Battle for Zendikar

Battle for Zendikar is the 68th Magic expansion, and the first in the Battle for Zendikar block. It was released October 2, 2015. Battle for Zendikar is a large expansion, and the Battle for Zendikar block is the first block of the Two-Block Paradigm.
==Set details==
The set contains 274 cards (25 basic lands, 101 commons, 80 uncommons, 53 rares, 15 mythic rares) and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards in the set. There are 25 basic lands, instead of the usual 20, and the set also features special full art versions similar to those that appeared in Zendikar. The full-art versions appear in booster packs and fat packs, but not in intro packs. The expansion symbol of the set is a broken hedron. While allies represented adventuring parties in the last Zendikar block, they now represent the united army against the Eldrazi. This is also a battle between the colored against the colorless faction. The Eldrazi interact with the exile zone.
Because of the demise of the core sets, R&D experimented with same art reprints in expansion sets (e.g. <c>Felidar Sovereign</c>). As a promotion to further the theme of the set, WotC randomly inserted Expedition cards into Battle for Zendikar boosters.
===Storyline===
Battle for Zendikar returns the storyline to Zendikar, a plane of adventure, many treasures, and potent mana supplies. The plane is littered with large, floating polyhedron-shaped stones called hedrons, which were created by Nahiri, the Kor Lithomancer. Together with Ugin and Sorin Markov she used them to trap the horrendous Eldrazi on the plane. Thousands of years later, the meeting of Sarkhan Vol, Chandra Nalaar and Jace Beleren in the Eye of Ugin chamber unintentionally loosened the bonds that kept the Eldrazi in torpor. The Eldrazi were finally released by the elf Nissa Revane, thinking that they would leave Zendikar far behind them. She was wrong. Two years after the initial destruction, at least Ulamog is still around.
Now, Gideon Jura takes the lead of a group of planeswalkers in facing the Eldrazi alongside the residents of Zendikar. Meanwhile, the trapped planeswalker-turned-demon Ob Nixilis is desperate for a way off of the plane. The five cards that represent the pivotal moments in the storyline are <c>Gruesome Slaughter</c>, <c>Nissa's Renewal</c>, <c>Ugin's Insight</c>, <c>Outnumber</c> and <c>Aligned Hedron Network</c>.Ant Tessitore (October 1, 2015). Snacks with Kelly Digges. Gatheringmagic.com
====Magic Story====
Prologue
Title 	Author 	Release Date	Setting (plane) 	Featuring
 	Kelly Digges 	2014-06-25 	Zendikar 	Nissa Revane, Ulamog, Hamadi, Bahkut, Alira, Khali, Sha'heel
Dreams of the Damned	Nik Davidson 	2014-08-06 	Zendikar 	Ob Nixilis, Nahiri, Jace Beleren
 	Kelly Digges 	2014-10-29 	Unknown destroyed plane, Zendikar	Nahiri, Sorin Markov, Lian, Ugin, Emrakul, Kozilek, Ulamog
 	James Wyatt 	2015-05-13 	Zendikar 	Nahiri
 	Kelly Digges 	2015-05-20 	Theros 	Kiora, Elspeth, Ajani, Thassa, Arixmethes
 	Doug Beyer 	2015-05-27 	Ravnica 	Jace Beleren, Ral Zarek, Niv-Mizzet, Maree, Mizzix, Gideon Jura
 	Ari Levitch 	2015-07-15 	Zendikar and Ravnica 	Gideon Jura, Munda, Dars Gostok, Shattergang Brothers, Krenko, Tazri, Vorik, Jori En, Kendrin
 	Kelly Digges 	2015-07-22 	Ravnica 	Jace Beleren, Lavinia, Liliana Vess, Valko, Gideon Jura
 	James Wyatt 	2015-07-29 	Ravnica 	Liliana Vess, Raven Man
 	Doug Beyer 	2015-08-05 	Regatha 	Chandra Nalaar, Serenok, Mother Luti, Jace Beleren, Gideon Jura
 	Kimberly J. Kreines	2015-08-12 	Zendikar 	Nissa Revane, Ashaya
Main story
Title	Author 	Release Date	Setting (plane) 	Featuring
 	James Wyatt 	2015-08-19 	Zendikar 	Gideon Jura, Jace Beleren, Vorik, Tazri
 	Kimberly J. Kreines	2015-08-26 	Zendikar 	Nissa Revane, Ashaya, Jori En, Gideon Jura
 	Doug Beyer 	2015-09-02 	Zendikar 	Jace Beleren, Jori En, Kendrin, Gideon Jura, Nissa Revane, Ayli, Ulamog
 	Kimberly J. Kreines	2015-09-09 	Zendikar 	Gideon Jura, Vorik, Abeena, Tazri, Seble, Tho, Zuri, Daye, Itri
 	Ken Troop 	2015-09-16 	Zendikar 	Drana, Enkindi, Melindra, Kan
 	Kimberly J. Kreines	2015-09-23 	Zendikar 	Nissa Revane, Pili, Munda, Leek
 	Kelly Digges 	2015-09-30 	Zendikar 	Kiora, Turi, Misha, Yenai, Shen, Yesha, Tola, Inash, Runari
 	Kimberly J. Kreines	2015-10-07 	Zendikar 	Nissa Revane, Ob Nixilis, Ashaya
 	Kelly Digges 	2015-10-14 	Zendikar 	Jace Beleren, Zada, Ugin
 	Ken Troop 	2015-10-21 	Zendikar 	Noyan Dar, Gideon Jura
 	James Wyatt 	2015-10-28 	Zendikar 	Gideon Jura, Munda, Tazri, Drana, Noyan Dar, Kiora, Nissa Revane, Ashaya, Jori En
 	Kimberly J. Kreines	2015-11-18 	Zendikar 	Kiora, Gideon Jura, Drana, Tazri, Nissa Revane, Munda, Jori En, Ebi, Jace Beleren, Ashaya, Seble, Ulamog, Ob Nixilis
 	Nik Davidson 	2015-11-25 	Zendikar 	Ob Nixilis, Ulamog, Ebi
 	Doug Beyer 	2015-12-02 	Regatha, Zendikar	Chandra Nalaar, Gideon Jura, Seble, Ulamog, Mother Luti, Ob Nixilis, Kozilek
===Marketing===
Battle for Zendikar is sold in 16-card boosters (one card being a marketing card), five intro packs, one event deck and a fat pack. The boosters feature art from <c>Ob Nixilis Reignited</c>, <c>Kiora, Master of the Depths</c>, <c>Ulamog's Despoiler</c>, <c>Veteran Warleader</c> and <c>Gideon, Ally of Zendikar</c>.
====Zendikar Expeditions====
Zendikar Expeditions are all premium foil cards with a special Zendikari frame and a separate expansion symbol. Thus, they are not part of the set. Zendikar Expeditions include all new art set on Zendikar and appear slightly more often than premium mythic rares. These cards are playable in limited and formats where they're already legal. There are 25 Expedition cards appearing with Battle for Zendikar (the 5 new dual lands, 10 shock lands and 10 fetch lands) and 20 more cards in Oath of the Gatewatch.
====Prerelease====
At the prerelease (September 26–27, 2015) each player received a special hedron-themed Prerelease pack that they could use after the event as a take-home deck box. Inside each Prerelease box, there were six regular Battle for Zendikar Booster packs along with a randomized, date-stamped premium promo card, a spindown life counter, a deckbuilding guide and a story insert. Starting with this prerelease, seeded booster packs were no longer used. This prerelease was the first to use the "Vancouver" mulligan rule.
Instead of getting a specific set Prerelease card or one of a small subset of Prerelease cards, starting with Battle for Zendikar players receive a random Prerelease card in their boxes that can be one of any rare or mythic rare in the set.
====Promotional cards====
*Prerelease: a stamped card that can be any rare or mythic rare from the set.
*Launch promo: <c>Blight Herder</c>
*Game Day: full-art <c>Stasis Snare</c>
*Game Day (Top 8): full-art <c>Radiant Flames</c>
*Buy-a-Box: <c>Ruinous Path</c>
====Tokens and emblems====
For this set, the ratio between token cards and other marketing cards was shifted heavily in favor of tokens. The new ratio is approximately 9:10 for tokens. Tokens’ rarity is based upon the rarity of the cards that make them.
# 10/10 Eldrazi for <c>Desolation Twin</c>
# 1/1 Eldrazi Scion with "Sacrifice this creature: Add ." for <c>Adverse Conditions</c>, <c>Blight Herder</c>, <c>Blisterpod</c>, <c>Brood Butcher</c>, <c>Brood Monitor</c>, <c>Call the Scions</c>, <c>Carrier Thrall</c>, <c>Catacomb Sifter</c>, <c>Drowner of Hope</c>, <c>Eldrazi Skyspawner</c>, <c>Eyeless Watcher</c>, <c>From Beyond</c>, <c>Grave Birthing</c>, <c>Incubator Drone</c>, <c>Spawning Bed</c> and <c>Void Attendant</c>
# 1/1 Eldrazi Scion with "Sacrifice this creature: Add ."
# 1/1 Eldrazi Scion with "Sacrifice this creature: Add ."
# 2/2 Knight Ally for <c>Gideon, Ally of Zendikar</c>
# 1/1 Kor Ally for <c>Retreat to Emeria</c> and <c>Unified Front</c>
# 8/8 Octopus for <c>Kiora, Master of the Depths</c>
# 5/5 Dragon with flying for <c>Dragonmaster Outcast</c>
# 3/1 Elemental with trample and haste for <c>Akoum Stonewaker</c>
# 1/1 Plant for <c>Grovetender Druids</c>
# 5/5 Elemental for <c>Omnath, Locus of Rage</c>
# 
# 
# 
==Themes and mechanics==
Eldrazi, Colorless matters, colorless instants, allies and landfall make a return from the Zendikar block. Landfall now sometimes is land specific.
There are at five new named mechanics:
*Devoid (This card has no color) 
*Ingest (Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player exiles the top card of his or her library)
*Awaken N (cost) (If you cast this card for (cost), also put N +1/+1 counters on target land you control and it becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It's still a land)
*Rally, an ability word that gives an advantageous effect whenever an ally enters the battlefield. This is a tweak of the unnamed ally mechanic of the Zendikar block.
*Converge, an ability word that gives an advantageous effect for each color of mana used to cast the spell.
A remarkable mechanic is featured on <c>Void Winnower</c>, which cares about "even converted mana cost".
===Card types===
Battle for Zendikar introduces the creature types Scion and Processor.
*Eldrazi Scions are very similar to Eldrazi Spawn, but are 1/1 instead of 0/1. They're created by Eldrazi-themed spells in a variety of ways and all have the ability "Sacrifice this creature: Add ."
*Processor is an additional creature type for some Eldrazi. Each one has an ability that requires you to put your opponent's exiled cards into their graveyard for some effect.
==Cycles==
Battle for Zendikar has seven cycles:
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Retreats 	 	 	 	 	
Retreats 	Five uncommon enchantments with a modal landfall triggered effect. 	Five uncommon enchantments with a modal landfall triggered effect. 	Five uncommon enchantments with a modal landfall triggered effect. 	Five uncommon enchantments with a modal landfall triggered effect. 	Five uncommon enchantments with a modal landfall triggered effect.
Color-specific landfall creatures	 	 	 	 	
Color-specific landfall creatures	Five rare creatures with landfall that have a magnified effect when a land of their respective basic land type enters the battlefield. Each is named after a location. 	Five rare creatures with landfall that have a magnified effect when a land of their respective basic land type enters the battlefield. Each is named after a location. 	Five rare creatures with landfall that have a magnified effect when a land of their respective basic land type enters the battlefield. Each is named after a location. 	Five rare creatures with landfall that have a magnified effect when a land of their respective basic land type enters the battlefield. Each is named after a location. 	Five rare creatures with landfall that have a magnified effect when a land of their respective basic land type enters the battlefield. Each is named after a location.
Pump landfall creatures 	 	 	 	 	
Pump landfall creatures 	Five common creatures with a landfall ability that gives them +2/+2. 	Five common creatures with a landfall ability that gives them +2/+2. 	Five common creatures with a landfall ability that gives them +2/+2. 	Five common creatures with a landfall ability that gives them +2/+2. 	Five common creatures with a landfall ability that gives them +2/+2.
Common feature lands 	 	 	 	 	
Common feature lands 	Five common taplands that have additional effects when they enter the battlefield and can be tapped for M. 	Five common taplands that have additional effects when they enter the battlefield and can be tapped for M. 	Five common taplands that have additional effects when they enter the battlefield and can be tapped for M. 	Five common taplands that have additional effects when they enter the battlefield and can be tapped for M. 	Five common taplands that have additional effects when they enter the battlefield and can be tapped for M.
Blighted lands 	 	 	 	 	
Blighted lands 	Five uncommon lands that tap for one colorless mana, and can be sacrificed to activate an ability with a mono-colored activation cost. 	Five uncommon lands that tap for one colorless mana, and can be sacrificed to activate an ability with a mono-colored activation cost. 	Five uncommon lands that tap for one colorless mana, and can be sacrificed to activate an ability with a mono-colored activation cost. 	Five uncommon lands that tap for one colorless mana, and can be sacrificed to activate an ability with a mono-colored activation cost. 	Five uncommon lands that tap for one colorless mana, and can be sacrificed to activate an ability with a mono-colored activation cost.
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Allied color uncommons 	 	 	 	 	
Allied color uncommons 	Five allied colored uncommon spells. 	Five allied colored uncommon spells. 	Five allied colored uncommon spells. 	Five allied colored uncommon spells. 	Five allied colored uncommon spells.
Allied color battle lands 	 	 	 	 	
Allied color battle lands 	Five rare dual lands that enter the battlefield tapped unless the player controls two or more basic lands (reverse of the fast lands). As they all have basic land types, they can be fetched by fetch lands and are the third type of land to do so, after the original dual lands and shock lands.	Five rare dual lands that enter the battlefield tapped unless the player controls two or more basic lands (reverse of the fast lands). As they all have basic land types, they can be fetched by fetch lands and are the third type of land to do so, after the original dual lands and shock lands.	Five rare dual lands that enter the battlefield tapped unless the player controls two or more basic lands (reverse of the fast lands). As they all have basic land types, they can be fetched by fetch lands and are the third type of land to do so, after the original dual lands and shock lands.	Five rare dual lands that enter the battlefield tapped unless the player controls two or more basic lands (reverse of the fast lands). As they all have basic land types, they can be fetched by fetch lands and are the third type of land to do so, after the original dual lands and shock lands.	Five rare dual lands that enter the battlefield tapped unless the player controls two or more basic lands (reverse of the fast lands). As they all have basic land types, they can be fetched by fetch lands and are the third type of land to do so, after the original dual lands and shock lands.
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Enemy color uncommons 	 	 	 	 	
Enemy color uncommons 	Five enemy colored uncommon spells. 	Five enemy colored uncommon spells. 	Five enemy colored uncommon spells. 	Five enemy colored uncommon spells. 	Five enemy colored uncommon spells.
=== Mega cycles ===
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Enemy colored Tapland Manlands	 	 	 	 	
Enemy colored Tapland Manlands	Five lands that can turn into creatures until end of turn. One rare for each enemy color pair, able to produce either color and enters the Battlefield tapped. This cycle completes the enemy color megacycle of tapped manlands that started in Battle for Zendikar as well as the larger Mega-Mega Cycle stared in Worldwake.	Five lands that can turn into creatures until end of turn. One rare for each enemy color pair, able to produce either color and enters the Battlefield tapped. This cycle completes the enemy color megacycle of tapped manlands that started in Battle for Zendikar as well as the larger Mega-Mega Cycle stared in Worldwake.	Five lands that can turn into creatures until end of turn. One rare for each enemy color pair, able to produce either color and enters the Battlefield tapped. This cycle completes the enemy color megacycle of tapped manlands that started in Battle for Zendikar as well as the larger Mega-Mega Cycle stared in Worldwake.	Five lands that can turn into creatures until end of turn. One rare for each enemy color pair, able to produce either color and enters the Battlefield tapped. This cycle completes the enemy color megacycle of tapped manlands that started in Battle for Zendikar as well as the larger Mega-Mega Cycle stared in Worldwake.	Five lands that can turn into creatures until end of turn. One rare for each enemy color pair, able to produce either color and enters the Battlefield tapped. This cycle completes the enemy color megacycle of tapped manlands that started in Battle for Zendikar as well as the larger Mega-Mega Cycle stared in Worldwake.
=== Mega-Mega cycles ===
Cycle name 	 	 	
Eldrazi Titans	 	 	
Eldrazi Titans	is the first card in the Eldrazi Titan triplet card cycle.	is the first card in the Eldrazi Titan triplet card cycle.	is the first card in the Eldrazi Titan triplet card cycle.
===Pairs===
Battle for Zendikar has a mirrored pair.
Mirrored Pairs	Mirrored Pairs	Description
 	 	Invokers; common Human Shamans with an activated ability which cost .
==Reprinted cards==
*<c>Altar's Reap</c>, first printed in Innistrad
*<c>Anticipate</c>, first printed in Dragons of Tarkir
*<c>Bone Splinters</c>, first printed in Shards of Alara
*<c>Dispel</c>, first printed in Worldwake (last seen in Return to Ravnica).
*<c>Dragonmaster Outcast</c>, first printed in Worldwake
*<c>Dutiful Return</c>, first printed in Khans of Tarkir.
*<c>Evolving Wilds</c>, first printed in Rise of the Eldrazi (last seen in Magic Origins).
*<c>Felidar Sovereign</c>, first printed in Zendikar
*<c>Giant Mantis</c>, first printed in Mirage
*<c>Goblin War Paint</c>, first printed in Zendikar
*<c>Inspired Charge</c>, first printed in Magic 2011 (last seen in Magic 2015), for the first time in an expert-level expansion.
*<c>Pilgrim's Eye</c>, first printed in Worldwake (last seen in Commander 2014).
*<c>Plummet</c>, first printed in Magic 2011
*<c>Rolling Thunder</c>, first printed in Tempest (last seen in Planechase).
*<c>Smite the Monstrous</c>, first printed in Innistrad (last seen in Khans of Tarkir)
*<c>Sylvan Scrying</c>, first printed in Mirrodin (last seen in Tenth Edition).
*<c>Territorial Baloth</c>, first printed in Zendikar
=== Common to Uncommon ===
*<c>Rolling Thunder</c>, first printed in Tempest (last seen in Planechase).
*<c>Pilgrim's Eye</c>, first printed in Worldwake (last seen in Commander 2014).
===Functional reprints===
*<c>Broodhunter Wurm</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Golden Bear</c> from Portal Second Age, <c>Nettle Swine</c> from Avacyn Restored and <c>Order of the Sacred Bell</c> from Champions of Kamigawa, save for the creature type.
*<c>Cloud Manta</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Moon Heron</c> from Innistrad, <c>Snapping Drake</c> from Portal and <c>Talas Air Ship</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
*<c>Dampening Pulse</c> is an almost functional reprint of <c>Cumber Stone</c> from Conflux, it's an Enchantment instead of an Artifact.
*<c>Expedition Envoy</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Elite Vanguard</c> from Magic 2010 and <c>Savannah Lions</c> from Alpha, save for creature type.
*<c>Felidar Cub</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Kami of Ancient Law</c> from Champions of Kamigawa, <c>Ronom Unicorn</c> from Coldsnap and <c>Keening Apparition</c> from Return to Ravnica, save for creature type.
*<c>Ghostly Sentinel</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Angel of Light</c> from Starter 1999, save for creature type.
*<c>Kitesail Scout</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Aven Skirmisher</c> from Fate Reforged, <c>Lantern Kami</c> from Champions of Kamigawa and <c>Suntail Hawk</c> from Judgment, save for creature type.
*<c>Reclaiming Vines</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Creeping Mold</c> from Visions.
*<c>Shadow Glider</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Wild Griffin</c> from Portal Second Age, save for creature type.
==Card comparisons==
Many Battle for Zendikar cards are strictly better, and a handful are strictly worse than previous cards. 
==Notable cards==
*<c>Endless One</c> is the simplest and most cost-efficient example of a design previously seen on more than 100 other cards.
*The battle lands cycle would go on to be heavily played in Standard, due to being in the format with the Khans of Tarkir fetchlands. However, outside of this, they are considered poor lands in all larger formats.
*<c>Zulaport Cutthroat</c> is one of the best versions of its effect and is played in most Aristocrats-style casual Commander decks.
*<c>Painful Truths</c> is a strong card advantage spell that has been used in Standard, Modern, Legacy and Vintage.
*<c>Retreat to Coralhelm</c> has numerous powerful combos and has been most famously combined with <c>Knight of the Reliquary</c> in Modern Bant decks.
*<c>Bring to Light</c> is a key card in numerous Pioneer and Modern decks from those built around <c>Niv-Mizzet Reborn</c> to those built around <c>Retraction Helix</c> to those built around <c>Omnath, Locus of Creation</c>, and has also seen significant play in Modern decks like <c>Scapeshift</c> decks. It is particularly strong in these decks built around individual cards because of its ability to find and cast key spells in the same turn.
*<c>Radiant Flames</c> is a strong and flexible sweeper that has seen significant sideboard play in Standard and Pioneer.
*<c>Wasteland Strangler</c> has seen play in numerous Modern decks that add an Eldrazi theme to the traditional Death & Taxes shell where it can function like a <c>Flametongue Kavu</c>.
*Strong colorless Eldrazi cards like <c>Sanctum of Ugin</c> and <c>Oblivion Sower</c> would be part of degenerate Modern Eldrazi decks once Oath of the Gatewatch brought even more cheap, powerful Eldrazi cards that could be abused with the previously printed <c>Eldrazi Temple</c> and <c>Eye of Ugin</c>.
*<c>Dragonmaster Outcast</c> is the first Mythic Rare to be reprinted in an expansion set.
==Preconstructed decks==
===Intro packs===
Battle for Zendikar has five intro packs (three bicolored and two colorless):
===Event deck===
Battle for Zendikar has one event deck.
==References==
==External links==
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