Return to Ravnica block

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Return to Ravnica block
 
Preconstructed theme decks
 

The Return to Ravnica block, comprising the large expansions Return to Ravnica () and Gatecrash (), and the small expansion Dragon's Maze (), is the 19th block in Magic: The Gathering history. The block was released over 2012–2013.[1][2][3][4][5]

Sets

Block details

Izzet Charm, a member of the guild charm mega cycle.

Unlike most blocks, the Return to Ravnica block has two large expansions: Return to Ravnica (RTR) and Gatecrash (GTC). These expansions were drafted at three booster packs each (RTR-RTR-RTR followed by GTC-GTC-GTC). Once Dragon's Maze (DGM) was released, the draft order became DGM-GTC-RTR.[6]

Return to Ravnica (the first set) focuses on five guilds (Azorius, Golgari, Izzet, Rakdos, Selesnya), while Gatecrash focuses on the other five guilds (Boros, Dimir, Gruul, Orzhov, Simic). Dragon's Maze covers all ten guilds.

Development codenames

The development codenames for the Return to Ravnica expansions were "Hook", "Line", and "Sinker".[1][2][3]

Flavor text message

In the flavor text of each Guildgate, three or four letters are minutely offset from the others (they are slightly higher). If the Guildgates are ordered in guild order, a message is revealed.[7]

  • Return to Ravnica: THE GUILDS OF RAVNICA
  • Gatecrash: WILL DESTROY EACH OTHER
  • Dragon's Maze: UNLESS THE MAZE IS SOLVED AND THE GUILDPACT REBORN

Themes and mechanics

See also Return to Ravnica#Themes and mechanics and Gatecrash#Themes and mechanics.

The primary theme of Return to Ravnica block was the bicolored guilds of Ravnica and multicolored cards.

The keywords introduced in the Return to Ravnica block are:[8]

Guild 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}
Keyword Detain Cipher Unleash Bloodrush Populate Extort Overload Scavenge Battalion Evolve

The block, specifically Dragon's Maze, also introduced the mechanic Fuse, which is featured exclusively on split cards.

Mega cycles

See also Dragon's Maze#Guild cycles.

Return to Ravnica block features six 10-card guild mega cycle, with one card per guild, distributed across Return to Ravnica and Gatecrash.

Dragon's Maze itself features 10-card guild 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}
Off-color-activation cards Tower Drake Horror of the Dim Deviant Glee Disciple of the Old Ways Selesnya Sentry Dutiful Thrull Pursuit of Flight Stonefare Crocodile Towering Thunderfist Frilled Oculus
Each of these permanent cards have an activated ability costing mana of other color of the guild to which they are aligned.
Guild charms Azorius Charm Dimir Charm Rakdos Charm Gruul Charm Selesnya Charm Orzhov Charm Izzet Charm Golgari Charm Boros Charm Simic Charm
Each of these uncommon instant spells costs two colored mana, one for each guild color, and allow their controller to choose one of three thematically relevant effects.[9][10]
Guildmages New Prahv Guildmage Duskmantle Guildmage Rix Maadi Guildmage Skarrg Guildmage Vitu-Ghazi Guildmage Vizkopa Guildmage Nivix Guildmage Korozda Guildmage Sunhome Guildmage Zameck Guildmage
Each of these uncommon 2/2 creatures costs two colored mana, one of each of its guild's colors. Each gold-mage has two activated abilities that cost both colors of its guild and are thematically related to both of the colors of the guild.[9][11][12]

As these guildmages require one of each of its guild's colors and thus have a gold-colored card frame, as opposed to a hybrid card frame, colloquially, in Wizards of the Coast R&D, they are referred to as "gold-mages".[13]
Guildmasters Isperia, Supreme Judge Lazav, Dimir Mastermind[14] Rakdos, Lord of Riots Borborygmos Enraged Trostani, Selesnya's Voice Obzedat, Ghost Council[15] Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord Aurelia, the Warleader[16] Prime Speaker Zegana[17]
Each of these mythic rare legendary creatures represents the current leader of its respective guild.
Guild Champions Lavinia of the Tenth Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch Ruric Thar, the Unbowed Emmara Tandris Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts Melek, Izzet Paragon Varolz, the Scar-Striped Tajic, Blade of the Legion Vorel of the Hull Clade
Each of these rare legendary creatures represents the champion sent by the guild into the Implicit Maze.
Multicolored spells (mythic) Sphinx's Revelation Duskmantle Seer Rakdos's Return Domri Rade Armada Wurm Deathpact Angel Epic Experiment Vraska the Unseen Aurelia's Fury Master Biomancer
Each of these mythic rare spells are thematically unrelated, except for their being multicolored spells.
Hybrid spells (common)[18] Vassal Soul Deathcult Rogue Rakdos Shred-Freak Pit Fight Sundering Growth Beckon Apparition Frostburn Weird Golgari Longlegs Shattering Blow Bioshift
Each of these common spells are thematically unrelated, except for their being hybrid spells.
Hybrid spells (uncommon)[18] Judge's Familiar Coerced Confession Rakdos Cackler Burning-Tree Emissary Dryad Militant Gift of Orzhova Blistercoil Weird Slitherhead Arrows of Justice Merfolk of the Depths
Each of these uncommon spells are thematically unrelated, except for their being hybrid spells.
Hybrid spells (rare)[18] Azor's Elocutors Nightveil Specter Cryptborn Horror Rubblebelt Raiders Growing Ranks Immortal Servitude Nivmagus Elemental Deathrite Shaman Boros Reckoner Biomass Mutation
Each of these rare spells are thematically unrelated, except for their being hybrid spells.
Keyrunes Azorius Keyrune Dimir Keyrune Rakdos Keyrune Gruul Keyrune Selesnya Keyrune Orzhov Keyrune Izzet Keyrune Golgari Keyrune Boros Keyrune Simic Keyrune
Each of these uncommon artifacts can tap to produce one mana of either of the two colors of the guild with which they are associated and has an activated ability allowing it to become a creature, more often than not gaining an ability additional ability, until end of turn.[19]
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.

These lands were designed in light of the necessity for common mana-fixing but the Ravnica block "karoo lands" or "bounce lands" being too "good" in Limited.[20][21]

Each of these were reprinted with zoomed-out art and new flavor text in Dragon's Maze.[22]

Theme decks

Main article: Return to Ravnica block/Preconstructed theme decks

References

  1. ↑ a b Monty Ashley (April 9, 2012). "Announcing Return to Ravnica". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ a b Monty Ashley (July 16, 2012). "Announcing Gatecrash". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ a b Trick Jarrett (November 12, 2012). "Announcing Dragon's Maze". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 24, 2013). "Modern Tales, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 27, 2018). "Founding The City". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ San Diego Comic-Con Panel 2012 (3:54-4:22) by wizardsmtg, YouTube, July 15, 2012
  7. ↑ Trick Jarrett (May 24, 2013). "Embedding Puzzle". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 2, 2016). "Storm Scale: Ravnica and Return to Ravnica". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ a b Trick Jarrett (August 27, 2012). "Playing with Izzet vs. Golgari". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 30, 2012). "Are other multicolored charm spells done that way?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  11. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 17, 2012). "Return on Investment, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. ↑ Steve Sadin] (September 19, 2012). "Whenever You Need It". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. ↑ Monty Ashley (August 30, 2012). "Card of the Day - August 30, 2012". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. ↑ Adam Styborski (January 1, 2013). "You Have No Secrets". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  15. ↑ Gavin Verhey (January 1, 2013). "Evil Never Dies". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. ↑ Gavin Verhey (January 8, 2013). "Zero to Sixty: Commanding Aurelia". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  17. ↑ Brady Dommermuth (January 9, 2013). "The Fathom Edict". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  18. ↑ a b c Mark Rosewater (October 15, 2012). "Nostalgia vs. Innovation". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  19. ↑ Monty Ashley (November 16, 2012). "A Closer Look at the Keyrunes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  20. ↑ Adam Styborski (September 25, 2012). "Tribute". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  21. ↑ Monty Ashley (January 4, 2013). "The Gatecrash Guildgates". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  22. ↑ Trick Jarrett (April 17, 2013). "Zoomed Guildgates". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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