Changes: Weatherlight

Weatherlight
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description	Thran Tome
Design	Dan Cervelli (lead); Mike Elliott; Joel Mick; Teeuwynn Woodruff
Development	Mike Elliott (lead); William Jockusch; Bill Rose; Mark Rosewater; Henry Stern
Art direction	Sue-Ann Harkey
Release date	June 9, 1997
Plane	Dominaria (Jamuraa)
Themes and mechanics	"Graveyard matters"
Keywords/ability words	Cumulative upkeep, Flanking, Phasing
Set size	167 cards; (62 commons, 55 uncommons, 50 rares)
Expansion code	WTH
Development codename	Mocha Latte
Mirage block
Magic: The Gathering Chronology

Revision as of 14:27, 26 June 2021

Weatherlight

Theme decks

For the most powerful of the Legacy artifacts, see Skyship Weatherlight.

Weatherlight is the eleventh Magic expansion, released in June 1997 as the third set and second small expansion of the Mirage block. Weatherlight also saw the beginning of the Weatherlight Saga, the most important Magic storyline that would continue through 2001.^[3]

Set details

The set contains 167 black-bordered cards (50 rare, 55 uncommon, and 62 commons). It is considered an expansion for Mirage, as well as for the basic set. Its expansion symbol is the Thran Tome, an important artifact of the Legacy whose contents change depending on who reads it. Among the information contained in the Tome is the components and intended operation of the Legacy itself.^[4]

Marketing

The set was sold in booster packs containing 15 cards (1 rare, 3 uncommon, and 11 common). All boosters featured the same artwork from the card Steel Golem. While previous sets only included allusions to an overarching story, Weatherlight was the first set to explicitly tell an ordered narrative focused on developed, archetypical characters. The new approach to designing and marketing Magic proved to be a huge success both popularly and commercially. Weatherlight also set the stage for the books of the Rath Cycle storyline.

Storyline

Four thousand years after Urza and Mishra reopened the portal to Phyrexia, the evil lord Yawgmoth sits poised to invade his one-time home - Dominaria. The plane's only hope for survival is a cache of powerful artifacts known collectively as the Legacy. When put together to assemble a powerful doomsday weapon, these artifacts will have the potential to destroy the dark powers that will try to invade the planet. The focal point of this weapon is a flying ship called Weatherlight, and its intrepid crew searches the planes to find all of the pieces of the Legacy before the invasion commences. Only the reluctant leadership of Gerrard Capashen and the skills of Squee the cabin boy and Tahngarth the hulking minotaur will save the day. It doesn't help that captain Sisay has been kidnapped, and they have to travel to the plane of Rath to save her before they can complete their destiny. And Gerrard, of course, will have to live up to his own overwhelming responsibilities by facing his blood brother Vuel, who has changed his name to Volrath and sold out any semblance of goodness he had by becoming Yawgmoth's first in command.

Magic online

Weatherlight was released on Magic Online on December 12, 2007. Release events began on December 14, 2007.^[5]

Themes and mechanics

Weatherlight was designed completely independently from the group that designed Mirage and Visions, but it was decided for coherency to use elements of the earlier two sets to make the third set feel like part of the block. However, the Weatheright design team embraced a theme that had nothing to do with the previous sets; it is the first set where the graveyard is strongly mechanically relevant.^[6]

Weatherlight contained no new named mechanics. It contained the following previously used mechanics: Banding, Cumulative upkeep. Two themes include:

"Graveyard order matters" — Cards which refer to the order of cards in a player's graveyard (see Spinning Darkness),
"Sacrifice buyouts" — Creature cards which have triggered abilities that tell you to sacrifice them unless you pay a cost or perform an action (see Barrow Ghoul).

Creature types

The following creature types are introduced in this expansion: Aboroth (later changed to Elemental). Avizoa (later changed to Jellyfish), Barishi (later changed to Elemental), Behemoth (later changed to Elemental), Gatekeeper (later changed to Horror), Peacekeeper (later changed to Human), Thundermare (later changed to Elemental Horse), Undead (later changed to Horror and Wraith).

The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets: Atog, Bear, Bird, Cleric, Cyclops, Djinn, Dragon, Drake, Dwarf, Elemental, Elephant, Elf, Falcon (later changed to Bird), Fish, Ghost (later changed to Spirit), Giant, Goblin, Griffin, Hound (later changed to Dog), Illusion, Knight, Merfolk, Minotaur, Ogre, Ooze, Orc, Rat, Serpent, Snake, Soldier, Spirit, Treefolk, Unicorn, Wall, Wizard, Wolf, Wurm, Zombie.

Cycles

Weatherlight has three cycles:

Cycle name
Sac-Auras	Kithkin Armor	Phantom Wings	Coils of the Medusa	Fire Whip	Briar Shield
Sac-Auras	Each of these common aura enchantments can be sacrificed for an extra effect.
Cumulative upkeep spells	Inner Sanctum	Psychic Vortex	Gallowbraid	Heart of Bogardan	Aboroth
Cumulative upkeep spells	Each of these rare permanents costs NCC and has a cumulative upkeep cost or effect that can allow it to grow without the use of mana.
Rare spells	Tariff	Paradigm Shift	Urborg Justice	Firestorm	Nature's Resurgence
Rare spells	Each of these rare instants or sorceries have an effect that can be determined as more beneficial if the caster is at a disadvantage.

Mega-mega cycle

Cycle name
Atogs	Auratog (Tempest)	Chronatog (Visions)	Necratog (Weatherlight)	Atog (Antiquities)	Foratog (Mirage)
Atogs	Necratog is the fourth card of this mega-mega cycle of creatures that was started in Antiquities with the eponymous Atog. A new number of this cycle would be printed in each of the following three sets (Visions, Weatherlight, and Tempest).

Functional reprints

Weatherlight has two functional reprints:

Cloud Djinn is a functional reprint of Cloud Dragon from Portal, save for creature type.
Fallow Wurm is a functional reprint of Thundering Wurm from Portal.

Notable cards

Gemstone Mine
Lotus Vale was very popular, although it was very vulnerable to land destruction.
Null Rod has become a powerful artifact stopping cards in Vintage tournaments.
Redwood Treefolk is one of the first cards that improved upon its predecessor. It cost the same as Ironroot Treefolk at but had a power/toughness of 3/6 instead of the latter's 3/5.

Theme decks

The Mirage block theme decks were designed for MTGO, as these expansion sets were printed before theme decks were first printed in the Tempest block.

The pre-constructed theme decks are:

Theme deck name	Colors Included
Theme deck name
Air Forces	W	U
Dead and Alive			B
Fiery Fury				R
Gatecrasher				R	G

References

↑ http://octgn.blogspot.de/2005/12/alpha-thru-ravnica-patch.html
↑ Wizards of the Coast (August 02, 2004). "Ask Wizards - August, 2004". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ Mark Rosewater (December 3, 2007). "Weather(light) Report". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ Brady Dommermuth (October 31, 2006). "Ask Wizards". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ Devin Low (December 07, 2007). "My Weatherlight Deck Box". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ Mark Rosewater (December 7, 2009). "Playing with Blocks". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

External links

Official Weatherlight Information Product Page — Magic: The Gathering (old)
Weatherlight product information page — Wizards of the Coast (new)

[1] ttp://octgn.blogspot.de/2005/12/alpha-thru-ravnica-patch.html

[expansion_code-2] Wizards of the Coast (August 02, 2004). "Ask Wizards - August, 2004". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[3] Mark Rosewater (December 3, 2007). "Weather(light) Report". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[4] Brady Dommermuth (October 31, 2006). "Ask Wizards". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[5] Devin Low (December 07, 2007). "My Weatherlight Deck Box". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[6] Mark Rosewater (December 7, 2009). "Playing with Blocks". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{SubTabs
-{{otheruses}}
+|sub1 = Theme decks
+}}
 {{Infobox set
-  |logo = [[File:WTH logo.png|250px]]
+  |image = WTH logo.png
+  |image_bgcolor = white
-  |symbol description = Thran Tome
+  |symbol_description = Thran Tome
-  |design team = [[Dan Cervelli]] (lead)<br/>[[Mike Elliott]]<br/>[[Joel Mick]]<br/>[[Teeuwynn Woodruff]]
-  |development team = Mike Elliott (lead)<br/>[[William Jockusch]]<br/>[[Bill Rose]]<br/>[[Mark Rosewater]]<br/>[[Henry Stern]]
+  |design = [[Dan Cervelli]] (lead)<br/>[[Mike Elliott]]<br/>[[Joel Mick]]<br/>[[Teeuwynn Woodruff]]
+  |development = Mike Elliott (lead)<br/>[[William Jockusch]]<br/>[[Bill Rose]]<br/>[[Mark Rosewater]]<br/>[[Henry Stern]]
-  |art director = [[Sue-Ann Harkey]]
+  |art = [[Sue-Ann Harkey]]
-  |date_release = June 9, 1997<ref>[http://octgn.blogspot.de/2005/12/alpha-thru-ravnica-patch.html http://octgn.blogspot.de/2005/12/alpha-thru-ravnica-patch.html]</ref>
+  |release = June 9, 1997<ref>[http://octgn.blogspot.de/2005/12/alpha-thru-ravnica-patch.html http://octgn.blogspot.de/2005/12/alpha-thru-ravnica-patch.html]</ref>
+  |plane = [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]] ([[Jamuraa]])
   |mechanics = "[[Graveyard]] matters"
   |keywords = [[Cumulative upkeep]], [[Flanking]], [[Phasing]]
-  |size= 167 (62 Common 55 Uncommon 50 Rare)
+  |size= 167 cards<br/>{{curmb|62|55|50}}
   |code_expansion = WTH
-  |code_expansion_ref=<ref>{{NewRef|ask-wizards-august-2004-2004-08-02|Ask Wizards - August, 2004|Wizards of the Coast|2004-08-02}}</ref>
+  |code_expansion_ref= {{DailyRef|ask-wizards-august-2004-2004-08-02|Ask Wizards - August, 2004|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|August 02, 2004}}
   |code_development = Mocha Latte
-  |block name = [[Mirage block]]
+  |series = [[Mirage block]]
-  |first set = [[Mirage]]
+  |first = Mirage
-  |second set = [[Visions]]
+  |second = Visions
-  |third set = [[Weatherlight]]
+  |third = Weatherlight
-  |previous set = [[Portal]]
+  |previous = Portal
-  |next set = [[Tempest]]
+  |next = Tempest
 }}
+{{For|the most powerful of the Legacy artifacts|Skyship Weatherlight}}
-'''Weatherlight''' is the eleventh ''[[Magic]]'' expansion, released in June 1997 as the third set and second [[small expansion]] of the [[Mirage block]]. ''Weatherlight'' also saw the beginning of the [[Weatherlight Saga]], the most important Magic storyline that would continue through 2001.<ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/weatherlight-report-2007-12-03|Weather(light) Report|[[Mark Rosewater]]|December 3, 2007}}</ref>
+'''''Weatherlight''''' is the eleventh ''[[Magic]]'' expansion, released in June 1997 as the third set and second [[small expansion]] of the [[Mirage block]]. ''Weatherlight'' also saw the beginning of the [[Weatherlight Saga]], the most important ''Magic'' storyline that would continue through 2001.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/weatherlight-report-2007-12-03|Weather(light) Report|[[Mark Rosewater]]|December 3, 2007}}</ref>
 ==Set details==
-The set contains 167 black-bordered cards (50 rare, 55 uncommon, and 62 commons). It is considered an expansion for ''Mirage'', as well as for the [[basic set]]. Its expansion symbol is the <c>Thran Tome</c>, an important artifact of [[the Legacy]] whose contents change depending on who reads it. Among the information contained in the Tome is the components and intended operation of the Legacy itself.<ref>{{NewRef|ask-wizards-october-2006-2006-10-02|Ask Wizards|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|October 31, 2006}}</ref>
+The set contains 167 black-bordered cards (50 rare, 55 uncommon, and 62 commons). It is considered an expansion for ''Mirage'', as well as for the [[basic set]]. Its expansion symbol is the <c>Thran Tome</c>, an important artifact of [[the Legacy]] whose contents change depending on who reads it. Among the information contained in the Tome is the components and intended operation of the Legacy itself.<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-october-2006-2006-10-02|Ask Wizards|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|October 31, 2006}}</ref>
 ===Marketing===
 The set was sold in [[booster pack]]s containing 15 cards (1 rare, 3 uncommon, and 11 common). All boosters featured the same artwork from the card <c>Steel Golem</c>. While previous sets only included allusions to an overarching story, ''Weatherlight'' was the first set to explicitly tell an ordered narrative focused on developed, archetypical characters. The new approach to designing and marketing Magic proved to be a huge success both popularly and commercially. ''Weatherlight'' also set the stage for the books of the [[Rath Cycle]] storyline.
 ===Storyline===
-Four thousand years after [[Urza]] and [[Mishra]] reopened the portal to [[Phyrexia]], the evil lord [[Yawgmoth]] sits poised to invade his one-time home - [[Dominaria]]. The plane's only hope for survival is a cache of powerful [[artifacts]] known collectively as [[the Legacy]]. When put together to assemble a powerful dooms-day weapon, these artifacts will have the potential to destroy the dark powers that will try to invade the planet. The focal point of this weapon is a flying ship called ''[[Skyship Weatherlight|Weatherlight]]'', and its intrepid crew searches the planes to find all of the pieces of the Legacy before the invasion commences. Only the reluctant leadership of [[Gerrard Capashen]] and the skills of [[Squee]] the cabin boy and [[Tahngarth]] the hulking [[minotaur]] will save the day. It doesn't help that captain [[Sisay]] has been kidnapped, and they have to travel to the plane of [[Rath]] to save her before they can complete their destiny. And Gerrard, of course, will have to live up to his own overwhelming responsibilities by facing his blood brother [[Vuel]], who has changed his name to Volrath and sold out any semblance of goodness he had by becoming Yawgmoth's first in command.
+Four thousand years after [[Urza]] and [[Mishra]] reopened the portal to [[Phyrexia]], the evil lord [[Yawgmoth]] sits poised to invade his one-time home - [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]. The plane's only hope for survival is a cache of powerful [[artifacts]] known collectively as [[the Legacy]]. When put together to assemble a powerful doomsday weapon, these artifacts will have the potential to destroy the dark powers that will try to invade the planet. The focal point of this weapon is a flying ship called ''[[Skyship Weatherlight|Weatherlight]]'', and its intrepid crew searches the planes to find all of the pieces of the Legacy before the invasion commences. Only the reluctant leadership of [[Gerrard Capashen]] and the skills of [[Squee]] the cabin boy and [[Tahngarth]] the hulking [[minotaur]] will save the day. It doesn't help that captain [[Sisay]] has been kidnapped, and they have to travel to the plane of [[Rath]] to save her before they can complete their destiny. And Gerrard, of course, will have to live up to his own overwhelming responsibilities by facing his blood brother [[Vuel]], who has changed his name to Volrath and sold out any semblance of goodness he had by becoming Yawgmoth's first in command.
 ===Magic online===
-''Weatherlight'' was released on [[Magic Online]] on December 12, 2007. Release events began on December 14, 2007.<ref>{{NewRef|my-weatherlight-deck-box-2007-12-07|My Weatherlight Deck Box|[[Devin Low]]|December 07, 2007}}</ref>
+''Weatherlight'' was released on [[Magic Online]] on December 12, 2007. Release events began on December 14, 2007.<ref>{{DailyRef|my-weatherlight-deck-box-2007-12-07|My Weatherlight Deck Box|[[Devin Low]]|December 07, 2007}}</ref>
 ==Themes and mechanics==
-''Weatherlight'' was designed completely independently from the group that designed ''Mirage'' and ''Visions'', but it was decided for coherency to use elements of the earlier two sets to make the third set feel like part of the block. However, the ''Weatheright'' design team embraced a theme that had nothing to do with the previous sets; it is the first set where the [[graveyard]] is strongly mechanically relevant.<ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/playing-blocks-2009-12-07|Playing with Blocks|[[Mark Rosewater]]|December 7, 2009}}</ref>
+''Weatherlight'' was designed completely independently from the group that designed ''Mirage'' and ''Visions'', but it was decided for coherency to use elements of the earlier two sets to make the third set feel like part of the block. However, the ''Weatheright'' design team embraced a theme that had nothing to do with the previous sets; it is the first set where the [[graveyard]] is strongly mechanically relevant.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/playing-blocks-2009-12-07|Playing with Blocks|[[Mark Rosewater]]|December 7, 2009}}</ref>
 ''Weatherlight'' contained no new named mechanics. It contained the following previously used mechanics: [[Banding]], [[Cumulative upkeep]].  Two themes include:
@@ Line 41: / Line 46: @@
 ==Creature types==
-The following [[Creature type|creature types]] are introduced in this expansion: Aboroth (later changed to [[Elemental]]). Avizoa (later changed to [[Jellyfish]]), Barishi (later changed to Elemental), Behemoth (later changed to Elemental), Gatekeeper (later changed to [[Horror]]), Peacekeeper (later changed to [[Human]]), Thundermare (later changed to Elemental [[Horse]]), Undead (later changed to Horror and [[Wraith]]).
+The following [[creature type]]s are introduced in this expansion: Aboroth (later changed to [[Elemental]]). Avizoa (later changed to [[Jellyfish]]), Barishi (later changed to Elemental), Behemoth (later changed to Elemental), Gatekeeper (later changed to [[Horror]]), Peacekeeper (later changed to [[Human]]), Thundermare (later changed to Elemental [[Horse]]), Undead (later changed to Horror and [[Wraith]]).
-The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets:  [[Atog]], [[Bear]], [[Bird]], [[Cleric]], [[Cyclops]], [[Djinn]], [[Dragon]], [[Drake]], [[Dwarf]], Elemental, [[Elephant]], [[Elf]], Falcon (later changed to Bird), [[Fish]], Ghost (later changed to [[Spirit]]), [[Giant]], [[Goblin]], [[Griffin]], [[Hound]], [[Illusion]], [[Knight]], [[Merfolk]], [[Minotaur]], [[Ogre]], [[Ooze]], [[Orc]], [[Rat]], [[Serpent]], [[Snake]], [[Soldier]], Spirit, [[Treefolk]], [[Unicorn]], [[Wall]], [[Wizard]], [[Wolf]], [[Wurm]], [[Zombie]].
+The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets:  [[Atog]], [[Bear]], [[Bird]], [[Cleric]], [[Cyclops]], [[Djinn]], [[Dragon]], [[Drake]], [[Dwarf]], Elemental, [[Elephant]], [[Elf]], Falcon (later changed to Bird), [[Fish]], Ghost (later changed to [[Spirit]]), [[Giant]], [[Goblin]], [[Griffin]], Hound (later changed to [[Dog]]), [[Illusion]], [[Knight]], [[Merfolk]], [[Minotaur]], [[Ogre]], [[Ooze]], [[Orc]], [[Rat]], [[Serpent]], [[Snake]], [[Soldier]], Spirit, [[Treefolk]], [[Unicorn]], [[Wall]], [[Wizard]], [[Wolf]], [[Wurm]], [[Zombie]].
 ==Cycles==
 ''Weatherlight'' has three [[cycle]]s:
+{| class="wikitable"
-* '''Sac-Auras''': Each of these common [[aura]] enchantments can be sacrificed for an extra effect: <c>Kithkin Armor</c>, <c>Phantom Wings</c>, <c>Coils of the Medusa</c>, <c>Fire Whip</c>, and <c>Briar Shield</c>.
+! Cycle name
-* '''Cumulative Upkeep spells''': Each of these rare permanents costs NCC and has a cumulative upkeep cost or effect that can allow it to grow without the use of mana. {{-}} <c>Aboroth</c>, <c>Inner Sanctum</c>, <c>Psychic Vortex</c>, <c>Gallowbraid</c>, <c>Heart of Bogardan</c>.
+! {{W}}
-* '''Rare spells''': Each of these rare instants or sorceries have an effect that can be determined as more beneficial if the caster is at a disadvantage. {{-}} <c>Tariff</c>, <c>Paradigm Shift</c>, <c>Urborg Justice</c>, <c>Firestorm</c>, <c>Nature's Resurgence</c>.
+! {{U}}
+! {{B}}
+! {{R}}
+! {{G}}
+|-
+|rowspan="2"|'''Sac-Auras'''
+|{{card|Kithkin Armor||WTH}}
+|{{card|Phantom Wings||WTH}}
+|{{card|Coils of the Medusa||WTH}}
+|{{card|Fire Whip||WTH}}
+|{{card|Briar Shield||WTH}}
+|-
+|colspan="5"|Each of these common [[aura]] enchantments can be sacrificed for an extra effect.
+|-
+|rowspan="2"|'''Cumulative upkeep spells'''
+|{{card|Inner Sanctum||WTH}}
+|{{card|Psychic Vortex||WTH}}
+|{{card|Gallowbraid||WTH}}
+|{{card|Heart of Bogardan||WTH}}
+|{{card|Aboroth||WTH}}
+|-
+|colspan="5"|Each of these rare permanents costs NCC and has a cumulative upkeep cost or effect that can allow it to grow without the use of mana.
+|-
+|rowspan="2"|'''Rare spells'''
+|{{card|Tariff||WTH}}
+|{{card|Paradigm Shift||WTH}}
+|{{card|Urborg Justice||WTH}}
+|{{card|Firestorm||WTH}}
+|{{card|Nature's Resurgence||WTH}}
+|-
+|colspan="5"|Each of these rare instants or sorceries have an effect that can be determined as more beneficial if the caster is at a disadvantage.
+|}
+===Mega-mega cycle===
+{| class="wikitable"
+! Cycle name
+! {{W}}
+! {{U}}
+! {{B}}
+! {{R}}
+! {{G}}
+|-
+|rowspan="2"|'''Atogs'''
+|{{card|Auratog|Tempest}}
+|{{card|Chronatog|Visions}}
+|{{card|Necratog|Weatherlight}}
+|{{card|Atog|Antiquities}}
+|{{card|Foratog|Mirage}}
+|-
+|colspan="5"|{{card|Necratog||WTH}} is the fourth card of this mega-[[mega cycle]] of creatures that was started in [[Antiquities]] with the eponymous <c>Atog</c>. A new number of this cycle would be printed in each of the following three sets ([[Visions]], Weatherlight, and [[Tempest]]).
+|}
 ==Functional reprints==
-''Weatherlight'' has two [[Functional reprint]]s:
+''Weatherlight'' has two [[functional reprint]]s:
 *<c>Cloud Djinn</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Cloud Dragon</c> from ''[[Portal]]'', save for creature type.
 *<c>Fallow Wurm</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Thundering Wurm</c> from ''Portal''.
 ==Notable cards==
 *<c>Gemstone Mine</c>
@@ Line 83: / Line 141: @@
 *{{Prodpage|weatherlight|Weatherlight}} (new)
+{{Sets|state=collapsed}}
-{{The Weatherlight Saga}}
+{{Weatherlight Saga|state=collapsed}}
-{{Sets}}
+{{Dominaria|name=Mirage|block}}
-[[Category:Mirage block]]