Innistrad: Crimson Vow

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Innistrad: Crimson Vow
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Crimson Vow logo.png}}|250px]]
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description A vampire bat / An inverted skull[1]
Design Mark Rosewater (lead)
Andrew Veen
Doug Beyer
Ari Nieh
Daniel Holt
Development Adam Prosak (co-lead)
Erik Lauer (co-lead)
Ethan Fleischer
Ken Nagle
Ari Nieh
Reggie Valk
Chris Mooney
Corey Bowen
Michael Hinderaker
Megan Smith
Patrick Sullivan
Andrew Brown
Art direction Taylor Ingvarsson
Release date November 19, 2021
Plane Innistrad
Themes and mechanics Vampires, Blood tokens
Keywords/​ability words Cleave, Daybound and Nightbound, Disturb, Exploit, Transform, Training
Set size 277 + 135
Expansion code VOW[2]
Development codename Clubs
Streets of New Capenna Standard
Midnight Hunt Crimson Vow Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Secret Lair Drop Series: Extra Life 2021 Innistrad: Crimson Vow Innistrad: Crimson Vow Commander Decks

Innistrad: Crimson Vow is the 90th Magic expansion.[3] It was released on November 19, 2021, and is paired up with Innistrad: Midnight Hunt that released two months earlier.[4][5][6]

Set details

“  Fear What You Become  ”
Crimson Vow Key art, featuring Sorin Markov

The codename for Innistrad: Crimson Vow ("Clubs") deviates from the regular alphabetic sports naming convention, because the set was conceived after the following codenames were already established.[7] The set was announced with the provisional name Innistrad: Vampires on September 1, 2020.[4][8] Based on the registration of public domains on September 18, 2020, the final name was speculated to be Innistrad: Crimson Vow.[9] This was finally confirmed on March 18, 2021.[5]

Both Innistrad sets are full size sets and they are both are Standard-legal. Although they come out only two months apart in the latter part of 2021, R&D is not changing how many sets are being added to Standard during the rotation window, but just shifted the timing around slightly.[10] The sets are designed to draft by themselves, but they also will draft well together. The two sets are synergistic and overlap in spots.[11][12] This will be further explored as the sets are reprinted in the Innistrad: Double Feature set that will be released in early 2022.

Crimson Vow Bundle (Gift Edition)

Innistrad: Crimson Vow contains 277 regular cards (100 commons, 83 uncommons, 64 rares, 20 mythic rares, 10 basic lands) and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards.[13] The regular cards include 10 "Eternal Night" basic lands. Each type has two different pieces of black-and-white art with colored accents. Alternate card frames have another card number than the original version. Borderless planeswalkers are numbered #278-280, borderless dual lands are #281-285, "Fang frame" showcase cards are numbered #286-316, "Eternal Night" showcase legendaries are #317-328, reskinned Dracula cards are #329-345 and extended artwork cards are numbered #346-397. The regular framed basic land cards from the Bundle are numbered #398-402. The Buy-a-Box card is #403 and the Bundle promo is #404. The are no FNM-treatment cards available for this set. The dark-frame Play Promos are #405-407. #408-412 are promo basic lands labeled "The Moonlit Lands". The latter differ from their "Eternal Night" counterparts in that they lack colored accents. They were given out at Innistrad: Double Feature WPN Premium events.[14]

Midnight Hunt and Crimson Vow both have the same number of single-faced and double-faced commons (90 SFC/10 DFC), uncommons (60/23), rares (53/11), and mythic rares (15/5).[13] Draft boosters include two guaranteed double-faced cards, one at common and one at a higher rarity, as in Midnight Hunt.

The black and white horror movie inspired "Eternal Night" showcase cards are all basic lands and legendary creatures that aren't a Vampire.[13] The spikey "fang" showcase cards with gothic architecture elements feature each of the 30 vampires in the main set, as well as Sorin the Mirthless.[15]

Rules change

A change to how token naming works avoids that you can name Blood tokens with Pithing Needle.[16] Going forward, if a spell or ability is creating a token without specifying its name, the name will be the same as its subtypes plus the word "Token." For example, a "Goblin Scout creature token" is named "Goblin Scout Token." Similarly, the name of a Blood token created in the game is "Blood Token" and choosing the name "Blood" (as in Flesh // Blood) for an effect will not cause that effect to apply to Blood tokens.[17]

Storyline

Crimson Vow continues the new Innistrad storyline begun in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt.[18] As humanity turned to the hope of rituals and a Harvesttide festival to save them from the Eternal Night in Midnight Hunt, those that stalk from shadows aren't just the mindless zombies and frenetic werewolves, but also the eternally undead with calculating, grand designs of their own. This set features the biggest vampire wedding in Innistrad history[3][5], a bonding between the Markov and Voldaren bloodlines.[18] Olivia Voldaren is the bride, and aims to form a pact with the Markovs to take control over Innistrad.[19] "The bride pledges her heart to the groom and he, his undying affection to her. Blood and famine, violence and peace—In eternal life and through moment's struggle, the two shall rule this land until its people are no more. The Heron's blood make it so."[20]

The cards that represent the Story Spotlights in Crimson Vow are:

Magic Story

Main article: Magic Story
Title Author Release Date Setting Featuring
Episode 1: Tithes and Invitations K. Arsenault Rivera 2021-10-28 Innistrad Grigori, Adeline, Chandra Nalaar, Deidama, Arlinn Kord, Teferi, Kaya, Sorin Markov, Edgar Markov
The Edge of the World Aysha U. Farah 2021-10-29 Innistrad Lord Nellick, Jacob, Eloise Wicker, Millicent, Rav
Episode 2: The Dolorous Weight of Pleasantries K. Arsenault Rivera 2021-11-03 Innistrad Relio Voldaren, Cordelia, Kristoff Laurent, Henrika Domnathi, Olivia Voldaren, Chandra Nalaar, Teferi, Adeline, Sorin Markov, Arlinn Kord, Kaya, Edgar Markov
The Blessing of Blood Marcus Terrell Smith 2021-11-05 Innistrad Odric, Henrika Domnathi, Thalia, Ormendahl
Episode 3: Forever Hold Your Peace K. Arsenault Rivera 2021-11-10 Innistrad Sorin Markov, Olivia Voldaren, Edgar Markov, Sigarda, Chandra Nalaar, Arlinn Kord, Kaya, Adeline, Teferi, Katilda
Survivors Reinhardt Suarez 2021-11-12 Innistrad Torens, Vytas, Aleksandar, Elamon, Boris, Marguerite, Eruth, Umbris
Episode 4: The Wedding Crashers K. Arsenault Rivera 2021-11-17 Innistrad Adeline, Chandra Nalaar, Teferi, Arlinn Kord, Kaya, Olivia Voldaren, Sorin Markov, Edgar Markov
The Devouring House Brian Evenson 2021-11-19 Innistrad Strefan Maurer, Brandt
Episode 5: Till Death Do Us Part K. Arsenault Rivera 2021-11-24 Innistrad Adeline, Chandra Nalaar, Sigarda, Kaya, Teferi, Tovolar, Sorin Markov, Edgar Markov, Arlinn Kord, Redtooth, Boulder, Streak, Patience, Olivia Voldaren, Katilda

Marketing

The binding vows of Olivia Voldaren and Edgar Markov

Crimson Vow is sold in regular 16-card Draft Boosters (one card being a marketing card), Theme Boosters, Collector Boosters, Set Boosters, the Crimson Vow Bundle (including a Gift Edition), and two Commander decks.[18] The Draft Boosters feature artwork depicting Sorin Markov. They contain two double-faced cards in each and every pack. The Set Boosters feature art depicting Olivia Voldaren, and the Collector Boosters feature a stylized depiction of a wedding. The Theme Boosters feature art from Welcoming Vampire (5 color vampires), Adamant Will ({W}), Steelclad Spirit ({U}), Bloodvial Purveyor ({B}), Blood Petal Celebrant ({R}) and Wolf Strike ({G}). With the release of Crimson Vow, 75 cards were rotated into The List, many of which were thematically or mechanically linked to the set. These can be found in the Set Boosters.[13] In addition, eight cards with the VOC code can be found in the Set and Collector Boosters that aren't found in the Innistrad: Crimson Vow Commander decks.[13]

Dracula cards

Main article: Innistrad: Crimson Vow/Box Toppers

Each booster box contains a box topper.[21][13][15] These skinned cards, called the Dracula Series, feature Dracula themed "skins" on reprints of regular cards. The name of the original card is featured in a small font below the Dracula name of the card. The skin name is considered flavor text and has no effect on game play.

There are 18 total Dracula series cards in Innistrad: Crimson Vow inspired by beloved characters from the 1897 novel, and they can be obtained in a few different ways. 17 of these cards can be found in Collector Boosters (both foil and non-foil) and the single-card Box Topper boosters (foil), while the eighteenth card is only available as a Buy-a-Box promotion.

Events

Promotional cards

Tokens/emblems/markers

There are 21 tokens and emblems:[26]

  1. {W} 1/1 Human creature, for Cemetery Protector and Wedding Announcement.
  2. {W} 1/1 Spirit creature with flying, for Brine Comber, Brinebound Gift, Heron-Blessed Geist, Kaya, Geist Hunter, Nurturing Presence, and Whispering Wizard.
  3. {W} 4/4 Spirit creature with flying, for Dorothea's Retribution.
  4. {W} */* Spirit Cleric creature with "This creature's power and toughness are each equal to the number of Spirits you control", for Hallowed Haunting.
  5. {U} */* Zombie creature, for Geralf, Visionary Stitcher.
  6. {B} 1/1 Slug creature, for Toxrill, the Corrosive.
  7. {B} 2/3 Vampire creature with flying and lifelink, for Sorin, the Mirthless.
  8. {B} 2/2 Zombie creature, for Doomed Dissenter, Dying to Serve, Headless Rider and Skull Skaab.
  9. {R} */* Dragon Illusion creature with flying and haste, for Manaform Hellkite.
  10. {R} 1/1 Human creature, for Stensia Uprising.
  11. {R} 3/2 Wolf creature, for Kessig Wolfrider.
  12. {G} 3/1 Boar creature, for Rural Recruit.
  13. {G} 1/1 Insect creature, for Crawling Infestation, Infestation Expert, Infested Werewolf, Hiveheart Shaman, Old Rutstein and Vilespawn Spider.
  14. {G} 2/2 Wolf creature, for Child of the Pack and Howling Moon.
  15. {G/W} 1/1 Human Soldier creature with training, for Torens, Fist of the Angels.
  16. {W/B} 1/1 Vampire creature with lifelink, for Edgar Markov's Coffin.
  17. {C} Blood artifact, for Anje, Maid of Dishonor, Belligerent Guest, Bloodcrazed Socialite, Blood Fountain, Blood Petal Celebrant, Blood Servitor, Bloodsoaked Reveler, Bloodtithe Harvester, Bloodvial Purveyor, Bloody Betrayal, Ceremonial Knife, Falkenrath Celebrants, Falkenrath Forebear, Gluttonous Guest, Grisly Ritual, Lacerate Flesh Odric, Blood-Cursed, Old Rutstein, Olivia’s Attendants, Pointed Discussion, Restless Bloodseeker, Sanguine Statuette, Sigarda’s Imprisonment, Syphon Essence, Vampire's Kiss, Vampires’ Vengeance, Voldaren Bloodcaster, Voldaren Epicure, and Voldaren Estate.
  18. {C} Treasure artifact, for Old Rutstein.
  19. Copy token, for Dollhouse of Horrors, Dreadfeast Demon, Ghastly Mimicry, Krothuss, Lord of the Deep and Necroduality.
  20. Emblem for Chandra, Dressed to Kill.
  21. Day/Night marker

Themes and mechanics

Innistrad: Crimson Vow has a new mechanic Cleave, an alternative cost that allow to remove words from the rule text. It shows up on instant and sorcery cards.[27]

As following from the previous Innistrad sets, focuses on five allied-colored tribes, each of which have a mechanic associated to them - however, these mechanics can appear outside of those two colors.

Limited archetypes

Innistrad: Crimson Vow features the following limited archetypes:

Card types

Vampires in this set also appear in white.[28] Markov Waltzer and Odric, Blood-Cursed are the first multicolored vampires without black in their costs.

Investigator's Journal is the first Standard-legal card with the Clue type and the first nontoken clue printed after the supplemental Parcel Myr.

Counter types

The set introduced the following counter types: Bloodline counters, Croak counters, Invitation counters, Judgment counters, and Suspect counters.

It also saw the return of Omen counters and Slime counters.

Cycles

Crimson Vow has ten cycles.

Cycle name {W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Cemetery creatures Cemetery Protector Cemetery Illuminator Cemetery Desecrator Cemetery Gatekeeper Cemetery Prowler
Five mythic rare creatures. Each exiles a card from the graveyard when they enter the battlefield, then give you a benefit depending on the exiled card.
Double-faced mythic rares Faithbound Judge Jacob Hauken, Inspector Henrika Domnathi Volatile Arsonist Avabruck Caretaker
Five mythic rare transforming double-faced creatures.
Uncommon tribal hate spells Circle of Confinement (Vampires) Lunar Rejection (Werewolves) Parasitic Grasp (Humans) Rending Flame (Spirits) Sawblade Slinger (Zombies)
Five uncommon spells that have a bonus when cast on the tribe the color is opposed to.
Uncommon colored artifacts Bride's Gown Soulcipher Board Groom's Finery Honeymoon Hearse Spiked Ripsaw
Five uncommon colored artifacts that can add to the board: either as an Equipment, Vehicle, or transforming creature. The black and white members are a lore pair.
Uncommon tribal support spells Resistance Squad (Humans) Geistlight Snare (Spirits) Archghoul of Thraben (Zombies) Markov Retribution (Vampires) Wolfkin Outcast (Werewolves)
Five uncommon spells that have a bonus when controlling a tribe the color is a major in.
Common tribal support spells Supernatural Rescue (Spirits) Chill of the Grave (Zombies) Gift of Fangs (Vampires) Hungry Ridgewolf (Werewolves) Dawnhart Disciple (Humans)
Five common spells that have a bonus when controlling a tribe the color is minored in (as opposed to the major in Midnight Hunt).
Cycle name {R/W} {G/U} {W/B} {U/R} {B/G}
Rare cleave spells Lantern Flare ({W}) Winged Portent ({U}) Path of Peril ({B}) Alchemist’s Gambit ({R}) Dig Up ({G})
Five rare monocolored spells with multicolored cleave costs.
Slow Lands Sundown Pass Dreamroot Cascade Shattered Sanctum Stormcarved Coast Deathcap Glade
Five rare dual lands that enter the battlefield tapped, unless you control two or more other lands.

Double cycles

Cycle name {W/U} {U/B} {B/R} {R/G} {G/W} {W/B} {U/R} {B/G} {R/W} {G/U}
Rare legends Dorothea, Vengeful Victim Runo Stromkirk Anje, Maid of Dishonor Halana and Alena, Partners Torens, Fist of the Angels Edgar, Charmed Groom Eruth, Tormented Prophet Old Rutstein Odric, Blood-Cursed Grolnok, the Omnivore
Ten rare legendary creatures.
Uncommon signpost creatures Brine Comber Skull Skaab Bloodtithe Harvester Child of the Pack Sigardian Paladin Markov Purifier Wandering Mind Ancient Lumberknot Markov Waltzer Vilespawn Spider
Ten uncommon gold creatures, each supporting a draft archetype.

Pairs

Innistrad: Crimson Vow features three pairs.

Lore Pairs Description
Olivia, Crimson Bride ({B/R}) Edgar, Charmed Groom ({W/B}) The bride and the groom.
Bride's Gown ({W}) Groom's Finery ({B}) Equipment that cost 1M, grant +2/+0, and equip for 2, representing the wedding attire of the couple. If the other card is also equipped, the wielder gets +0/+2 and a keyword.
Mirrored Pairs Description
Overcharged Amalgam ({U}) Graf Reaver ({B}) Two rare 3/3 Zombie creatures with exploit that grant general effects (counter and destroy) if they exploit a creature.
Gluttonous Guest ({B}) Belligerent Guest ({R}) Two common Vampire creatures that are guests of the wedding. Each has 2M as mana cost and a Blood creation ability.
Wretched Throng ({U}) Ancestral Anger ({R}) Two commons that incentivise draft-them-all strategies.

Reprinted cards

Functional reprints

Notable cards

Misprints

Preconstructed decks

Main article: Innistrad: Crimson Vow/Commander decks

Innistrad: Crimson Vow features two Commander decks that are released as a regular part of a set's product line.[34]

Theme
deck name 		Color Identity Commander
{W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Spirit Squadron W U Millicent, Restless Revenant
Vampiric Bloodline B R Strefan, Maurer Progenitor

Gallery

  • Provisional logo

    Provisional logo

References

  1. ↑ Mark Rosewater and Daniel Holt (November 24, 2023). "Drive to Work 1089: Expansions Symbols with Daniel Holt". Transistor.
  2. ↑ WPN (August 6, 2021). "Innistrad: Crimson Vow Marketing Materials". Wizards Play Network.
  3. ↑ a b The Zendikar Adventuring Party (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (September 1, 2020).
  4. ↑ a b Blake Rasmussen (September 1, 2020). "Zendikar Debut and Announcement Day Recap". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ a b c Wizards of the Coast (March 18, 2021). "Strixhaven News + More". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (November 10, 2021). "Innistrad: Crimson Vow Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 8, 2021). "Codenames, Part 2". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 1, 2022). "State of Design 2022". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ Payneswalker (October 3, 2020). "Innistrad Set Names?". Reddit.
  10. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 19, 2021). "I am curious about some of the finer release details with the 2 Innistrad sets.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  11. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 19, 2021). "Will the Innistrad sets draft well together?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  12. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 13, 2021). "Would it be possible to have 2 standalone...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  13. ↑ a b c d e f Mike Turian (October 28, 2021). "Collecting Innistrad: Crimson Vow". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (December 13, 2021). "The Moonlit Lands Innistrad: Crimson Vow Promos". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  15. ↑ a b Clayton Kroh (October 28, 2021). "Sink Your Teeth Into the Booster Fun of Innistrad: Crimson Vow". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 2, 2021). "There has been a change to how token naming works.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  17. ↑ Jess Dunks (November 10, 2021). "Innistrad: Crimson Vow Comprehensive Rules Changes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  18. ↑ a b c d Wizards of the Coast (August 5th, 2021). "A First Look at Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Crimson Vow". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  19. ↑ Magic Showcase 2021 (live) (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (August 24, 2021).
  20. ↑ This feels pretty definitive. Reddit (October 26, 2021).
  21. ↑ Harless Snyder (October 28, 2021). "Innistrad: Crimson Vow Product Overview". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  22. ↑ Gavin Verhey (November 10, 2021). "Innistrad: Crimson Vow Prerelase Primer". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  23. ↑ a b WPN (August 5, 2021). "All the Dates You Need for Innistrad: Midnight Hunt". Wizards Play Network.
  24. ↑ WPN (September 20, 2021). "All the Dates You Need for Innistrad: Crimson Vow". Wizards Play Network.
  25. ↑ WPN (October 28, 2021). "Innistrad: Crimson Vow Companion Play Promos Revealed!". Wizards Play Network.
  26. ↑ Kendall Pepple (November 11, 2021). "The Tokens of Innistrad: Crimson Vow". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  27. ↑ Matt Tabak (October 28, 2021). "Innistrad: Crimson Vow Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  28. ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (November 1, 2021). "From Vow On, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  29. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 27, 2021). "Odds & Ends - Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  30. ↑ a b c Mark Rosewater (November 8, 2021). "From Vow On, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  31. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 28, 2021). "Based on what ive been seeing the only time...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  32. ↑ Saffron Olive (November 2, 2021). "Seems like not saying "until end of turn" has to be a mistake and we'll get getting an errata?". Twitter.
  33. ↑ Jess Dunks (November 10, 2021). "Innistrad: Crimson Vow Oracle Changes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  34. ↑ The Future of Commander Preconstructed Decks! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (May 14, 2021).

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