Guilds of Ravnica block

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The Guilds of Ravnica block is the unofficial name for three large expansions set on Ravnica that were released between October 2018 and May 2019.[1][2]

Description

It is not a block in the traditional sense, because there is no mechanical overlap and the sets are drafted on their own. Blocks were abandoned in 2018 with the introduction of the Three-and-One Model, but that didn't mean that consecutive expansions couldn't be set on the same plane.[3]

The series consists of Guilds of Ravnica (), Ravnica Allegiance () and War of the Spark (). The first two each are focused on five of the ten Ravnican guilds. They are what you would expect a return to Ravnica to be and it needed to be two to fit in all the guilds.[4][5] The third set will focus on the culmination of the Bolas Arc, the storyline around the fight of the Gatewatch against Nicol Bolas, and not on the guilds. The latter is its own unique thing.[4][6]

The following guilds are represented in each of the first two sets:

Storyline

The guilds fight internally between the forces pulling them toward or away from Bolas's influence. In the end, five fall under his influence, and five don't. The five guilds that fall to Bolas all have a planeswalker leading the guild.[7] Guilds of Ravnica and Ravnica Allegiance are mostly concurrent with Ixalan and Dominaria so the Gatewatch is busy elsewhere storywise.[8]

Guild Kits

The first two sets are accompanied by Guild Kits.[9] Each Guild Kit features a 60-card preconstructed theme deck flavored after one of the featured guilds, combining cards from every Ravnica set released so far. The reprints aren't Standard legal.[10] The Kits are packaged with appropriate pins, stickers, and spindown life counters. They use the guild symbols as expansion symbols.

Mythic Edition

Each set is accompanied by a Mythic Edition.[11] Each Mythic Edition contains 24 boosters of the respective set. Eight of these are specially marked and contain a Masterpiece card.[12][13] Each Mythic Edition uses the same expansion symbol ().

Mega cycles

Cycle name Azorius
{W/U}
Dimir
{U/B}
Rakdos
{B/R}
Gruul
{R/G}
Selesnya
{G/W}
Orzhov
{W/B}
Izzet
{U/R}
Golgari
{B/G}
Boros
{R/W}
Simic
{G/U}
Guildmasters Dovin, Grand Arbiter Lazav, the Multifarious Rakdos, the Showstopper Domri, Chaos Bringer Trostani Discordant Kaya, Orzhov Usurper Ral, Izzet Viceroy Vraska, Golgari Queen Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice Prime Speaker Vannifar
Each of these mythic rare legendary creatures or planeswalkers represents the current leader of its respective guild. Guilds allied with Nicol Bolas have planeswalkers; against, creatures.
Guild champions Lavinia, Azorius Renegade Etrata, the Silencer Judith, the Scourge Diva Nikya of the Old Ways Emmara, Soul of the Accord Teysa Karlov Niv-Mizzet, Parun Izoni, Thousand-Eyed Tajic, Legion's Edge Zegana, Utopian Speaker
Each of these rare legendary creatures represents a second-in-command or otherwise-important figure in the guild.
Mythic rare guild spells Emergency Powers Mnemonic Betrayal Captive Audience Ravager Wurm March of the Multitudes Seraph of the Scales Thousand-Year Storm Underrealm Lich Chance for Glory Hydroid Krasis
Five mythic rare guild spells.
Guildmages Senate Guildmage House Guildmage Cult Guildmage Clan Guildmage Conclave Guildmage Syndicate Guildmage League Guildmage Swarm Guildmage Legion Guildmage Combine Guildmage
Ten uncommon multicolor creatures, each of whom cost MN and have two abilities, one for each of the guild's colors.
MMNN creatures Sphinx of New Prahv Nightveil Predator Rakdos Firewheeler Sunder Shaman Conclave Cavalier Basilica Bell-Haunt Crackling Drake Golgari Findbroker Truefire Captain Frilled Mystic
Ten powerful uncommon multicolor creatures, each of which cost two of each of its guild's colored mana.
Shock lands Hallowed Fountain Watery Grave Blood Crypt Stomping Ground Temple Garden Godless Shrine Steam Vents Overgrown Tomb Sacred Foundry Breeding Pool
Each of these rare nonbasic dual lands has two basic land types and enters the battlefield tapped unless its controller pays 2 life.
Guildgates Azorius Guildgate Dimir Guildgate Rakdos Guildgate Gruul Guildgate Selesnya Guildgate Orzhov Guildgate Izzet Guildgate Golgari Guildgate Boros Guildgate Simic Guildgate
Each of these common nonbasic lands with the Gate subtype enter the battlefield tapped and produce one of either of its respective guild's colors.
Lockets Azorius Locket Dimir Locket Rakdos Locket Gruul Locket Selesnya Locket Orzhov Locket Izzet Locket Golgari Locket Boros Locket Simic Locket
Each of these common artifacts cost {3}, and tap to produce either of its respective guild's colors. For 4 hybrid mana, they can be sacrificed to draw two cards.
Gold mechanical commons Sphinx's Insight Notion Rain Rafter Demon Frenzied Arynx Rosemane Centaur Imperious Oligarch Sonic Assault Rhizome Lurcher Hammer Dropper Aeromunculus
Each of these common multicolor spells demonstrates their respective guild's mechanic.
Common hybrid creatures Senate Griffin Whisper Agent Footlight Fiend Rubble Slinger Vernadi Shieldmate Vizkopa Vampire Piston-Fist Cyclops Pitiless Gorgon Fresh-Faced Recruit Scuttlegator
Each of these common creatures only have generic mana and hybrid mana in their casting costs.
Uncommon split cards Depose // Deploy Discovery // Dispersal Carnival // Carnage Collision // Colossus Flower // Flourish Consecrate // Consume Invert // Invent Status // Statue Integrity // Intervention Incubation // Incongruity
Ten uncommon split cards, one side of which uses a single hybrid mana in guild colors and the other side is multicolor. Each of these uncommon cards start with the same first 3 letters in each half's name.
Rare split cards Warrant // Warden Connive // Concoct Bedeck // Bedazzle Thrash // Threat Assure // Assemble Revival // Revenge Expansion // Explosion Find // Finality Response // Resurgence Repudiate // Replicate
Ten rare split cards, following the same formula as above, aside from the double hybrid mana cost. The hybrid side depicts the guild champion, and the multicolored side depicts its leader. Each of these cards start with the same first 3 letters in each half's name.

Ravnica Inquisition

The Ravnica Inquisition annex set / board game is thematically connected, but isn't part of the block.

References

  1. Wizards of the Coast (May 18, 2018). "2018 Spring Announcement Day". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. Mark Rosewater (May 18, 2018). "In the summer announcements video gavin mentions...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  3. Mark Rosewater (June 12, 2017). "Metamorphosis 2.0". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. a b Mark Rosewater (May 18, 2018). "Going back to ravnica is exciting but getting 3...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  5. Mark Rosewater (September 10, 2018). "Guild to Order, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Mark Rosewater (May 20, 2018). "As you look to revisit ravnica three times will...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  7. Mark Rosewater (September 11, 2018). "In your guild to order article you said the five...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. Mark Rosewater (September 11, 2018). "So are there only 5 planeswalkers in guilds...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  9. Gavin Verhey (November 1, 2018). "Building the Guild Kits". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. Mark Rosewater (May 18, 2018). "Will the reprints in the ravnica guild kits be...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  11. Blake Rasmussen (January 10, 2019). "Ravnica Allegiance Mythic Edition". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. Blake Rasmussen (September 4, 2018). "Guilds of Ravnica Packaging, Promos, and More". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. Magic: The Gathering Twitter

External links