Strixhaven: School of Mages: Difference between revisions

From MTG Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
VisualWikitext
>Neoheart
Line 102: Line 102:
#{{W/B}} 2/1 [[Inkling]] creature with [[flying]], for <c>Blot Out the Sky</c>, <c>Dramatic Finale</c>, <c>Inkling Summoning</c>, <c>Mascot Exhibition</c>, <c>Shadrix Silverquill</c>, and <c>Umbral Juke</c>.
#{{W/B}} 2/1 [[Inkling]] creature with [[flying]], for <c>Blot Out the Sky</c>, <c>Dramatic Finale</c>, <c>Inkling Summoning</c>, <c>Mascot Exhibition</c>, <c>Shadrix Silverquill</c>, and <c>Umbral Juke</c>.
#{{U/R}} 4/4 [[Elemental]] creature, for <c>Elemental Expressionist</c>, <c>Elemental Masterpiece</c>, <c>Elemental Summoning</c>, <c>Expressive Artist</c>, <c>Magma Opus</c>, <c>Mascot Exhibition</c>, <c>Multiple Choice</c>, <c>Resculpt</c>, and <c>Will, Scholar of Frost</c>.
#{{U/R}} 4/4 [[Elemental]] creature, for <c>Elemental Expressionist</c>, <c>Elemental Masterpiece</c>, <c>Elemental Summoning</c>, <c>Expressive Artist</c>, <c>Magma Opus</c>, <c>Mascot Exhibition</c>, <c>Multiple Choice</c>, <c>Resculpt</c>, and <c>Will, Scholar of Frost</c>.
#{{B/G}} 1/1 [[Pest]] creature with "When this creature dies, you gain 1 life," for <c>Beledros Witherbloom</c>, <c>Callous Bloodmage</c>, <c>Containment Breach</c>, <c>Hunt for Specimens</c>, <c>Pest Summoning</c>, <c>Pestilent Cauldron</c>, <c>Professor of Zoomancy</c>, <c>Sedgemoor Witch</c>, and <c>Valentin, Dean of the Vein</c>.
#{{B/G}} 1/1 [[Pest]] creature with "When this creature dies, you gain 1 life," for <c>Beledros Witherbloom</c>, <c>Callous Bloodmage</c>, <c>Containment Breach</c>, <c>Hunt for Specimens</c>, <c>Pest Summoning</c>, <c>Pestilent Cauldron</c>, <c>Professor of Zoomancy</c>, <c>Sedgemoor Witch</c>, <c>Tend the Pests</c>, and <c>Valentin, Dean of the Vein</c>.
#{{R/W}} 3/2 [[Spirit]] creature, for <c>Illuminate History</c>, <c>Illustrious Historian</c>, <c>Lorehold Command</c>, <c>Lorehold Excavation</c>, <c>Make Your Mark</c>, <c>Mascot Exhibition</c>, <c>Quintorius, Field Historian</c>, <c>Reduce to Memory</c>, and <c>Spirit Summoning</c>.
#{{R/W}} 3/2 [[Spirit]] creature, for <c>Illuminate History</c>, <c>Illustrious Historian</c>, <c>Lorehold Command</c>, <c>Lorehold Excavation</c>, <c>Make Your Mark</c>, <c>Mascot Exhibition</c>, <c>Quintorius, Field Historian</c>, <c>Reduce to Memory</c>, and <c>Spirit Summoning</c>.
#{{G/U}} 0/0 [[Fractal]] creature, for <c>Emergent Sequence</c>, <c>Fractal Summoning</c>, <c>Kasmina, Enigma Sage</c>, <c>Kianne, Dean of Substance</c>, <c>Leyline Invocation</c>, <c>Manifestation Sage</c>, <c>Biomathematician</c>, <c>Research Body</c>, and <c>Serpentine Curve</c>.
#{{G/U}} 0/0 [[Fractal]] creature, for <c>Emergent Sequence</c>, <c>Fractal Summoning</c>, <c>Kasmina, Enigma Sage</c>, <c>Kianne, Dean of Substance</c>, <c>Leyline Invocation</c>, <c>Manifestation Sage</c>, <c>Biomathematician</c>, <c>Research Body</c>, and <c>Serpentine Curve</c>.

Revision as of 19:31, 2 April 2021

Strixhaven: School of Mages
 
Mystical Archive
 
Trivia
 
Card comparisons
 
Art series
 
Strixhaven: School of Mages
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Strixhaven logo.png}}|250px]]
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description A Strix
Design Mark Rosewater (lead)[1]
Andrew Veen
Ari Nieh
Daniel Holt
George Fan
Sydney Adams
Yoni Skolnik
Development Yoni Skolnik (lead)
Art direction Taylor Ingvarsson
Release date April 23, 2021
Themes and mechanics Modal double-faced cards, Lessons, "instants and spells matter", enemy colors
Keywords/​ability words Learn, Magecraft, Ward
Set size 275 + 107
Expansion code STX[2]
Development codename Fencing
Forgotten Realms Standard
Zendikar Rising Kaldheim Strixhaven: School of Mages
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Challenger Decks 2021 Strixhaven: School of Mages Mystical Archive

Strixhaven: School of Mages, often shortened as Strixhaven, is the 87th Magic expansion. It is set at the Strixhaven school on the plane of Arcavios.[3][4][5] It is scheduled to be released on April 23, 2021.

Set details

School map

Strixhaven: School of Mages is a bottom-up enemy color faction set based on “instants and spells matter”.[6] Creatively, the design of this set is Magic’s take on the magical school genre.[7][1] Each one of the featured colleges represents one of Magic’s enemy color combinations, with their own character and mechanics.[8] Cards associated with the different colleges feature separate watermarked insignias. This set contains 275 regular cards () and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards.

Alternate card frames have another card number than the original version. Borderless planeswalkers are numbered #276-279, borderless elder dragons are #280-284, and extended artwork cards are numbered #285-365. Basic lands are #366-375. The Buy-a-Box card is #376 and the Bundle promo is #377. The FNM-treatment cards from the Universal promo pack are numbered #378-382. There are no showcase cards in this set, as the Mystical Archive fills that position.

This set introduces the term mana value as a wording change for converted mana cost. Also, "shuffle your library" is shortened to shuffle, and "activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery" is shortened to "activate only as a sorcery."

Storyline

Strixhaven is the most elite University in the Multiverse. It features five colleges founded by the elder dragon whose name each college bears: Silverquill ({W}{B}), Prismari ({U}{R}), Witherbloom ({B}{G}), Lorehold ({R}{W}), and Quandrix ({G}{U}).[9][8] The five colleges battle it out with their own takes on magic. Learn from the best professors and explore Strixhaven’s huge library!

The cards that represent the Story Spotlights in Strixhaven are:

Magic Story

Several planeswalkers, each with their own motivations, have sought out Arcavios and Strixhaven as their refuge. They are confronted by the Oriq.

Title Author Release Date Setting Featuring
Episode 1: Class is in Session Adana Washington 2021-03-25 Arcavios, Kylem Liliana Vess, Will Kenrith, Rowan Kenrith, Lukka, Kasmina, Shaile, Nassari, Lisette
A Cry of Magic Aysha U. Farah 2021-03-26 Arcavios Rootha Squallheart, Uvilda, Nassari
Episode 2: Lessons Adana Washington 2021-03-31 Arcavios Lukka, Liliana Vess, Beledros Witherbloom, Extus Narr, Rowan Kenrith

Marketing

Bundle with Rowan and Will Kenrith key art

Strixhaven: School of Mages is sold in regular 16-card Draft Boosters (one card being a marketing card). A Mystical Archive card appears as a bonus card in each Draft Booster. These Mystical Archive cards don't replace another card of the same rarity in a pack. So you can get multiple rare cards in a draft booster.

In addition, the product line includes five bi-colored Theme Boosters, Collector Boosters (including three Mystical Archive cards, one certified Japanese version), Set Boosters (with a Mystical Archive card and a Lesson card), the Strixhaven: School of Mages bundle and five Commander decks.[10][11]

The packaging of Strixhaven: School of Mages features key art of Will and Rowan Kenrith. The Draft Boosters feature artwork of Killian Lu, Rootha Squallheart, Dina, Quintorius Kand and Zimone Wola. The Theme Boosters feature art from Clever Lumimancer ({W}{B}), Spectacle Mage ({U}{R}), Professor of Zoomancy ({B}{G}), Lorehold Apprentice ({R}{W}), and Quandrix Apprentice ({G}{U}). The Collector Boosters feature art of the Mystical Archive Memory Lapse and the Set Boosters feature art of TBA.

Mystical Archive

Main article: Strixhaven: School of Mages/Mystical Archive

Mystical Archive is a separate set of cards associated with Strixhaven: School of Mages. It is similar to the Masterpiece Series but the cards appear more frequently in the boosters of the main set. In Mystical Archive, Wizards of the Coasts has reprinted 63 of the most famous instants and sorceries of all time in specially designed showcase frames and at all rarities. Strixhaven Draft and Set Boosters contain one Mystical Archive card, and Collector Boosters have at least three. These will only be legal in formats that they are already legal in. They are not part of the Standard environment. However, the cards may be used in Limited events.

Events

Promotional cards

Tokens/emblems/markers

The sixteenth card in the boosters is a token creature card, an emblem or a marker, with advertisements on the back side. It can also be a helper card with a standard card back. There are a total of TBA tokens and emblems:

  1. {B/R} 3/6 Avatar creature with haste and "Whenever this creature attacks, it deals 3 damage to each opponent," for Awaken the Blood Avatar.
  2. {W/B} 2/1 Inkling creature with flying, for Blot Out the Sky, Dramatic Finale, Inkling Summoning, Mascot Exhibition, Shadrix Silverquill, and Umbral Juke.
  3. {U/R} 4/4 Elemental creature, for Elemental Expressionist, Elemental Masterpiece, Elemental Summoning, Expressive Artist, Magma Opus, Mascot Exhibition, Multiple Choice, Resculpt, and Will, Scholar of Frost.
  4. {B/G} 1/1 Pest creature with "When this creature dies, you gain 1 life," for Beledros Witherbloom, Callous Bloodmage, Containment Breach, Hunt for Specimens, Pest Summoning, Pestilent Cauldron, Professor of Zoomancy, Sedgemoor Witch, Tend the Pests, and Valentin, Dean of the Vein.
  5. {R/W} 3/2 Spirit creature, for Illuminate History, Illustrious Historian, Lorehold Command, Lorehold Excavation, Make Your Mark, Mascot Exhibition, Quintorius, Field Historian, Reduce to Memory, and Spirit Summoning.
  6. {G/U} 0/0 Fractal creature, for Emergent Sequence, Fractal Summoning, Kasmina, Enigma Sage, Kianne, Dean of Substance, Leyline Invocation, Manifestation Sage, Biomathematician, Research Body, and Serpentine Curve.
  7. {C} Treasure artifact, for Creative Outburst, Culmination of Studies, Elemental Masterpiece, Galazeth Prismari, Magma Opus, Prismari Command, Storm-Kiln Artist, and Sudden Breakthrough.
  8. Emblem for Lukka, Wayward Bonder.
  9. Emblem for Rowan, Scholar of Sparks.

Themes and mechanics

In lieu of the abandoned block model, R&D has found a new way to tie together the three non-core premier sets in a single Magic "year" (aka the fall, winter, and spring sets—using northern hemisphere seasons): they share a common mechanic. For Zendikar Rising, Kaldheim and Strixhaven that is modal double-faced cards.[15][16][17]

Strixhaven the first set centered on an "instants and spells matters" theme.[1] It is designed around five enemy color pairs, which despite the many years of Magic has not been done before as a large expansion - Apocalypse, the other enemy color set, was drafted as a counterpart at the tail end of Invasion block, and likewise with Eventide and the Shadowmoor block. Unlike the Ravnican guilds, the Strixhaven colleges aren’t built around the similarities of the two colors, but rather around their conflict.[18]

A new mechanic is Magecraft, an ability word that causes an effect whenever you cast or copy an instant or sorcery spell.[19] Another new mechanic is Learn (You may reveal a Lesson card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand, or discard a card to draw a card.). Both of these tie into the higher "spells matter" gameplay, which was previously limited to blue and red.

Ward is a new evergreen ability word. Whenever a permanent with ward becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays an additional cost.[20]

Card types

Food tokens return. They are made by the Chef.[21] The Set introduces the Inkling and Fractal creature types and the Lesson spell type. Pests appear for the first time outside of Mirrodin.

Draft Archetypes

The draft archetypes are designed to be significantly different to those on Ravnica, due to the strong association with color pairs from the Guilds and their playstyle.

  • {W}{B}: Go-wide
  • {U}{R}: Big-spell casting
  • {B}{G}: Life gain
  • {R}{W}: Leaves-graveyard triggers
  • {G}{U}: Counting various things

Cycles

Strixhaven: School of Mages has at least twelve cycles.

Cycle name {W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Rare lessons Academic Probation Teachings of the Archaics Confront the Past Illuminate History Basic Conjuration
Five rare monocolored Lessons.
Masteries Devastating Mastery Baleful Mastery Fervent Mastery Verdant Mastery
Five rare monocolored spells, each with a lower alternate casting cost. If the alternate cost is paid, an opponent also gets an effect.
Cycle name {W}{B} {U}{R} {B}{G} {R}{W} {G}{U}
Founders Shadrix Silverquill Galazeth Prismari Beledros Witherbloom Velomachus Lorehold Tanazir Quandrix
Five mythic rare Elder Dragon creatures, each of whom is the founder of their college.
Hybrid Rares Dramatic Finale Elemental Expressionist Daemogoth Titan Blade Historian Manifestation Sage
Five rare spells with mana cost HHHH, where H is the corresponding hybrid mana.
Legendary students Killian, Ink Duelist Rootha, Mercurial Artist Dina, Soul Steeper Quintorius, Field Historian Zimone, Quandrix Prodigy
Five uncommon legendary creatures, each supporting a draft archetype.
Apprentices Silverquill Apprentice Prismari Apprentice Witherbloom Apprentice Lorehold Apprentice Quandrix Apprentice
Five uncommon multicolored bears with magecraft.
Gold hybrids Shadewing Laureate Maelstrom Muse Daemogoth Woe-Eater Returned Pastcaller Quandrix Cultivator
Five powerful uncommon creatures with mana costs XMHN, where H is the hybrid of M and N.
Summonings Inkling Summoning Elemental Summoning Pest Summoning Spirit Summoning Fractal Summoning
Five common hybrid Lessons that each create one or more creature tokens of the type characteristic of that college.
Pledgemages Silverquill Pledgemage Prismari Pledgemage Witherbloom Pledgemage Lorehold Pledgemage Quandrix Pledgemage
Five common hybrid creatures with magecraft.
Campuses Silverquill Campus Prismari Campus Witherbloom Campus Lorehold Campus Quandrix Campus
Five common dual taplands with "{4}, {T}: Scry 1."

Modal double-faced cycles

Cycle name Side {W}{B} {U}{R} {B}{G} {R}{W} {G}{U}
Mythic Legends {dfc-front} Blex, Vexing Pest Jadzi, Oracle of Arcavios
{dfc-back} Search for Blex Journey to the Oracle
Five mythic rare legendary MDFC creatures.
Deans {dfc-front} Shaile, Dean of Radiance Uvilda, Dean of Perfection Valentin, Dean of the Vein Plargg, Dean of Chaos Kianne, Dean of Substance
{dfc-back} Embrose, Dean of Shadow Nassari, Dean of Expression Lisette, Dean of the Root Augusta, Dean of Order Imbraham, Dean of Theory
Five rare legendary MDFC creatures. Each side represents a dean who is aligned with one color of a college.
Spell Permanents {dfc-front} Selfless Glyphweaver Torrent Sculptor Pestilent Cauldron Flamescroll Celebrant Augmenter Pugilist
{dfc-back} Deadly Vanity Flamethrower Sonata Restorative Burst Revel in Silence Echoing Equation
Five rare MDFC cards, the back of each being an instant or sorcery. Wandering Archaic // Explore the Vastlands is a 6th card in this cycle.

Vertical cycles

Cycle name
Treasure Spells Magma Opus Creative Outburst Elemental Masterpiece
Each of these three {U}{R} instant or sorcery spells has a mana value over 6, and can be discarded for {U/R}{U/R} to create a Treasure.

Mega cycles

Cycle name {W}{B} {U}{R} {B}{G} {R}{W} {G}{U}
Snarls Shineshadow Snarl Frostboil Snarl Necroblossom Snarl Furycalm Snarl Vineglimmer Snarl
Five rare reveal lands that enter the battlefield tapped, except if you reveal a land with the corresponding basic land type from your hand. They complete a cycle started in Shadows over Innistrad.
Commands Silverquill Command Prismari Command Witherbloom Command Lorehold Command Quandrix Command
Each of these rare modal spells has four modes and allows you to choose two different modes rather than merely one. They complete a cycle of two-colored Elder Dragon-named spells started in Dragons of Tarkir.

Reprinted cards

Functional reprints

Preconstructed decks

At the same date five Commander decks are released, which are flavorfully connected to the main set. This is Commander 2021 aligning with Strixhaven: School of Mages.

Theme
deck name 		Color Identity Commander
{W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Silverquill Statement W B Breena, the Demagogue
Prismari Performance U R Zaffai, Thunder Conductor
Witherbloom Witchcraft B G Willowdusk, Essence Seer
Lorehold Legacies W R Osgir, the Reconstructor
Quantum Quandrix U G Adrix and Nev, Twincasters

Notable cards

Misprints

References

  1. ↑ a b c Mark Rosewater (March 29, 2021). "In the Strixhaven, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Wizards of the Coast. "Standings 2020-21". Magic.gg.
  3. ↑ Blake Rasmussen (September 1, 2020). "Zendikar Debut and Announcement Day Recap". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Strixhaven Sneak Peek (Video). Weekly MTG. YouTube (February 19, 2021).
  5. ↑ Blake Rasmussen (February 18, 2021). "The First Lesson: Introduction to Strixhaven". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 25, 2021). "What makes Strixhaven a bottom up set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  7. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 7, 2021). "Is Strixhaven based on anything?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. ↑ a b Strixhaven house names apparently leaked. Reddit (February 16, 2021).
  9. ↑ The Zendikar Adventuring Party (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (September 1, 2020).
  10. ↑ Strixhaven: School of Mages. Heo.com.
  11. ↑ a b Ari Zirulnik (March 25, 2021). "Strixhaven: School of Mages Product Overview". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 18, 2021). "Strixhaven News + More". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. ↑ WPN (March, 2021). "Strixhaven: School of Mages Prerelease Pack". Wizards Play Network.
  14. ↑ Strixhaven: School of Mages Campus Tour (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (March 25, 2021).
  15. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 7, 2020). "Zendikar Rising to the Challenge, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. ↑ Amanda Yeo (September 4, 2020). "New 'Magic: The Gathering' Zendikar Rising card makes rocks fall, everyone dies". Mashable.com.
  17. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 4, 2020). "Just want to confirm that this is accurate information?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  18. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 22, 2021). "I'm very excited about the Colleges.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  19. ↑ Matt Tabak (March 25, 2021). "Strixhaven: School of Mages Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  20. ↑ Andrew Brown and Jules Robins (March 25, 2021). "Introducing Ward". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  21. ↑ Strixhaven Commander Sneak Peek: Legendaries, Hints, Art & More! Part 1 (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (March 22, 2021).
  22. ↑ Nick Miller (March 29, 2021). "Mystical Archive Crux Of Fate Allegedly Uses Stolen Art". StarCityGames.
  23. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 30, 2021). "Statement of Crux of Fate". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  24. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 25, 2021). "Fyi, Zaffai, Thunder Conductor text box says Zaffai, Thunder collector". Blogatog. Tumblr.
Arcavios sets
Publications
Arcavios storyline
Characters
Locations
Affiliations
Other
Magic: The Gathering sets
 
M15 frame sets
Welcome & Core sets
Expansions
 
Special sets
Special series
Supplemental sets
Non-English Reprint sets
Other Box sets
Un sets
Commemorative sets
Retrieved from "https://mtg.wiki/index.php?title=Strixhaven:_School_of_Mages&oldid=347949"