[ZEN] Compiled Info

[{mikeyG}]

Deadly Perils, Priceless Treasures.

Set Name Zendikar
Three-Letter Abbreviation ZEN
Number of Cards 249
Release Date Friday, October 2, 2009
Prerelease Events September 26-27, 2009
Launch Parties October 2-4, 2009
Previews start on magicthegathering.com September 7, 2009

Design Team
Mark Rosewater (lead)
Doug Beyer
Graeme Hopkins
Kenneth Nagle
Matt Place

Development Team Henry Stern (lead)
Aaron Forsythe
Mark Globus
Erik Lauer
Devin Low
Matt Place
Mike Turian
Steve Warner

Expansion Symbol:


Product Shot:


This set was originally codenamed "Live". It will be followed in its block by sets Worldwake and Rise of the Eldrazi.* (speculated name)

Planeswalkers

It's been confirmed that Nissa Revane, the G/B planeswalker from the XBOX360 game Duels of the Planeswalkers will be featured in card form in the set.

This is Nissa Revane, a proud and ruthless nature-mage. She seeks to prove that her people, the elves, are the true heirs and best stewards of the planes of the Multiverse. She hails from a world known as Zendikar—and you'll see her card by October of this year.
If you want an early glimpse of Nissa's character in action, check out Duels of the Planeswalkers for XBOX and PC: Nissa is a combatant that you'll face as you play through the game. A word of warning: Nissa prefers action to words. She's a master summoner, and she knows the blades and arrows of her elf warriors speak louder than any rhetoric.

Nissa Revane

Additionally, we know from a recent MaRo column that there are three planeswalkers in the set, with one of them having appeared previously.

Ultra-Pro depicts two characters from ZEN on their sleeves, and both are the remaining two Planeswalkers, Sorin Markov and Chandra Ablaze.





Basic lands in Zendikar boosters and fat packs have full extended arts, like Un-set lands do. (Intro pack lands have the normal frames)




General information about the nature of Zendikar from The Purifying Fire:

Zendikar is said to be host to some of the most powerful mana sources in the Multiverse, but "it is also unpredictable, erratic. Violent and pacific in the same moment." Later mention of the plane, towards the end, makes mention of how the mana behaves differently than anywhere else in the Multiverse, and how there apparently is an artifact of great power there.

Unverified, but trusted information about the Obelisks (Official name for them is Hedrons) depicted for Zendikar:

The symbol for Zendikar is one of many huge floating rockish things that surround the plane. They're a mystery (for now) but they do randomly crash down onto the plane. Civilizations have been forced to adapt to them in different ways. The more advanced cultures (human ones, mainly) have built structures to protect themselves. Less advanced ones are forced to live in areas where nature at least kind of protects them.

As expected, the tribes in M10 mesh well with ZEN. Merfolk especially, and they *look* totally badass.

Block Theme

The block theme revolves around lands. Besides from MaRo saying the reason for the full art lands is the theme for the block, we already have the ability word 'landfall' spoiled, and a great deal of known arts involve interaction with the landscape.

Mechanics

Kicker returns to magic in this set, with the rules text adding the term 'kicked' in the context of 'if it was kicked' over 'if its kicker cost was paid'.

Landfall is the ability word that would go on Vinelasher Kudzu were it in this set. 'Whenever a land comes into play under your control, X'

Traps are a subtype of card that have alternate casting costs when the opponent fufills certain conditions. ('Falling into your trap')

Intimidate was added to the Comp Rules in preparation for its debut. There are 4 cards involved with this 'new' mechanic in the set.

Quests are a minitheme in the set, as there are 5 common, 5 uncommon, and 5 rare 'quest' enchantments that set a requirement to 'build toward' the quest, and then you get a reward when you get to the required amount of quest counters.

Originally Posted by Promotional Blurbs

KEY SELLING POINTS
Zendikar is a new world for Magic: The Gathering. This set was designed around a theme that has never been done in a Magic set before!
The set features new Planeswalkers, including Nissa Revane, the popular face of the Xbox LIVE Arcade title Duels of the Planeswalkers.
The set introduces new mechanics and has one returning favorite.

SET SIZE AND PRODUCT OFFERINGS
There are 249 black-bordered cards in Zendikar. (15 Mythic Rare, 53 rare, 60 uncommon, 101 common, 20 basic lands).
Zendikar will be sold in Booster Packs, Intro Packs, & Fat Packs (Fat Packs contain 8 booster packs).
Starting with Zendikar Intro Pack Displays will contain 10 Intro Packs instead of 5.
The expected contents of a booster is 10 commons, 3 uncommons, 1 basic land, 1 tip/token card, and 1 rare card. A Mythic rare will appear in the rare slot in approximately 1 in every 8 booster packs.

[urzassedatives]

If you have anything you feel should be added to this thread, post it below.
This thread is for reference, not discussion, so all posts will be deleted as they are merged into the original post.

After the spoiler is up and running, the compiled info thread, as always, is phased out.

[Starkiller2]

Isn't the set following Zendikar and Worldwake "Rise of the Eldrazi"?

[Starkiller2]

Can we use these for the product shot:

[RobiNightwing]

I've heard that something like 1 in every 30 packs has an old school rare in it. i assumed it was a joke until i heard it from three other sources (of course it could still be a joke), but i thought maybe if i put it here someone could confirm or deny it for me

[emeries]

The old power rares have been confirmed. We don't know everything about them yet

Originally posted by Urzassedatives:

-Tourney rules have been updated to clarify that cards opened in packs not belonging to that set aren't limited legal, and if deck swaps are done, you keep the cards not belonging to the set.
-The cards replace the basic land in the pack
-According to CaptainBlack, the distribution is random, and equates roughly to 1 in 20 boxes, or 1 in 720 boosters. 1 out of 120 sealed players will be staring at one of these cards at the prerelease.
According to Pat Chapin's twitter, these equate to one in 37 boxes....OR 1 in 50 boxes, depending on his meaning.
-This doesn't break the reserve list because these are existing copies of the cards inserted into packs. It doesn't technically put more into circulation...just recirculates cards.
-The cards are ONLY LEGAL in the format they are legal in already. I'm guessing these are all eternal format cards.
-It appears that the qualifier for these cards is...they are old and awesome.