The Guilds of Ravnica block is the unofficial name for three large expansions set on Ravnica that were released between October 2018 and May 2019.[1][2]
Description[ | ]
It is not a block in the traditional sense, because there is no mechanical overlap and the sets are drafted on their own. Blocks were abandoned in 2018 with the introduction of the Three-and-One Model, but that didn't mean that consecutive expansions couldn't be set on the same plane.[3]
The series consists of Guilds of Ravnica (), Ravnica Allegiance () and War of the Spark (). The first two each are focused on five of the ten Ravnican guilds. They are what you would expect a return to Ravnica to be and it needed to be two to fit in all the guilds.[4][5] The third set will focus on the culmination of the Bolas Arc, the storyline around the fight of the Gatewatch against Nicol Bolas, and not on the guilds. The latter is its own unique thing.[4][6]
The following guilds are represented in each of the first two sets:
- Guilds of Ravnica: House Dimir (), Selesnya Conclave (), Izzet League (), Golgari Swarm (), and Boros Legion ().
- Ravnica Allegiance: Azorius Senate (), Cult of Rakdos (), Gruul Clans (), Orzhov Syndicate (), and Simic Combine ().
Storyline[ | ]
The guilds fight internally between the forces pulling them toward or away from Bolas's influence. In the end, five fall under his influence, and five don't. The five guilds that fall to Bolas all have a planeswalker leading the guild.[7] Guilds of Ravnica and Ravnica Allegiance are mostly concurrent with Ixalan and Dominaria so the Gatewatch is busy elsewhere storywise.[8]
Guild Kits[ | ]
The first two sets are accompanied by Guild Kits.[9] Each Guild Kit features a 60-card preconstructed theme deck flavored after one of the featured guilds, combining cards from every Ravnica set released so far. The reprints aren't Standard legal.[10] The Kits are packaged with appropriate pins, stickers, and spindown life counters. They use the guild symbols as expansion symbols.
Mythic Edition[ | ]
Each set is accompanied by a Mythic Edition.[11] Each Mythic Edition contains 24 boosters of the respective set. Eight of these are specially marked and contain a Masterpiece card.[12][13] Each Mythic Edition uses the same expansion symbol ().
- Mythic Edition (Guilds of Ravnica)
- Mythic Edition (Ravnica Allegiance)
- Mythic Edition (War of the Spark)
Mega cycles[ | ]
Ravnica Inquisition[ | ]
The Ravnica Inquisition annex set / board game is thematically connected, but isn't part of the block.
References[ | ]
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May 18, 2018). "2018 Spring Announcement Day". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 18, 2018). "In the summer announcements video gavin mentions...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 12, 2017). "Metamorphosis 2.0". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (May 18, 2018). "Going back to ravnica is exciting but getting 3...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 10, 2018). "Guild to Order, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 20, 2018). "As you look to revisit ravnica three times will...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 11, 2018). "In your guild to order article you said the five...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 11, 2018). "So are there only 5 planeswalkers in guilds...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Gavin Verhey (November 1, 2018). "Building the Guild Kits". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 18, 2018). "Will the reprints in the ravnica guild kits be...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (January 10, 2019). "Ravnica Allegiance Mythic Edition". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (September 4, 2018). "Guilds of Ravnica Packaging, Promos, and More". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic: The Gathering Twitter
External links[ | ]
- Mark Rosewater (August 7, 2023). "Lessons Learned, Part 5". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.