Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms

Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms is a Dungeons & Dragons crossover Magic: The Gathering set which replaced the core set of the 2021-2022 standard rotation. It is the 88th Magic expansion and was released on July 23, 2021. The name of the set is often abbreviated to Adventures in the Forgotten Realms or Forgotten Realms.
==Set details==
[[File:AFR Bundle.png|thumb|right|Bundle featuring Drizzt Do'Urden and Guenhwyvar ]]
This set contains 281 regular cards and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards. Alternate card frames have another card number than the original version. Borderless cards are numbered #282-298, and showcase cards are numbered #299-358. Extended artwork cards are numbered #359-395. The Buy-a-Box card is #396 and the Bundle promo is #397. The FNM-treatment cards from the Universal promo pack are numbered #398-402.
The visuals of the cards tell a story and many favorite D&D characters are mentioned in the flavor text. As a first, the basic lands of this set feature flavor text. These are structured as descriptions presented by a Dungeon Master. Showcase cards have a "classic rulebook frame treatment", pulled from the look and feel of illustrations in the the original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. Nine showcase lands look like the classic covers of old module sourcebooks.
===Development===
Mark Rosewater had worked on a Dungeons & Dragons TCG as early as 2016. Before that, the D&D Spellfire CCG had been created by TSR, Inc.. Adventures in the Forgotten Realms is a true collaboration between the two Hasbro teams. The D&D team worked with the Magic team on every aspect of the set, similar to how the Magic team worked with the D&D team on D&D Mythic Odysseys of Theros and D&D Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica. The D&D team provided extensive feedback on both the visuals and lore of The Forgotten Realms.
===Marketing===
Adventures in the Forgotten Realms is sold in regular 16-card Draft Boosters (one card being a marketing card), Theme Boosters (five monocolored and 1 "Dungeon Theme Booster"), Collector Boosters, Set Boosters, the Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Bundle, and four Commander decks. The set also features revamped Welcome Boosters. The Draft Boosters feature artwork from Drizzt Do'Urden. There are three different set boosters, featuring art of <c>Grand Master of Flowers</c>, <c>True Polymorph</c> and <c>Iymrith, Desert Doom</c>. The Theme Boosters feature art from <c>Dungeon Map</c> (Dungeon), <c>Nadaar, Selfless Paladin</c> (), <c>You Find the Villains’ Lair</c> (), <c>Acererak the Archlich</c> (), <c>Delina, Wild Mage</c> () and <c>Owlbear</c> (). The Collector Boosters feature art of . The Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Gift Edition Bundle was released on August 6, 2021. With the release of Forgotten Realms, 48 cards were rotated into The List. 
====Events====
* Magic Online and MTG Arena release: July 8, 2021
* Tabletop Prerelease: July 16-22 
** Commander Dueling (casual side events)
* Launch party: July 23–25, 2021
* Friday Night Magic: July 23–September 3, 2021
* Commander Nights: July 26–September 9, 2021
====Promotional cards====
*Prerelease: a stamped card that can be any rare or mythic rare.
*Other events: cards from the Forgotten Realms universal promo pack.
**The seasonal dark-frame promos are: , , , and 
*Buy-a-Box: foil Alternate art .
** Riceball promos: three alternate art <c>Orb of Dragonkind</c> versions, featuring "Onigiri"-style characters by illustrator Kawasumi were released in Japan only.https://mtg-jp.com/reading/kochima/0035228/ 
*Bundle promo: 
*Ampersand cards: Every WPN Premium store received two copies of every Rare and Mythic Rare in Adventures in the Forgotten Realms with an all-new treatment not found elsewhere in the set: the iconic D&D ampersand in a glossy, transparent overlay on the front of each card. They were to be used as participation prizes or sales promos.
====Tokens, emblems and dungeons====
Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms features 22 tokens, emblems, and dungeons. 
# 3/3 Angel creature with flying, for <c>The Book of Exalted Deeds</c>.
# , a legendary Equipment artifact with "Equipped creature gets +2/+0", "Whenever equipped creature attacks, tap target creature defending player controls" and equip , for <c>Icingdeath, Frost Tyrant</c>.
# */* Dog Illusion creature with "This creature's power and toughness are each equal to twice the number of cards in your hand", for <c>Mordenkainen</c>.
# 1/1 Faerie Dragon creature with flying, for <c>Feywild Trickster</c>.
# , a 4/4 legendary God Horror creature with deathtouch, for <c>Tomb of Annihilation</c>.
# 1/1 Skeleton creature, for <c>Dungeon of the Mad Mage</c>, <c>Death-Priest of Myrkul</c>, and <c>Skeletal Swarming</c>.
# 2/1 Spider creature with menace and reach, for <c>Drider</c> and <c>Lolth, Spider Queen</c>.
# , a 8/8 legendary Zombie God creature with indestructible and all triggered abilities of the exiled cards, for <c>The Book of Vile Darkness</c>.
# 2/2 Zombie creature, for <c>Acererak the Archlich</c>, <c>The Book of Vile Darkness</c> and <c>Wight</c>.
# , a 1/1 legendary Hamster creature with trample and haste, for <c>Minsc, Beloved Ranger</c>.
# 1/1 Devil creature with "When this creature dies, it deals 1 damage to any target", for <c>Zariel, Archduke of Avernus</c>.
# 1/1 Goblin creature, for <c>Battle Cry Goblin</c>, <c>Den of the Bugbear</c>, <c>Goblin Morningstar</c>, <c>Lost Mine of Phandelver</c>, <c>Swarming Goblins</c>, and <c>You See a Pair of Goblins</c>.
# , a 4/1 legendary Cat creature with trample, for <c>Drizzt Do'Urden</c>.
# 2/2 Wolf creature, for <c>Elturgard Ranger</c>, <c>Ranger Class</c> and <c>Varis, Silverymoon Ranger</c>.
# Treasure artifact, for <c>Deadly Dispute</c>, <c>Dungeon of the Mad Mage</c>, <c>Forsworn Paladin</c>, <c>Grim Bounty</c>, <c>Herald of Hadar</c>, <c>Hoarding Ogre</c>, <c>Hoard Robber</c>, <c>Improvised Weaponry</c>, <c>Instrument of the Bards</c>, <c>Kalain, Reclusive Painter</c>, <c>Lost Mine of Phandelver</c>, <c>Old Gnawbone</c>, <c>Plundering Barbarian</c>, <c>Prosperous Innkeeper</c>, <c>Shambling Ghast</c>, <c>Skullport Merchant</c>, <c>Spiked Pit Trap</c>, <c>Thieves' Tools</c>, <c>Treasure Chest</c>, <c>Treasure Vault</c>, <c>Unexpected Windfall</c>, <c>Xorn</c>, and <c>You Find a Cursed Idol</c>.
# .
# .
# .
# .
# <c>Dungeon of the Mad Mage</c> is the backside of token #12.
# <c>Lost Mine of Phandelver</c> is the backside of token #6.
# <c>Tomb of Annihilation</c> is the backside of token #5.
==Storyline==
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the D&D fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", the planet Toril is shared by humans, dwarves, elves, goblins, orcs, and other peoples and creatures. Technologically, the world of the Forgotten Realms resembles the pre-industrial Earth of the 13th or 14th century. However, the presence of magic provides an additional element of power to societies. There are several nation-states and many independent cities, with loose alliances being formed for defense or conquest. Forgotten Realms centers on Faerûn, a sub-continent in the northern hemisphere of Toril.
The Forgotten Realms are not considered to be canonically part of Magic's Multiverse. Some cards "play up the feel of an adventuring party together, taking on one big foe," such as Drizzt Do'Urden and some of his friends battling Frost giants in the north of Faerûn in the cards' art and flavor text.
Some iconic D&D characters, that have traveled the various D&D planes of existence, are featured as Planeswalker cards. However, this doesn't mean that these characters have a planeswalker's spark in the same way that planar travel works in Magic's lore. According to Wizards of the Coast, they wanted to make these characters as cool as they could possibly be, and as Planeswalkers were a regular part of new Magic sets - the Planeswalker card type in their opinion would make a great fit.
A D&D campaign for Adventures in the Forgotten Realms by Will Hindmarch was released in chapters via . D&D character sheets are provided for Chandra, Liliana, Kaya, Yanggu, and Narset, but as with most D&D adventures they could be played by any characters, and do not represent the Magic characters canonically traveling to the Forgotten Realms. Within the campaign, Ravnica exists as a plane in the D&D multiverse that a few characters have traveled to, but again, this coexistence is simply a creative way to blend Magic and D&D for a short adventure and does not reflect the multiverse of the primary Magic story (or the standard Forgotten Realms setting). There are five episodes of the campaign:
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# 
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Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms has no Story Spotlights, but a series of cards represent the adventures of a party composed by , , and .
==Themes and mechanics==
Cards throughout Adventures in the Forgotten Realms directly reference the Dungeons & Dragons franchise, but also some aspects of role-playing games in general.
The set introduces the Dungeon card type. Dungeons don't go in your deck. Rather, they start outside the game and are played in the command zone.
Dungeons are connected to the venture into the dungeon mechanic. This can be the effect of a spell, an activated ability, or a triggered ability. If you venture into the dungeon while you don't have any dungeons in the command zone, you put the dungeon of your choice into the command zone and put a venture marker on the first room, at the top. Every time you enter a room, including the first room, its room ability triggers. These abilities all read "When you enter this room, [the effect printed in the room]." When you complete a dungeon certain cards receive a bonus. 
A new mechanic is pack tactics, an ability word that causes an effect whenever creatures attack with total power 6 or greater.
Aside from pack tactics, the set adopts a very loose approach to ability words, which are used to represent themed actions or monster abilities instead of grouping similarly functioning cards. These are called flavor words.
Dice rolling is used for the first time in a black-bordered set, always in the template "Roll a d20".
===Limited archetypes===
Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms features the following limited archetypes:
*: Venture value (<c>Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker</c>)
*: Sneak attack (<c>Krydle of Baldur's Gate</c>)
*: Treasure matters (<c>Kalain, Reclusive Painter</c>)
*: Pack tactics (<c>Targ Nar, Demon-Fang Gnoll</c>)
*: Life gain (<c>Trelasarra, Moon Dancer</c>)
*: Venture faster (<c>Barrowin of Clan Undurr</c>)
*: Roll a d20! (<c>Farideh, Devil's Chosen</c>)
*: Death matters (<c>Shessra, Death’s Whisper</c>)
*: Equip your heroes (<c>Bruenor Battlehammer</c>)
*: Ramp into abilities (<c>Gretchen Titchwillow</c>)
===Card types===
The set introduces a new enchantment type: Class.
The set introduces the Bard, Beholder, Gnoll, Halfling, Hamster, and Tiefling creature types. Citizen appears for the first time as a printed black-bordered creature type (previously only appearing on tokens).
The Bahamut, Mordenkainen, Lolth, Zariel and Ellywick planeswalker types are introduced.
A curiosity occurring in this set in regards to creature types is that the class takes precedent over race in terms of color. For example, Orcs are majority Black and Red in Magic, but three of four Orcs printed in this set are a Blue Orc Rogue (<c>Guild Thief</c>), a Green Orc Ranger (<c>Intrepid Outlander</c>) and a White Orc Knight (<c>Devoted Paladin</c>). Smaller, humanoid, flightless Dragons appear as Dragonborn, holding classes as White Knights or Green Bards. Other oddly colored races appear also.
==Cycles==
Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms has six cycles:
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Planeswalkers 	 	 	 	 	
Planeswalkers 	Five mythic rare planeswalkers. 	Five mythic rare planeswalkers. 	Five mythic rare planeswalkers. 	Five mythic rare planeswalkers. 	Five mythic rare planeswalkers.
Legendary dragons	 	 	 	 	
Legendary dragons	Five mythic rare legendary Dragons. 	Five mythic rare legendary Dragons. 	Five mythic rare legendary Dragons. 	Five mythic rare legendary Dragons. 	Five mythic rare legendary Dragons.
Fast manlands 	 	 	 	 	
Fast manlands 	Five rare lands that enter the battlefield tapped if the player controls two or more other lands. Each of them can turn into creatures until end of turn. 	Five rare lands that enter the battlefield tapped if the player controls two or more other lands. Each of them can turn into creatures until end of turn. 	Five rare lands that enter the battlefield tapped if the player controls two or more other lands. Each of them can turn into creatures until end of turn. 	Five rare lands that enter the battlefield tapped if the player controls two or more other lands. Each of them can turn into creatures until end of turn. 	Five rare lands that enter the battlefield tapped if the player controls two or more other lands. Each of them can turn into creatures until end of turn.
Color hosers 	 	 	 	 	
Color hosers 	Five uncommon instant-speed spells that get more effective when targeting a permanent of a specific color. Unusual for a hoser cycle as the references do not follow a wheel; the red targets an allied color while white and black target each other.	Five uncommon instant-speed spells that get more effective when targeting a permanent of a specific color. Unusual for a hoser cycle as the references do not follow a wheel; the red targets an allied color while white and black target each other.	Five uncommon instant-speed spells that get more effective when targeting a permanent of a specific color. Unusual for a hoser cycle as the references do not follow a wheel; the red targets an allied color while white and black target each other.	Five uncommon instant-speed spells that get more effective when targeting a permanent of a specific color. Unusual for a hoser cycle as the references do not follow a wheel; the red targets an allied color while white and black target each other.	Five uncommon instant-speed spells that get more effective when targeting a permanent of a specific color. Unusual for a hoser cycle as the references do not follow a wheel; the red targets an allied color while white and black target each other.
Chromatic dragons	 	 	 	 	
Chromatic dragons	Five uncommon Dragons with a Breath flavor word representing a triggered ability. 	Five uncommon Dragons with a Breath flavor word representing a triggered ability. 	Five uncommon Dragons with a Breath flavor word representing a triggered ability. 	Five uncommon Dragons with a Breath flavor word representing a triggered ability. 	Five uncommon Dragons with a Breath flavor word representing a triggered ability.
===Multicolored cycles===
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gold legends	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gold legends	Ten uncommon gold legendary creature spells. Each is a signpost for a draft archetype.	Ten uncommon gold legendary creature spells. Each is a signpost for a draft archetype.	Ten uncommon gold legendary creature spells. Each is a signpost for a draft archetype.	Ten uncommon gold legendary creature spells. Each is a signpost for a draft archetype.	Ten uncommon gold legendary creature spells. Each is a signpost for a draft archetype.	Ten uncommon gold legendary creature spells. Each is a signpost for a draft archetype.	Ten uncommon gold legendary creature spells. Each is a signpost for a draft archetype.	Ten uncommon gold legendary creature spells. Each is a signpost for a draft archetype.	Ten uncommon gold legendary creature spells. Each is a signpost for a draft archetype.	Ten uncommon gold legendary creature spells. Each is a signpost for a draft archetype.
===Vertical cycles===
Cycle name	 	 	
Dragonborn	 	 	
Dragonborn	Three humanoid Dragons without flying.	Three humanoid Dragons without flying.	Three humanoid Dragons without flying.
Gnomes 	 	 	
Gnomes 	Three non-artifact Gnomes. 	Three non-artifact Gnomes. 	Three non-artifact Gnomes.
===Pairs===
Mirrored pair	Mirrored pair	Description
 	 	Two mythic rare legendary artifacts with MMM mana cost. Each of them has a life-related token creation triggered ability and activated ability. Each shares the name with a sourcebook published by Wizards of the Coast for D&D, and both are also powerful magic items often found across D&D's publication history.
 	 	Two mythic rare skeletons that could come back after death or play other cards.
 	 	Two rare legendary artifacts with M mana cost, an activated ability and an effect applicable in the beginning phase.
 	 	Two uncommon Citizens that create a treasure when they enter the battlefield and have a creature-related ability.
 	 	Two uncommon Equipments with equip costing M.
 	 	Two common Equipments with flash that attach themselves to a creature when they enter the battlefield. One gives +2/+0 and the other +0/+2.
 	 	Two common Elementals costing 4MM and having a removal effect upon entering the battlefield. In D&D the elemental cults are tied to the Elemental Evil.
 	 	Two common creatures with mana cost 1M and a static ability as long as they are equipped.
 	 	Two common creatures with mana cost 3M, mirrored stats, and triggered abilities which venture into the dungeon once in the creature's life cycle.
==Reprinted cards==
*<c>Bag of Holding</c>, first printed in Core Set 2020 (rare to uncommon).
*<c>Charmed Sleep</c>, first printed in Throne of Eldraine.
*<c>Evolving Wilds</c>, first printed in Rise of the Eldrazi, last seen in Commander Legends
*, first printed in Archenemy, last seen in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.
===Functional reprints===
*<c>Scaled Herbalist</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Llanowar Scout</c>, except for creature types.
*<c>Steadfast Paladin</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Bishop's Soldier</c>, except for creature types.
==Notable cards==
*<c>Mimic</c> is the first non-token treasure.
*<c>Vorpal Sword</c> is an alternate-win or -loss card.
*<c>Soulknife Spy</c>, <c>Arcane Investigator</c>, and <c>Aberrant Mind Sorcerer</c> are the first monoblue Elves. The last of these is the most unusual as neither Shaman nor Elf are primarily blue types, unlike Wizard or Rogue.
* Both <c>Delina, Wild Mage</c> and <c>The Book of Vile Darkness</c> (as well as the Commander deck card <c>Mantle of the Ancients</c>) received errata before they were officially released.
===Banned and restricted cards===
*<c>The Book of Exalted Deeds</c> references <c>Platinum Angel</c>'s anti-losing text, giving an Angel that text for . Angels are not usually known for being cheap and resilient; however, in this Standard rotation, <c>Faceless Haven</c> allowed players a temporary Angel that would live on the board as a Land — the most resilient card type — for the rest of the game. Hence Wizards banned the Book for the preview-queue Standard 2022, since the only reasonable answer was <c>Field of Ruin</c> which had rotated. They emphasized that this would not be the case post-rotation, due to Field of Ruin being reprinted in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Standard 2022's Best-of-One nature, much like <c>Nexus of Fate</c> in 2019-2020.
==Preconstructed decks==
Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms features four Commander decks that are released as a regular part of a set's product line, each containing 17 new cards..
==References==
==External links==
* Dungeons & Dragons Wiki
* The Forgotten Realms Wiki
* D&D Lore Wiki
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Category:Dungeons & Dragons crossover
Category:Magic sets