Ixalan

Ixalan [ˈɪk.sə.lɑːn] (pronounced "icks-a-lawn", rhymes like "fix a con") is the 76th Magic expansion, and the first in the Ixalan block. It was released on September 29, 2017, and is a large expansion.

Set details
Ixalan contains 279 cards (20 basic land, 101 common, 80 uncommon, 63 rare, and 15 mythic rare) and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards. Ten additional cards are found in the set's planeswalker decks (2 mythic planeswalkers, 2 rares, 2 uncommons, 2 commons, and 2 common dual lands). These are numbered #280/279 to #289/279. Ten of the rares are double-faced cards which were printed on a separate print sheet. These appear in the rare/mythic slot of booster packs, which changes the mythic rare to rare ratio from 15:106 to 15:126. A checklist card replaces the basic land in some boosters. Five of the basic lands depict a lost Jace Beleren.

A complete Ixalan rare foil print sheet was leaked three months before prerelease, which caused Wizards of the Coast to re-evaluate their preview plan.

Misprints
A number of non-foil, double-sided Ixalan cards were mistakenly printed on incorrect card stock.

Rules change
Starting with this set, all planeswalkers past, present, and future have the supertype legendary. They are subject to the "legend rule" instead of the "planeswalker uniqueness rule", which was removed from the game.

Storyline
Brave the UnknownThis is a story about desire. It is desire for power, desire for companionship, desire for approval, desire for discovery, and everyone is racing to get what they want first. For centuries, the untamed jungles of Ixalan have hidden a coveted secret: Orazca, the city of gold, which houses a mysterious artifact, the Immortal Sun. But no secret can remain undiscovered, and no treasure can be taken uncontested. The dinosaur riding warriors of the Sun Empire and the merfolk shamans of the rival River Heralds are met by the vampire conquistadores of the Legion of Dusk and the pirates of the Brazen Coalition.

Vraska poses as a pirate on the high seas, while Jace Beleren is stranded on the plane with loss of all his memories.

The cards that represent the Story Spotlights in Ixalan are: Ixalan's Binding, Vraska's Contempt, River's Rebuke, Thaumatic Compass // Spires of Orazca, and Perilous Voyage.

Marketing
Ixalan is sold in 16-card boosters (one card being a marketing card), two planeswalker decks, the Ixalan bundle, Booster Battle Packs and a Deck Builder's Toolkit.

There is no Masterpiece Series accompanying Ixalan. The boosters feature artwork from Slash of Talons, Vicious Conquistador, Hijack</c>, Fire Shrine Keeper</c> and Vraska, Relic Seeker</c>.

As part of the preview season, Wizards of the Coast distributed trackable game pieces to stores, fans, volunteers, and some well-known community folk. As game pieces travelled from from geochache to geocache, the distances they travelled influenced the release of preview cards.

Events

 * Prerelease Events took place on September 23, 2017.
 * Magic Online Launch: September 25, 2017
 * Dino-Sized Weekend: The weekend of October 28–29, stores around the world host six-pack Sealed events, three-pack Draft events, and very special dino-sized Draft events using four packs of Ixalan instead of three.
 * Mid-Season League: Running November 6 through December 3, stores can run Ixalan Mid-Season Leagues.

Promotional cards



 * Magic Open House: Full-art foil Walk the Plank</c>
 * Prerelease: a stamped card that can be any rare or mythic rare from the set.
 * Draft Weekend Launch promo: Bishop of Rebirth</c>
 * Standard Showdown: foil basic land with art by Rebecca Guay.
 * Magic League: foil Unclaimed Territory</c>
 * Store Championship: full-art foil Ghalta, Primal Hunger</c>, showcasing the upcoming Rivals of Ixalan set (Top 8 receives a deck box).
 * Convention promo: Full-art
 * Buy-a-Box: Burning Sun's Avatar</c>
 * As a first, purchasers of a booster box received a "Dino sized" 9-card Buy-a-Box booster. This contained an extra Buy-a-Box promo card and the equivalent contents of two Standard Showdown prize boosters. The booster contents were only available in English and Japanese.
 * As a Holiday promotion, purchasers of a booster box received the Buy-a-Box Treasure Chest booster, containing 2 foil cards of any rarity from any Standard-legal set, 4 rare or mythic rare cards from Standard-legal sets, 2 foil basic lands, and 1 out of 10 possible alternate art, foil double-faced cards. These versions of the 10 Ixalan DFC's feature the regular front sides, and outtakes from the Ixalan map on the backsides. This promotion was later extend to Iconic Masters and Unstable. The 10 alternate art, foil double-faced cards offered are:
 * FNM promo double-faced tokens:
 * 1/1 Vampire creature with lifelink / Treasure artifact (Legion of Dusk flavored)
 * 3/3 Dinosaur creature with trample / Treasure artifact (Sun Empire flavored)
 * 2/2 Pirate creature with menace / Treasure artifact (Brazen Coalition flavored)
 * FNM promo double-faced tokens:
 * 1/1 Vampire creature with lifelink / Treasure artifact (Legion of Dusk flavored)
 * 3/3 Dinosaur creature with trample / Treasure artifact (Sun Empire flavored)
 * 2/2 Pirate creature with menace / Treasure artifact (Brazen Coalition flavored)
 * FNM promo double-faced tokens:
 * 1/1 Vampire creature with lifelink / Treasure artifact (Legion of Dusk flavored)
 * 3/3 Dinosaur creature with trample / Treasure artifact (Sun Empire flavored)
 * 2/2 Pirate creature with menace / Treasure artifact (Brazen Coalition flavored)
 * 3/3 Dinosaur creature with trample / Treasure artifact (Sun Empire flavored)
 * 2/2 Pirate creature with menace / Treasure artifact (Brazen Coalition flavored)

Tokens
Ixalan features 10 tokens.


 * 1)  1/1 Vampire creature with lifelink for Legion's Landing</c>, Adanto, the First Fort</c>, Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle</c>, Paladin of the Bloodstained</c>, Queen's Commission</c> and Call to the Feast</c>
 * 2)  2/2 Illusion creature with "When this creature becomes the target of a spell, sacrifice it." for Jace, Cunning Castaway</c>
 * 3)  1/1 Merfolk creature with hexproof for Deeproot Waters</c>
 * 4)  2/2 Pirate creature with menace for <c>Fathom Fleet Captain</c> and <c>Vraska, Relic Seeker</c>
 * 5)  3/3 Dinosaur creature with trample for <c>Raptor Hatchling</c>, <c>Thundering Spineback</c>, <c>Huatli, Warrior Poet</c> and <c>Regisaur Alpha</c>
 * 6)  0/2 Plant creature with defender for <c>Dowsing Dagger</c>
 * 7)  Treasure artifact (Sun Empire flavored) with "undefined, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color." for <c>Pirate's Prize</c>, <c>Prosperous Pirates</c>, <c>Sailor of Means</c>, <c>Spell Swindle</c>, <c>Contract Killing</c>, <c>Dire Fleet Hoarder</c>, <c>Heartless Pillage</c>, <c>Revel in Riches</c>, <c>Ruthless Knave</c>, <c>Wanted Scoundrels</c>, <c>Captain Lannery Storm</c>, <c>Trove of Temptation</c>, <c>Wily Goblin</c>, <c>Deadeye Plunderers</c>, <c>Vraska, Relic Seeker</c>, <c>Prying Blade</c> and <c>Treasure Map</c>.
 * 8)  Treasure artifact (Legion of Dusk flavored)
 * 9)  Treasure artifact (River Heralds flavored)
 * 10)  Treasure artifact (Brazen Coalition flavored)

Themes and mechanics
Ixalan is a tribal set, with Pirates, Dinosaurs , Merfolk and Vampires. This is the first time Magic has an uneven color distribution of factions within a set. Though the tribes are asymmetrical, the colors are not. Each color has two tribes. The fact that Pirates and Dinosaurs both need more cards to become tribes properly (as compared to merfolk and vampires, who are already pretty established) was a factor in them becoming the two 3 color factions. The two colour pairs that are not represented in this scheme - and  - do not have multicoloured signpost uncommons, but have explore and fliers as a theme respectively.

Raid returns from Khans of Tarkir (now connected to Pirates), Crew from Kaladesh (connected to the ships from Torrezon), and Transform from Innistrad (the double-faced cards now highlighting the tales and tools of discovery). The DFCs all have a land on the "back" face cards, which features a map-inspired card frame. The front face is recognized by the icon of a compass rose and the back face is marked by the land icon  last seen in Future Sight.

There are two new named mechanics:
 * Explore Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back on top or into your graveyard.
 * Enrage Whenever a creature with this ability word is dealt damage, it has some consequences. This is the signature mechanic of the Dinosaurs.

The Merfolk make use strategy revolves around being very difficult to block and growing via +1/+1 counters, while Vampires use life as a resource.

Card types
Ixalan introduces the treasure artifact subtype and the return of the dinosaur creature type. The trilobite creature type is new.

Vehicles are back from the Kaladesh block in the form of ships.

Cycles
Ixalan has seven cycles, one of which is reprinted. Notably, three of these cycles are partial, due to the uneven distribution of colors among the set's tribes.


 * Legendary transforming enchantments: Five rare legendary enchantments that transform into legendary lands when a condition is met; these lands tap for colored mana and have another powerful activated ability <c>Legion's Landing</c> // <c>Adanto, the First Fort</c>, <c>Search for Azcanta</c> // <c>Azcanta, The Sunken Ruin</c> , <c>Arguel's Blood Fast</c> // <c>Temple of Aclazotz</c> , <c>Vance's Blasting Cannons</c> // <c>Spitfire Bastion</c> , and <c>Growing Rites of Itlimoc</c> // <c>Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun</c>.
 * Keepers: Five common creatures with an activated ability that each costs and one colored mana, tapping and sacrificing the creature. They function as late-game mana sinks, similar to the Invokers from Legions and Rise of the Eldrazi  <c>Encampment Keeper</c>, <c>Shore Keeper</c> , <c>Blight Keeper</c> , <c>Fire Shrine Keeper</c> , and <c>Ixalli's Keeper</c>.
 * Allied color check lands: Each of these five rare dual lands comes into play tapped unless you control a land of one of the appropriate types. This cycle was first printed in Magic 2010 <c>Glacial Fortress</c>, <c>Drowned Catacomb</c> , <c>Dragonskull Summit</c> , <c>Rootbound Crag</c> , and <c>Sunpetal Grove</c>.
 * Two-colored draft archetypes: Eight uncommon cards which each represent a two-colored draft archetype <c>Deadeye Plunderers</c> ( treasure), <c>Dire Fleet Captain</c> ( pirate aggro), <c>Raging Swordtooth</c> ( enrage), <c>Belligerent Brontodon</c> ( dinosaur ramp), <c>Call to the Feast</c> ( vampires), <c>Shapers of Nature</c> ( merfolk), <c>Marauding Looter</c> ( raid), and <c>Sky Terror</c> ( dinosaur aggro).
 * Unusually, this cycle is missing and  cards. This is due to no tribes on Ixalan consisting of those color combinations.  (flying) and  (explore) are still viable draft archetypes, albeit ones designed for "more advanced drafters."
 * Explorer Commons: Each of these five common creatures explores when they enter the battlefield. The cycle has a rising converted mana cost in reverse enemy color order <c>Ixalli's Diviner</c>, <c>Siren Lookout</c> , <c>Brazen Buccaneers</c> , <c>Sunrise Seeker</c> , <c>Queen's Agent</c>.
 * The other two explorers at common are black (<c>Dire Fleet Interloper</c> ) and green (<c>Tishana's Wayfinder</c> ) to help the draft archetype.
 * Legendary creatures: Four mythic rare legendary creatures, each of which is of one of the four tribes and has a color identity of all colors for that tribe <c>Admiral Beckett Brass</c> ( pirates), <c>Gishath, Sun's Avatar</c> ( dinosaurs), <c>Tishana, Voice of Thunder</c> ( merfolk), and <c>Vona, Butcher of Magan</c> ( vampires).
 * Avatars of the sun: Three rare or mythic dinosaurs, each tied flavor-wise to a different aspect of the Threefold Sun and with related flavor texts <c>Wakening Sun's Avatar</c>, <c>Burning Sun's Avatar</c> , <c>Verdant Sun's Avatar</c>.

Mirrored pairs
Ixalan has two mirrored pairs.


 * Rare gold creatures: A pair of rare multicolor creatures with powerful enters the battlefield abilities, each of which is in one of the tribes introduced in Ixalan <c>Hostage Taker</c> ( pirates) and <c>Regisaur Alpha</c> ( dinosaurs).
 * Uncommon scouts: A pair of uncommon scout creatures with a mana cost of M that explore when they enter the battlefield. They have a mirrored power and toughness and help the draft archetype  <c>Seekers' Squire</c> (, 1/2) and <c>Merfolk Branchwalker</c> (, 2/1).

Reprinted cards

 * <c>Air Elemental</c>, first printed in Alpha (last seen in Welcome Deck 2017).
 * <c>Cancel</c>, first printed in Time Spiral (last seen in Amonkhet).
 * <c>Cobbled Wings</c>, first printed in Innistrad.
 * <c>Demolish</c>, first printed in Odyssey (last seen in Kaladesh).
 * <c>Demystify</c>, first printed in Onslaught (last seen in Magic 2012).
 * <c>Dragonskull Summit</c>, first printed in Magic 2010 (last seen in Archenemy: Nicol Bolas).
 * <c>Drowned Catacomb</c>, first printed in Magic 2010 (last seen in Archenemy: Nicol Bolas).
 * <c>Dual Shot</c>, first printed in Shadows over Innistrad.
 * <c>Duress</c>, first printed in Urza's Saga (last seen in Eternal Masters).
 * <c>Favorable Winds</c>, first printed in Avacyn Restored (last seen in Conspiracy).
 * <c>Glacial Fortress</c>, first printed in Magic 2010 (last seen in Magic 2013).
 * <c>Hijack</c>, first printed in Kaladesh.
 * <c>Opt</c>, first printed in Invasion.
 * <c>Mark of the Vampire</c>, first printed in Magic 2013 (last seen in Magic 2014).
 * <c>Rootbound Crag</c>, first printed in Magic 2010 (last seen in Commander 2016).
 * <c>Rummaging Goblin</c>, first printed in Magic 2013 (last seen in Magic 2015).
 * <c>Slice in Twain</c>, first printed in Scars of Mirrodin (last seen in Commander 2013).
 * <c>Spell Pierce</c>, first printed in Zendikar (last seen in Amonkhet Invocations).
 * <c>Sunpetal Grove</c>, first printed in Magic 2010 (last seen in Commander 2016).
 * <c>Sure Strike</c>, first printed in Battle for Zendikar.
 * <c>Unknown Shores</c>, first printed in Theros (last seen in Oath of the Gatewatch).

Common to Uncommon

 * <c>Lightning Strike</c>, first printed in Theros (last seen in Magic 2015).

Functional Reprints

 * <c>Castaway's Despair</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Sleep Paralysis</c> from Shadows over Innistrad.
 * <c>Colossal Dreadmaw</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Brambleweft Behemoth</c> from Hour of Devastation, except for creature type.
 * <c>Crash the Ramparts</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Awaken the Bear</c> from Khans of Tarkir.
 * <c>Grazing Whiptail</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Cloudcrown Oak</c> from Lorwyn, except for creature types.
 * <c>Looming Altisaur</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Kami Of Old Stone</c> from Champions of Kamigawa, except for creature types.
 * <c>One with the Wind</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Spectral Flight</c> from Innistrad.
 * <c>Queen's Bay Soldier</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Walking Corpse</c> from Innistrad, except for creature types.
 * <c>Raptor Companion</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Blade of the Sixth Pride</c> from Future Sight, except for creature types.
 * <c>Shining Aerosaur</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Skyswirl Harrier</c> from Kaladesh, except for creature types.
 * <c>Skyblade of the Legion</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Concordia Pegasus</c> from Return to Ravnica, except for creature types.
 * <c>Slash of Talons</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Righteous Blow</c> from Avacyn Restored.
 * <c>Swashbuckling</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Goblin War Paint</c> from Zendikar.
 * <c>Storm Sculptor</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Keymaster Rogue</c> from Return to Ravnica, except for creature types.
 * <c>Wind Strider</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Faerie Invaders</c> from Magic 2013, except for creature types.
 * <c>Watertrap Weaver</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Frost Lynx</c> from Magic 2015, except for creature types.

Preconstructed decks
Ixalan features two planeswalker decks:

Notable cards

 * <c>Revel in Riches</c> is an alternate-win card.
 * <c>Rampaging Ferocidon</c> was banned in January 2018 alongside <c>Ramunap Ruins</c> to weaken the Mono-Red in that Standard. While not particularly notable in and of itself, it was the first card unbanned in a rotating format on August 2019, allowing play for one month before rotation.
 * <c>Hostage Taker</c> received errata before it was released, because as worded it could create an infinite loop.
 * Many of the backsides of the transforming cards are inspired by powerful lands in Magic's past:
 * <c>Adanto, the First Fort</c> resembles <c>Kjeldoran Outpost</c>
 * <c>Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun</c> resembles <c>Gaea's Cradle</c>
 * <c>Spitfire Bastion</c> resembles <c>Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle</c>
 * <c>Temple Of Aclazotz</c> resembles <c>Diamond Valley</c>
 * <c>Lost Vale</c> resembles <c>Lotus Vale</c>
 * <c>Spires of Orazca</c> resembles <c>Maze of Ith</c>

Trivia

 * A product survey preceding the announcement of the name "Ixalan" referred to the set as Atlazan.
 * Some cards represent a specific pirate fleet, four fleets are revealed this way, each one showing its method :