Theros Beyond Death

Last updated

Theros Beyond Death
ReleasedJanuary 24, 2020
Size254 cards
Development codeBaseball
Expansion codeTHB
← Throne of Eldraine Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths →

Theros Beyond Death is a Magic: The Gathering expansion set. [1] It is not part of a block. It was released on January 24, 2020. [2] The set's development codename is "Baseball", [3] and its expansion code is THB.

Contents

Themes

Like Theros , Theros Beyond Death takes place on the fictional plane of Theros, which is inspired by Greek mythology. [4] This set was a top-bottom design; [5] "top-bottom sets and blocks are centered around a distinct flavorful theme, as though they were a movie or a comic book with a card game tie-in. [...] The world of Theros is another top-bottom design, with ideas of ancient Greece dictating how the original Theros block and the subsequent Theros: Beyond Death set were designed. Spartans, gorgons, hydras, satyrs, seaside temples, sirens and more populate these sets, with an enchantment-based theme to represent the omnipresent power of the gods". [6]

Planeswalkers

Elspeth and Ashiok are two of the returning Planeswalkers in this storyline. [7] [8] In the story trailer, "Elspeth attempts to escape the underworld of Theros". [9] "Elspeth is a planeswalker who hasn't been seen since the last Theros set, having been slain by the god Helios after serving his wishes as he feared her power and ability to kill deities on the plane. Ashiok most recently appeared during War of the Spark, the set that released dozens of planeswalkers into Standard at the same time, but didn't have a starring role in the narrative". [9] Screen Rant called Elspeth "a fan favorite" and highlighted that "Ashiok's design is unique" and that "they're extremely well-suited to being Elspeth's foil". [9]

Theros Beyond Death also introduces the new Planeswalker Calix who was created by Klothys, the god of destiny, to be her Agent of Fate with the goal of trying to stop Elspeth from leaving the Therosian underworld. [7] [10]

Mechanics

Theros Beyond Death introduced a new keyword called Escape. Spells with escape can be cast after being discarded for an additional cost. Some creatures receive an additional bonus when they escape. [11] [12]

Mythic Odysseys of Theros

Mythic Odysseys of Theros (2020) was the second Magic: The Gathering campaign setting adapted for Dungeons & Dragons [13] [14] and was released in the summer of 2020 after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [15] In February 2020, Screen Rant reported that "As popular as the setting has been thanks to its Greek influences, the most recent set has experienced some controversy. Following the poor handling of the novel that accompanied the previous set War of the Spark, the story material for Theros Beyond Death was delayed indefinitely; no novel was released, and story updates were never posted on Magic's website. This has disappointed fans greatly, as some very popular characters appeared in Theros Beyond Death and players bemoaned missing the chance to learn more about them. The official statement from Wizards is that it is waiting for the proper time and channel to release the story materials. A return to prominence for the setting in the form of a Dungeons & Dragons book could be just the opportunity they're waiting for". [14]

When asked in an interview on what elements from the card game were carried over and what elements were cut during development, James Wyatt said, "I think the process was more addictive than anything else, we took the world guides that were created for Theros for the card sets and expanded those to flesh it out. I think of Magic worldbuilding like building a movie set. The old-fashioned stereotype of the movie set where you walk down the streets of the town in the western and it's just a facade and there are no actual buildings behind them. The Magic team is very good at creating the illusion that there is a world beyond those walls, but D&D players need to be able to go there, in ways that the card set doesn't. So, we did a lot of fleshing out". [16]

Reception

Cameron Kunzelman, for Paste, highlighted the set's use for new Magic players. He wrote, "Theros: Beyond Death, the new set of cards from Magic, should obviously be evaluated from the angle of what it does to all of the various bizarro formats and ways to play this game. But on a fundamental level, what you need to know right now is if it is approachable and if it allows for cool gameplay situations. [...] [This] set really rewards some highly synergistic strategies. [...] The other synergistic strategy you’re encouraged to work with in the set is the new Escape mechanic. [...] Beyond those two particular mechanical synergies, Beyond Death does all the things a good Magic set does. There's a wide variety of cards and interactions that all seem to work in tandem with one another, and it doesn't seem as if certain ways of playing the game are fundamentally broken in either a good or a bad way. This is a perfectly playable set of Magic cards that would be a good introduction to the game, although probably not as good as one of the Magic 20XX products that are intended to give players a baseline expectation of what the game is about". [5]

Ethan Gach, for Kotaku , wrote that "the cards are lovely, full of bucolic groves, sun-soaked marble buildings, and people decked out in soft robes and shimmering armor. The mechanics are easy to wrap your head around while still having deeper implications for those who love to get way into the weeds of theory-crafting and deck-building. [...] Theros Beyond Death has strong thematic underpinnings too. Devotion plays off Greek polytheism and treats faith as an accruable resource to alter events in the material world. Escape treats death as the imprisonment of the body rather than its destruction. [...] That duality between order and chaos feels more elegant in Theros than in many past sets, and Arena remains a better vehicle than ever for navigating it". [17]

Gina Lees, for PCGamesN , commented that "Magic: The Gathering’s latest expansion, Theros Beyond Death, pushes me out of that comfort zone. Before I know it, I’m creating decks that previously would have made me slightly nauseous". [18] Lees also highlighted that "Theros Beyond Death doesn't just boast new mechanics; there are plenty of new spells that I’ve been slowly chewing my way through. The Green cards are proving to be the most effective so far [...]. Theros Beyond Death also adds a bunch of new Artifacts that you’ll surely want to make room for in your deck. [...] It's a courageous, radical expansion that has created edge-of-your-seat games and reignited my sense of adventure in Magic, something that Throne of Eldraine’s Adventure cards never could". [18]

Joshua Nelson, for Bleeding Cool , reviewed a Theros Beyond Death Booster Draft Box, a Theros Beyond Death Bundle, and the two Planeswalker decks. [19] [20] [21] [22] The two Planeswalker decks are themed around Ashiok and Elspeth; Nelson highlighted that, "Elspeth is a fairly strong candidate for decent decks built around her in Oathbreaker [...]. Ashiok is a very different sort of Planeswalker card than Elspeth. [...] Each Planeswalker deck not only features a 60-card deck with a foil Planeswalker that the deck is built around, but also comes with a deck box, a nifty and convenient starter guide for new players, two booster draft packs from Theros: Beyond Death, and a code for each deck for use on Magic: The Gathering: Arena! [...] A final note, the Planeswalker deck series actually is being discontinued after Theros: Beyond Death". [22] Nelson also wrote: "As for the booster box, let me just say that not all booster boxes in the set have the same level of luck to them. [...] I got a resounding… Four mythic rare cards. That is about a 1:12.25 rate, which is over 1.5 times worse than the average, one-in-eight rates", [20] however, when using the booster box for Sealed gameplay Nelson reported that they "did quite well. I can attribute that pretty easily to the amount of prior research I have conducted about the set, and I implore all players to do research before going into a Limited environment for sure. [...] I find that Sealed is swingier than Draft because of the amount of variance in the contents of the packs". [19]

Related Research Articles

<i>Magic: The Gathering</i> Collectible card game

Magic: The Gathering is a tabletop and digital collectible card game created by Richard Garfield. Released in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast, Magic was the first trading card game and had approximately thirty-five million players as of December 2018, and over twenty billion Magic cards were produced in the period from 2008 to 2016, during which time it grew in popularity.

The Multiverse is the shared fictional universe depicted on Magic: The Gathering cards, novels, comics, and other supplemental products. Though Magic is a strategy game, an intricate storyline underlies the cards released in each expansion. On the cards, elements of this multiverse are shown in the card art and through quotations and descriptions on the bottom of most cards. Novels and anthologies published by HarperPrism and Wizards of the Coast (WOTC), and the comic books published by Armada Comics expand upon the settings and characters hinted at on the cards. WOTC also publishes a weekly story in the Magic Fiction column, previously known as Official Magic Fiction and Uncharted Realms.

Several video games based on the Magic: The Gathering franchise exist for multiple systems. Some have attempted to translate the card game to electronic play nearly exactly; others have taken more liberties and drawn more from the setting than the actual rules of the card game. Benefits of successful video game versions of the card game include convenience, practice, and challenge. However, artificial intelligence for a game such as Magic is an extremely hard problem, and such software usually must be continuously updated to stay current with recently released card sets. Video game versions often expand on artwork, and may include unique cards that rely on randomness, effects which would be difficult or annoying to duplicate in real life.

The collectible card game Magic: The Gathering has released compilation sets, reprint sets, and box sets over its history. These are distinct from core sets and expansion sets, the most heavily marketed sources of new cards. With the exception of Chronicles, reprint sets generally do not affect tournament legality in supported formats; for example, cards reprinted in the Modern Masters reprint set, while legal for tournament play, did not necessarily cause the card to be included in the "Standard" environment.

The rules of Magic: The Gathering were originally developed by the game's creator, Richard Garfield, and accompanied the first version of the game in 1993. The rules of Magic have been changed frequently over the years by the manufacturer, Wizards of the Coast, mostly in minor ways. However, major rules overhauls have also been done a few times.

<i>Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013</i> 2012 virtual card game

Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 is a video game based on the popular collectible card game of the same name, first published by Wizards of the Coast in 1993. The game was released on June 20, 2012, via Steam, Xbox Live Arcade, the PlayStation Network, and iPad, and is the third game in the Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers series. The gameplay follows that of the original card game, however within a more restrained framework. It received mainly positive reviews and was number one in the PlayStation Network sales for June. The sequel, Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014, was released in 2013.

Theros is a set of three expansions to the Magic: The Gathering game, consisting of the sets Theros, Born of the Gods and Journey into Nyx. The setting was later used for a Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook, Mythic Odysseys of Theros (2020). The lore and aesthetics of the game setting was based on Greek mythology.

<i>Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2015</i> 2014 virtual card game

Magic 2015 – Duels of the Planeswalkers is a video game based on the collectible card game of the same name, first published by Wizards of the Coast in 1993. The game was released in July 2014 on PC (Steam), Xbox 360, iPad (iTunes), and Android devices. An Xbox One version was released in November 2014. It is the fifth game in the Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers series. The gameplay follows that of the original card game, however within a more restrained framework. The game, like all the previous installments, is priced $10 on most platforms. On the iPad, the game is free for the first realm but has in-app purchases for the remaining realms, more cards and additional features.

<i>Magic Duels</i> 2015 video game

Magic Duels is a video game based on the popular collectible card game Magic: The Gathering. Magic Duels is a successor to Stainless Games' Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers and its annual sequels, released from 2009 through 2014. The free-to-play title was released on July 29, 2015, shortly following the physical release of the Magic Origins core set.

Kaladesh is a Magic: The Gathering expansion block consisting of the sets Kaladesh and Aether Revolt. The block debuted with the release of Kaladesh on September 30, 2016. The block is set on the plane of Kaladesh, the original home of planeswalker Chandra Nalaar, and features an emphasis on artifacts, their creators and the magical aether which powers them.

Amonkhet is a Magic: The Gathering expansion block consisting of the sets Amonkhet and Hour of Devastation. Amonkhet was released on April 28, 2017, and Hour of Devastation was released on July 14, 2017. The eponymous new plane has an ancient Egyptian theme, and features concepts like mummies and embalming.

<i>Mythic Odysseys of Theros</i> Tabletop role-playing game supplement

Mythic Odysseys of Theros is a sourcebook that details the Theros campaign setting for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game published in June 2020. The plane was originally created for the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game and first appeared in the card set Theros, which was released in September 2013. It is inspired by Greek mythology and has a powerful pantheon of Gods that are present and active in both the world and the lives of the player characters.

<i>Throne of Eldraine</i> Magic: The Gathering expansion set

Throne of Eldraine is a Magic: The Gathering expansion set. It is not part of a block. It was released on October 4, 2019. The sets development codename is "Archery", and its expansion code is ELD. MTG Arena also officially launched with this set.

Strixhaven: School of Mages is a Magic: The Gathering expansion set. It is not part of a block. The set was released in April 2021.

Kaldheim is the 86th Magic: The Gathering expansion and is not part of a block. It is set on the plane of the same name. It was released on February 5, 2021. It also became available in MTG Arena on January 28, 2021.

Guilds of Ravnica is the 79th Magic: The Gathering expansion; while it is not part of a block, this set is functionally the first part of a Ravnica focused storyline set on the plane of Ravnica. It was released on October 5, 2018.

Zendikar Rising is the 85th Magic: The Gathering expansion and is not part of a block. It is set on the plane of Zendikar. It was released on September 25, 2020. The sets development codename is "Diving", and its expansion code is ZNR.

Ravnica Allegiance is the 80th Magic: The Gathering expansion; while it is not part of a block, this set is functionally the second part of a Ravnica focused storyline set on the plane of Ravnica. It was released on January 25, 2019.

War of the Spark is the 81st Magic: The Gathering expansion; while it is not part of a block, this set is functionally the third part of a Ravnica-focused storyline set on the plane of Ravnica. It was released on May 3, 2019. It also became available in MTG Arena on April 25, 2019.

Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms is an expansion set for Magic: The Gathering (Magic) released in July 2021. The world of the Forgotten Realms was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a paracosm for his childhood stories and premiered as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1987). This expansion set is the third collaboration between Magic and D&D; both teams are part of Wizards of the Coast.

References

  1. ↑ "Theros Beyond Death". MAGIC: THE GATHERING. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  2. ↑ "We're happy to announce the release dates for two upcoming sets in 2020!". Twitter. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  3. ↑ "New Codenames". Blogatog. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Magic: The Gathering's Theros: Beyond Death set is a wild, cosmic ride through myth and madness". Dicebreaker. February 28, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Theros: Beyond Death Is a Good Introduction to Magic: The Gathering". pastemagazine.com. January 29, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Magic: The Gathering – The Difference Between Top-Bottom & Bottom-Up Design". CBR. February 25, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Forster, Danny (January 9, 2020). "MTG guide for every planeswalker in Theros: Beyond Death". Dot Esports. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Magic: The Gathering Reveals Theros: Beyond Death Planeswalker Decks". Game Rant. January 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 "Magic: The Gathering's Theros Beyond Death Trailer is Exactly The Story We Want". ScreenRant. December 13, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Kaldheim Introduces First Nonbinary Planeswalker in The New Magic: The Gathering Set". epicstream.com. December 14, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Theros Beyond Death Mechanics". MAGIC: THE GATHERING. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Magic The Gathering: Every Confirmed Theros: Beyond Death Mechanic". Game Rant. November 3, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  13. ↑ Hall, Charlie (July 23, 2018). "Dungeons & Dragons gets a major crossover with Magic: The Gathering this fall". Polygon. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  14. 1 2 Morics, Peter (February 28, 2020). "Dungeons and Dragons is Set to Crossover with Magic the Gathering". ScreenRant. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  15. ↑ Hoffer, Christian (May 4, 2020). "Dungeons & Dragons Confirms Mythic Odysseys of Theros Delay". ComicBook.com. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  16. ↑ Baird, Scott (July 28, 2020). "James Wyatt & F. Wesley Schneider Interview". ScreenRant. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  17. ↑ "I Love Watching My Buff Hoplites Wreck People in Magic: The Gathering's Theros Beyond Death Expansion". Kotaku. January 23, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  18. 1 2 "Theros Beyond Death is the first time Magic got me out of my comfort zone". PCGamesN. May 6, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  19. 1 2 Nelson, Joshua (February 5, 2020). "Review: "Theros: Beyond Death" Sealed Play – "Magic: The Gathering"". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  20. 1 2 Nelson, Joshua (February 1, 2020). "Review: "Theros: Beyond Death" Booster Box – "Magic: The Gathering"". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  21. ↑ Nelson, Joshua (February 2, 2020). "Review: "Theros: Beyond Death" Bundle – "Magic: The Gathering"". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  22. 1 2 Nelson, Joshua (February 3, 2020). "Review: "Theros: Beyond Death" PW Decks – "Magic: The Gathering"". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.