Born of the Gods

Born of the Gods is the second set in the Theros block. It is the 63rd Magic expansion and was released on February 7, 2014. It is a small expansion.
==Set details==
Like its predecessor, Born of the Gods 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. The set contained the planeswalker card for Kiora, anticipated since her introduction in Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012.
===Flavor and storyline===
No longer content to walk the planes of the Multiverse seeking pleasure, the planeswalker Xenagos returns to Theros to become the god of revels. The boundaries that separate everyday existence from Nyx are growing dangerously thin. Strange creatures of enchantment, called Nyxborn or Born of the Gods, are pouring into the mortal world as Xenagos threatens to disrupt the very nature of the plane. Mogis, the god of slaughter sends hordes of mortal and Nyxborn minotaurs against the human cities Akros, Meletis, and Setessa. Elspeth Tirel leads an army of heroes to break the minotaur siege at Akros. The humans were victorious, but the victory celebration after the battle became the ultimate ritual to launch Xenagos into Nyx as a god. Elspeth is blamed for his ascension and driven away in disgrace.
====Storyline sources====
Title 	Author 	Publishing date	Setting (plane)	Featuring
Journey into Nyx: Godsend, Part II, first 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
 	Adam Lee 	2014-01-15 	Theros 	Perisophia, Kyrios, Samia, Rhytho, Melia, Phelos, Salis, Matatios, Ephara
 	Matt Knicl 	2014-01-22 	Theros 	Vinack, Athreos, Heliod, Pharika, Zerili, Mogis
 	Clayton Kroh 	2014-02-05 	Theros 	Adrasteia, Pavios and Thanasis, Purphoros, Erebos
 	Kelly Digges 	2014-02-12 	Shandalar, Theros	Kiora, Kalemnos, Thassa, Kruphix
 	Jennifer Clarke Wilkes	2014-02-19 	Theros 	Perisophia, Anthousa, Kruphix
 	Kelly Digges 	2014-02-26 	Theros 	Leandros, Kyrillos, Bardas, Borias, Haemon, Nikasios, Xanthos, Mnesos, Diocles, Pallas, Eumalos, Athreos, Iroas, Mogis
 	Matt Knicl 	2014-03-05 	Theros 	Aesrias, Iroas, Pilun, Anax, Xenagos
 	Jeremiah Isgur 	2014-03-19 	Theros 	Iris, Alexio, Perisophia, Ephara, Purphoros
Seasons in Setessa	Ken Troop 	2014-03-26 	Theros 	Cilissa, Karametra, Thora, Niketa, Kelios, Natasa, Delia
===Marketing===
Born of the Gods was 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>Mogis, God of Slaughter</c>, <c>Ephara, God of the Polis</c> and <c>Phenax, God of Deception</c>. The set features the continuation of the Hero's Path.
====Prerelease====
Quest 4 on the Hero's Path takes place at the Born of the Gods Prerelease events, February 1 and 2, 2014. As with Theros, players will choose their destiny based on a favorite mana color and receive a Seeded Prerelease Pack based on that color (Destined to Lead , Outwit , Dominate , Conquer or Thrive ). The Prerelease Pack contains a Spindown Life Counter, one of five Hero cards (respectively <c>The General</c>, <c>The Savant</c>, <c>The Tyrant</c>, <c>The Warmonger</c> and <c>The Provider</c>), one of five quiz activity cards, two Born of the God boosters, three Theros boosters, and a seeded booster featuring cards appropriate for that player's chosen path—including one of the five Prerelease promo cards.
====Launch Weekend====
Born of the Gods launched February 7, 2014 and the month's first Friday Night Magic started off the festivities. Players on the Hero's Path came to their stores to "Venture into the Wilds" and solved a puzzle hidden within the poster included in the Born of the Gods Launch Weekend kit. Players who solved the puzzle received a copy of the Quest 5 Hero card (<c>The Provider</c>).
====Game Day====
On March 1 and 2 Born of the Gods Game Day players can use their Standard decks for the sixth quest on the Hero's Path: Battle the Horde, a special Challenge Deck provided to the retailer. By winning against the Challenge deck, players win a sixth Hero card (<c>The Vanquisher</c>).
====Promotional Cards====
*Prerelease, one of five according to the chosen destiny: <c>Silent Sentinel</c>, <c>Arbiter of the Ideal</c>, <c>Eater of Hope</c>, <c>Forgestoker Dragon</c>, <c>Nessian Wilds Ravager</c>.
*Launch promo: <c>Tromokratis</c>
*Game Day: full-art <c>Kiora's Follower</c>
*Game Day (Top 8): full-art foil <c>Pain Seer</c>
*Buy-a-Box: <c>Fated Conflagration</c>
====Tokens / Emblem====
A sixteenth card in the boosters can be a token creature card or an emblem, with advertisements on the back side:
# 1/1 Bird creature, created by <c>Ornitharch</c>
# 1/1 Cat Soldier creature, created by <c>Brimaz, King of Oreskos</c> and <c>Vanguard of Brimaz</c>
# 1/1 Soldier enchantment creature, created by <c>God-Favored General</c>
# 2/2 Bird enchantment creature, created by <c>Aerie Worshippers</c>
# 9/9 Kraken creature, created by <c>Kiora, the Crashing Wave</c>
# 2/2 Zombie enchantment creature, created by <c>Forlorn Pseudamma</c>
# 3/1 Elemental enchantment creature, created by <c>Satyr Nyx-Smith</c>
# 3/3 Centaur enchantment creature, created by <c>Fated Intervention</c> and <c>Pheres-Band Raiders</c>
# 2/2 Wolf creature, created by <c>Raised by Wolves</c>
# Gold artifact, created by <c>Gild</c> (this is the first ever non-creature token)
# 
==Themes and mechanics==
*Enchantment creatures, bestow, devotion, heroic and scry return from the previous set.
*Inspired (ability word) Whenever ~ becomes untapped, do something. Creatures with inspired abilities represent the divine inspiration that comes from the world of dreams. A creature's inspired ability triggers every time the creature becomes untapped.
*Tribute (static ability) A creature with a tribute ability offers an opponent a choice: either it becomes even larger, or it does something nasty to your opponent when it enters the battlefield. E.g. Tribute 6 (As this creature enters the battlefield, an opponent of your choice may put 6 +1/+1 counters on it.) When ~ enters the battlefield, if its tribute wasn't paid, you may have ~ fight another target creature. It is said that Tribute replaced Monstrosity in this set, but wasn't said if Monstrosity will make a return in the 3rd set of the block.
==Cycles==
Born of the Gods has nine cycles. Some cards are part of a Theros block mega cycle.
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Nyxborn 	 	 	 	 	
Nyxborn 	Five common creatures with the bestow mechanic and no additional abilities. 	Five common creatures with the bestow mechanic and no additional abilities. 	Five common creatures with the bestow mechanic and no additional abilities. 	Five common creatures with the bestow mechanic and no additional abilities. 	Five common creatures with the bestow mechanic and no additional abilities.
Inspired creatures 	 	 	 	 	
Inspired creatures 	Five uncommon creatures with the inspired mechanic, creating creature enchantment tokens for M when untapping. 	Five uncommon creatures with the inspired mechanic, creating creature enchantment tokens for M when untapping. 	Five uncommon creatures with the inspired mechanic, creating creature enchantment tokens for M when untapping. 	Five uncommon creatures with the inspired mechanic, creating creature enchantment tokens for M when untapping. 	Five uncommon creatures with the inspired mechanic, creating creature enchantment tokens for M when untapping.
Archetypes 	 	 	 	 	
Archetypes 	Five uncommon enchantment creatures, one of each color. Each Archetype has two abilities: one that grants a keyword ability to all of your creatures, including itself, and one that makes your opponents' creatures lose that same keyword. 	Five uncommon enchantment creatures, one of each color. Each Archetype has two abilities: one that grants a keyword ability to all of your creatures, including itself, and one that makes your opponents' creatures lose that same keyword. 	Five uncommon enchantment creatures, one of each color. Each Archetype has two abilities: one that grants a keyword ability to all of your creatures, including itself, and one that makes your opponents' creatures lose that same keyword. 	Five uncommon enchantment creatures, one of each color. Each Archetype has two abilities: one that grants a keyword ability to all of your creatures, including itself, and one that makes your opponents' creatures lose that same keyword. 	Five uncommon enchantment creatures, one of each color. Each Archetype has two abilities: one that grants a keyword ability to all of your creatures, including itself, and one that makes your opponents' creatures lose that same keyword.
Uncommon Tribute 	 	 	 	 	
Uncommon Tribute 	Five uncommon creatures with the tribute mechanic. 	Five uncommon creatures with the tribute mechanic. 	Five uncommon creatures with the tribute mechanic. 	Five uncommon creatures with the tribute mechanic. 	Five uncommon creatures with the tribute mechanic.
Enemy-colored activatd ability uncommons	 	 	 	 	
Enemy-colored activatd ability uncommons	An incomplete cycle of uncommon cards that have an ability that requires an enemy color. The cycle goes in the opposite direction from the similar cycle of commons from Theros. The cycle misses its member with a activated ability (a spot taken instead by <c>Kiora's Follower</c>, the sixth gold uncommon card).	An incomplete cycle of uncommon cards that have an ability that requires an enemy color. The cycle goes in the opposite direction from the similar cycle of commons from Theros. The cycle misses its member with a activated ability (a spot taken instead by <c>Kiora's Follower</c>, the sixth gold uncommon card).	An incomplete cycle of uncommon cards that have an ability that requires an enemy color. The cycle goes in the opposite direction from the similar cycle of commons from Theros. The cycle misses its member with a activated ability (a spot taken instead by <c>Kiora's Follower</c>, the sixth gold uncommon card).	An incomplete cycle of uncommon cards that have an ability that requires an enemy color. The cycle goes in the opposite direction from the similar cycle of commons from Theros. The cycle misses its member with a activated ability (a spot taken instead by <c>Kiora's Follower</c>, the sixth gold uncommon card).	An incomplete cycle of uncommon cards that have an ability that requires an enemy color. The cycle goes in the opposite direction from the similar cycle of commons from Theros. The cycle misses its member with a activated ability (a spot taken instead by <c>Kiora's Follower</c>, the sixth gold uncommon card).
Tapping Auras 	 	 	 	 	
Tapping Auras 	Five common auras that grant ability with in its cost. 	Five common auras that grant ability with in its cost. 	Five common auras that grant ability with in its cost. 	Five common auras that grant ability with in its cost. 	Five common auras that grant ability with in its cost.
Devotion X Spells 	 	 	 	 	
Devotion X Spells 	Five uncommon cards that scale according to your devotion to that color. 	Five uncommon cards that scale according to your devotion to that color. 	Five uncommon cards that scale according to your devotion to that color. 	Five uncommon cards that scale according to your devotion to that color. 	Five uncommon cards that scale according to your devotion to that color.
Fated spells 	 	 	 	 	
Fated spells 	Five rare instant spells with a cost that includes MMM. These spells let you scry 2 when you play them in your turn. 	Five rare instant spells with a cost that includes MMM. These spells let you scry 2 when you play them in your turn. 	Five rare instant spells with a cost that includes MMM. These spells let you scry 2 when you play them in your turn. 	Five rare instant spells with a cost that includes MMM. These spells let you scry 2 when you play them in your turn. 	Five rare instant spells with a cost that includes MMM. These spells let you scry 2 when you play them in your turn.
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Gold uncommons 	 	 	 	 	
Gold uncommons 	A cycle of five uncommon allied-colored gold cards with colors matching the gods of the set. 	A cycle of five uncommon allied-colored gold cards with colors matching the gods of the set. 	A cycle of five uncommon allied-colored gold cards with colors matching the gods of the set. 	A cycle of five uncommon allied-colored gold cards with colors matching the gods of the set. 	A cycle of five uncommon allied-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 and have one static ability. 	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 and have one static ability. 	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 and have one static ability. 	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 and have one static ability. 	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 and have one static ability.
==Reprinted cards==
*<c>Divination</c> from Magic 2010 and last seen in Magic 2014.
*<c>Eternity Snare</c> was last seen in Time Spiral.
*<c>Necrobite</c> was last seen in Avacyn Restored.
*<c>Revoke Existence</c> from Scars of Mirrodin and last seen in Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth.
*<c>Springleaf Drum</c> was last seen in Lorwyn.
===Functional reprints===
*<c>Charging Badger</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Defiant Elf</c> from Legions, save for creature type.
*<c>Great Hart</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Pillarfield Ox</c> from Zendikar and <c>Foot Soldiers</c> from Portal, save for creature type.
*<c>Reckless Reveler</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Torch Fiend</c> from Dark Ascension, save for creature type.
*<c>Oreskos Swiftclaw</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Blade of the Sixth Pride</c> from Future Sight, save for creature type.
*<c>Retraction Helix</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Banishing Knack</c> from Eventide.
*<c>Rise to the Challenge</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Thunder Strike</c> from Magic 2011 and Magic 2014.
*<c>Unravel the Æther</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Deglamer</c> from Morningtide.
===Strictly better===
*<c>Astral Cornucopia</c> is strictly better than <c>Manalith</c>.
*<c>Chorus of the Tides</c> is strictly better than <c>Snapping Drake</c>.
*<c>Drown in Sorrow</c> is strictly better than <c>Infest</c>.
*<c>Fall of the Hammer</c> is strictly better than <c>Crush Underfoot</c>.
*<c>Temple of Enlightenment</c> is strictly better than <c>New Benalia</c>.
*<c>Temple of Plenty</c> is strictly better than <c>New Benalia</c>.
===Strictly worse===
*<c>Culling Mark</c> is strictly worse than <c>Hunt Down</c>.
*<c>Felhide Brawler</c> is strictly worse than <c>Gutter Skulk</c> (but strictly better than <c>Spineless Thug</c>).
*<c>Gorgon's Head</c> is strictly worse than <c>Basilisk Collar</c>.
==Notable cards==
*<c>Courser of Kruphix</c> is a card advantage engine that was a staple in Standard and continued to be played in Modern and Pioneer long after.
*<c>Gild</c> is the first card to create a non-creature artifact token.
*<c>Satyr Wayfinder</c> sees frequent play in Pioneer and Modern decks seeking to fill their graveyard
*<c>Brimaz, King of Oreskos</c> was a powerhouse in aggro Standard decks and has continued to see success in other formats
*<c>Retraction Helix</c> has a unique and powerful effect and is the core of the eponymous Pioneer deck
==Preconstructed decks==
===Intro packs===
Born of the Gods has five bicolored intro packs:
===Event deck===
Born of the Gods has one event deck.
==References==
==External links==
*
*
*