Oath of the Gatewatch
| Oath of the Gatewatch | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Set Information | |||||
| Set symbol | |||||
| Symbol description | Hedrons or the blades floating above Kozilek's head | ||||
| Design |
Ethan Fleischer (lead) Graeme Hopkins Ari Levitch Ken Nagle Adam Prosak Mark Rosewater | ||||
| Development |
Ian Duke (lead) Dave Humpherys Jackie Lee Adam Prosak Gavin Verhey | ||||
| Art direction | Jeremy Jarvis | ||||
| Release date | January 22, 2016 | ||||
| Plane | Zendikar | ||||
| Themes and mechanics | Colorless matters, teaming up, planeswalker matters. | ||||
| Keywords/ability words | Cohort, Devoid, Landfall, Support, Surge | ||||
| Set size |
184 cards (70 commons, 60 uncommons, 42 rares, 12 mythic rares) +2 regular-art Wastes | ||||
| Expansion code | OGW[1] | ||||
| Development codename | Sweat | ||||
| Battle for Zendikar block | |||||
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| Magic: The Gathering Chronology | |||||
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Oath of the Gatewatch is the 69th Magic expansion, and the second and last in the Battle for Zendikar block. It was released in January 22, 2016.[2][3] Oath of the Gatewatch is a small expansion.[4]
Set details
Oath of the Gatewatch contains 184 cards (70 Common, 60 Uncommon, 42 Rare, 12 Mythic) but only 183 functionally different cards. However, because of the full-art and regular versions of the Wastes (twice), collectors view this as an 186-card set. Small sets are now enlarged to facilitate the new draft structure (2 boosters of the second set / 1 of the first set).[5][6][7] The set includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards. The expansion symbol of the set seems to be a stylized representation of Kozilek's brood, but it also has similarities with hedrons, usually for Zendikar sets. The set features two Planeswalker cards Chandra, Flamecaller and Nissa, Voice of Zendikar.[8]
Oath of the Gatewatch is all about teamwork. It was designed to support Two-Headed Giant better than any other set in Magic history at the time.[9]
Flavor and storyline
Four planeswalkers (Gideon Jura, Jace Beleren, Chandra Nalaar and Nissa Revane) join forces in their battle against the Eldrazi titans Ulamog and Kozilek and the demonic planeswalker Ob Nixilis. They become the Gatewatch, a team with a lasting commitment to protect the people of the Multiverse from threats that no one else can handle. The six cards that represent the pivotal moments in the storyline are: Kozilek's Return, Remorseless Punishment, Call the Gatewatch, Bonds of Mortality, Fall of the Titans and Zendikar Resurgent.[10][11]
Magic Story
Art book
| Title | Author | Publishing date | Setting (plane) | Featuring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Zendikar | James Wyatt | January 5, 2016 | Zendikar | Nissa Revane, Avacyn, Ilori, Emeria, Ula, Cosi, Emrakul, Ulamog, Kozilek, Nirthu, Sheyda, Ugin, Sorin Markov, Nahiri, Edgar Markov, Nicol Bolas, Jace Beleren, Ekar, Iona, Linvala, Talib, Kamsa, Mangeni, Munda, Henn Aran, Noyan Dar, Kalitas, Anitan, Drana, Samila, Zada, Tuktuk, Sutina, Nisede, Hazzan, Obuun, Arhana, Bruse Tarl, Prina Wey, Sachir, Kala, Vurundi, Lako, Anowon, Tenihas, Tarsa, Ennesh, Tanali, Lyandis, Ferth, Mitra, Lorthos, Tazri, Ayli, Aida Lunda, Javad Nasrin, Wamata, Ruta Legala, Bikbi, Viniva, Thada Adel, Bebea, Maizah Shere, Gideon Jura, Heliod, Erebos, Alhammarret, Chandra Nalaar, Sarkhan Vol, Kiora, Thassa, Ob Nixilis, Hazir, Trinda, Moruul |
| D&D Supplement: Plane Shift: Zendikar [12] | James Wyatt | April 2016 | Zendikar | Anowon, Ob Nixilis, Linvala, Iona, Lorthos, Ulamog, Kozilek, Emrakul |
Marketing
Oath of the Gatewatch is sold in 16-card boosters (the 16th card being a marketing card), five intro packs and a fat pack.[13] The series of clash packs is discontinued. This is the first small set to feature four different pieces of art on the boosters. These depict the four members of the Gatewatch as featured on the partial Oath cycle: Gideon, Jace, Chandra, and Nissa.[14]
The set features the full-art lands from Battle for Zendikar (complete with the original expansion symbol).[15] The Oath of the Gatewatch fat packs also have full art basic lands. Like the other non-full-art basics, non-full-art Wastes are featured in the intro packs.[16]
Zendikar Expeditions
Zendikar Expeditions are all premium foil cards with a special Zendikari frame and a separate expansion symbol. Thus, they are not part of the set.[17] Zendikar Expeditions include all new art set on Zendikar and appear slightly more often than premium mythic rares. These cards are playable in limited and formats where they're already legal. 25 Expedition cards appeared with Battle for Zendikar (the 5 new battle lands, 10 shock lands and 10 fetch lands[18]) and 20 more cards in Oath of the Gatewatch (10 filter lands and 10 assorted lands with resonant flavor for Zendikar[19]).
Prerelease
Two-Headed Giant was central to the prerelease experience.[20] Prerelease events took place on January 16–17, 2016. The Prerelease format was Sealed (4 Oath of the Gatewatch/2 Battle for Zendikar). Each pair of players received two prerelease packs that they could use after the event as a take-home deck box. Inside each Prerelease box, there are four Oath of the Gatewatch booster packs and two Battle for Zendikar booster packs, a spindown life counter, and a randomized, date-stamped premium promo card, drawn from any rare or mythic rare in the set.
Promotional cards
- Prerelease: a stamped card that can be any rare or mythic rare from the set.
- Launch promo: Endbringer[21]
- Game Day: full-art Immolating Glare
- Game Day (Top 8): full-art Jori En, Ruin Diver
- Buy-a-Box: Goblin Dark-Dwellers
Tokens
1/1 Eldrazi Scion with "Sacrifice this creature: Add ." for Abstruse Interference, Birthing Hulk, Scion Summoner, Sifter of Skulls, Vile Redeemer, and Warping Wail[22]- 1/1 Eldrazi Scion with "Sacrifice this creature: Add ."
- 1/1 Eldrazi Scion with "Sacrifice this creature: Add ."
- 1/1 Eldrazi Scion with "Sacrifice this creature: Add ." reprint from Battle for Zendikar
- 1/1 Eldrazi Scion with "Sacrifice this creature: Add ." reprint from Battle for Zendikar
- 1/1 Eldrazi Scion with "Sacrifice this creature: Add ." reprint from Battle for Zendikar
3/3 Angel with flying for Linvala, the Preserver
2/2 Zombie for Drana's Chosen, Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet and Null Caller
3/1 Elemental with haste for Chandra, Flamecaller (The token card has no Haste keyword however.)
X/X Elemental for Seed Guardian- 0/1 Plant for Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
The following named tokens were released with Battle for Zendikar:
- 2/2 Knight Ally for Allied Reinforcements
- 1/1 Kor Ally for Captain's Claws and Oath of Gideon
8/8 Octopus for Crush of Tentacles
Themes and mechanics
The set introduces the colorless mana symbol . It is used for cards that depict Kozilek's brood lineage of Eldrazi.[23][24] With Wastes, the set also introduces the first typeless basic lands.[25] Wastes are twice as common as a normal common in boosters.[26] The colorless mana symbol is found, together with generic mana symbols, in the mana cost of some spells, such as Endbringer (unlike generic mana costs, it cannot be paid with colored mana), and also replaces numbered colorless mana symbols such as 
in abilities that produce mana in Oracle text for all cards (for example, Ashnod's Altar now produces rather than 
).
There are three new named mechanics:[27]
- Surge [cost] (You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn)
- Support N (Put a +1/+1 counter on each of up to N target creatures.)
- Cohort, an ability word for activated abilities requiring tapping the ally creature and another ally.
To express the theme of "Planeswalkers forming a team" with game mechanics, R&D also created cards that encourage the player to use multiple planeswalker cards.[28]
Landfall is reused, but in a very minor capacity. It only appears on Embodiment of Fury and Embodiment of Insight, originally envisioned as a cycle. Likewise, white and blue each have an uncommon creature (Wall of Resurgence, Cyclone Sire) that essentially has the awaken mechanic. Technically the mechanic only works on instants and sorceries, so it had to be spelled out in the rules text.[29]
- : Awaken
- : Process
- : Eldrazi
- : Lands Matter
- : Go wide
- : Life Gain
- : Surge
- : Sacrifice
- : Rally
- : Ramp
Cycles
Oath of the Gatewatch has three complete cycles and two partial cycles:
| Cycle name |
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied color taplands | Meandering River | Submerged Boneyard | Cinder Barrens | Timber Gorge | Tranquil Expanse |
| Five uncommon dual lands that enter the battlefield tapped | |||||
| 3 mana allied uncommons | Reflector Mage | Mindmelter | Flayer Drone | Relentless Hunter | Joraga Auxiliary |
| Five uncommon creatures that each cost 1MN, where M and N are allied colors. They define the limited archetype for those colors | |||||
| Cycle name |
|
|
|
|
|
| Enemy color uncommons | Cliffhaven Vampire | Stormchaser Mage | Baloth Null | Weapons Trainer | Void Grafter |
| Five uncommon creatures in enemy colors that define the limited archetype for those colors | |||||
Mega cycles
| Cycle name |
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enemy colored Tapland Manlands | Shambling Vent (Battle for Zendikar) | Wandering Fumarole (Oath of the Gatewatch) | Hissing Quagmire (Oath of the Gatewatch) | Needle Spires (Oath of the Gatewatch) | Lumbering Falls (Battle for Zendikar) |
| Five lands that can turn into creatures until end of turn. One rare for each enemy color pair, able to produce either color and enters tapped.[30] This cycle completes the enemy color megacycle of tapped manlands that started in Battle for Zendikar as well as the larger Mega-Mega Cycle stared in Worldwake.[31] | |||||
Mega-Mega cycles
Horizontal cycles
| Cycle name |
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oaths | Oath of Gideon (Oath of the Gatewatch)[32] | Oath of Jace (Oath of the Gatewatch)[33] | Oath of Liliana (Eldritch Moon) | Oath of Chandra (Oath of the Gatewatch)[34] | Oath of Nissa (Oath of the Gatewatch)[35] |
| A multi-block cycle representing a planeswalker's participation in The Gatewatch, in form of legendary enchantments that interact with planeswalkers. Black, green, white-blue, and white-black oaths were added later in Eldritch Moon, Aether Revolt, Dominaria, and War of the Spark respectively. | |||||
| Cycle name | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Eldrazi Titans | Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger (Battle for Zendikar) | Kozilek, the Great Distortion (Oath of the Gatewatch) | Emrakul, the Promised End (Eldritch Moon) |
| Kozilek, the Great Distortion is the second card in the Eldrazi Titan triplet started in Battle for Zendikar. | |||
Pairs
Oath of the Gatewatch has two mirrored pairs.
| Mirrored Pairs | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Embodiment of Fury ( )
|
Embodiment of Insight ( )
|
Uncommon Elemental creatures which give a keyword ability to land creatures and itself. They also have a landfall effect that can turn Lands until the end of turn into 3/3 Elementals.[36] |
| Wall of Resurgence ()
|
Cyclone Sire ()
|
Uncommon creatures that functionally Awaken 3 on different triggers, in place of the mechanic reappearing. They are in the colors of the Awaken archetype that was most prolific during Battle for Zendikar, as well as Noyan Dar. |
Reprinted cards
- Bone Saw, first printed in Conflux
- Mighty Leap, first printed in Magic 2011 and last seen in Magic Origins and for the first time in an expert-level expansion.
- Negate, first printed in Morningtide and last seen in Magic Origins.
- Netcaster Spider, first printed in Magic 2015 and last seen in Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Kiora and for the first time in an expert-level expansion.
- Unknown Shores, first printed in Theros.
Common to Uncommon
- Grasp of Darkness, first printed in Scars of Mirrodin.[37]
- Strider Harness, first printed in Scars of Mirrodin.
Functional reprints
The allied color taplands are functional reprints of the taplands which appeared in Invasion and were reprinted in 8th Edition. The reason behind this was that the original cycle mentions locations in Dominaria, and the more generic name meant that these cards could be reprinted in any other set.[38]
- Meandering River is a functional reprint of Coastal Tower.
- Submerged Boneyard is a functional reprint of Salt Marsh.
- Cinder Barrens is a functional reprint of Urborg Volcano.
- Timber Gorge is a functional reprint of Shivan Oasis.
- Tranquil Expanse is a functional reprint of Elfhame Palace.
- Using different subtypes
- Affa Protector is a functional reprint of Standing Troops.
- Canopy Gorger is a functional reprint of Alpha Tyrranax and Tusked Colossodon.
- Makindi Aeronaut is a functional reprint of Concordia Pegasus and Territorial Roc.
Card comparisons
Notable cards
- Bonds of Mortality and Fall of the Titans depict the same scene. In the first card, Nissa and Jace weaken the Eldrazi Titans, Ulamog, and Kozilek. In the second one Chandra and Gideon take them both out.[39]
- General Tazri is a legendary ally creature with a color identity of all five colors, very well suited for Commander players.[40]
- Hedron Alignment is an alternate-win card.[41] Ken Nagle designed it in the very first Great Designer Search and it took eight years to make it to print.[42]
- Jori En, Ruin Diver is the first Red (and Blue) Merfolk since Razorfin Hunter in Apocalypse.
- Stone Haven Outfitter is the first card to refer to “equipped creatures” without being equipment itself or being the creature that is equipped too, while the term “enchanted creatures” was used since Legends.
- Wastes is the first basic land without a subtype.
- Warping Wail is a flexible and colorless answer, making it a perfect fit for UrzaTron decks in Modern that would struggle to play other types of interaction with colored requirements.
- Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet is a powerful value engine combined with a hate piece that dominated Standard while it was legal and continues to hold a presence in Pioneer black decks.
- Sylvan Advocate was a staple for green decks in Standard thanks to its good stats that could grow even better with time, in addition to synergies with creature lands that most decks played.
- Pulse of Murasa is played in many Pauper combo deck sideboards to make the deck resilient against countermagic, removal, and burn.
- Goblin Dark-Dwellers plays a traditional role in Rakdos Aggro decks in Pioneer but is particularly interesting in Modern decks built around Glimpse of Tomorrow, as the goblins can flashback the eponymous spell to get even more value.
Modern Eldrazi Decks
Thought-Knot Seer, Eldrazi Displacer, World Breaker, Eldrazi Mimic, Matter Reshaper, Endless One and Reality Smasher are seven powerful cards with the Eldrazi creature type. Combined with previous cards from Battle for Zendikar (Eldrazi Skyspawner, Drowner of Hope, Eldrazi Obligator and Wasteland Strangler) as well as the two Eldrazi tribal lands (Eye of Ugin and Eldrazi Temple) these cards created were the foundation for a strong deck archetype. This archetype dominated the Modern metagame at Pro Tour Oath of the Gatewatch and led to the event known as "Eldrazi Winter" which ended with the ban of the Eye of Ugin.
Even with Eye of Ugin's ban, the majority of these cards are still played in the decks Bant and Tron Eldrazi. The backbone of the deck is also present in Legacy and Vintage formats, due to the addition of two more double-colourless lands in City of Traitors and Ancient Tomb and powerful artifact lock spells.
Banned and Restricted cards
- Reflector Mage was a tempo card for the draft archetype that had a minor upside compared to a standard Man-o-War effect, but when ported into constructed it became much more frustrating to play against, especially within the Collected Company shells. Despite not being a dominant force in the Pro Tour after the rotation, it was banned in January 2017.
- Oath of Nissa is a cheap green permanent that smoothed draws, making it a low investment gain in devotion. It was marked for an early Pioneer ban, used to temper the Green Devotion strategies that were powerful at the outset. It was unbanned seven months later in July 2020, as more powerful decks had formed in the interim.
- Inverter of Truth was a Mythic Rare playing in unusual design space but received little attention as to its application. While combinations with Laboratory Maniac were possible, Modern was far too fast to have such a strategy succeed. However, with Pioneer keeping the blue Delve spells and War of the Spark and Theros Beyond Death bringing two Maniac effects in Jace, Wielder of Mysteries and Thassa's Oracle, the combo kill was now very consistent. It was also backed by a strong control shell. Inverter was banned in August 2020 after several months of dominance.
- Spatial Contortion is technically banned in Pauper on Magic Online due to only being available on the client as a common promotional card.
Preconstructed decks
Oath of the Gatewatch has five intro packs.[13][43] There are no clash packs or event decks.
| Intro pack name | Colors Included | Foil rare | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
| Twisted Reality | – | U | – | – | – | Deepfathom Skulker |
| Desperate Stand | W | – | B | – | – | Munda's Vanguard |
| Surge of Resistance | – | U | – | R | – | Tyrant of Valakut |
| Vicious Cycle | – | – | B | – | G | Dread Defiler |
| Concerted Effort | W | – | – | – | G | Gladehart Cavalry |
Trivia
- The name Fall of the Eldrazi was considered for Oath of the Gatewatch.[44]
References
- ↑ Information below the text box
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (September 1, 2015). "Announcing Oath of the Gatewatch". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2017-12-02.
- ↑ Michael Yichao (January 7, 2016). "Oath of the Gatewatch Approaches!". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (January 13, 2016). "Oath of the Gatewatch Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 02, 2015). "What are reasons behind changing the Draft format?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Sam Stoddard (December 4, 2015). "Double Small-Set Drafting". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 07, 2015). "Is 184 the new default size of small sets?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 5, 2015). "What decided which planeswalkers got cards in BFZ?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Sam Stoddard (January 15, 2016). "Developing for Friends". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
- ↑ The Magic Creative Team (January 27, 2016). "Oath of the Gatewatch Story Events". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-08-15.
- ↑ The Magic Creative Team (March 2, 2016). "Oath of the Gatewatch Story Summary". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-08-15.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 27, 2016). "Plane Shift: Zendikar". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Blake Rasmussen (December 28, 2015). "The Packaging of Oath of the Gatewatch". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-09-04.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (December 10, 2015). "Best of 2015 and Holiday Treats". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2019-05-08.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 14, 2015). "Will Oath of the Gatewatch also have full art basic lands?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 28, 2015). "Non-full-art Wastes will be in the intro packs.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Dan Barrett (August 26, 2015). "Battle for Zendikar: Your First Look". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2018-08-03.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (September 17, 2015). "All the Expeditions (first batch)". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2019-07-26.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (December 24, 2015). "Never a Wasted Holiday". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-08-09.
- ↑ Gavin Verhey (January 12, 2016). "Oath of the Gatewatch Prerelease Primer". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2017-12-13.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (December 29, 2015). "The Promos of Oath of the Gatewatch". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (January 11, 2016). "The Jan. 11, 2016 Update". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-05-31.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 28, 2015). "A Solemn Oath, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Sam Stoddard (January 8, 2016). "Getting Colorless to Work". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-09-29.
- ↑ Take a look at the other Wastes you'll find in #MTGOGW!
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 25, 2015). "Will Wastes occupy the basic land slot or a common slot in OGW boosters?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (December 28, 2015). "Oath of the Gatewatch Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ethan Fleischer (December 28, 2015). "A First Time for Everything". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2017-11-24.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 1, 2016). "Odds and Ends: Oath of the Gatewatch, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Sam Stoddard (September 7, 2015). ""Creature" Lands". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2019-05-19.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 07, 2015). "Is BFZ going to have all 5 enemy-colors manlands?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 4, 2016). "A Solemn Oath, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Jacob Van Lunen (December 31, 2015). "Oath of Jace". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-09-18.
- ↑ Ian Duke (January 5, 2016). "Developing Oath of the Gatewatch". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-09-20.
- ↑ Brian David-Marshall (January 1, 2016). "Oath of Nissa". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-07-22.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 31, 2015). "Gatewatch Me Work, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016-01-11.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 8, 2016). "Odds and Ends: Oath of the Gatewatch, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (January 4, 2016). "You can't always go hame". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08.
- ↑ Chas Andres (January 5, 2016). "Fall of the Titans". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08.
- ↑ Adam Styborski (December 31, 2015). "Allied Command(er)". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-12-02.
- ↑ Bruce Richard (January 5, 2016). "Hedron Alignment". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-05-20.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 17, 2016). "Hedron Alignment is my favourite card from Oath!". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (January 13, 2016). "The January 13, 2016 Update". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 23, 2016). "Was the lost third set called Fall of the Eldrazi?". Blogatog. Tumblr.