Mirrodin
Encyclopedia
Mirrodin was the 50th Magic: The Gathering
set, the 30th expert level set, and the first set in the Mirrodin Block, released in October 2003. It is a 306-card expansion set. It is also the name of the block containing the Mirrodin, Darksteel
and Fifth Dawn
expansion sets. This expansion, as well as the rest of the block, is centered around artifacts and is only the second set to do so (from a card frequency point of view) since Antiquities
. The percentage of artifact cards is much higher than in any preceding set. Mirrodin 's expansion symbol is a small image of , a card from this set.
The set focuses on five main regions on Mirrodin, each corresponding to a part of the Magic color pie:
The main character of the story is the elf Glissa Sunseeker, who visits all these places, guided by revenge against the machines that killed her family. The story is captured in the novel The Moons of Mirrodin by Will McDermott.
). The high number of artifacts in Mirrodin highlighted the inherent flaw of the new border design — artifact cards, which were now bordered in a very light grey instead of brown, were very hard to distinguish from white cards. The problem prompted Wizards of the Coast
to change the bordering background of artifact cards to a much darker grey in Fifth Dawn
. Also due to complications when switching to the new card frame, mana symbols in the text box of Mirrodin cards are greyed out instead of being in color.
Beginning with Mirrodin Wizards reduced the size of their large expansion sets from 350 to 306 cards. This was due to regular complaints, that Wizards was producing too many cards and players could not keep up. Beginning with Darksteel
Wizards also increased the size of small expansion sets from 143 to 165 cards. Thus the number of cards released each year would stay the same, but then Magic developer Randy Buehler explained that Wizards believed this change would make it easier for collectors and players to keep up with number of new cards as these would be release more homogeneously over the course of the year.
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
set, the 30th expert level set, and the first set in the Mirrodin Block, released in October 2003. It is a 306-card expansion set. It is also the name of the block containing the Mirrodin, Darksteel
Darksteel
Darksteel is an expansion set for the game Magic: The Gathering, the second in the Mirrodin block of sets that also features Mirrodin and Fifth Dawn. It was released in February 2004, containing 165 cards. Darksteel continued the themes established in Mirrodin: Artifact cards, equipment and the...
and Fifth Dawn
Fifth Dawn
Fifth Dawn is a Magic: The Gathering expansion set which was released in May 2004. It is the third and final set of the Mirrodin block. There are 165 cards overall, and like the rest of Mirrodin, an unusually large number of them are artifacts...
expansion sets. This expansion, as well as the rest of the block, is centered around artifacts and is only the second set to do so (from a card frequency point of view) since Antiquities
Antiquities (Magic: The Gathering)
Antiquities was the fifth Magic: The Gathering set and the second expansion set. It was the first set to have an original backstory that explores the mythos of the Magic universe . The story is primarily about the brothers Urza and Mishra who are inseparable at first, but become sworn enemies over...
. The percentage of artifact cards is much higher than in any preceding set. Mirrodin 's expansion symbol is a small image of , a card from this set.
The world of Mirrodin
The setting for Mirrodin is a plane by the same name. An artificial world created by the planeswalker Karn, and named after the Mirari by Memnarch, Mirrodin's environments and inhabitants mix organic and metallic. Mirrodin is orbited by four satellites, which are called suns and moons interchangably, that correspond to red, black, white and blue magic. Green was notably absent until Glissa Sunseeker became a conduit for its birth.The set focuses on five main regions on Mirrodin, each corresponding to a part of the Magic color pie:
- The Oxidda Chain, a range of mountains populated by goblins and the human Vulshok tribe.
- The Tangle, a dense jungle populated by elves, the human Sylvok tribe and horrible beasts.
- The Mephidross, a dreadful swamp, and a home of Nim (zombieZombieZombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
s) and the human Moriok tribe. - Quicksilver Sea, a sea of mercuryMercury (element)Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
populated by Vedalken and the human Neurok tribe. - Razor Grass Fields, the plains of Mirrodin, overgrown with sharp metallic grass and home to the Leonin, the human Auriok tribe and Loxodon.
The main character of the story is the elf Glissa Sunseeker, who visits all these places, guided by revenge against the machines that killed her family. The story is captured in the novel The Moons of Mirrodin by Will McDermott.
Set history
Mirrodin is notable for being the first expansion set to feature the new card front design (which debuted in 8th Edition8th Edition (Magic: The Gathering)
Eighth Edition or Core Set was the standard base set for the collectible trading card game, Magic: The Gathering from its release in 2003 until 9th Edition's release in 2005...
). The high number of artifacts in Mirrodin highlighted the inherent flaw of the new border design — artifact cards, which were now bordered in a very light grey instead of brown, were very hard to distinguish from white cards. The problem prompted Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
to change the bordering background of artifact cards to a much darker grey in Fifth Dawn
Fifth Dawn
Fifth Dawn is a Magic: The Gathering expansion set which was released in May 2004. It is the third and final set of the Mirrodin block. There are 165 cards overall, and like the rest of Mirrodin, an unusually large number of them are artifacts...
. Also due to complications when switching to the new card frame, mana symbols in the text box of Mirrodin cards are greyed out instead of being in color.
Beginning with Mirrodin Wizards reduced the size of their large expansion sets from 350 to 306 cards. This was due to regular complaints, that Wizards was producing too many cards and players could not keep up. Beginning with Darksteel
Darksteel
Darksteel is an expansion set for the game Magic: The Gathering, the second in the Mirrodin block of sets that also features Mirrodin and Fifth Dawn. It was released in February 2004, containing 165 cards. Darksteel continued the themes established in Mirrodin: Artifact cards, equipment and the...
Wizards also increased the size of small expansion sets from 143 to 165 cards. Thus the number of cards released each year would stay the same, but then Magic developer Randy Buehler explained that Wizards believed this change would make it easier for collectors and players to keep up with number of new cards as these would be release more homogeneously over the course of the year.
Mechanics
Below is the list of mechanics introduced by Mirrodin:- Affinity - This keyword reduces the total cost of the spell by the number of permanents in play of a certain type, for instance "affinity for artifacts" under your control. This mechanic was extremely powerful and "Affinity" decks quickly monopolised Magic: The Gathering tournaments (see below), eventually resulting in sweeping bannings of the most powerful Affinity-related cards in an effort to revive the tournament scene.
- Artifact lands - While artifact creatures were not a new addition, Mirrodin introduced artifact lands. These enhanced the power of cards with the "Affinity" mechanic by increasing the number of artifacts in play while still being considered lands.
- Imprint - This keyword allows a player to "imprint" some card on the artifact (removing that card from the game). That artifact's effect depends on the card imprinted (for example you can imprint a creature on and then activate it to reproduce copies of that creature).
- Entwine - An ability on modal spells, which normally require a player to choose only one of multiple effects. By paying the Entwine cost, all of the effects occur.
- Equipment - A new artifact subtype that denotes things which could be wielded or worn by creatures. Equipment functions like the older "Enchant Creature" cards (now called Auras) in that they provide some effect while attached to the creature. Unlike Auras, however, Equipment can only be attached to creatures you control in most cases, and remain in play even if the creature they were attached to leaves play. Equipment have gone on to be a staple of Magic in general, being featured in future core sets and expansions.