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Magic Rumor
Next block: New Phyrexia, Scars of Mirrodin and Mirrodin Pure?
This is an old post concerning the discovery of these Trademarks. Scroll down for the latest information.
Today ManaNation uncovered a new trio of Trademarks filed by Wizards of the Coast with the US Patent and Trademark Office, and they sound like possibly the names of the block to follow Zendikar. They thematically make sense and seem to be interconnected through an artifact-like theme that could easily translate into a theme for the next block currently codenamed “Lights, Camera, Action.”
We are awaiting a response from Wizards representatives for any comment concerning this find. We hope to be hearing from them soon. The appearance of these on the list lends credence to a rumor that ‘Prosper’ has also been named through stalking the Patent and Trademark office as ‘The Rise of the Eldrazi‘ but that is also as of now, unconfirmed.
Update 3/18/2010: Wizards has confirmed that the block codenamed ‘Lights’ is actually ‘Scars of Mirrodin.’ It will be released as the first set of the block in October of 2010. Though it is a return to Mirrodin players should not be overly concerned about the return of Affinity. There is no guarantee that it will be in the upcoming block, and given how dominant it has been, we should feel comfortable that it would likely not be in the block. Or if it was, Wizards has a much better understanding of what it is they’re dealing with. Be sure to bookmark ManaNation as we will keep an eye out for any further upcoming news about the set.
Update 8/3/2010: Wizards has released the name of the second set in the block, it is Mirrodin Besieged. We are not currently sure of the use for the other two names ‘New Phyrexia’ and ‘Mirrodin Pure.’ It is believed that they are the names of the factions within Mirrodin Besieged but again, it is not confirmed. As such, we are no longer sure of the third set name for the block. It may be ‘Dark Ascension’ which is an unaccounted for item registered by Wizards of the Coast.
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More than likely, it’s either the names of new novels or webcomics, but I would be STOKED if it were an artifact block.
I really don’t see “New Phyrexia” being the third set in Zendikar. There is absolutely no evidence linking the two together, and I think it would make much more sense for WotC to finish the Zendikar block in the ‘normal’ fashion, and then bring us all into this new story arc with the return of the Phyrexians. I really can’t see Zendikar’s block ending with an invasion of their entire plane by Phyrexians…
That would make sense to be a new block. Mirrodin was basically a successful Phyrexia, in that it was a self-sustaining plane that merged artifice with biological creatures.
If this were really a new set, I could see the first taking place on destroyed Phyrexia, right at the onset of the plane finally collapsing in on itself; the second set could be those Phyrexians fleeing to, or possibly invading Mirrodin; and the third would be some end-result of this story (if in conflict, either Mirrodin or Phyrexians win the struggle; if cooperating maybe they combine Mirrodin and Phyrexia; or find a way to stabilize Phyrexia). It could follow a simple Problem, Struggle, and Resolution format.
It wouldn’t be too far fetched to have a Phyrexian as a protaganist either – both Greven and Belbe were Phyrexians, and were strongly heroicized in the Nemesis story. Possibly with their slavedrivers/command gone, the Phyrexians are just ugly peope trying to survive.
This is all just speculation. Awesome style.
I would think that it would be part 3 of Zendikar. The plane seems to have some connection to planes that have been ruined in one way or another. There are Hexagonal Lakes mentioned like in Mirrodin. http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/stf/57 (Read over the Explorer’s Scope) There’s a goddess mentioned named Emeria (Sounds a lot like the Serra Angel, Reya (Dawnbringer) not to mention an angel with the same casting cost and a land with the same ability as Reya that looks a lot like a ruined Serra’s Sanctum. Finally, they talk about Eldrazi; Ancient creatures who were about as powerful as planeswalkers (Like Marit Lage the 20/20 Indestructible who has a card (Wrath of Marit Lage) that has a similar flavor text to Eldrazi Monument.) All this leads me to believe that Zendikar is in fact an imitation plane or an older plane taking energy from other planes (hence the hidden treasures).
The Pyrexian/Urza/Weatherlight sotryline is being releasead in anthologies………could be to bring new player up-to-date for a new phrexian story.
Alternitivly, Mirrodin BECOMING a new phrexia, maby linking into the ‘terrible thing’ Karn realised at the end of Planar chaos, as Mirrodin was created by him.
Right! We never did find out what that thing was that Karn released! If it freaked him out bad enough to send him running, I’d bet it was Phyrexian in origin as well.
Well, Karn designed Mirrodin to be a world of pure metal. There never was any intent on having a fusion of metal and flesh. The cause of the flesh was the black sludge that Memnarch found early on in the story (glistening oil, perhaps?).
This would also be a nice time to introduce a colorless planeswalker (Karn, since he’s not dead). It would also explain some of the things that happened with the weaver king in planar chaos (could have been Leshrac talking to him, not sure).
Also, an artifact set doesn’t seem too far fetched. Shards would be cycled out, and I’m sure Wizards knew that having Tezerret and an artifact block would be waaaay to op in type 2. As far as extended goes, who knows.
Oooooooh I forgot to mention. If Mirrodin becomes the “New Phyrexia”, then the order would be SoM, MP, then NP. If the citizen of Mirrodin are to defend themselves, then SoM will still be first, but then it would go NP then MP.
if you’ve read agents of artifice you know that Tezzeret is all but killed by Jace an then handed over to Bolas. I expect that Bolas will resurect Tezzeret as a loyal servant (not unlike what he did with Sarkhan inbetween Shards and Zendikar) and use him to manipulate events on Mirrodin. I also would expect a return of Karn to Mirrodin. Seeing as both mirroing and phyrexia are artificial planes both on the verge of destruction they may merge/rely on one another to stabilize for survival. I forsee a very interesting block.
That’s actually pretty interesting. I can see Karn as the first Colorless Planeswalker card.
I’m STOKED that they’re revisiting Phyrexia. All my favorite cards are Phyrexian by title or flavor. Finally I can update my Negator deck.