Odyssey block
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The Odyssey block is the seventh Magic: The Gathering block, comprising the large expansion Odyssey () and the two small expansions Torment () and Judgment (). The block came out in 2001–2002.[1][2][3]
Details
Development codes
On the development codenames for the Odyssey block, MTG.com columnist Mark Rosewater writes:
| “ | The Odyssey block was the Magic Brand team's reaction to our hard-to-spell theme. They wanted simple-sounding names that were also easy to spell. In addition, they came up with the second big codename innovation: picking names that had a set order. Thus, the names began with "A" [for argon], "B" [for boron], and "C" [for carbon]—in alphabetical order. Why elements? I have no idea. But, hey, who says science never sees use later in life?[4] | ” |
Themes and mechanics
The primary theme of Odyssey block was the graveyard, or "graveyard matters".[5]
The block introduced keywords Flashback, Madness, and Threshold.
Mega cycle
Odyssey block has two mega cycles.[6]
| Cycle name | 
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternate-win enchantments | Test of Endurance (Judgment) | Battle of Wits (Odyssey) | Mortal Combat (Torment) | Chance Encounter (Odyssey) | Epic Struggle (Judgment) |
| Each of these cards is an alternate-win card. | |||||
| Tapping Lords | Master Apothecary (Odyssey) (Clerics) |
Patron Wizard (Odyssey) (Wizards) |
Zombie Trailblazer (Torment) (Zombies) |
Dwarven Bloodboiler (Judgment) (Dwarven) |
Seton, Krosan Protector (Odyssey) (Druids) |
| Each of these creatures costs MMM and confers an effect by tapping other creatures of the same subtype. Seton, Krosan Protector varies from the other lords in that it is a legendary creature. Whereas the other lords are rare, Zombie Trailblazer is an uncommon. Furthermore, Zombie Trailblazer has two activated abilities. | |||||
Mega verticle cycle
| Cycle name | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Restock" Creatures | Battlefield Scrounger (Judgment) | Anurid Scavenger (Torment) | Gurzigost (Torment) | |
| Each of these cards features the "Restock" mechanic. It was designed for "Odyssey", but it was tuned down in development to appear on only three cards. | ||||
Tokens
Magic Player Rewards provided some cardboard tokens for the block. However, because Magic Online needs to represent all the tokens in the game, art needs to be created for even the most insignificant tokens. For those, Magic Online is the only place it appears.[7]
Theme decks
Sets
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References
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (June 11, 2003). "Eighth Edition Rollout: Odyssey". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (June 11, 2003). "Eighth Edition Rollout: Torment". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (June 11, 2003). "Eighth Edition Rollout: Judgment". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 12, 2002). "Codename of the Game". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 9, 2016). "Because Salt Makes Mistakes Taste Great". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ben Bleiweiss (July 17, 2002). "Set of Five, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (July 30, 2002). "Unseen tokens". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
External links
- Will McDermott (May 20, 2002). "Caught in the Mirari's Wake, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Will McDermott (May 27, 2002). "Caught in the Mirari's Wake, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Will McDermott (June 03, 2002). "Caught in the Mirari's Wake, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Will McDermott (June 10, 2002). "Caught in the Mirari's Wake, Part 4". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.