Ravnica: City of Guilds

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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
Development codename Control[1][2]

Ravnica: City of Guilds (pronounced /RAV-ni-kah/, /rav-NEETS-uh/, or /RAV-nih-kuh/)[3] is the first set in the Ravnica block. It is the 36th Magic: The Gathering expansion and was released on October 7, 2005.

Set details

"Ravnica" (ravnìca; равнѝца) is a Serbo-Croatian word for "plain".[4][5] The influence of Eastern Europe is not only reflected in this etymology of the expansion name but throughout the flavor of the set.[6]

Ravnica: City of Guilds introduced the hybrid mana system used throughout the Ravnica block.

The expansion set was well-received, particularly with its innovative "guild model", and won the 2005 Origin Awards for Best Collectible Card Game or Expansion.[7]

Flavor and storyline

Following in the tradition of recent Magic blocks, Ravnica takes place in a plane of the Dominia 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, and is home to a diverse assortment of sentient races. For ten thousand years, there has been a power struggle between the ten guilds, political factions that each represent a combination of two of Magic's five colors. 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 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 Template:Manarw
Ravnica block Boros Legion crest
Ravnica block Boros Legion crest
Razia, Boros Archangel
Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran
Radiance
House Dimir Template:Manaub
Ravnica block House Dimir crest
Ravnica block House Dimir crest
Szadek, Lord of Secrets
Circu, Dimir Lobotomist
Transmute
Golgari Swarm Template:Manabg
Ravnica block Golgari Swarm crest
Ravnica block Golgari Swarm crest
Sisters of Stone Death
Savra, Queen of the Golgari
Dredge
Selesnya Conclave Template:Managw
Ravnica block Selesnya Conclave crest
Ravnica block Selesnya Conclave crest
Chorus of the Conclave
Tolsimir Wolfblood
Convoke

Creature types

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

The following creature types that are not new to Magic are used in this expansion:

Template:Div col end

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

The preconstructed theme decks are: Template:Theme decks

Notes

References

  1. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Ravnica Revealed
  2. Mark Rosewater (August 12, 2002). "Codename of the Game". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Brady Dommermuth (September 15, 2005). "Ask Wizards — September 15, 2005". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. "ravnica" — Wiktionary
  5. "ravnica" — EUdict
  6. John Dale Beety. (August 8, 2012.) "Return to Ravnica (for Those Who've Nver Been)", StarCityGames.com.
  7. Allan Sugarbaker. (July 1, 2006.) "2005 Origins Award winners announced", OgreCave.com.

External links