Template:Featured article/December 2015

December 2015/12

Featured article

Oath of the Gatewatch will be the 69th Magic expansion, and the second in the Battle for Zendikar block. This small expansion contains 184 cards and will be released on January 22, 2016. It tells the story how four planeswalkers (Gideon Jura, Jace Beleren, Chandra Nalaar and Nissa Revane) join forces in their battle against the Eldrazi.

Oath of the Gatewatch will be sold in 16-card boosters (the 16th card being a marketing card), five intro packs and a fat pack. The clash pack seems to be discontinued. The expansion symbol of the set is a stylized representation of Kozilek's brood. The set features the full-art lands from Battle for Zendikar (with the original expansion symbol), which also appear in the fat packs. Because the set is about teamwork, it is designed with Two-Headed Giant in mind. 2HG is also central to the Prerelease Experience.

This set introduces the colorless mana symbol and Wastes, the first typeless basic land. Wastes are going to be twice as common as a normal common in boosters. It also features the new Surge mechanic (You may cast this spell for its surge cost if you or a teammate has cast another spell this turn).