Lorwyn–Shadowmoor block

Lorwyn–Shadowmoor block

 

Preconstructed theme decks

 

Whilst not a block in and of itself, Lorwyn–Shadowmoor block is a combination of the Lorwyn and Shadowmoor (mini-)blocks. The block was released over 2007–2008.

Connection

Although these mini-blocks are distinct in terms of game mechanics, they are linked in their flavor (being set on alternate versions of the same plane) and are treated as a single block for the purpose of rotation. With the release of Shadowmoor, Lorwyn–Shadowmoor block also replaced Lorwyn block for the Block Constructed format.

Flavor

For inspiration, the creative team turned to Celtic folklore and mythology. There are influences from Irish, English, Welsh, Scottish, and Celtic stories, languages and cultures in both the look and world details of the setting. Mark Rosewater later stated that the flavor erred in being too true to the source material rather than hitting the tropes players knew. The latter would be revisited in Throne of Eldraine.

While Eldraine was a top-down set, Lorrwyn-Shadowmoor was designed bottom-up around duality.

Sets

Lorwyn block

The Lorwyn block is the thirteenth block; unlike all previous blocks, it consist of only two sets: the large expansion, Lorwyn () and the small expansion, Morningtide (). The block came out in 2007–2008.

Keywords introduced in this block: Champion, Changeling, Clash, Evoke, Hideaway, Kinship, Prowl, and Reinforce.

Planeswalker, a new card type, debuted in this block. Tribal, another new card type, debuted in the previous block but was fleshed out in Lorwyn.

The race/class system is a major theme of this block. Each creature in the block belonged to one of the following nine creature types: Elemental, Elf, Faerie, Giant, Goblin, Kithkin, Merfolk, Shapeshifter, and Treefolk.

Mega cycles

Three mega cycles exist across the block's two sets:

• Mono-colored legends: Each of these rare legendary creatures represents one of the main protagonists of the Lorwyn and Morningtide novels — Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile, Vendilion Clique, Maralen of the Mornsong, Ashling the Pilgrim, Rhys the Exiled.
• Rare changelings: Each of these rare shapeshifter creatures has changeling and another powerful ability — Mirror Entity, Shapesharer, Cairn Wanderer, Taurean Mauler, Chameleon Colossus.
• Tribal lands: Each of these rare lands comes into play tapped unless you reveal a card in your hand of a certain creature type; there was one for each of the block's eight tribes.
  • The tribal lands from Lorwyn could each be tapped for either of its tribe's colors — Ancient Amphitheater (giants, red and white), Auntie's Hovel (goblins, red and black), Gilt-Leaf Palace (elves, green and black), Secluded Glen (faeries, blue and black), and Wanderwine Hub (merfolk, blue and white).
  • The tribal lands from Morningtide had different abilities from the lands in the previous set but shared their "tribal untap" ability — Murmuring Bosk (treefolk, counts as a Forest, can also be tapped for white or black mana at the cost of 1 damage), Primal Beyond (elementals, can be tapped for any color of mana but only to pay for elemental spells), and Rustic Clachan (kithkin, can be tapped only for white mana but has reinforce).
  • Two cards, the common Shimmering Grotto and rare Mutavault, were associated with the changeling "tribe," but were not part of the cycle.

Shadowmoor block

The Shadowmoor block is the fourteenth block; as a mini-block it consist of only two sets: one large expansion, Shadowmoor (), and one small expansion, Eventide (). The block came out during the first half of 2008.

Ability word introduced: Chroma

Keywords introduced in this block: Conspire, Persist, Retrace, Wither.

Mechanics introduced in this block: The untap symbol ().

A major theme of the Shadowmoor block was color. Hybrid mana, introduced in the Ravnica block, was brought back in Shadowmoor and given a more thorough treatment. -1/-1 counters were among the block's minor themes.

Mega cycles

Seven mega cycles exist between the two sets, each made up of ten cards, one for each color pair.

Cycle Name
Demigods	Godhead of Awe	Ghastlord of Fugue	Demigod of Revenge	Deus of Calamity	Oversoul of Dusk	Divinity of Pride	Dominus of Fealty	Deity of Scars	Nobilis of War	Overbeing of Myth
	Each of these Spirit Avatar creatures has a converted mana cost of 5, made up entirely of hybrid mana symbols.
Demigod auras	Steel of the Godhead	Helm of the Ghastlord	Fists of the Demigod	Runes of the Deus	Shield of the Oversoul	Edge of the Divinity	Clout of the Dominus	Gift of the Deity	Scourge of the Nobilis	Favor of the Overbeing
	These auras grants +1/+1 and one of two bonuses to a creature if it matches one of its colors, or +2/+2 and both bonuses if it matches both.
Lieges	Thistledown Liege	Glen Elendra Liege	Ashenmoor Liege	Boartusk Liege	Wilt-Leaf Liege	Deathbringer Liege	Mindwrack Liege	Creakwood Liege	Balefire Liege	Murkfiend Liege
	Each of these creatures has a mana cost of nHHH, where H is a hybrid mana symbol and n an integer of generic mana. Each liege holds two separate abilities that provides a +1/+1 bonus to a creature that matches either color, which stacks for those that match both, and each has an ability or effect appropriate its colors. The lieges from Shadowmoor have allied-color costs and the Knight creature type. The lieges from Eventide have enemy-color costs and the Horror creature type.
Common hybrid one-drops	Zealous Guardian	Oona's Gatewarden	Manaforge Cinder	Scuzzback Scrapper	Elvish Hexhunter	Nip Gwyllion	Stream Hopper	Odious Trow	Duergar Assailant	Slippery Bogle
	Each of these common creatures has a mana cost of one hybrid mana.
Hybrid filter lands	Mystic Gate	Sunken Ruins	Graven Cairns	Fire-Lit Thicket	Wooded Bastion	Fetid Heath	Cascade Bluffs	Twilight Mire	Rugged Prairie	Flooded Grove
	Each of these rare lands can be tapped for mana. They also have the ability "M/N, : Add MM, MN, or NN." where M and N are two different colors.
Hybrid three-drops	Plumeveil	Wasp Lancer	Ashenmoor Gouger	Boggart Ram-Gang	Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers	Restless Apparition	Crag Puca	Stalker Hag	Hearthfire Hobgoblin	Wistful Selkie
	Each of these uncommon creatures has a converted mana cost of , made up entirely of hybrid mana.
Hybrid modal spells	Repel Intruders	River's Grasp	Torrent of Souls	Firespout	Dawnglow Infusion	Batwing Brume	Unnerving Assault	Cankerous Thirst	Moonhold	Invert the Skies
	Each of these uncommon hybrid spells has different effects depending on which of two colors were used to play it.

Mirrored Pairs

Shadowmoor block has one mirrored pair.

Mirrored Pairs		Description
Poison the Well ()	Drain the Well ()	A black-red and a black-green hybrid sorcery respectively, each destroying target land and changing life totals by 2, Poison the Well by dealing 2 damage to land's controller and Drain the Well by causing the sorcery's controller to gain 2 life.