Conflux
Template:Expansion Conflux is the second set in the Alara block. The prerelease events for this set were held January 31-February 1, 2009. Launch parties were held February 6-8, 2009.[1]
Set details
On September 29, 2008, the entire Conflux card list was leaked on MTG Salvation, thanks to mjmj.info.[2]
Mechanics
In Conflux, Domain became an ability word, also introduced basic land cycling for which there is a cycle of common cards (also regular cycling appears on two cards).
| “ | All the shard keywords are back. Colored artifact creatures are still here. Bant still have their exalted ability. Jund still devour. Grixis raise their dead by unearth and Naya's "power 5 or greater" theme continues. In many ways, Conflux is a big continuation of Shards of Alara. | ” |
Marketing cards
Tips & Tricks
The tips & tricks cards are "Theme: 
Cards", "Rules Tip: Domain", "A Threat to Alara: Nicol Bolas", "Fun Format: Pack Wars".
Tokens
The Conflux tokens are:[4]
- 4/4 Angel with flying, produced by Sigil of the Empty Throne
- 3/1 Elemental produced by Rakka Mar
Flavor
A powerful and infinitely sinister force is conspiring to reunite the Shards of Alara. This reunification will come with a deadly price – sheer chaos, as realities begin to overlap. Thus begins the Conflux.
Cycles
Conflux has 8 cycles:
- Basic landcyclers: These common instants and sorceries have one effect that is relatively overcosted, and basic landcycling for
C — Absorb Vis, Fiery Fall, Gleam of Resistance, Sylvan Bounty, and Traumatic Visions. - Common allied-colored spells: Each of these common spells has a mana cost that includes two allied-colored mana — Esper Cormorants, Vectis Agents, Suicidal Charge, Exploding Borders, and Rhox Bodyguard.
- Creatures with shard-colored activated abilities: Each of these uncommon creatures has an activated ability which costs both allied-colored mana — Aerie Mystics, Scornful Æther-Lich, Dreadwing, Viashino Slaughtermaster, and Sacellum Archers.
- Enemy-color hosers: Each of these uncommon spells hampers both of their enemy colors at a low mana cost — Celestial Purge, Controlled Instincts, Corrupted Roots, Ignite Disorder, and Filigree Fracture.
- Outlanders: These common 2/2 allied-colored scout creatures each have protection from their enemy color — Goblin Outlander (red/black), Nacatl Outlander (green/red), Valeron Outlander (white/green), Vedalken Outlander (blue/white), and Zombie Outlander (black/blue).
- Rare shard-colored creatures: Each of these rare creatures has a mana cost that includes CDE — Giltspire Avenger, Magister Sphinx, Blood Tyrant, Charnelhoard Wurm, and Meglonoth.
- Uncommon allied-colored spells: Each of these uncommon spells has a mana cost that includes two allied-colored mana — Jhessian Balmgiver, Countersquall, Shambling Remains, Hellkite Hatchling, and Vagrant Plowbeasts.
- Uncommon shard-colored spells: Each of these uncommon spells has a mana cost that includes CDE — Skyward Eye Prophets, Sludge Strider, Elder Mastery, Scarland Thrinax, and Knotvine Mystic.
Mini-cycles
Conflux has three cycles of three cards:
- Esper artifact-enhanced creatures: Each of these common artifact creatures gets better the more artifacts you play — Court Homunculus, Faerie Mechanist, Salvage Slasher.
- Esper scepters: Each of these rare artifacts is a colored version of an artifact from alpha — Scepter of Dominance, Scepter of Insight, Scepter of Fugue.
- Uncommon creature: Each creature is a 2/2, has a mana cost of
D and has an ability that gives them bonuses for — Dragonsoul Knight, Fleshformer, Paragon of the Amesha.
Reprinted cards
- Mana Cylix — last seen in Planeshift.
- Maniacal Rage — last seen in Invasion.
- Unsummon — last seen in 10th Edition.
- Worldly Counsel — last seen in Invasion.
Functional reprints
Conflux has 7 functional reprints:
- Canyon Minotaur is a functional reprint of Hill Giant from 10th Edition, Ogre Warrior from Starter 1999 and Barbarian Horde from Portal Three Kingdoms, save for creature type.
- Might of Alara is a functional reprint of Gaea's Might from Planeshift.
- Nacatl Savage is a functional reprint of Tel-Jilad Chosen from Mirrodin, save for creature type.
- The multicolored protection Bears cycle is a functional reprint of a cycle in Invasion, save for Vedalken Outlander, which is an artifact, while Galina's Knight is not, the others only differ in creature types. They are:
- Zombie Outlander is a functional reprint of Vodalian Zombie.
- Goblin Outlander is a functional reprint of Shivan Zombie.
- Nacatl Outlander is a functional reprint of Yavimaya Barbarian.
- Valeron Outlander is a functional reprint of Llanowar Knight.
Intro packs
The intro packs are:[5] Template:Intro packs