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| − | {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Dragon's Maze''}} |
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|logo = [[File:DGM logo.png|250px]]| |
|logo = [[File:DGM logo.png|250px]]| |
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|symbol description = An overlap of the ''[[Return to Ravnica]]'' and ''[[Gatecrash]]'' expansion symbols |
|symbol description = An overlap of the ''[[Return to Ravnica]]'' and ''[[Gatecrash]]'' expansion symbols |
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| − | |design team = [[Alexis Janson]] (lead),< |
+ | |design team = [[Alexis Janson]] (lead),<br/>[[Mark Rosewater]],<br/>[[Erik Lauer]],<br/>[[Aaron Forsythe]],<br/>[[Shawn Main]],<br/>[[Dan Emmons]] |
| − | |development team = [[Zac Hill]] (lead),< |
+ | |development team = [[Zac Hill]] (lead),<br/>Erik Lauer,<br/>[[Mark Globus]],<br/>[[Mark Gottlieb]],<br/>[[Masami Ibamoto]],<br/>[[Sam Stoddard]] |
|art director = [[Jeremy Jarvis]] |
|art director = [[Jeremy Jarvis]] |
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|date_release = May 3, 2013 |
|date_release = May 3, 2013 |
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| − | |mechanics = [[Gate]]s,< |
+ | |mechanics = [[Gate]]s,<br/>[[Guilds of Ravnica|Guilds]] |
| − | |keywords = Guild keywords [[#Themes and mechanics|<small>''(see below)''</small>]],< |
+ | |keywords = Guild keywords [[#Themes and mechanics|<small>''(see below)''</small>]],<br/>[[Fuse]] |
| − | |size = 156 cards< |
+ | |size = 156 cards<br/><small>(70 commons, 40 uncommons, 35 rares, 11 mythic rares)</small> |
|code_expansion = DGM |
|code_expansion = DGM |
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|code_expansion_ref = <ref>http://magic.wizards.com/en/product/dragons-maze-card-set-archive-products-game-info</ref> |
|code_expansion_ref = <ref>http://magic.wizards.com/en/product/dragons-maze-card-set-archive-products-game-info</ref> |
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|first set = [[Return to Ravnica]] |
|first set = [[Return to Ravnica]] |
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|second set = [[Gatecrash]] |
|second set = [[Gatecrash]] |
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| − | |third set = |
+ | |third set = [[Dragon's Maze]] |
|previous set = [[Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt]] |
|previous set = [[Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt]] |
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| − | |this set = Dragon's Maze |
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|next set = [[Modern Masters (2013)]] |
|next set = [[Modern Masters (2013)]] |
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| − | + | }} |
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'''''Dragon's Maze''''' is the third set in the ''[[Return to Ravnica block]]''. It is the 61<sup>st</sup> ''Magic'' expansion and was released on May 3, 2013. |
'''''Dragon's Maze''''' is the third set in the ''[[Return to Ravnica block]]''. It is the 61<sup>st</sup> ''Magic'' expansion and was released on May 3, 2013. |
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Revision as of 15:45, 29 May 2016
| Dragon's Maze | |
|---|---|
| Set Information | |
| Set symbol | |
| Themes and mechanics |
Gates, Guilds |
| Keywords/ability words |
Guild keywords (see below), Fuse |
| Set size |
156 cards (70 commons, 40 uncommons, 35 rares, 11 mythic rares) |
| Expansion code | DGM[2] |
| Development codename | Sinker |
Dragon's Maze is the third set in the Return to Ravnica block. It is the 61st Magic expansion and was released on May 3, 2013.
Set details
Dragon's Maze was the only small set in the block. It contains 156 cards (70 commons, 40 uncommons, 35 rares, 11 mythic rares), including randomly inserted premium versions[3] of all cards in the set. The set focused on the guild system, featuring all of the ten guilds from Ravnica, and multicolor cards.[4] Dragon's Maze and its boosters did not contain any basic lands; however, as a first in Magic history, the set contained same-block reprints (the non-basic guild gates). Besides these guild gates, boosters could contain shocklands with Return to Ravnica or Gatecrash expansion symbols, and the mythic rare Maze's End. The frequency at which these cards are found in booster packs are at the same as any other card at their respective rarities.[5]
Dragon's Maze featured Izzet planeswalker Ral Zarek and, as a throwback to the original Ravnica block, guild champions (maze runners). The expansion symbol is an overlap of the Return to Ravnica and Gatecrash expansion symbols.
Flavor and storyline
| “ | Ten Guilds, One Destination! | ” |
The Implicit Maze is a system of mana paths or leylines through the guildgates and districts of Ravnica that has manifested after the Guildpact was destroyed. On instruction of Niv-Mizzet and using Jace Beleren's notes, it was discovered by Ral Zarek. The maze was created by Azor I to be revealed in case the Guildpact dissolved. In this way, the founder of the Azorius Senate tried to foster an atmosphere of peaceful collaboration. At the end of the maze in the Forum of Azor lies great power. In order for it to be solved, all the guilds of Ravnica must participate at once. Niv-Mizzet has announced that each guild will send one champion as its delegate in the running of the maze. At an appointed time, the champions meet at the Transguild Promenade, and embark on a race through the twists and turns of the maze. The one who triumphs, gains the power behind it for his or her guild. Others fall to its dangers.
Marketing
Dragon's Maze 6-card booster
Dragon's Maze was sold in 16-card boosters, 6-card boosters, five intro packs, one event deck and a fat pack. The 16-card boosters featured artwork from Emmara Tandris, Melek, Izzet Paragon and Tajic, Blade of the Legion.[7] The small booster featured artwork from Ral Zarek.
Prerelease
In the prerelease Sealed Deck format, each player chose a guild. That player would receive a "Guild Prerelease Pack" of the chosen guild, which contained four Dragon's Maze booster packs, one guild-specific booster pack, and one "secret ally" booster pack.[8][9][10] The "secret ally" booster pack contained cards of a guild that shared one mana color with the chosen guild.
The draft format for Dragon's Maze reverted to the regular format of drafting the three sets in a block (i.e., in reverse order of their release; here, Dragon's Maze/Gatecrash/Return to Ravnica).[11]
Each participant received a guild symbol button, or "guild mark", to indicate his or her guild affiliation. In the "Implicit Maze" prerelease event, when a player won a match during the tournament, his or her guild progressed through the Implicit Maze. Each member of the first guild to complete the Implicit Maze would receive a "Champion of the Maze" achievement code card, which he or she could redeem on the Planeswalker Points webpage for a badge and an achievement. Additionally, members of each other guild to complete the Implicit Maze after the first would receive "Maze Runner" achievement code cards to redeem.[12]
Promotional cards
On April 27–28, 2013, each prerelease participant received a promotional alternate-art Maze's End, which couldn't be played in the sealed deck. This is in contrast to the sealed events of the Return to Ravnica and Gatecrash prereleases.[9][5] In addition to this, foil Plains was awarded to every player that participated in the prerelease's "Implicit Maze".
Other promotional cards were:[13]
- Launch promo: Breaking/Entering
- Game Day: full-art Trostani's Summoner
- Game Day (Top 8): full-art Melek, Izzet Paragon
- Dragon's Maze League: Bird creature token
- Buy-a-Box: Render Silent[14]
Token cards
The sixteenth card in the boosters is a token creature card or an advertisement card. The only Dragon's Maze token card is:
*/* Elemental creature token with "This creature's power and toughness are each equal to the number of creatures you control." produced by Voice of Resurgence
Critical reception
Dragon's Maze received mixed reception, but it was by and large panned by Magic writers and/or professional and/or competitive players. Several favorite elements were considered to be "missing" from the set.[15] However, a few cards in the set were notably regarded as powerful and potentially tournament-playable. These include Notion Thief, a innocuous card draw hoser; Voice of Resurgence, a competitively costed threat against control decks[16][17][18]
Limited "bombs" for Dragon's Maze included Ral Zarek, Lavinia of the Tenth, Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts, and Dragonshift and proved potent at the expansion's prerelease events.[19]
Themes and mechanics
Like the preceding sets, Return to Ravnica and Gatecrash, Dragon's Maze features the bicolored guilds of Ravnica. Each guild has its own keyword or ability word.[20][21]
The expansion also features two cycles of split cards and a new mechanic exclusive to these cards called Fuse.[22][23] Fuse allows players to play both halves of a split card with the keyword ability as one spell by paying both halves' mana costs. Split cards with Fuse also have a new card layout, with the boxes containing the name and type line forming arrows that point medially, towards to midline of the card. In addition to this, each split card with Fuse has a separate text box containing the Fuse mechanic and its reminder text that spans the bottom of both halves.
Other themes and mechanics include:
- In addition to the reprinting of the ten Gate nonbasic lands, Dragon's Maze features Maze's End, a nonbasic land that works synergistically with Gates. Not only can it search for Gate cards and puts them onto the battlefield, Maze's End can win players the game if they have 10 or more differently named Gates under their control.
Creature types
No novel creature types were introduced in this expansion.
Cycles
Whereas Return to Ravnica and Gatecrash have 5-card guild cycles that, if and when considered together, form 10-card guild mega cycles, Dragon's Maze has 10-card guild cycles, with one card per guild, as well as 5-card cycles, with one card per color.
| Cycle name | Description and notes | White card(s) | Blue card(s) | Black card(s) | Red card(s) | Green card(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gatekeepers | Each of these common 2/4 Soldier creatures cost  M and an "enter the battlefield" triggered ability that triggers if its controller controls two Gates when it comes into play.[21]
|
Sunspire Gatekeepers | Opal Lake Gatekeepers | Ubul Sar Gatekeepers | Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers | Saruli Gatekeepers |
| Maze Elementals | Each of these common Elemental creatures cost  M and has two static abilities, one of which is a on-color combat keyword and another that confers that combat word to multicolor creatures its controller controls.[25][26]
|
Maze Sentinel | Maze Glider | Maze Abomination | Maze Rusher | Maze Behemoth |
| Fuse spells (rare) | Each of these rare split cards has two differently multicolored halves, with each half sharing one color with the other half, and the Fuse mechanic.Regarding the combination of the guilds on these cards, as various that satisfy the aforementioned design criterion are permissible, each guild is represented only once and each Return to Ravnica guild is paired with a Gatecrash guild | Ready/Willing (Template:Gw/Template:Wb) |
Beck/Call (Template:Gu/Template:Wu) |
Breaking/Entering (Template:Ub/Template:Br) |
Catch/Release (Template:Ur/Template:Rw) |
Flesh/Blood (Template:Bg/Template:Rg) |
Guild cycles
| Cycle name | Azorius card(s) Template:Wu |
Boros card(s) Template:Rw |
Dimir card(s) Template:Ub |
Golgari card(s) Template:Bg |
Gruul card(s) Template:Rg |
Izzet card(s) Template:Ur |
Orzhov card(s) Template:Wb |
Rakdos card(s) Template:Br |
Selesnya card(s) Template:Gw |
Simic card(s) Template:Gu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Lieutenants" | Jelenn Sphinx | Blaze Commando | Haunter of Nightveil | Korozda Gorgon | Feral Animist | Fluxcharger | Maw of the Obzedat | Carnage Gladiator | Bronzebeak Moa | Species Gorger |
| Description and notes: Each of these uncommon creatures has an ability or abilities that "lend themselves to certain styles of play".[27] According to DailyMTG.com writer Zac Hill, the "Lieutenants" were designed to encourage drafters to pursue a specific strategy rather than just picking generally powerful cards. While Hill did not name the cards in the cycle, there is little doubt about which of the one or two uncommon creatures for a particular color pair is part of the cycle. | ||||||||||
| "Maze Runners" | Lavinia of the Tenth | Tajic, Blade of the Legion | Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker | Varolz, the Scar-Striped | Ruric Thar, the Unbowed | Melek, Izzet Paragon | Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts | Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch | Emmara Tandris | Vorel of the Hull Clade |
| Description and notes: Each of these rare legendary creatures represents the "Maze Runner" of its respective guild. | ||||||||||
| Fuse spells (uncommon) | Protect/Serve | Wear/Tear | Far/Away | Down/Dirty | Armed/Dangerous | Turn/Burn | Profit/Loss | Toil/Trouble | Alive/Well | Give/Take |
| Description and notes: Each of these uncommon split cards has two monocolored halves, with each half of a different color from the other, and the Fuse mechanic. | ||||||||||
| Cluestones | Azorius Cluestone | Boros Cluestone | Dimir Cluestone | Golgari Cluestone | Gruul Cluestone | Izzet Cluestone | Orzhov Cluestone | Rakdos Cluestone | Selesnya Cluestone | Simic Cluestone |
Description and notes: Each of these common artifacts costs , has one mana ability that taps for either of its guild's respective colors, and has one activated ability costing one of each of its guild's respective colors,  , and its sacrifice to draw a card.Each Cluestone is illustrated by Raoul Vitale.[28]
| ||||||||||
| Guildgates | Azorius Guildgate | Boros Guildgate | Dimir Guildgate | Golgari Guildgate | Gruul Guildgate | Izzet Guildgate | Orzhov Guildgate | Rakdos Guildgate | Selesnya Guildgate | Simic Guildgate |
| Description and notes: Each of these common nonbasic lands with the Gate subtype enters the battlefield tapped and can be tapped for one mana of its respective guild's colors. | ||||||||||
| Common Guild Mechanics | Lyev Decree | Boros Mastiff | Hidden Strings | Thrashing Mossdog | Rubblebelt Maaka | Weapon Surge | Tithe Drinker | Rakdos Drake | Wake the Reflections | Battering Krasis |
| Description and notes: Each of these commons has the associated guild's mechanic. They are the only commons in the set that use the guild mechanics. The cycle is loose in that there is not an even distribution across colors and a single card in the cycle is gold. | ||||||||||
Reprinted cards
The following cards have been reprinted from previous sets and included in Dragon's Maze:
- Guildgates were last seen in Return to Ravnica and Gatecrash. The Dragon's Maze versions feature a zoomed out view of each of them.[29]
- Feral Animist was last seen in Guildpact.
- Putrefy from Ravnica: City of Guilds was last seen in Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari.
- Wind Drake from Portal was last seen in Magic 2013.
Note about shocklands
As the shocklands that appear in Dragon's Maze boosters feature a Return to Ravnica or Gatecrash expansion symbol, they are technically not reprints.[30]
Strictly better/worse
The following is a list of cards from Dragon's Maze that are strictly better/worse than their predecessors:
- Burst of Strength is an upgrade of Battlegrowth from Mirrodin.
- Forced Adaptation is an upgrade of Primal Cocoon from Magic 2011.
- Skinbrand Goblin is an upgrade of Goblin Bully Portal, Goblin Piker Portal Second Age, Independent Troops Portal Three Kingdoms.
- Slate Street Ruffian is an upgrade of Alley Grifters from Mercadian Masques.
- Spire Tracer is a downgrade of Treetop Scout from Scourge.
- Totally Lost is a downgrade of Vanishment from Avacyn Restored.
Preconstructed decks
Intro packs
Dragon's Maze has five bicolored guild-centric intro packs.[31][32]
| Intro pack name | Colors Included | Foil rare | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| ||
| Azorius Authority | W | U | Lavinia of the Tenth | |||
| Orzhov Power | W | B | Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts | |||
| Rakdos Revelry | B | R | Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch | |||
| Gruul Siege | R | G | Ruric Thar, the Unbowed | |||
| Simic Domination | U | G | Vorel of the Hull Clade | |||
Event deck
Dragon's Maze is the first expansion set to feature only one event deck.[33]
| Event deck name |
Colors Included | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Strength of Selesnya | W | B | G | ||
Gallery
DGM League promotional Bird creature token card
DGM release-weekend promotional card <c title="Breaking//Entering">Breaking (Breaking/Entering)
DGM prerelease promotional card Maze's End
DGM Game Day (Top 8) promotional card <c>Melek, Izzet Paragon
DGM prerelease promotional card Plains for "Implicit Maze" participants
DGM Buy-a-Box promotional card Render Silent
DGM Game Day promotional card Trostani's Summoner
DGM Elemental creature token produced by <c>Voice of Resurgence
References
- ↑ http://magic.wizards.com/en/product/dragons-maze-card-set-archive-products-game-info
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Trick Jarrett (May 14, 2013). "Dragon's Maze Foiling". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Trick Jarrett (November 12, 2012). "Announcing Dragon's Maze". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Monty Ashley (January 28, 2013). "The Dragon's Maze Prerelease". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Trick Jarrett (April 09, 2013). "Dragon's Maze Boosters & Fat Packs". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Monty Ashley (March 26, 2013). "Dragon's Maze Prerelease". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (April 23, 2013). "Dragon's Maze Prerelease, Release Events, and Wide Beta Spotlight". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Gavin Verhey (April 23, 2013). "Building Dragon's Maze Sealed". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ San Diego Comic-Con Panel 2012 (3:54-4:22) by wizardsmtg, YouTube, July 15, 2012.
- ↑ Mike McArtor (April 22, 2013). "Dragon's Maze Prerelease Primer". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Trick Jarrett (April 11, 2013). "Dragon's Maze Promos & Tokens". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 08, 2013). "Buy a Box Promotion". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 13, 2013). "Absence". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 8, 2013). "The Mechanics of Dragon's Maze". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (April 22, 2013). "Dragon's Maze Frequently Asked Questions". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 15, 2013). "A Maze-ing Grace, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Alexis Janson (April 08, 2013). "Fusing Passion and Purpose". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Sam Stoddard (October 26, 2012). "Return to Multiverse". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Marshall Sutcliffe (April 17, 2013). "Totally Not Lost". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Trick Jarrett (May 13, 2013). "A-Maze-ing Cycle". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Zac Hill (May 1, 2013). "Crafting the Maze". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Trick Jarrett (April 16, 2013). "The Cluestones". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Trick Jarrett (April 17, 2013). "Zoomed Guildgates". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 08, 2013). "A Maze-ing Grace, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Trick Jarrett (April 12, 2013). "Dragon's Maze Intro Packs". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Trick Jarrett (April 24, 2013). "Dragon's Maze Intro Pack Decklists". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Trick Jarrett (April 15, 2013). "Dragon's Maze Event Deck". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
External links
- Dragon's Maze product information page — Wizards of the Coast
- Guilds of Ravnica — Wizards of the Coast
