Journey into Nyx

Journey into Nyx is the third and final set in the Theros block. It is the 64th Magic expansion and was released May 2014.
==Set details==
Like its predecessors, Journey into Nyx has an ancient Greek-themed top-down design, making use of many mythological tropes. The set contains 165 cards (60 Common, 60 Uncommon, 35 Rare, 10 Mythic) and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards. Fitting in with the "enchantment matters" theme, 59 of the set's 165 cards carry the enchantment type. The set introduces the Lamia creature type.
===Flavor and storyline===
The plane of Theros is in chaos. Gods and mortals are pitted against each other, and terrifying monsters stalk the land. Heroes strive for glory while new and terrifying constellations take shape in the night sky. Supported by Ajani, Elspeth travels to Nyx and kills Xenagos. Afraid of her power, Heliod kills Elspeth.
====Storyline sources====
Title 	Author 	Publishing date	Setting (plane)	Featuring
Journey into Nyx: Godsend, Part II, second part	Jenna Helland	May 2014 	Theros 	Anax, Cymede, Keranos, Xenagos, Mogis, Elspeth, Daxos, Medomai, Anthousa, Iroas, Rhordon, Heliod, Nylea, Ajani, Brimaz, Callaphe, Kiora, Arixmethes, Thassa, Kruphix, Erebos
====Magic Story====
Title	Author 	Release Date	Setting (plane)	Featuring
 	Kelly Digges	2014-04-09 	Theros 	Ajani Goldmane, Seza, Aletha, Koila, Brimaz, Elspeth, Lanathos, Polukranos, Agnomakhos
 	Matt Knicl 	2014-04-16 	Theros 	Vinack, Aesrias, Solon, Kedarick VI, Kytheon Iora, Athreos
 	Ken Troop 	2014-04-23 	Theros 	Cacophony, Euneas, Pollio, Melantha, Xenocrates, Koblios, Ephara, Phenax, Ashiok, Xenagos
 	Clayton Kroh	2014-04-30 	Theros 	Raissa, Xenagos, Karametra
 	Adam Lee 	2014-05-07 	Theros 	Zosimos
 	Kelly Digges	2014-06-11 	Theros 	Diantha, Kydele, Kruphix, Xenagos, Elspeth, Ajani, Kiora, Callaphe
 	Tom LaPille 	2014-07-23 	Theros 	Ajani Goldmane, Lanathos, Anthousa, Elspeth, Seza, Brimaz, Pyxathor, Xenagos, Heliod
===Marketing===
Journey into Nyx 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 artwork from <c>Ajani, Mentor of Heroes</c>, <c>Pharika, God of Affliction</c> and <c>Cyclops of Eternal Fury </c>. The set featured the continuation of the Hero's Path.
====God packs====
Random Journey into Nyx boosters were seeded to be literally and figuratively "God Packs": they contained all 15 Gods of Theros.Jason Alt (April 26, 2014) Taking “God Pack” Literally (Reddit)
====Prerelease====
Quest 7 on the Hero's Path takes place at the Journey into Nyx Prerelease events, April 26 and 27, 2014. Players will forge a Godslayer based on a favorite mana color and receive a Seeded Prerelease Pack based on that color (Forged in Glory , Intellect , Tyranny , War or Pursuit ). The Prerelease Pack contains a Spindown Life Counter, one of five Hero Equipment cards (respectively <c>Spear of the General</c>, <c>Cloak of the Philosopher</c>, <c>Lash of the Tyrant</c>, <c>Axe of the Warmonger</c> or <c>Bow of the Hunter</c>), one of five quiz activity cards, five Theros block boosters, and a seeded booster featuring cards appropriate for that player's chosen path — including one of the five Prerelease promo cards. During the prerelease, players have the opportunity to win three mystical components, represented by reward stickers. Three-component stickers combine in specific ways to create one of seven different enhancements. The activity card is handed to the tournament organizer to receive the corresponding "enhancement sticker". That sticker is put on the player's Hero card in the blank space as a new permanent ability, thus forging one the most powerful weapons on Theros: a customized Godslayer.
====Launch Weekend====
Journey into Nyx launches May 2–4, 2014 and the month's first Friday Night Magic starts the festivities. Players on the Hero's Path come to their stores to "Journey into Nyx" and solve a puzzle hidden within the poster included in the Journey into Nyx Launch Weekend kit. Players who solve the puzzle receive a copy of the Quest 8 Hero card (<c>The Destined</c>).
====Game Day====
On May 24–25, 2014 Journey into Nyx Game Day players can use their Standard decks for the ninth quest on the Hero's Path: Defeat a God, a special Challenge Deck provided to the retailer. By winning against the Challenge deck, players win a ninth Hero card (<c>The Champion</c>). Players will be able to use three of the Hero cards they have collected and the Godslayer that they forged at the Prerelease to complete this final quest of the Hero's Path!
====Magic online====
For Magic Online, Journey into Nyx Prerelease Events begin Friday, May 9. The set officially goes on sale in Magic Online and Release Events begin on Monday, May 12.
====Promotional Cards====
*Prerelease, one of five according to the chosen Godslayer: <c>Dawnbringer Charioteers</c>, <c>Scourge of Fleets</c>, <c>Doomwake Giant</c>, <c>Spawn of Thraxes</c> or <c>Heroes' Bane</c>
*Launch promo: <c>Dictate of the Twin Gods</c>
*Game Day: full-art <c>Squelching Leeches</c>
*Game Day (Top 8): full-art foil <c>Dictate of Kruphix</c>
*Buy-a-Box: <c>Eidolon of Blossoms</c>
*Completing the Hero's Path: <c>Hall of Triumph</c>
====Tokens====
A sixteenth card in the boosters can be a token creature card, with advertisements on the back side:
# 4/4 Sphinx with flying for <c>Hour of Need</c>
# */* Zombie for <c>Ritual of the Returned</c>
# 2/3 Minotaur for <c>Flurry of Horns</c>
# */* Hydra for <c>Hydra Broodmaster</c>
# 1/3 Spider enchantment creature with reach for <c>Renowned Weaver</c>
# 1/1 Snake enchantment creature with deathtouch for <c>Pharika, God of Affliction</c>
The following named tokens were released with Born of the Gods:
# 2/2 Bird enchantment creature for <c>Rise of Eagles</c>
# Artifact token named Gold for <c>King Macar, the Gold-Cursed</c>
The following named tokens were released with Theros:
# 1/1 Soldier for <c>Launch the Fleet</c>
# 2/2 Satyr with haste for <c>Revel of the Fallen God</c>
==Themes and mechanics==
Journey into Nyx has a heavy theme of "enchantments matter", and those cards were "pushed" to a higher power level to ensure that enchantments would be key components of competitive decks. The keywords Bestow, Heroic, Scry, Monstrosity, Inspired and Devotion returned from the previous sets (with monstrosity skipping one set). Two new ability words were added: constellation and strive. Enchantments with constellation abilities represent the divine constellations that fill the night sky. An enchantment's constellation ability triggers every time it or another enchantment enters the battlefield under the player's control. Most of the enchantments with constellation abilities are enchantment creatures, but not all of them. A spell with a strive ability lets you pump more mana into it to increase the number of targets.
==Cycles==
Journey into Nyx has nine cycles. Some cards are part of a Theros block mega cycle.
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Common heroic growers 	 	 	 	 	
Common heroic growers 	Five common heroic creatures that get +1/+1 counters, all but one of which have nonsquare Power/Toughness. 	Five common heroic creatures that get +1/+1 counters, all but one of which have nonsquare Power/Toughness. 	Five common heroic creatures that get +1/+1 counters, all but one of which have nonsquare Power/Toughness. 	Five common heroic creatures that get +1/+1 counters, all but one of which have nonsquare Power/Toughness. 	Five common heroic creatures that get +1/+1 counters, all but one of which have nonsquare Power/Toughness.
Constellation Nymphs 	 	 	 	 	
Constellation Nymphs 	Five cross-rarity nymphs with constellation. 	Five cross-rarity nymphs with constellation. 	Five cross-rarity nymphs with constellation. 	Five cross-rarity nymphs with constellation. 	Five cross-rarity nymphs with constellation.
Downside Bestow creatures	 	 	 	 	
Downside Bestow creatures	Five uncommon creatures with bestow and a downside ability. 	Five uncommon creatures with bestow and a downside ability. 	Five uncommon creatures with bestow and a downside ability. 	Five uncommon creatures with bestow and a downside ability. 	Five uncommon creatures with bestow and a downside ability.
X Lands Creatures 	 	 	 	 	
X Lands Creatures 	Five cross-rarity creatures with a double-colored mana cost and an effect (all but one an ETB effect) that depends on the number of basic lands of that color you control. 	Five cross-rarity creatures with a double-colored mana cost and an effect (all but one an ETB effect) that depends on the number of basic lands of that color you control. 	Five cross-rarity creatures with a double-colored mana cost and an effect (all but one an ETB effect) that depends on the number of basic lands of that color you control. 	Five cross-rarity creatures with a double-colored mana cost and an effect (all but one an ETB effect) that depends on the number of basic lands of that color you control. 	Five cross-rarity creatures with a double-colored mana cost and an effect (all but one an ETB effect) that depends on the number of basic lands of that color you control.
Common Strive spells 	 	 	 	 	
Common Strive spells 	Five common Instant spells with Strive that cost a single colored mana and 2C for each additional target. 	Five common Instant spells with Strive that cost a single colored mana and 2C for each additional target. 	Five common Instant spells with Strive that cost a single colored mana and 2C for each additional target. 	Five common Instant spells with Strive that cost a single colored mana and 2C for each additional target. 	Five common Instant spells with Strive that cost a single colored mana and 2C for each additional target.
Fonts 	 	 	 	 	
Fonts 	Five common enchantments with an activated ability that sacrifices it. 	Five common enchantments with an activated ability that sacrifices it. 	Five common enchantments with an activated ability that sacrifices it. 	Five common enchantments with an activated ability that sacrifices it. 	Five common enchantments with an activated ability that sacrifices it.
Dictates 	 	 	 	 	
Dictates 	Five rare enchantments with flash. 	Five rare enchantments with flash. 	Five rare enchantments with flash. 	Five rare enchantments with flash. 	Five rare enchantments with flash.
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Gold uncommons 	 	 	 	 	
Gold uncommons 	Five uncommon enemy-colored gold cards with colors matching the gods of the set. 	Five uncommon enemy-colored gold cards with colors matching the gods of the set. 	Five uncommon enemy-colored gold cards with colors matching the gods of the set. 	Five uncommon enemy-colored gold cards with colors matching the gods of the set. 	Five uncommon enemy-colored gold cards with colors matching the gods of the set.
Gods 	 	 	 	 	
Gods 	Five multicolored mythic rare legendary enchantment creatures that each embody one of the gods of Theros. Each card has a low casting cost but is not a creature until your Devotion to their two colors is 7 or more. They are all indestructible.	Five multicolored mythic rare legendary enchantment creatures that each embody one of the gods of Theros. Each card has a low casting cost but is not a creature until your Devotion to their two colors is 7 or more. They are all indestructible.	Five multicolored mythic rare legendary enchantment creatures that each embody one of the gods of Theros. Each card has a low casting cost but is not a creature until your Devotion to their two colors is 7 or more. They are all indestructible.	Five multicolored mythic rare legendary enchantment creatures that each embody one of the gods of Theros. Each card has a low casting cost but is not a creature until your Devotion to their two colors is 7 or more. They are all indestructible.	Five multicolored mythic rare legendary enchantment creatures that each embody one of the gods of Theros. Each card has a low casting cost but is not a creature until your Devotion to their two colors is 7 or more. They are all indestructible.
===Pairs===
Journey into Nyx has one mirrored pair.
Mirrored Pairs	Mirrored Pairs	Description
 	 	Common auras that cost 1 colored mana that enchant a creature you control. Both grant +1/+1 and can be sacrificed to destroy an artifact or enchantment when the creature deals damage to a player.
==Reprinted cards==
*<c>Bladetusk Boar</c> was first printed in Zendikar and last seen in Magic 2013
*<c>Magma Spray</c> was first printed in Shards of Alara and last seen in Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari
*<c>Reprisal</c> was first printed in Alliances and last seen in Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons
*<c>Riddle of Lightning</c> was first printed in Future Sight
===Functional reprints===
*<c>Banishing Light</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Oblivion Ring</c> from Lorwyn, except for the use of the new "exile until" template.
*<c>Brain Maggot</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Mesmeric Fiend</c> from Torment, except for the use of the new "exile until" template and for being an Enchantment Creature.
*<c>Golden Hind</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Leaf Gilder</c> from Lorwyn, except for creature types.
*<c>Market Festival</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Dawn's Reflection</c> from Fifth Dawn.
*<c>Oreskos Swiftclaw</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Blade of the Sixth Pride</c> from Future Sight, except for creature types.
*<c>Pensive Minotaur</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Minotaur Warrior</c> from Portal.
*<c>Pharika's Chosen</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Typhoid Rats</c> from Innistrad, except for creature types.
*<c>Satyr Grovedancer</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Ironshell Beetle</c> from Judgment and <c>Timberland Guide</c> from Avacyn Restored, except for creature types.
===Creature enchantment functional reprints===
*<c>Eidolon of Rhetoric</c> is a creature enchantment version of <c>Rule of Law</c>
*<c>Eidolon of the Great Revel</c> is a creature enchantment version of <c>Pyrostatic Pillar</c>
*<c>Hypnotic Siren</c> is a creature enchantment version of <c>Control Magic</c> and <c>Mind Control</c>
*<c>Mogis's Warhound</c> is a creature enchantment version of <c>Furor of the Bitten</c> and/or <c>Goblin Brigand</c>
*<c>Nyx-fleece Ram</c> is a creature enchantment version of <c>Ajani's Mantra</c>
===Colorshifted===
*<c>Akroan Mastiff</c>, white colorshifted version of <c>Ostiary Thrull</c> (Guildpact), except for types.
===Strictly better===
*<c>Dawnbringer Charioteers</c> is strictly better than <c>Seraph of Dawn</c>.
*<c>Felhide Petrifier</c> is strictly better than <c>Felhide Minotaur</c>.
*<c>Lagonna-Band Trailblazer</c> is strictly better than <c>Yoked Ox</c>.
*<c>Nature's Panoply</c> is strictly better than <c>Battlegrowth</c>.
*<c>Oppressive Rays</c> is strictly better than <c>Brainwash</c>.
*<c>Prophetic Flamespeaker</c> is strictly better than <c>Two-Headed Cerberus</c>.
*<c>Supply-Line Cranes</c> is strictly better than <c>Silent Artisan</c>.
*<c>Triton Shorestalker</c> is strictly better than <c>Fugitive Wizard</c>, <c>Grayscaled Gharial</c>, <c>Hazy Homunculus</c>, <c>Metathran Soldier</c> and <c>Sneaky Homunculus</c>.
===Strictly worse===
*<c>Akroan Mastiff</c> is strictly worse than <c>Ballynock Trapper</c>.
*<c>Starfall</c> is strictly worse than <c>Punish the Enemy</c>.
==Notable cards==
*<c>Mana Confluence</c> is a staple mana fixing land for color-intensive multicolor decks from Standard back to Legacy
*<c>Eidolon of the Great Revel</c> is a staple in Burn decks in Modern.
*<c>Twinflame</c> is one of a few cards that can combo with <c>Dualcaster Mage</c>
*<c>Eidolon of Rhetoric</c> is a great sideboard card against combo decks that rely on casting multiple spells in the same turn
*<c>Banishing Light</c> was a staple removal spell in Standard and the first <c>Oblivion Ring</c> style enchantment to use the new templating
*<c>Worst Fears</c> is among the few cards to give control over an opposing player for a turn, and the first since <c>Sorin Markov</c>
== Preconstructed decks ==
=== Intro packs ===
Journey into Nyx has five bicolored intro packs:
=== Event deck ===
Journey into Nyx has one event deck.
==References==
==External links==
*
*Journey into Nyx trailer