Theros Block Speculation

~
Happy Monday MTG peeps,

A very interesting post over on the mothersite today - if you've not yet have had a chance to look, click on over.  WotC TJ posted to the Magic Arcana the 'title images' of each of the sets in the current Magic: the Gathering block - Theros, Born of the Gods, and Journey into Nyx.  We have of course seen the Theros art with Elspeth, sun's Champion standing in triumph over a slain hydra and have even seen stylized hints of the other arts on the Hero's Path website but not yet seen them in full - which affords us an opportunity to generate some almost-baseless speculation.  For the Planeswalker Guide to Theros, check out the Magic Creative Team's articles here.  Let's have at it now . . .
~
First up - the title art for Theros.

Nothing new - Elspeth, now on Theros is true to form and fights for the humans inhabiting this plane against the many monsters.  A forge with her and Heliod, god of the Sun now emerges.

~
Second - the next set 'Born of the Gods' with this title art. 

We can clearly see that the Planeswalker Xenagos from the previous Theros set has a major role to play.  As Xenagos already has received a card, we should expect cards indicating a theme of his (or his 'faction'?) evolution.  This art suggests that Xenagos has supplanted Purphoros and possibly a bleeding through of Nyx (the realm of the gods) in to the corporeal plan.

~
Third - the title art for the final set 'Journey into Nyx'

From this image, we see the full extent of the corruption of being that was Xenagos.  Super Xenagos, holding his lyre-spear-staff thingy is about to engage in a confrontation with two well-known Planeswalkers - Elspeth and Ajani.  In the background to the left are battle banners of forces but whether this army is marching against or for Xenagos is unknown. Below this final battle are ruins of temples of which Erebos, god of the Underworld suggests has been, like Purphoros, defeated by super Xenagos.
~
Lastly, a heads up about MTG Mint Card (their banner on the left) who are having some pretty amazing deals, so click on over and check that out.
~

Journey into Nyx

~
Happy Monday MTG peeps,

We trust you had a great weekend, hopefully filled with some Magic: the Gathering.  Our weekend was rather productive, at least in terms of MTG.  We took that standard Slivers (featuring Bow of Nylea and Thorncaster Sliver) build to OMG! Games for Friday Night Magic to give it a spin and promptly lost every match - but - dang, that was pretty fun to play actually.  We'll likely just keep it at the kitchen table, or perhaps grab a few MTG singles from MTG Mint Card to make it a bit more competitive at FNM - we don't know yet.  Also of note, we think there are a few more players trying out that funky Maze's End Turbo-Fog build - although it seems a bit non-interactive, we have a thingy for alternate win condition games and might just have to give this a try.

Anywhoos - on to today's MTG news.  Over on the mothersite today, we now have the official announcement for the third and last set in the Theros block.  Although we've had the name for some time, we just did not have some of the nitty-gritty until today.  Again, Wizards did not provide an art teaser along with the announcement - rather  sad about that, so we've just added a few images from the very lovely 'Hero's Path' website below to fill in.  Righto - Here's the full run-down now -  
~

Set Name     : Theros
Block : Set 1 of 3 in the Theros block
Large September Expansion
Number of Cards : 249
Prerelease Events : September 21-22, 2013
Release Date : September 27, 2013
Launch Weekend : September 27-29, 2013
Pro Tour Theros Dates : October 11-13, 2013
Game Day : October 19-20, 2013

 

Set Name     : Born of the Gods
Block : Set 2 of 3 in the Theros block
Number of Cards : 165
Small February Expansion
Prerelease Events : February 1-2, 2014
Release Date : February 7, 2014
Launch Weekend : February 7-9, 2014
Game Day : March 1-2, 2014
   
 

Set Name     : Journey into Nyx
Block : Set 3 of 3 in the Theros block
Number of Cards : 165
Small May Expansion
Prerelease Events : April 26-27, 2014
Release Date : May 2, 2014
Launch Weekend : May 2-4, 2014
Game Day : May 24-25, 2014

~

Theros Spoiler 8-30

~
Happy Friday MTG peeps,

As it is Friday, why not take some time out and head on down to your local gaming store.  It also happens to be the Labor Day long weekend here in North America so if you're heading out camping or the cottage, don't forget to bring your cards along.  We'll be off to OMG! Games again here in Barrie, Ontario and this long weekend and we are still expecting a good turn-out long weekend or not as a lot of the students are returning to Georgian College.

Anywhoos - some more Magic: the Gathering news again today - more specifically, more Theros goodness.  This Greek mythology themed plane is where gods, heroes, and monsters are an everyday fact of life. Hydras, gorgons, satyrs, and other creatures of myth inhabit this wild, mystical place.  One piece of news out today is that it is expected that the Theros PreRelease Promos are to be the Intro Pack rares.  Not that surprising as this mirrors what we saw with Return to Ravnica.

Depending upon which color you select at the Theros PreRelease, you'll receive five Theros booster packs,and then a seeded PreRelease Pack which will include your PreRelease promo.  the PreRlease promos are thought to be the following Theros 'Intro Pack' rares (Celestial Archon, Shipbreaker Kraken, Abhorrent Overlord, Ember Swallower, or Anthousa, Setessan Hero) based upon what we can see from this image below on the mothersite.

~
Next up - there is now another page up on the mothersite detailing the 'Heroes Path' during the Theros block events as well as the usual Mini Site for Theros which is published with each new Magic: the Gathering set.  We've added the set logos in the arts for our own reference to help organise our speculations.  Let's have a looky loo at some of the new arts -

This very cool Theros art appears to be a human warrior and a Triton / Merfolk.

~
In this panel, we se arts which may see print in the very next set, Born of the Gods.  If we had to guess, the first one may be the god Ephara (bestower of magic), some rather upset Minotaurs, and perhaps the god Xenagos (the Reveler).

~
Lastly, a very interesting image possibly from the last set in the block, Journey into Nyx.  The big fella may be Mogis, the black-red aligned god with what looks to be the Planeswalker Elspeth (expected) and Ajani (totally unexpected).

~
Have a great weekend and be sure to tune into the official Theros previews expected at PAX prime. 
~