Journey into Nyx

Journey into Nyx is the third and final set in the Theros block. It is the 64th Magic expansion and was released May 2014.

Set details
Rival the Gods Like its predecessors, Journey into Nyx has an ancient Greek themed top-down design, making use of many mythological tropes. The set contains 165 cards (60 Common, 60 Uncommon, 35 Rare, 10 Mythic) and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards. Fitting in with the "enchantment matters" theme, 59 of the set's 165 cards carry the enchantment type. The set introduces the Lamia creature type.

Flavor and storyline
The plane of Theros is in chaos. Gods and mortals are pitted against each other, and terrifying monsters stalk the land. Heroes strive for glory while new and terrifying constellations take shape in the night sky. Supported by Ajani, Elspeth travels to Nyx and kills Xenagos. Afraid of her power, Heliod kills Elspeth.

Marketing
Journey into Nyx is sold in 16-card boosters (one card being a marketing card), five intro packs, one event deck and a fat pack. The boosters feature artwork from Ajani, Mentor of Heroes, Pharika, God of Affliction and Cyclops of Eternal Fury . The set featured the continuation of the Hero's Path.

God packs
Random Journey into Nyx boosters were seeded to be literally and figuratively "God Packs": they contained all 15 Gods of Theros.

Prerelease
Quest 7 on the Hero's Path takes place at the Journey into Nyx Prerelease events, April 26 and 27, 2014. Players will forge a Godslayer based on a favorite mana color and receive a Seeded Prerelease Pack based on that color (Forged in Glory, Intellect , Tyranny , War or Pursuit ). The Prerelease Pack contains a Spindown Life Counter, one of five Hero Equipment cards (respectively Spear of the General, Cloak of the Philosopher, Lash of the Tyrant, Axe of the Warmonger or Bow of the Hunter), one of five quiz activity cards, five Theros block boosters, and a seeded booster featuring cards appropriate for that player's chosen path — including one of the five Prerelease promo cards. During the prerelease, players have the opportunity to win three mystical components, represented by reward stickers. Three component stickers combine in specific ways to create one of seven different enhancements. The activity card is handed in to the tournament organizer to receive the corresponding "enhancement sticker". That sticker is put on the player's Hero card in the blank space as a new permanent ability, thus forging one the most powerful weapons on Theros: a customized Godslayer.

Launch Weekend
Journey into Nyx launches May 2–4, 2014 and the month's first Friday Night Magic starts off the festivities. Players on the Hero's Path come to their stores to "Journey into Nyx" and solve a puzzle hidden within the poster included in the Journey into Nyx Launch Weekend kit. Players who solve the puzzle receive a copy of the Quest 8 Hero card (The Destined</c>).

Game Day
On May 24–25, 2014 Journey into Nyx Game Day players can use their Standard decks for the ninth quest on the Hero's Path: Defeat a God, a special Challenge Deck provided to the retailer. By winning against the Challenge deck, players win a ninth Hero card (The Champion</c>). Players will be able to use three of the Hero cards they have collected and the Godslayer that they forged at the Prerelease to complete this final quest of the Hero's Path!

Magic online
For Magic Online, Journey into Nyx Prerelease Events begin Friday, May 9. The set officially goes on sale in Magic Online and Release Events begin on Monday, May 12.

Promotional Cards

 * Prerelease, one of five according to the chosen Godslayer: Dawnbringer Charioteers</c>, Scourge of Fleets</c>, Doomwake Giant</c>, Spawn of Thraxes</c> or Heroes' Bane</c>
 * Launch promo: Dictate of the Twin Gods</c>
 * Game Day: full-art Squelching Leeches</c>
 * Game Day (Top 8): full-art foil Dictate of Kruphix</c>
 * Buy-a-Box: Eidolon of Blossoms</c>
 * Completing the Hero's Path: Hall of Triumph</c>

Tokens
A sixteenth card in the boosters can be a token creature card, with advertisements on the back side: The following named tokens were released with Born of the Gods: The following named tokens were released with Theros:
 * 1)  4/4 Sphinx with flying for Hour of Need</c>
 * 2)  */* Zombie for Ritual of the Returned</c>
 * 3)  2/3 Minotaur for Flurry of Horns</c>
 * 4)  */* Hydra for Hydra Broodmaster</c>
 * 5)  1/3 Spider enchantment creature with reach for <c>Renowned Weaver</c>
 * 6)  1/1 Snake enchantment creature with deathtouch for <c>Pharika, God of Affliction</c>
 * 1)  2/2 Bird enchantment creature for <c>Rise of Eagles</c>
 * 2)  Artifact token named Gold for <c>King Macar, the Gold-Cursed</c>
 * 1)  1/1 Soldier for <c>Launch the Fleet</c>
 * 2)  2/2 Satyr with haste for <c>Revel of the Fallen God</c>

Themes and mechanics
Journey into Nyx has a heavy theme of "enchantments matter", and those cards were "pushed" to a higher power level to ensure that enchantments would be key components of competitive decks. The keywords Bestow, Heroic, Scry, Monstrosity, Inspired and Devotion returned from the previous sets (with monstrosity skipping one set). Two new ability words were added: constellation and strive. Enchantments with constellation abilities represent the divine constellations that fill the night sky. An enchantment's constellation ability triggers every time it or another enchantment enters the battlefield under the player's control. Most of the enchantments with constellation abilities are enchantment creatures, but not all of them. A spell with a strive ability lets you pump more mana into it to increase the number of targets.

Cycles
Journey into Nyx has nine cycles. Some cards are part of a Theros block mega cycle.

Pairs
Journey into Nyx has one mirrored pair.

Reprinted cards

 * <c>Bladetusk Boar</c> was first printed in Zendikar and last seen in Magic 2013
 * <c>Magma Spray</c> was first printed in Shards of Alara and last seen in Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari
 * <c>Reprisal</c> was first printed in Alliances and last seen in Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons
 * <c>Riddle of Lightning</c> was first printed in Future Sight

Functional reprints

 * <c>Banishing Light</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Oblivion Ring</c> from Lorwyn, except for the use of the new "exile until" template.
 * <c>Brain Maggot</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Mesmeric Fiend</c> from Torment, except for the use of the new "exile until" template and for being an Enchantment Creature.
 * <c>Golden Hind</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Leaf Gilder</c> from Lorwyn, except for creature types.
 * <c>Market Festival</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Dawn's Reflection</c> from Fifth Dawn.
 * <c>Oreskos Swiftclaw</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Blade of the Sixth Pride</c> from Future Sight, except for creature types.
 * <c>Pensive Minotaur</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Minotaur Warrior</c> from Portal.
 * <c>Pharika's Chosen</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Typhoid Rats</c> from Innistrad, except for creature types.
 * <c>Satyr Grovedancer</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Ironshell Beetle</c> from Judgment and <c>Timberland Guide</c> from Avacyn Restored, except for creature types.

Creature enchantment functional reprints

 * <c>Eidolon of Rhetoric</c> is a creature enchantment version of <c>Rule of Law</c>
 * <c>Eidolon of the Great Revel</c> is a creature enchantment version of <c>Pyrostatic Pillar</c>
 * <c>Hypnotic Siren</c> is a creature enchantment version of <c>Control Magic</c> and <c>Mind Control</c>
 * <c>Mogis's Warhound</c> is a creature enchantment version of <c>Furor of the Bitten</c> and/or <c>Goblin Brigand</c>
 * <c>Nyx-fleece Ram</c> is a creature enchantment version of <c>Ajani's Mantra</c>

Colorshifted

 * <c>Akroan Mastiff</c>, white colorshifted version of <c>Ostiary Thrull</c> (Guildpact), except for types.

Strictly better

 * <c>Dawnbringer Charioteers</c> is strictly better than <c>Seraph of Dawn</c>.
 * <c>Felhide Petrifier</c> is strictly better than <c>Felhide Minotaur</c>.
 * <c>Lagonna-Band Trailblazer</c> is strictly better than <c>Yoked Ox</c>.
 * <c>Nature's Panoply</c> is strictly better than <c>Battlegrowth</c>.
 * <c>Oppressive Rays</c> is strictly better than <c>Brainwash</c>.
 * <c>Prophetic Flamespeaker</c> is strictly better than <c>Two-Headed Cerberus</c>.
 * <c>Supply-Line Cranes</c> is strictly better than <c>Silent Artisan</c>.
 * <c>Triton Shorestalker</c> is strictly better than <c>Fugitive Wizard</c>, <c>Grayscaled Gharial</c>, <c>Hazy Homunculus</c>, <c>Metathran Soldier</c> and <c>Sneaky Homunculus</c>.

Strictly worse

 * <c>Akroan Mastiff</c> is strictly worse than <c>Ballynock Trapper</c>.
 * <c>Starfall</c> is strictly worse than <c>Punish the Enemy</c>.

Notable cards

 * <c>Eidolon of the Great Revel</c> is a staple in Burn decks in Modern.

Intro packs
Journey into Nyx has five bicolored intro packs:

Event deck
Journey into Nyx has one event deck.