Ixalan's Magic: The Gathering Mechanics Revealed

Source: Wizards of the Coast

It's an epic news day for Magic: The Gathering players as Wizards of the Coast just released a lot of new information about the next Magic set, Ixalan. The company revealed the main mechanics of Ixalan with spotlight videos that explain how they work, and they include Raid, Enrage, Explore, Treasure Tokens, new types of double-faced cards, and the return of Vehicles. I love the amount of flavor they put into designing these mechanics. Check out the videos and description of mechanics below:

Raid:

Cards with Raid rewards bonuses to players who cast it in post-combat main phase, and if the player attacked a creature during that turn. It looks like a lot of Pirate cards will have the Raid ability.

Enrage:

Some Dinosaur cards will have Enrage, which will trigger if they're dealt damage, so it might be a wise idea to use cards that can give direct damage to your creatures or cards like Sweltering Suns.

Explore:

Ixalan is all about finding treasures and exploring new places so it's just fitting that there's a mechanic for it. Here's Wizards' explanation for it: "If a creature you control explores, you reveal the top card of your library. If the revealed card is a land, representing your creature finding some new territory you can check out, put that card into your hand. If it's not a land card, your creature comes back empty-handed (or empty-winged, empty-taloned, empty-pawed, etc.) but still benefits from the attempt. Specifically, you put a +1/+1 counter on it. Then, you decide whether the nonland card goes back on top of your library or into your graveyard."

Note that most creatures that Explore will trigger when they enter the battlefield, but some creatures will have abilities that will allow them to Explore.

Double-Faced Cards:

These double-faced cards will highlight "tales and tools of discovery". The Treasure Map/Treasure Cove card they revealed shows a cool map-inspired card frame on the back side. Check it out:

Treasure Tokens:

Treasure tokens are similar to Clue tokens from Shadows Over Innistrad but instead of sacrificing them to draw cards, you can sacrfice one to produce one mana of any color to your mana pool. You can check out the FNM double-sided token card that features a Treasure on one side here.

Vehicles:

Vehicles are back! First introduced in Kaladesh, players will have new ships to crew in the upcoming set.

There's so much flavor in this set. I can't wait to see what strategies people can come up with using these new mechanics.

Here's the synopsis for Ixalan:

For centuries, the untamed jungles of Ixalan have hidden a coveted secret: Orazca, the city of gold. But no secret can remain undiscovered, and no treasure can be taken uncontested. Unfurl your sails, saddle up a dinosaur, and battle your rivals as you embark on a journey to claim the plane's greatest fortune for yourself!

Number of Cards: 279

Magic Open House: September 16–17, 2017

Prerelease Weekend: September 23–24, 2017

Release Date: September 29, 2017

Draft Weekend: September 30–October 1, 2017

Game Day Weekend: November 11–12, 2017

Magic Online Launch: September 25, 2017

Magic Online On Sale Date: September 29, 2017

Magic League Begins: October 2, 2017

Pro Tour Ixalan: November 3–5, 2017

Source: Wizards of the Coast

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