Invasion

Invasion is the twenty-first Magic expansion and was released in October 2000 as the first set in the Invasion block.

Set details
Invasion contains 350 black-bordered cards (110 rare, 110 uncommon, 110 common, and 20 basic lands). Invasion's expansion symbol is the symbol of the coalition, a cooperative effort of Dominarian forces from all five colors banded together to oppose Yawgmoth and the Phyrexians. The designers used parts of the unpublished Spectral Chaos set, that was designed by Barry Reich. The set introduced split cards and saw the return of multicolored "gold" cards, absent since the Stronghold expansion. In fact, its major themes revolved around multicolor decks and strategies. The popularity and appeal of gold cards along with high but balanced power level culminated into making Invasion one of the most popular Magic sets in the game's history. The set featured some legendary cards of the Weatherlight's crew: Captain Sisay and Hanna, Ship's Navigator. It also introduced the kavu. The set was accompanied by the novel of the same name.

In keeping with the focus on multicolored cards, Invasion also introduced the gradient dual-colored land text boxes for lands producing mana of two different colors, such as Coastal Tower and Elfhame Palace, which would be used in all subsequent expansions and editions of Magic.

Storyline
As the hordes of Phyrexia begin pouring into Dominaria, the world looks to Urza, planeswalker and master artificer, for defense against the onslaught. As entire cultures fall under the Phyrexian hell, Urza gathers heroes, renegades, common folk, and powerful artifacts to fight the invasion.

Marketing
Invasion was sold in 75-card tournament decks, 15-card boosters, four preconstructed theme decks and a fat pack. The booster packs featured artwork from Captain Sisay, Dromar, the Banisher and Kavu Titan. At Invasion prerelease events on September 23, 2000, a foil Kavu Furens was handed out as a novelty. This was a Raging Kavu</c> printed with Latin text. The set was accompanied by the novel of the same name.

Tokens
Several tokens for Invasion cards were offered as Magic Player Reward.
 * 1/1 Saproling creature (for Verdeloth, the Ancient</c>, Rith, the Awakener</c>, Aura Mutation</c>, Artifact Mutation</c>, Saproling Symbiosis</c>, Saproling Infestation</c>)
 * 3/3 Elephant creature (for Assault//Battery</c>)
 * 1/1 Bird creature with Flying (for Ordered Migration</c>)

Mechanics
Invasion introduced the following mechanics:
 * Domain cards which increase in power depending on the number of different basic lands you have in play.
 * Divvy Phyrexian Portal</c> from Alliances was the inspiration for this mechanic which a player separates a number of cards into two piles and the other player chooses what to do with them.
 * Kicker pay an extra cost for a bonus effect. Invasion's five-colored Coalition Symbol, or at least part of it, is buried in the art of most cards with the kicker ability.
 * Split cards cards with two sides, each with different costs and effects respectively, effectively serving as modal spells.

Creature types
The following creature types are introduced in this expansion: Kavu, Plant.

The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets: Angel, Assassin, Barbarian, Bird, Cat, Cleric, Crab, Djinn, Dragon, Drake, Dryad, Elemental, Elephant, Elf, Faerie, Giant, Goblin, Golem, Guardian (later changed to Soldier), Griffin, Horror, Knight, Leech, Lord (later changed to Elf), Merfolk, Minion, Mongoose, Rat, Serpent, Shade, Ship (later changed to Metathran), Skeleton, Soldier, Specter, Spider, Treefolk, Troll, Unicorn, Wall, Wizard, Wurm, Zombie.

Cycles
Invasion has 25 cycles:

Pairs
Invasion has four mirrored pairs and two matched pairs.

Reprinted cards
The following 20 cards have been reprinted from previous sets and included in Invasion.
 * Angel of Mercy</c> was last seen in Starter 1999.
 * Blinding Light</c> was last seen in Starter 1999.
 * Crown of Flames</c> was last seen in Tempest.
 * Cursed Flesh</c> was last seen in Exodus.
 * Disrupt</c> was last seen in Weatherlight.
 * Fertile Ground</c> was last seen in Battle Royale.
 * <c>Harrow</c> was last seen in Tempest.
 * <c>Holy Day</c> was last seen in Legends.
 * <c>Lobotomy</c> was last seen in Tempest.
 * <c>Maniacal Rage</c> was last seen in Battle Royale.
 * <c>Phantasmal Terrain</c> was last seen in 6th Edition.
 * <c>Quirion Elves</c> was last seen in Mirage.
 * <c>Ravenous Rats</c> was last seen in Starter 1999.
 * <c>Reckless Spite</c> was last seen in Tempest.
 * <c>Shackles</c> was last seen in Exodus.
 * <c>Shimmering Wings</c> was last seen in Tempest.
 * <c>Simoon</c> was last seen in Visions.
 * <c>Soul Burn</c> was last seen in Ice Age.
 * <c>Stun</c> was last seen in Tempest.
 * <c>Tranquility</c> was last seen in Battle Royale.

Functional reprints
Invasion has eleven functional reprints:
 * <c>Ancient Kavu</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Raging Spirit</c> from Mirage, save for creature type.
 * <c>Benalish Trapper</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Master Decoy</c> from Tempest.
 * <c>Horned Cheetah</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Zebra Unicorn</c> from Mirage, save for creature type.
 * <c>Hunting Kavu</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Giant Trap Door Spider</c> from Ice Age, save for creature type.
 * <c>Metathran Transport</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Fylamarid</c> from Tempest, save for creature type.
 * <c>Metathran Zombie</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Drowned</c> from The Dark.
 * <c>Phyrexian Battleflies</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Pit Imp</c> from Tempest and <c>Vampire Bats</c> from Legends, save for creature type.
 * <c>Razorfoot Griffin</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Ekundu Griffin</c> from Mirage.
 * <c>Teferi's Care</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Arenson's Aura</c> from Ice Age.
 * <c>Urborg Shambler</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Stronghold Taskmaster</c> from Stronghold, save for creature type.
 * <c>Vodalian Merchant</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Merfolk Traders</c> from Weatherlight.

Misprint

 * The prerelease version of <c>Raging Kavu</c> shows a copyright line of 1993–1999, and is the only Invasion card to have these dates; Invasion was released in late 2000.

Notable cards

 * <c>Absorb</c> - Legacy Blue/White Control
 * <c>Artifact Mutation</c> - Vintage anti-artifact
 * <c>Fact or Fiction</c> still one of the more broken draw-cards blue has to offer.
 * <c>Dueling Grounds</c>
 * <c>Fires of Yavimaya</c>
 * <c>Sabertooth Nishoba</c>
 * <c>Urza's Rage</c>
 * <c>Tribal Flames</c> - Legacy 5C zoo

Preconstructed decks
Invasion has four theme decks.