Apocalypse
- For other uses, see Apocalypse (disambiguation).
Apocalypse is the twenty-fourth Magic: The Gathering expansion and was released in 2001 as the last set in the Invasion block. The set's theme included enemy color pairs, and expanded on the kicker block mechanic.
Mechanics
- Flagbearer — As long as you have one in play, any spell or ability your opponent plays that can target a Flagbearer must target a Flagbearer. If a spell has multiple targets, only one of the targets needs to be a Flagbearer. There were 2 White Flagbearer (Standard Bearer and Coaltion Honor Guard) creatures and an aura (Coalition Flag) that granted a creature the Flagbearer subtype as well as the inherent ability.
- Syphon — Phyrexian abominations that take some life from their controller in exchange for an equal number of cards (e.g. When Phyrexian Rager came into play you drew a card and lose 1 life). Phyrexian Gargantua and the enchangment Phyrexian Arena are also considered part of the "syphon" mechanic.
Cycles
- Bloodfire vertical cycle — Creatures which can be sacrificed to deal damage to each creature and each player: Bloodfire Dwarf, Bloodfire Kavu and Bloodfire Colossus. Also, Bloodfire Infusion is an Enchant Creature spell which allowed any creature to be sacrificed to deal damage equal to its power to each creature and player.
- Disciples — 1/1 Wizards with two opposing color abilities for one color of the appropriate mana plus tapping: Ana Disciple, Ceta Disciple, Dega Disciple, Necra Disciple, and Raka Disciple
- Enemy colored painlands — Rare lands the produce enemy colors of mana at the cost of 1 point of damage each time it's used: Battlefield Forge, Caves of Koilos, Llanowar Wastes, Shivan Reef, and Yavimaya Coast.
- Enemy colored split cards — Fire // Ice, Illusion // Reality, Life // Death, Night // Day, Order // Chaos
- Enemy colored two-drops — Enemy colored creatures with converted mana cost
: Putrid Warrior (white/black soldier/zombie), Goblin Legionnaire (white/red soldier/goblin), Razorfin Hunter (blue/red goblin/merfolk), Gaea's Skyfolk (blue/green merfolk/elf), Llanowar Dead (black/green zombie/elf). Opposite cycle of the "bears" from Invasion. - Envoys — Each of these uncommon creatures cost
+ 1 specific color to cast. Their ability works as follows: When the card comes into play, reveal the top 4 cards of your library. Put all cards of a certain type revealed this way into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order. The cards they brought into play are: Elves, Goblins, Merfolk, Soldiers, and Zombies: Sylvan Messenger, Goblin Ringleader, Tidal Courier, Enlistment Officer and Grave Defiler. Two cards were not part of the above cycle, but had a related ability. Kavu Howler is also uncommon, but has greater power and toughness and costs more to cast. Brass Herald allows you to choose the creature type it searches for in the top 4 cards; it also grants creatures of that type +1/+1. - Mutation mega cycle — Two-colored spells with green in their casting cost that destroy or disrupt resources and create a number of 1/1 saproling tokens equal to the resource's converted mana cost. Continued from Invasion. AEther Mutation (green/blue, returns creatures to hand) and Death Mutation (green/black, destroys non-black creatures) were printed in Apocalypse.
- Penumbras vertical cycle — Green creatures that when put into the graveyard from play, a black token exact in power/toughness and type is put into play: Penumbra Bobcat - a 2/1 Cat, Penumbra Kavu - a 3/3 Kavu, and Penumbra Wurm - a 6/6 Wurm with trample. In Time Spiral, Penumbra Spider was printed - a 2/4 Spider with reach.
- Sanctuaries — Enchantments which do something if you have an opposing colored permanent. If you have both opposing colors, then the benefit is increased: Ana Sanctuary, Ceta Sanctuary, Dega Sanctuary, Necra Sanctuary and Raka Sanctuary
- Volvers: Creatures which have two enemy-color kicker costs that increase power and toughness and grant extra abilities — Anavolver, Cetavolver, Degavolver, Necravolver and Rakavolver
- Whirlpool vertical cycle: When these creatures come into play, shuffle the cards from your hand into your library, then draw that many cards — Whirlpool Drake, Whirlpool Rider and Whirlpool Warrior
Notable cards
- Mystic Snake — A Counterspell and a 2/2 creature in one card.
Theme decks
The pre-constructed theme decks are:
| Theme Deck Name | |||||
| Red | Green | White | Blue | Black | |
| Burial | |||||
| Pandemonium | |||||
| Swoop | |||||
| Whirlpool | |||||