Theros

Theros is the first set in the Theros block. It is the 62nd Magic expansion and was released on September 27, 2013. Theros is a large expansion.

Set details
Stand Among Heroes

Theros contains 249 cards (20 basic lands, 101 commons, 60 uncommons, 53 rares, 15 mythic rares), and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards. The set has an ancient Greek themed top-down design, making use of many mythological tropes (Heroes, Monsters, and Gods). It is the first set to thematically take place on the plane of Theros. It is mostly monocolored with a handful of gold cards. Theros block is an enchantment block that plays off building blocks in M14 and Return to Ravnica block. The mood and tone are those of Greek myth: adventure, achievement, accomplishment, a hero's journey. Many existing creature types are reworked to match the Greek flavor. Apart from Minotaurs, it's not a tribal set. There are three Planeswalkers in the set, namely Elspeth and two new ones: Ashiok and Xenagos. There is an above average amount of legendary permanents. The expansion symbol depicts a stylized temple and altar.

Storyline
Theros is watched over by a pantheon of 15 powerful gods. The gods, though residing in Nyx, are able to take on many forms and often walk among mortals. Each also has a unique color identity. The five core gods are mono-colored and make up the central pillars of the Therosian belief system. The color identities of these five are: Heliod (white), Thassa (blue), Erebos (black), Purphoros (red), and Nylea (green). The ten minor gods represent the two-colour pairings and were introduced later in Born of the Gods and Journey into Nyx.

Elspeth
After planeswalking away from New Phyrexia, Elspeth finds herself on a vaguely familiar plane, Theros. While she had visited once years ago when she acquired her sword, she remains relatively unaware of the nature of the plane, namely the theology. The snake priests in a temple devoted to Pharika help her back to full strength while she reflects on her experiences with Koth, Venser, Tezzeret, Karn, and Melira back on New Phyrexia. More than anything Elspeth just wants a peaceful life like the one she had on Bant before the Conflux. However, on Theros the gods have different plans. Walking around the forests of Theros, Elspeth comes face to face with a deadly hydra having already killed many Therosian heroes. After a bitter battle she emerges the victor. Heliod, taking notice of her feat, now strives to make Elspeth his champion.

Xenagos
A satyr born to the plane of Theros, Xenagos spent much of his life romping around with his clan of fellow satyrs. His favourite activities included partying and drinking until his planeswalker spark ignited and he was able to travel away from Theros. After visiting many planes and seeing the expanse of the Multiverse his return to his native plane did not come with a feeling of home. He could now see how insignificant his life was before his awakening and even still after. Driven by a desire for power, his mission now is to enter the Therosian pantheon as a god.

Marketing
Theros was sold in 16-card boosters (one card being a marketing card), five intro packs, one event decks, and a fat pack. There are no 6-card boosters or Booster Battle Packs. The boosters feature artwork from: Thassa, God of the Sea; Erebos, God of the Dead; Purphoros, God of the Forge; Elspeth, Sun's Champion and Arena Athlete. Theros featured an unprecedented first for organized play: a block-long Magic entertainment experience that would see players complete nine quests on the Hero's Path (three during Theros and six during Born of the Gods and Journey into Nyx). Hero cards debuted as part of the Hero's Path. These cards are not for use in tournament decks but instead are awarded to players for completing quests along the Hero's Path. They can use them to defeat later quests. Each card is double-faced, one side featuring a code redeemable for a Planeswalker Points achievement while the other side features game mechanics players can use to help defeat a Game Day Challenge Deck.

Prerelease
The first quest in the Hero's Path was during the Theros Prerelease on September 21 and 22, 2013. There players could choose their heroic path based on a favorite mana color (white, blue, black, red, or green), receive a Seeded Prerelease pack, and join fellow heroes on a social scavenger hunt. The Seeded Prerelease Pack contained a spindown life counter, a Hero card unique to a player's chosen path (respectively The Protector, The Philosopher, The Avenger, The Warrior</c>, and The Hunter</c>), one of five quiz activity cards, five Theros boosters, and a seeded booster featuring cards appropriate for that player's chosen path (including one of the playable five Prerelease promo cards).

While building decks and playing matches players could work together to find the answers to the questions about Theros on their activity cards. This social scavenger hunt offered players an opportunity to engross themselves in the lore of the new block and interact with their fellow heroes. Once a player had filled out the card, he or she could check the answer key to see if they completed it correctly.

Launch Weekend
Theros launched to the public on September 27, 2013 and kicked off with Friday Night Magic. Hero's Path Quest #2 brought players to their store to receive a “Gift from the Gods” by solving a puzzle hidden within a Poster Puzzle. Once they had discovered the solution they could report it to receive a second Hero card (The Harvester</c>).

Game Day
On October 19 and 20 Theros Game Day players could use their Standard decks for the third quest on the Hero's Path: Face the Hydra. Using a special Challenge Deck provided to the retailer, players could battle the Hydra, one of the epic monsters of the plane of Theros. The Challenge Deck is a special self-running deck with its own set of rules. Players are encouraged to pilot it against one another one-on-one or in groups of up to four with guidance from the included instructional playmat. A player didn't need to participate in the Game Day tournament to attempt to defeat the Hydra. This was the first opportunity for players to utilize the Hero cards they received at the Prerelease and Launch Weekend. Beating the Hydra also awarded players their third Hero card (The Slayer</c>), which they'll be able to use for quests at future Hero's Path events.

Promotional cards

 * Prerelease, one of five according to the chosen path: Celestial Archon</c>, Shipbreaker Kraken</c>, Abhorrent Overlord</c>, Ember Swallower</c>, or Anthousa, Setessan Hero</c>
 * Launch promo: Bident of Thassa</c>
 * Game Day: full-art Phalanx Leader</c>
 * Game Day (Top 8): full-art Nighthowler</c>
 * Theros League: 1/1 white Soldier token
 * Buy-a-Box: Sylvan Caryatid</c>

Tokens / Emblem
The sixteenth card in the boosters is a token creature card or an emblem, with advertisements on the back side:


 * 1) 2/1 Cleric enchantment creature for Heliod, God of the Sun</c>
 * 2) 1/1 Soldier creature for Akroan Horse</c>
 * 3) 1/1 Soldier creature for Elspeth, Sun's Champion</c> and <c>Evangel of Heliod</c>
 * 4) 2/2 Bird creature with Flying for <c>Swan Song</c>
 * 5) 1/0 Elemental creature for <c>Master of Waves</c>
 * 6) 1/1 Harpy creature with flying for <c>Abhorrent Overlord</c>
 * 7) 1/1 Soldier creature for <c>Akroan Crusader</c>
 * 8) 2/2 Boar creature for <c>Curse of the Swine</c>
 * 9) 2/2 Satyr creature with haste for <c>Xenagos, the Reveler</c>
 * 10) 3/3 Golem enchantment artifact creature for <c>Hammer of Purphoros</c>

Themes and mechanics
Theros has a strong enchantment theme with widespread use of the Enchantment type alongside other card types (enchantment creatures and enchantment artifacts). Enchantments are primarily used to represent the Gods — which themselves are enchantment creatures — and their influence. Some enchantment creatures feature the new keyword ability bestow which lets the player cast the card as an Aura with enchant creature for the bestow cost. It then conveys a bonus to the enchanted creature. If the creature it enchants dies, the enchantment itself reverts to a creature, usually with the same features as the abilities it conveyed as an Aura.

Another mechanic tied to the gods is devotion. Similar to chroma, it scales effects based on the number of mana symbols on permanents a player controls.

Humans also tie into the enchantment theme with the heroic ability word. Cards with heroic trigger an ability when its controller casts a spell targeting it.

Scry appears in Theros as a returning mechanic.

Theros is also a plane filled with monsters such as Hydras, Kraken, Demons, and others. These all feature the new keyword action monstrosity. Upon activation, if the creature isn't “monstrous” already, a certain number of +1/+1 counters are put on the creature and it becomes “monstrous”. Usually this is accompanied by a triggered ability when the creature becomes “monstrous”.

Additionally, the Hero's Path features Hero's Reward.

Card types
Theros introduces the supertype Elite, the card type Hero, and the creature types God, Sable, and Head. It reintroduces the creature type Nymph.

Cycles
Theros has fourteen cycles. Some cards are part of a Theros block mega cycle.

Pairs
Theros has one mirrored pair.

Reprinted cards
The following cards have been reprinted from previous sets and included in Theros:


 * <c>Annul</c>, first printed in Urza's Saga was last seen in Mirrodin.
 * <c>Demolish</c>, first printed in Odyssey was last seen in Magic 2014.
 * <c>Divine Verdict</c>, first printed in Magic 2010 was last seen in Magic 2013 and for the first time in an expert-level expansion.
 * <c>Gainsay</c> was last seen in Planeshift.
 * <c>Griptide</c> was last seen in Dark Ascension.
 * <c>Last Breath</c>, first printed in Mercadian Masques was last seen in Shadowmoor.
 * <c>Magma Jet</c>, first printed in Fifth Dawn was last seen in Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters.
 * <c>Mnemonic Wall</c> was last seen in Rise of the Eldrazi.
 * <c>Nessian Courser</c> was last seen in Future Sight.
 * <c>Savage Surge</c> was last seen in Return to Ravnica.
 * <c>Thoughtseize</c> was last seen in Lorwyn.
 * <c>Traveler's Amulet</c> was last seen in Innistrad.

Functional reprints

 * <c>Borderland Minotaur</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Lowland Giant</c>, <c>Ogre Resister</c>, and <c>Shatterskull Giant</c>, save for creature types.
 * <c>Lightning Strike</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Searing Spear</c> from Magic 2013.
 * <c>Pharika's Cure</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Sorin's Thirst</c> from Magic 2012.
 * <c>Unknown Shores</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Shimmering Grotto</c> from Lorwyn, last seen in Magic 2014.
 * <c>Vaporkin</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Welkin Tern</c> from Magic 2013 except for creature type.

Notable cards

 * <c>Anger of the Gods</c> is a wrath effect spell that saw Modern tournament play.
 * <c>Stormbreath Dragon</c> saw some tournament play.
 * <c>Ashen Rider</c> is a target for reanimator decks.
 * <c>Destructive Revelry</c> is a Modern sideboard staple for burn decks.

Intro packs
Theros has five bicolored intro packs:

Event deck
Theros has one event deck.