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 24, 2020). "Unboxing, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c Matt Tabak (April 2, 2020). "Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 28, 2020). "Surgeon ~~General~~ Commander from Unsanctioned says "Whenever you enchant, augment, or mutate a creature you control."". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 7, 2020). "A Monster of a Set Design". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Caranthir (September 10, 2019). "Are Planeswalker Decks being discontinued? (Comment #11)". MTG Salvation.
- ↑ Gavin Verhey (October 30, 2019). "Big Things Are Coming for Commander in 2020". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ SheldonMenery. Twitter.
- ↑ Nick Miller (April 2, 2020). "Lutri, The Spellchaser Fastest Banned Card Ever". StarCityGames.
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