The Lost Caverns of Ixalan | |||||
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Set Information | |||||
Set symbol | |||||
Symbol description | A Zoetic Glyph | ||||
Design | Mark Rosewater (lead), Mike Mearls, Ari Nieh, Cameron Williams, Chris Mooney, Dan Musser, Doug Beyer, Erik Lauer, Sam Jiang | ||||
Development | Jules Robins (co-lead), Erik Lauer (co-lead), Ethan Fleischer, Reggie Valk, Corey Bowen, Daniel Xu, Adam Prosak, Andrew Brown, Ben Weitz, Jadine Klomparens | ||||
Art direction | Ovidio Cartagena | ||||
Release date | November 17, 2023 | ||||
Plane | Ixalan | ||||
Themes and mechanics | TDFC's, Dinosaur Typal, Maps | ||||
Keywords/ability words | Craft, Descend, Discover, Explore | ||||
Set size | 291 + 124 | ||||
Expansion code | LCI[1] | ||||
Development codename | Offroading | ||||
Outlaws of Thunder Junction Standard | |||||
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Magic: The Gathering Chronology | |||||
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- For other uses, see Ixalan (disambiguation).
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan is the ninety-eighth Magic expansion. It was released on November 17, 2023.[2][3][4][5]
Set details[ | ]
“ | Treasure Bites Back! | ” |
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan is Magic's take on the “Underground World” trope.[6][7][8][9] It is not a traditional return set: R&D was making an underground set, and Ixalan felt like the best fit for it. It wasn’t the other way round.[10][11] As such, it is not a mechanical return to the previous set.[12] The set has Dinosaurs, Merfolk, Pirates, and Vampires, but it isn't factioned or particularly typal.[13][14] Thematically, it is more of an action/adventure set.[12][15]
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan contains 291 regular cards (108 commons, 92 uncommons, 64 rares, 22 mythic rares, 5 basic lands), and includes randomly inserted traditional foil versions of all cards. The regular cards include 5 full-art "Core" basic lands (#287-291).[16] Alternate card frames have a different card number than the original version. The mural-like "Legends of Ixalan" showcase cards are #292-313, and cards with the Gods of Ixalan treatment are #314-319. Borderless Dinosaurs are #320-332 while "Borderless Oltec" cards are #333-346. The Borderless Restless Lands are #347-351, #352 is the borderless Quintorius and extended art cards are #353-392. Bundle basic lands are #393-402. Promo cards are numbered #403-409. The Neon Ink versions of Cavern of Souls are #410a-410f.
Storyline[ | ]
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan is the second set in the Omenpath Arc. The story takes place a year after the events of March of the Machine. We revisit Ixalan, the plane packed with pirates and dinosaurs. Things have changed since the disappearance of the Immortal Sun. Once again, there is a scramble as the groups race toward the center of Ixalan in search of a new resource: cosmium. Once they get past the caves, they find that Ixalan is a hollow world with Ixalan's Core in the middle and lit by Chimil, its sun.[17] An ancient civilization, ancestors of the Sun Empire, uses the magic of Chimil to grow in power.
The cards that represent the Story Spotlights in Lost Caverns are:[18]
Magic Story[ | ]
Marketing[ | ]
The Lost Caverns is sold in regular 16-card Draft Boosters (one card being a marketing card), Draft Packs, Collector Boosters, Set Boosters, the Lost Caverns of Ixalan Bundle, a Gift Bundle and four Commander decks.
Cosmium Neon Ink[ | ]
This set sees the return of the "Neon Ink" treatment first seen in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty. Six extra versions of Cavern of Souls are printed in different neon colors.[17] Similarly, there are six additional versions of the Special Guest Mana Crypt in neon colors.
Box Toppers[ | ]
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan features a series of 20 box topper promos (8 uncommons, 7 rares, 5 mythic rares), referred to as the "Treasure Trove".[17][19] Ninteen cards are reprints from sets other than Ixalan block with one card from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan.
Special Guests[ | ]
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan introduces Special Guests. These are 18 highly desirable reprints with art and flavor text matched to the flavor of the plane they appear in.[19] They are incorporated in The List of Set Boosters but also may appear in Collector Boosters.[20] Special Guest cards have the set code SPG.[17]
- Lord of Atlantis
- Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator
- Bridge From Below
- Mephidross Vampire
- Pitiless Plunderer
- Breeches, Brazen Plunderer
- Dargo, the Shipwrecker
- Rampaging Ferocidon
- Underworld Breach
- Carnage Tyrant
- Polyraptor
- Ghalta, Primal Hunger
- Kalamax, the Stormsire
- Lord Windgrace
- Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist
- Thrasios, Triton Hero
- Mana Crypt (7 versions)
- Star Compass
Universes Beyond: Jurassic World[ | ]
The Jurassic World Collection set is a booster insert for The Lost Caves of Ixalan, similar to Transformers in The Brothers' War.[17] Jurassic World cards can be found in Set Boosters, Collector Booster and Bundles. Note that these are original designs, and not skinned cards.[20]
Events[ | ]
- Prerelease: November 10, 2023[21]
- Open House: November 17-19, 2023
- Friday Night Magic: November 17, 2023 – January 26, 2024
- Commander Nights: November 20, 2023 – February 1, 2024
- Lost Cavern of Ixalan Constructed: November 21, 2023 - November 23, 2023
- Store Championship: December 2 – 10, 2023
- Commander Party: December 15 – 17, 2023
Promos[ | ]
- Prerelease: a stamped card that can be any single-sided rare or mythic rare of The Lost Caverns of Ixalan.
- The seasonal dark-frame promos are: Spyglass Siren, Deep-Cavern Bat, Geological Appraiser, Cenote Scout, Bartolomé del Presidio.
- Open House: retro frame Ravenous Chupacabra
- Buy-a-Box: alternate art Jadelight Spelunker.[19]
- Bundle promo: alternate art Hit the Mother Lode.
- Store Championship promos: Cauldron Familiar (participation), Dark Petition (Top 8), textless Lier, Disciple of the Drowned (winner)
- 30th Anniversary promos: Dragonlord Atarka, Dramatic Reversal, Path of Ancestry and Beast Whisperer
- Commander Party: foil retro frame Unclaimed Territory
Tokens[ | ]
Lost Caverns has 18 tokens:[22]
- Copy for Saheeli, the Sun's Brilliance and Self-Reflection.
- 4/4 Angel creature with flying and vigilance for Resplendent Angel.
- */* Gnome Soldier artifact creature with "This creature's power and toughness are each equal to the number of artifacts and/or creatures you control" for Barracks of the Thousand and Thousand Moons Smithy.
- 1/1 Vampire creature with lifelink for Preacher of the Schism.
- 1/1 Merfolk creature with hexproof for Deeproot Pilgrimage.
- 1/1 Bat creature with flying for Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal, Bat Colony and Sanguine Evangelist.
- 1/1 Fungus creature with "This creature can't block." for Broodrage Mycoid, Synapse Necromage and The Mycotyrant.
- 2/2 Skeleton Pirate creature for Corpses of the Lost.
- 3/1 Dinosaur creature for Bonehoard Dracosaur and Poetic Ingenuity.
- 3/3 Dinosaur creature for Nurturing Bristleback, Palani's Hatcher and Roar of the Fifth People.
- 0/1 Dinosaur Egg creature for Palani's Hatcher.
- */* Fungus Dinosaur creature for The Skullspore Nexus.
- 4/4 Golem artifact creature for Master’s Guide-Mural and Master’s Manufactory.
- 3/2 Spirit creature for Quintorius Kand.
- 4/3 Vampire Demon creature with flying for Canonized in Blood and Vito, Fanatic of Aclazotz.
- 1/1 Gnome artifact creature for Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon, Cosmium Kiln, Envoy of Okinec Ahau, Oltec Cloud Guard, Threefold Thunderhulk and Tinker's Tote.
- Map artifact for Brackish Blunder, Cartographer's Companion, Fanatical Offering, Get Lost, Journey On, Restless Anchorage, Sentinel of the Nameless City, Spyglass Siren and Waterwind Scout.
- Treasure artifact for Ancestors' Aid, Bonehoard Dracosaur, Breeches, Eager Pillager, Careening Mine Cart, Contested Game Ball, Diamond Pick-Axe, Enterprising Scallywag, Greedy Freebooter, Hit the Mother Lode, Magmatic Galleon, Plundering Pirate, Poetic Ingenuity, The Belligerent, Treasure Map and Volatile Fault.
In addition, there are:
- A blank DFC Helper card
- A double-faced punch-out Counter card
Themes and mechanics[ | ]
Transforming double-faced cards are back with those that transform into lands with the Ixalan map-inspired card frame, and the new Craft mechanic. One Adventure card was printed as part of the plane-crossing storyline. The set also introduces descending and its related mechanics, discover, and explore makes a return. Finally, although it's not a primary focus like it was in Ixalan block, there are typal payoffs for Pirates, Merfolk, Vampires and especially Dinosaurs.[23]
Craft is a new way to transform artifacts. By paying a mana cost and exiling permanents you control from the battlefield or your graveyard with specified qualities, artifacts can transform into more powerful permanents.
Descend is a new mechanic that describes the act of putting a permanent card into a graveyard from anywhere. This is linked to two new ability words, Descend X describing triggers that activate if there are X permanent cards in your graveyard. and fathomless descent, which uses the number of permanent cards in your graveyard as a value.
Discover is a revamped version of cascade with more design space. Instead of being a cast trigger, it's a keyword action that always comes with a value. To Discover X, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a card with mana value X or less. To avoid whiffing on something like a counterspell, there is now a choice to cast the spell or simply put it into your hand. The other exiled cards are put on the bottom of your library.
Explore returns from the original Ixalan set, and now also features on Map tokens, a new predefined token.
Card types[ | ]
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan introduces the creature subtypes Capybara, Llama, and Snail. The set also introduces the artifact subtype Map. Map tokens have “, , Sacrifice this artifact: Target creature you control explores. Activate only as a sorcery.” Additionally, this set introduces the Quintorius planeswalker type.
In keeping with the set's theme of exploration and descent into the Core, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan introduces the Cave land type.
Counter types[ | ]
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan introduces Bore counters, Chorus counters, Dread counters, and the new deciduous Finality counters. It also sees the return of Landmark counters, Net counters, Point counters, and time counters for the first time since Ixalan, Fallen Empires, Strixhaven: School of Mages, and Doctor Who respectively.
Limited archetypes[ | ]
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan features the following Limited archetypes:[24]
- : Oltec Ingenuity (Artifact Control)
- : Echoes of the Dead (Descend Control)
- : Going Down! (Descending Beatdown)
- : Dinosaurs of the Sun Empire (Dinosaur Stompy)
- : Malamet Tactics (Buffs Aggro)
- : Dusk Legion Pilgrimage (Sacrifice)
- : Pirates' Plunder (Artifact Aggro)
- : Fungal Festering (Descend Grindy)
- : Thousand-Moon Legion (Tapping Midrange)
- : River Herald Expedition (Explore Midrange)
Cycles[ | ]
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan has eight cycles.
Double cycles[ | ]
Cycle name | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold rares | Abuelo, Ancestral Echo | Wail of the Forgotten | Molten Collapse | Palani's Hatcher | Kellan, Daring Traveler | Amalia Benavides Aguirre | The Belligerent | Squirming Emergence | Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon | Deepfathom Echo |
Ten rare dual-colored cards. | ||||||||||
Gold signposts | Master’s Guide-Mural | Uchbenbak, the Great Mistake | Zoyowa Lava-Tongue | Itzquinth, Firstborn of Gishath | Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar | Bartolomé del Presidio | Captain Storm, Cosmium Raider | Akawalli, the Seething Tower | Caparocti Sunborn | Nicanzil, Current Conductor |
Ten uncommon dual-colored cards, each a signpost for a draft archetype. |
Reprinted cards[ | ]
- Abrade — first printed in Hour of Devastation, last seen in Secret Lair Drop Series: Fall Superdrop 2023
- Cavern of Souls — first printed in Avacyn Restored, last seen in Lord of the Rings Commander
- Chart a Course — first printed in Ixalan, last seen in Jumpstart
- Dead Weight — first printed in Innistrad, last seen in Jumpstart 2022
- Gishath, Sun's Avatar — first printed in Ixalan, last seen in Secret Lair Drop Series: October Superdrop (2021)
- Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun — first printed in Ixalan
- Resplendent Angel — first printed in Core Set 2019
- Rumbling Rockslide — first printed in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
- Sorcerous Spyglass — first printed in Ixalan, last seen Timeshifted in Time Spiral Remastered and as a Secret Lair bonus Blueprint card
- Thrashing Brontodon — first printed in Rivals of Ixalan, last seen in Jumpstart 2022
- Treasure Map // Treasure Cove — first printed in Ixalan, last seen in Secret Lair Commander Deck: From Cute to Brute
Notable cards[ | ]
- On release in Magic: The Gathering Arena, Fabrication Foundry was found to have a bug that allowed players to return artifact cards with a mana value greater than the total exiled with its second ability.[25] The temporary ban did not remove the card from draft boosters but did render the card unplayable in limited formats.
Banned and restricted cards[ | ]
- Geological Appraiser resembled Bloodbraid Elf in many ways, but the distinct difference of having an entry trigger rather than a cast trigger meant that three-mana clone creatures would re-trigger the effect. With a supporting framework that let it combo off on turn 3, it was determined that Pioneer was not the space for this combo and it was banned there and in Explorer in December 2023.
- Amalia Benavides Aguirre helmed a combo deck in Pioneer alongside Wildgrowth Walker. Normally, when both were on the board and their controller gained life, it would almost certainly result in the Amalia player's victory, as they had a 20-power creature to swing into an empty board. However, the deck could also draw the game on command by finding any way to make Wildgrowth Walker indestructible, as Amalia's ability is not optional. This was deemed a problematic factor in the metagame and resulted in Amalia being banned in Pioneer on August 26, 2024.[26]
Preconstructed decks[ | ]
Lost Caverns features four Commander decks that are released as a regular part of a set's product line.[17]
Theme deck name |
Color Identity | Commander | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ahoy Mateys | U | B | R | Admiral Brass, Unsinkable | ||
Blood Rites | W | B | Clavileño, First of the Blessed | |||
Explorers of the Deep | U | G | Hakbal of the Surging Soul | |||
Veloci-Ramp-Tor | W | R | G | Pantlaza, Sun-Favored |
Gallery[ | ]
Key art[ | ]
Featuring Okinec Ahau by Ilse Gort.
Featuring Pantlaza by Lie Setiawan.
Map of the Caverns for Commander Party by Gaboleps.
"Dinosaur Temple" by Bryan Sola.
Featuring Anim Pakal by Nestor Ossandon Leal.
Featuring Huatli and Quint by Anna Podedworna.
Arena Avatars[ | ]
External links[ | ]
- Official product page.
- WPN product page.
- Mark Rosewater (November 6, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Vision Design Handoff Document, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Mark Rosewater (November 13, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Vision Design Handoff Document, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Mark Rosewater (August 19, 2024). "State of Design 2024". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
References[ | ]
- ↑ Information below the text box; MTGO Discord
- ↑ Wizards Presents 2022 (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (August 18, 2022).
- ↑ Adam Styborski (August 18, 2022). "The Next Year of Magic From Wizards Presents". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Billie Kaplan (August 10, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Arrives November 17, 2023". magicthegathering.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023.
- ↑ Jess Dunks and Eric Levine (November 3, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 11, 2022). "Is ‘The Lost Caverns of Ixalan” MtG’s rendition of the “Underground World” theme?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 21, 2023). "Why did you do this?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 4, 2023). "Do you consider Lost Caverns to be “underground world”?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 24, 2023). "Going Underground, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 27, 2022). "Maybe this is early to say but I'm really excited for the return to Ixalan but I'm slightly worried when looking at the sets right before it.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 21, 2023). "The new ixalan seems like it wont focus on this either in favor of another unseen part of ixalan.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b The Preview Panel at MagicCon: Barcelona (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (July 28, 2023).
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 30, 2023). "Does that mean that despite Ixalan being underground that we still retain parts of its identity before?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 3, 2023). "What are you adding by setting it on Ixalan?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 24, 2023). "Going Underground, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Zakeel Gordon (October 24, 2023). "Collecting The Lost caverns of Ixalan". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c d e f Adam Styborski (September 22, 2023). "A First Look at The Lost Caverns of Ixalan®". magicthegathering.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023.
- ↑ Clayton Kroh, Adam Styborski (November 2, 2023). "Story Spotlight Cards for The Lost Caverns of Ixalan". magicthegathering.com.
- ↑ a b c The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Showcase Treatment Overview. Wizards Play Network (October 24, 2023).
- ↑ a b Jess Lanzillo, Chris Kiritz, Athena Froehlich & Mark Rosewater (August 5, 2023). "Magic: The Gathering 30th Anniversary Panel at GenCon – A Recap of MTG's Past, Present & Future (Video)". Magic: The Gathering. YouTube.
- ↑ Gavin Verhey (November 6, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Prerelease Primer". Magic.gg.
- ↑ Kendall Pepple (November 3, 2023). "The Tokens of The Lost Caverns of Ixalan". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 30, 2023). "Going Underground, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 30, 2023). "Going Underground, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Nick Miller (November 15, 2023). "The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan Rare Temporarily Banned On MTG Arena". StarCityGames.
- ↑ https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/august-26-2024-banned-and-restricted-announcement