Born of the Gods

Born of the Gods is the second set in the Theros block. It is the 63rd Magic expansion and was released on February 7, 2014. It is a small expansion.

Set details
Awaken the Myth Like its predecessor, Born of the Gods has a 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. The set contained the planeswalker card for Kiora, anticipated since her introduction in Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012.

Flavor and storyline
No longer content to walk the planes of the Multiverse seeking pleasure, the planeswalker Xenagos returns to Theros to become the god of revels. The boundaries that separate everyday existence from Nyx are growing dangerously thin. Strange creatures of enchantment, called Nyxborn or Born of the Gods, are pouring into the mortal world as Xenagos threatens to disrupt the very nature of the plane. Mogis, the god of slaughter sends hordes of mortal and Nyxborn minotaurs against the human cities Akros, Meletis and Setessa. Elspeth Tirel leads an army of heroes to break the minotaur siege at Akros. The humans were victorious, but the victory celebration after the battle becomes the ultimate ritual to launch Xenagos into Nyx as a god. Elspeth is blamed for his ascension and driven away in disgrace.

Marketing
Born of the Gods was 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 Mogis, God of Slaughter, Ephara, God of the Polis and Phenax, God of Deception. The set features the continuation of the Hero's Path.

Prerelease
Quest 4 on the Hero's Path takes place at the Born of the Gods Prerelease events, February 1 and 2, 2014. As with Theros, players will choose their destiny based on a favorite mana color and receive a Seeded Prerelease Pack based on that color (Destined to Lead, Outwit , Dominate , Conquer or Thrive ). The Prerelease Pack contains a Spindown Life Counter, one of five Hero cards (respectively The General, The Savant, The Tyrant, The Warmonger and The Provider), one of five quiz activity cards, two Born of the God boosters, three Theros boosters, and a seeded booster featuring cards appropriate for that player's chosen path—including one of the five Prerelease promo cards.

Launch Weekend
Born of the Gods launched February 7, 2014 and the month's first Friday Night Magic started off the festivities. Players on the Hero's Path came to their stores to "Venture into the Wilds" and solved a puzzle hidden within the poster included in the Born of the Gods Launch Weekend kit. Players who solved the puzzle received a copy of the Quest 5 Hero card (The Provider</c>).

Game Day
On March 1 and 2 Born of the Gods Game Day players can use their Standard decks for the sixth quest on the Hero's Path: Battle the Horde, a special Challenge Deck provided to the retailer. By winning against the Challenge deck, players win a sixth Hero card (The Vanquisher</c>).

Promotional Cards

 * Prerelease, one of five according to the chosen destiny: Silent Sentinel</c>, Arbiter of the Ideal</c>, Eater of Hope</c>, Forgestoker Dragon</c>, Nessian Wilds Ravager</c>.
 * Launch promo: Tromokratis</c>
 * Game Day: full-art Kiora's Follower</c>
 * Game Day (Top 8): full-art foil Pain Seer</c>
 * Buy-a-Box: Fated Conflagration</c>

Tokens / Emblem
A sixteenth card in the boosters can be a token creature card or an emblem, with advertisements on the back side:
 * 1)  1/1 Bird creature, created by Ornitharch</c>
 * 2)  1/1 Cat creature, created by Brimaz, King of Oreskos</c> and Vanguard of Brimaz</c>
 * 3)  1/1 Soldier enchantment creature, created by God-Favored General</c>
 * 4)  2/2 Bird enchantment creature, created by Aerie Worshippers</c>
 * 5)  9/9 Kraken creature, created by <c>Kiora, the Crashing Wave</c>
 * 6)  2/2 Zombie enchantment creature, created by <c>Forlorn Pseudamma</c>
 * 7)  3/1 Elemental enchantment creature, created by <c>Satyr Nyx-Smith</c>
 * 8)  3/3 Centaur enchantment creature, created by <c>Fated Intervention</c> and <c>Pheres-Band Raiders</c>
 * 9)  2/2 Wolf creature, created by <c>Raised by Wolves</c>
 * 10)  Gold artifact, created by <c>Gild</c> (this is the first ever non-creature token)

Themes and mechanics

 * Enchantment creatures, bestow, devotion, heroic and scry return from the previous set.
 * Inspired (ability word) Whenever ~ becomes untapped, do something. Creatures with inspired abilities represent the divine inspiration that comes from the world of dreams. A creature's inspired ability triggers every time the creature becomes untapped.
 * Tribute (static ability) A creature with a tribute ability offers an opponent a choice: either it becomes even larger, or it does something nasty to your opponent when it enters the battlefield. E.g. Tribute 6 (As this creature enters the battlefield, an opponent of your choice may put 6 +1/+1 counters on it.) When ~ enters the battlefield, if its tribute wasn't paid, you may have ~ fight another target creature. It is said that Tribute replaced Monstrosity in this set, but wasn't said if Monstrosity will make a return in the 3rd set of the block.

Cycles
Born of the Gods has nine cycles. Some cards are part of a Theros block mega cycle.

Reprinted cards

 * <c>Divination</c> from Magic 2010 and last seen in Magic 2014.
 * <c>Eternity Snare</c> was last seen in Time Spiral.
 * <c>Necrobite</c> was last seen in Avacyn Restored.
 * <c>Revoke Existence</c> from Scars of Mirrodin and last seen in Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth.
 * <c>Springleaf Drum</c> was last seen in Lorwyn.

Functional reprints

 * <c>Charging Badger</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Defiant Elf</c> from Legions, save for creature type.
 * <c>Great Hart</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Pillarfield Ox</c> from Zendikar and <c>Foot Soldiers</c> from Portal, save for creature type.
 * <c>Reckless Reveler</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Torch Fiend</c> from Dark Ascension, save for creature type.
 * <c>Oreskos Swiftclaw</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Blade of the Sixth Pride</c> from Future Sight, save for creature type.
 * <c>Retraction Helix</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Banishing Knack</c> from Eventide.
 * <c>Rise to the Challenge</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Thunder Strike</c> from Magic 2011 and Magic 2014.
 * <c>Unravel the Æther</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Deglamer</c> from Morningtide.

Strictly better

 * <c>Astral Cornucopia</c> is strictly better than <c>Manalith</c>.
 * <c>Chorus of the Tides</c> is strictly better than <c>Snapping Drake</c>.
 * <c>Drown in Sorrow</c> is strictly better than <c>Infest</c>.
 * <c>Fall of the Hammer</c> is strictly better than <c>Crush Underfoot</c>.
 * <c>Temple of Enlightenment</c> is strictly better than <c>New Benalia</c>.
 * <c>Temple of Plenty</c> is strictly better than <c>New Benalia</c>.

Strictly worse

 * <c>Culling Mark</c> is strictly worse than <c>Hunt Down</c>.
 * <c>Felhide Brawler</c> is strictly worse than <c>Gutter Skulk</c> (but strictly better than <c>Spineless Thug</c>).
 * <c>Gorgon's Head</c> is strictly worse than <c>Basilisk Collar</c>.

Notable cards

 * <c>Courser of Kruphix</c> is a card selection engine used in Modern.
 * <c>Gild</c> is the first card to create a non-creature artifact token.

Intro packs
Born of the Gods has five bicolored intro packs:

Event deck
Born of the Gods has one event deck.