Magic Wilds of Eldraine Spoilers:- Magic: The Gathering is a popular card game that has been captivating players for over 25 years with its rich lore, diverse mechanics, and competitive gameplay. The game is constantly evolving with new sets and expansions that introduce new worlds, characters, and stories to explore.
One of the most recent and acclaimed sets is Wilds of Eldraine, which was released in October 2019. Wilds of Eldraine is inspired by fairy tales and Arthurian legend, creating a unique and enchanting setting that blends fantasy and folklore. In this article, we will take a closer look at Wilds of Eldraine, its story, its cards, and its impact on the game.
The Story of Wilds of Eldraine
Wilds of Eldraine is set on the plane of Eldraine, a world divided into two realms: the Realm, where the noble houses rule under the guidance of King Kenrith and his five children; and the Wilds, where the Fae, witches, giants, and other magical creatures dwell in an untamed wilderness.
The story follows the adventures of Rowan and Will Kenrith, twin siblings who are also planeswalkers (powerful beings who can travel between different worlds). Rowan is a fiery warrior who wields a magic sword, while Will is a calm mage who manipulates ice. Together, they face various challenges and dangers as they explore Eldraine and discover its secrets.
The main conflict of the story revolves around Oko, a mischievous Fae planeswalker who has a grudge against King Kenrith. Oko uses his shapeshifting abilities to impersonate the king and sow discord among the noble houses. He also manipulates Garruk, a cursed hunter planeswalker who has been corrupted by black magic, into hunting down other planeswalkers for sport.
Rowan and Will must stop Oko’s schemes and save their father from his clutches, while also dealing with their own personal issues and aspirations. Along the way, they encounter many familiar characters and elements from classic fairy tales, such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, and more.
The Cards of Wilds of Eldraine
Wilds of Eldraine features 269 cards (excluding basic lands), including 15 mythic rares, 53 rares, 80 uncommons, 101 commons, and 20 basic lands. The set introduces several new mechanics and themes that reflect its fairy tale inspiration.
One of the most notable mechanics is Adventure, which allows some creature cards to be cast as either creatures or instants or sorceries with an additional effect. For example, [[Brazen Borrower]] can be cast as a 3/1 creature with flash and flying for three mana (one blue), or as an instant that bounces an opponent’s nonland permanent for two mana (one blue). Once cast as an instant or sorcery, the card goes to exile instead of the graveyard, where it can be cast as a creature later.
Another mechanic is Food, which is a new type of artifact token that can be sacrificed to gain 3 life. Food tokens can be created by various cards in the set, such as [[Gilded Goose]], [[Savvy Hunter]], or [[Bake into a Pie]]. Some cards also have additional effects when you sacrifice Food tokens or when you control Food tokens.
The set also features four new creature types: Noble (a subtype for human aristocrats), Warlock (a subtype for black mages), Mouse (a subtype for small rodents), and Peasant (a subtype for common folk). Some cards care about these creature types or have synergies with them.
The set also has a strong tribal theme for Knights (a subtype for human or non-human warriors), which are supported by various cards in all five colors. Knights have access to powerful equipment such as [[Embercleave]] or [[The Circle of Loyalty]], as well as anthems such as [[Icon of Ancestry]] or [[Worthy Knight]].
The set also showcases some of the most iconic characters and creatures from fairy tales in card form. Some examples are:
- [[Questing Beast]], a legendary creature that represents the beast from King Arthur’s legends that could not be hunted down.
- [[The Magic Mirror]], a legendary artifact that represents the mirror from Snow White that can grant wishes but at a cost.
- [[Realm-Cloaked Giant]], a creature that represents the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk that can destroy all non-giant creatures.
- [[The Cauldron of Eternity]], a legendary artifact that represents the cauldron from Celtic mythology that can resurrect creatures from the graveyard.
- [[The Great Henge]], a legendary artifact that represents the Stonehenge from British folklore that can provide mana and life.
The Impact of Wilds of Eldraine
Wilds of Eldraine has been widely praised by players and critics for its creative design, stunning artwork, and flavorful execution. The set has been described as one of the most fun and innovative sets in recent memory, offering a fresh and exciting take on the fairy tale genre.
The set has also had a significant impact on the competitive scene, especially in Standard (the most popular constructed format that uses only the most recent sets). The set has introduced many powerful and influential cards that have shaped the metagame and defined various archetypes. Some of the most dominant cards include:
- [[Oko, Thief of Crowns]], a planeswalker that can create Food tokens, turn any permanent into a 3/3 elk, or exchange control of two permanents. Oko has been widely considered as one of the most broken and oppressive cards ever printed, leading to his banning in Standard, Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Brawl, and Historic.
- [[Once Upon a Time]], an instant that can be cast for free as the first spell of the game or for two mana (one green) otherwise, and can look at the top five cards of the library and reveal a creature or land card and put it into the hand. Once Upon a Time has been a staple in various green-based decks, providing consistency and card selection. It has also been banned in Standard and Pioneer.
- [[Fires of Invention]], an enchantment that allows the player to cast spells only during their turn and only if they have mana available equal to their converted mana cost, but also lets them cast spells without paying their mana costs. Fires of Invention has enabled various combo and control decks that can abuse its mana advantage and cast multiple powerful spells per turn. It has also been banned in Standard.
- [[Bonecrusher Giant]], a creature that can be cast as either a 4/3 creature with an ability that deals 2 damage to any source that targets it for three mana (one red), or as an instant that deals 2 damage to any target for two mana (one red). Bonecrusher Giant has been a versatile and efficient card that can provide both removal and pressure in various red-based decks.
