Ravnica block

:''Not to be confused with [[:Category:Return to Ravnica block|Category:Return to Ravnica block]].''

The '''Ravnica block''' is the 11^th [[Block (sets)|block]], comprising of the [[large expansion]] ''[[Ravnica: City of Guilds]]'' ({{Set symbol|RAV symbol.gif}}) and the two [[small expansion]]s ''[[Guildpact]]'' ({{Set symbol|GPT symbol.gif}}) and ''[[Dissension]]'' ({{Set symbol|DIS symbol.gif}}). The block was released in 2005{{En}}2006.

==Sets==

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default [[Ravnica: City of Guilds]]

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default [[Guildpact]]

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default [[Dissension]]

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==Details==

===Development codenames===

The development codenames for Ravnica block expansions are "Control", "Alt", and "Delete".<ref>{{Arcref|714|Ravnica Revealed|December 16, 2004}}</ref>

==Themes and mechanics==

===Themes===

Thematically, the Ravnica block was multicolor-centered and, thus, was the spiritual successor to the [[Invasion block]] of 2000{{En}}2001. The Ravnica block was the first block to introduce the "guild model", wherein a number of guilds, each of which with its own cards and abilities and/or keywords, would be as introduced in an expansion and be as developed and complex as they would be (until returning to the block, as in [[Return to Ravnica block]]), rather than the traditional model of expansions, wherein abilities and/or [[keywords]] would be introduced in the first of usually three expansions and then progressively increase in complexity throughout the block.

===Mechanics===

The keywords introduced in the Ravnica block were:

*[[Bloodthirst]]

*[[Convoke]]

*[[Dredge]]

*[[Forecast]]

*[[Graft]]

*[[Haunt]]

*[[Hellbent]]

*[[Radiance]]

*[[Replicate]]

*[[Transmute]].

In addition to these 10 keywords, the Ravnica block was the first block to feature [[hybrid mana]] costs and hybrid cards. Each of Ravnica's 10 guilds featured three hybrid cards, one at each level of rarity [[mythic rare|as of then]]; common, uncommon, and rare.

==Mega cycles==

11 [[mega cycle]]s, each comprising 10 cards, one for each [[Guilds of Ravnica]], are featured across the block. The exception to this is the "unbalanced gold card" cycle, which has two cards for each guild.

*'''Guild Champions''': <c>Grand Arbiter Augustin IV</c>, <c>Teysa, Orzhov Scion</c>, <c>Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran</c>, <c>Tolsimir Wolfblood</c>, <c>Circu, Dimir Lobotomist</c>, <c>Tibor and Lumia</c>, <c>Momir Vig, Simic Visionary</c>, <c>Lyzolda, the Blood Witch</c>, <c>Savra, Queen of the Golgari</c>, and <c>Ulasht, the Hate Seed</c> {{-}} These [[legendary]] multicolor creatures, one for each two-color pair, and each costing, rewarded players for playing with cards of their two colors, often doubly so for using multicolor cards. For instance, Augustin reduced the cost of white spells and blue spells by {{1}}, and multicolor white/blue cards by {{2}}.

*'''Guildmasters''': <c>Isperia the Inscrutable</c>, <c>Ghost Council of Orzhova</c>, <c>Razia, Boros Archangel</c>, <c>Chorus of the Conclave</c>, <c>Szadek, Lord of Secrets</c>, <c>Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind</c>, <c>Experiment Kraj</c>, <c>Rakdos the Defiler</c>, <c>Sisters of Stone Death</c>, and <c>Borborygmos</c> {{-}} These [[legendary]] multicolor creatures, one for each two-color pair, and each of which cost a certain amount of colorless mana plus two mana each of their respective colors, produced powerful effects thematically tied to their respective colors. For instance, Niv-Mizzet allows for both card-drawing (a blue trait) and direct damage (a red trait).

*'''Guildmages''': <c>Azorius Guildmage</c>, <c>Orzhov Guildmage</c>, <c>Boros Guildmage</c>, <c>Selesnya Guildmage</c>, <c>Dimir Guildmage</c>, <c>Izzet Guildmage</c>, <c>Simic Guildmage</c>, <c>Rakdos Guildmage</c>, <c>Golgari Guildmage</c>, and <c>Gruul Guildmage</c> {{-}} Each of these uncommon 2/2 creatures costs two [[hybrid mana]] of its guild's colors. Each has two activated abilities relating to its guild's colors. For instance, <c>Simic Guildmage</c> can move [[aura]]s from one creature to another (a blue ability) and +1/+1 [[counter]]s from one creature to another (a green ability).

*'''Common Hybrid Spells''': <c>Minister of Impediments</c>, <c>Mourning Thrull</c>, <c>Boros Recruit</c>, <c>Centaur Safeguard</c>, <c>Lurking Informant</c>, <c>Petrahydrox</c>, <c>Shielding Plax</c>, <c>Riot Spikes</c>, <c>Gaze of the Gorgon</c>, and <c>Wild Cantor</c> {{-}} Each of these common spells has exactly one hybrid mana in its mana cost.

*'''Rare Hybrid Spells''': <c>Dovescape</c>, <c>Debtors' Knell</c>, <c>Master Warcraft</c>, <c>Privileged Position</c>, <c>Shadow of Doubt</c>, <c>Djinn Illuminatus</c>, <c>Biomantic Mastery</c>, <c>Avatar of Discord</c>, <c>Gleancrawler</c>, and <c>Giant Solifuge</c> {{-}} Each of these rare spells has at least two hybrid mana in its mana cost.

*'''Guild Artifacts''': <c>Walking Archive</c>, <c>Moratorium Stone</c>, <c>Sunforger</c>, <c>Crown of Convergence</c>, <c>Bloodletter Quill</c>, <c>Mizzium Transreliquat</c>, <c>Evolution Vat</c>, <c>Rakdos Riteknife</c>, <c>Plague Boiler</c>, and <c>Gruul War Plow</c> {{-}} Each of these rare [[artifact]]s have an ability thematically linked to its guild, requiring mana of both of that guild's colors to take full advantage of it.

*'''Signets''': <c>Azorius Signet</c>, <c>Orzhov Signet</c>, <c>Boros Signet</c>, <c>Selesnya Signet</c>, <c>Dimir Signet</c>, <c>Izzet Signet</c>, <c>Simic Signet</c>, <c>Rakdos Signet</c>, <c>Golgari Signet</c>, and <c>Gruul Signet</c> {{-}} Each of these common [[artifact]]s has "{{1}}, {{T}}: Add (one mana each of the respective guild's color) to your mana pool."

*'''[[Karoo lands#The Ravnica cycle|Bounce Lands]]''': <c>Azorius Chancery</c>, <c>Orzhov Basilica</c>, <c>Boros Garrison</c>, <c>Selesnya Sanctuary</c>, <c>Dimir Aqueduct</c>, <c>Izzet Boilerworks</c>, <c>Simic Growth Chamber</c>, <c>Rakdos Carnarium</c>, <c>Golgari Rot Farm</c>, and <c>Gruul Turf</c> {{-}} Each of these common lands has "This card comes into play tapped. When this card comes into play, return a land you control to its owner's hand." Each could be tapped for one mana each of the appropriate colors. Each was illustrated by John Avon.

*'''[[Guild Lands]]''': <c>Prahv, Spires of Order</c>; <c>Orzhova, the Church of Deals</c>; <c>Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion</c>; <c>Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree</c>; <c>Duskmantle, House of Shadow</c>; <c>Nivix, Aerie of the Firemind</c>; <c>Novijen, Heart of Progress</c>; <c>Rix Maadi, Dungeon Palace</c>; <c>Svogthos, the Restless Tomb</c>; and <c>Skarrg, the Rage Pits</c> {{-}} Each of these uncommon lands, representing the headquarters of each of [[Ravnica (plane)|Ravnica]]'s guilds, could be tapped for {{1}}. Each also had an activated ability whose cost included one mana of each of its guild's respective colors, tied to each guild's theme. For instance, Vitu-Ghazi could produce [[saproling]] tokens, which was beneficial to the [[Selesnya Conclave]]'s [[Convoke]] ability. Each was illustrated by Martina Pilcerova.

*'''[[Shocklands]]''': <c>Hallowed Fountain</c>, <c>Godless Shrine</c>, <c>Sacred Foundry</c>, <c>Temple Garden</c>, <c>Watery Grave</c>, <c>Steam Vents</c>, <c>Breeding Pool</c>, <c>Blood Crypt</c>, <c>Overgrown Tomb</c>, and <c>Stomping Ground</c> {{-}} Each of these rare [[dual lands]] had two basic land types, could be tapped for two colors of mana, and came into play tapped unless its controller paid 2 life. Each was illustrated by Rob Alexander.

*'''Common Gold Ability Spells''': Each of these common gold cards hold the guild's ability {{-}} <c>Guardian of Vitu-Ghazi</c>, <c>Plumes of Peace</c>, <c>Perplex</c>, <c>Gobhobbler Rats</c>, <c>Scab-Clan Mauler</c>, <c>Vigean Hydropon</c>, <c>Leap of Flame</c>, <c>Rally the Righteous</c>, <c>Blind Hunter</c>, <c>Shambling Shell</c>.

*'''Unbalanced Gold Cards''': Each of these cards are one of 2 gold cards for every guild that have 2 of one color and only 1 of the other, with rarity varying: [[Azorius]]: <c>Azorius Ploy</c> and <c>Swift Silence</c>; [[Orzhov]]: <c>Souls of the Faultless</c> and <c>Culling Sun</c>; [[Boros]]: <c>Flame-Kin Zealot</c> and <c>Firemane Angel</c>; [[Selesnya]]: <c>Congregation at Dawn</c> and <c>Phytohydra</c>; [[Dimir]]: <c>Clutch of the Undercity</c> and <c>Mindleech Mass</c>; [[Izzet]]: <c>Goblin Flectomancer</c> and <c>Invoke the Firemind</c>; [[Simic]]: <c>Omnibian</c> and <c>Voidslime</c>; [[Rakdos]]: <c>Anthem of Rakdos</c> and <c>Rakdos Augermage</c>; [[Golgari]]: <c>Drooling Groodion</c> and <c>Grave-Shell Scarab</c>; [[Gruul]]: <c>Skarrgan Skybreaker</c> and <c>Rumbling Slum</c>

Two mega cycles exist across the three sets, each made up of twenty cards. Each cycle has to do with their guild's other mana symbols:

*The mono-color permanents that have activated abilities that use their guild's other mana symbol (there are two for each guild): [[Azorius]]: <c>Soulsworn Jury</c> and <c>Ocular Halo</c>; [[Dimir]]: <c>Tattered Drake</c> and <c>Roofstalker Wight</c>; [[Rakdos]]: <c>Nettling Curse</c> and <c>Kill-Suit Cultist</c>; [[Gruul]]: <c>Ghor-Clan Bloodscale</c> and <c>Gruul Nodorog</c>; [[Selesnya]]: <c>Transluminant</c> and <c>Votary of the Conclave</c>; [[Orzhov]]: <c>Shadow Lance</c> and <c>Ostiary Thrull</c>; [[Izzet]]: <c>Torch Drake</c> and <c>Hypervolt Grasp</c>; [[Golgari]]: <c>Mortipede</c> and <c>Elves of Deep Shadow</c>; [[Boros]]: <c>Ordruun Commando</c> and <c>Screeching Griffin</c>; [[Simic]]: <c>Simic Ragworm</c> and <c>Silkwing Scout</c>.

:(Note that Elves of Deep Shadow is the exception to this cycle because it adds {{B}} to your mana pool instead of it being part of its activated ability's mana cost)

*The mono-colored spells that do something extra if you use their guild's other color to pay their mana costs; those in the ''Ravnica'' set are spells with additional effects, those in the ''Guildpact'' set are creatures that gain enter-the-battlefield abilities, and those in ''Dissension'' are creatures with enter-the-battlefield abilities that are sacrificed unless paid for with the other color: Azorius: <c>Azorius Herald</c> and <c>Court Hussar</c>; Dimir: <c>Induce Paranoia</c> and <c>Ribbons of Night</c>; Rakdos: <c>Crypt Champion</c> and <c>Squealing Devil</c>; Gruul: <c>Tin Street Hooligan</c> and <c>Gruul Scrapper</c>; Selesnya: <c>Dryad's Caress</c> and <c>Seed Spark</c>; Orzhov: <c>Shrieking Grotesque</c> and <c>Revenant Patriarch</c>; Izzet: <c>Steamcore Weird</c> and <c>Ogre Savant</c>; Golgari: <c>Vigor Mortis</c> and <c>Rolling Spoil</c>; Boros: <c>Flash Conscription</c> and <c>Boros Fury-Shield</c>; Simic: <c>Patagia Viper</c> and <c>Plaxmanta</c>.

==Fat packs==

[[Image:DissensionLifeCounter.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Dissension Life Counter featuring <c>Rakdos the Defiler</c> art]]

Ravnica block [[fat pack|fat packs]] featured specially designed life counters with artwork from the sets instead of the [[Spindown life counter|spindown life counters]] normally found in fat packs.

{{Clear}}

==Theme decks==

{{Main|Ravnica block/Preconstructed theme decks}}

The Ravnica block contains 10 theme decks each representing their respective guild.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Sets}}

[[Category:Magic blocks]]