Ninth Edition

For other uses, see Legions (disambiguation).

Template:Expansion Legions is the twenty-ninth Magic expansion and was released in 2003 as the second set in the Onslaught block. It is unique because every card in it is a creature and to balance this some cards can emulate enchantments and some creatures have morph triggers that act like spells.

Set history

Legions is the first and only expansion in Magic to be 100% creature cards. This was done to help augment the creature-based mechanics of the block. While there were quality cards, Limited play could become stale. The set also features the return of the fan favourite creature type, the slivers.

Storyline

Kamahl and the Cabal, in their uneasy alliance, set out to defeat the threat of Akroma. Ixidor was killed, but Akroma continues her mission to destroy Phage. Meanwhile, the slivers (last spotted in Weatherlight and its era) have been reintroduced as clones of the originals. In the final battle, Phage and Akroma merge into one being, Karona, the False God.

Cycle

• Muses - Spirits: Dreamborn Muse, Graveborn Muse, Lavaborn Muse, Seedborn Muse and Windborn Muse

Mechanics

The following mechanics first appeared in Legions:

• Amplify - As a creature with amplify comes into play, its controller may reveal creature cards from his or her hand that share a creature type with it, so to add +1/+1 counters. Creatures with amplify are generally more costly than their counterparts that have similar base power-toughness stats.
• Provoke - Based on a card from Stronghold, when a creature with provoke attacked, it could untap an opponent's creature and force that creature to block it.
• Double strike - A mechanic suggested by a fan during the Magic Website's You Make the Card Promo and was officially turned into a mechanic. A creature with Double Strike would deal both First Strike and regular combat damage.
• Morph triggered abilities - Some creatures had an ability that would trigger upon turning face up.

Notable cards and tournament impact

• Arkoma, - A 6/6 legendary Angel with seven keyword abilities, the most abilities of any creature in Magic. Akroma saw a fair amount of tournament play. It has been reprinted as a timeshifted card in Time Spiral.
• Caller of the Claw - A 2/2 Elf with flash. When it came into play its controller got a 2/2 Bear token for every nontoken creature put into its owner's graveyard that turn. Used as an alternate win condition for Worldgorger decks.
• Goblin Goon - An overused yet essential addition to the Goblin deck. His drawback is negated by his 6/6 frame and the fact that red is about quickly casting creature swarms, as well as slinging "burn" spells.
• White Knight - A creature first appearing in Alpha, White Knight made a triumphant return in "White Weenie" decks.

Other interesting cards

• Krosan - At 13/13, the Krosan Cloudscraper is usually considered the largest tournament legal non-token creature in Magic. Autochthon Wurm, printed in Ravnica takes the title of largest-toughness creature, while Krosan Cloudscraper has the largest power, and largest sum of power and toughness. Marit Lage, a token creature generated by the land Dark Depths of Coldsnap, is now the most powerful creature in the game, with 20 power and toughness.
• Mistform Ultimus - An enigmatic Mistform creature. It is of every creature type (even when it isn't in play). This characteristic leads to many devastating combos. In an average deck, it's just a legendary Giant Squid. Wizards often updates its creature types, and has jokingly commented that the Ultimus is a mutant ninja turtle. According to the Card of The Day feature on Magic's online site, if all the creature types were listed on Mistform Ultimus, the text would be .40 point. It is one of the cards which got reprinted in Time Spiral, and is now a legendary creature (due to Legend being a creature type before Kamigawa legend rules change).
• Phage the Untouchable - Jeska (Kamahl's sister) healed and corrupted with Cabal magic. She has developed a power almost similar to the First's: a touch so strong it can rapidly rot flesh of those living and those which lived (even Planeswalker flesh, as is reflected with her ability). Oddly, Phage can't kill indestructible stuff like Darksteel Colossus and the Myojin (if they're divine). However, it makes sense that Phage can't destroy creatures made of Darksteel, because her rotting touch only affects organic material, with the exception of silk. Due to Phage's cost and drawback, she doesn't see much tournament play (though, she does make for devastating casual games), and has gained the nickname "Phage the Unplayable."
• Timberwatch Elf - A common elf that, when tapped for its ability, could give a creature a power/toughness boost equal to the number of elves in play, it is a staple of both competitive and casual elves decks. Also, its power reflects the strong "linear" theme of the Onslaught block.

External links

• Legions Product Page