Odyssey (Magic: The Gathering)
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| Odyssey | ||
|---|---|---|
| Expansion symbol |  |
|
| Release date | September 21, 2001 | |
| Mechanics | Discard, Graveyard effects | |
| Keywords | Threshold, Flashback | |
| Size | 350 cards (110 common, 110 uncommon, 110 rare, 20 basic land) |
|
| Expansion code | ODY | |
| Development codename | Argon | |
| Sets in Odyssey Block | ||
| Odyssey | Torment | Judgment |
| Magic: The Gathering Chronology |
||
| Apocalypse | Odyssey | Deckmasters 2001 |
Odyssey is the 25th Magic:The Gathering expert-level expansion set. Released in September, 2001, Odyssey is the first set in the Odyssey Block. Its expansion symbol is a small image of the Mirari (see storyline).
Contents |
[edit] Storyline
The storyline of Odyssey leaps forward 100 years in the future on the remote continent Otaria. Odyssey 's protagonist is Kamahl, a formidable fighter-mage skilled in both throwing fireballs and melee combat. Kamahl has a close friend Chainer, a cabalist, and a cool-headed sister Jeska. The antagonist is Laquatus, a sly merfolk who uses trickery and mind control to bend others to his will. Other characters include the cephalid emperor Aboshan, Kamahl's centaur friend Seton, Kamahl and Jeska's dwarven trainer Balthor, the militaristic Kirtar, the mellow but dangerous Cabal Patriarch (The First), and the unpredictable and popular among fans summoner Braids.
Almost everyone in the story is after the Mirari, a legendary artifact of immense power with the ability to make its wielder's innermost wishes come true. The Mirari is relatively small, resembling a metallic ball mounted on a wirey helix. The Mirari notoriously drives its wielder insane, often causing death and massive destruction, wherein it awaits a new master.
[edit] A New Approach
The Magic: The Gathering Creative Team began a new approach to Magic's storyline starting with Odyssey. Changes include:
- The 13 previous sets' storyline, beginning in Weatherlight and climaxing in Apocalypse, that depicted the adventures of Urza Planeswalker, Gerrard Capashen and the Weatherlight crew's crusade against the Phyrexians, has been dropped. For Odyssey, a new story begins in a new setting with a new cast of characters.
- Kamahl is a red protagonist (Red is the color of chaos, destruction, and comic relief).
- Laquatus is a blue antagonist (Blue is the color of knowledge, trickery, and now, even deceit).
- Odyssey portrays black themes that include the entertainment and glory of the pit fights mixed with capitalism. These themes have relatively good connotations compared to black's themes in previous storylines, which included genocide, soul-harvesting, and finding the most agonizing torture for captive victims.
- New storylines can be as short as three sets, and each storyline can be revisited or cross paths (for an example, see Mirrodin's storyline).
[edit] Set History
Odyssey 's main theme is the graveyard. All the colors interact with the graveyard and use it as a resource, though green and black are the strongest graveyard colors. Previously, the graveyard rarely affected gameplay, but Odyssey 's cards forced players to constantly keep track of both graveyards at all times.
Odyssey 's secondary theme is token creatures. Throughout the Odyssey block, all the colors receive more token creatures than usual, and green's token creatures are the most powerful tokens in Magic history. This was because if creatures had Flashback (one of the main mechanics of Odyssey) they would either get removed from the game (Flashback rule says to remove the card from the game when it's played for its Flashback cost) or be able to be played back over and over when Flashback was designed to give just one extra use of the spell.
Many of Magic's marquee races like Elves and Goblins are completely absent from Otaria. White is represented by Nomads and the Aven birds of The Order; Blue has the deceitful, octopus-like Cephalids; Black is plagued by the Horrors and Minions of Cabal summoners; Red showcases Dwarves, Firecats, and Barbarians of the Pardic mountains; and Green is rife with Centaurs, Squirrels, and the insect-like Nantuko druids of the Krosan forest.
[edit] Mechanics
Odyssey introduced two graveyard-centered mechanics:
- Flashback - These spells can be played again from the graveyard, essentially getting a second use out of the spell. However using a Flashback ability removes the card from the game.
Red and green are the strongest flashback colors.
- Threshold - Certain spells and creatures gain bonuses when the graveyard reaches or exceeds the seven card threshold. Blue is lacking in threshold cards but has the easiest time achieving threshold.
[edit] Notable Cards
- Battle of Wits - Part of a cycle of Odyssey Block "alternate-win" cards, Battle of Wits encouraged players to utilize decks of 230+ cards. Since it was reprinted in 9th it has enjoyed Type 2 play yet again.
- Mirari - Fittingly, Odyssey's iconic legendary artifact was initially the set's biggest chase rare.
- Call of the Herd - Soon displacing Mirari as Odyssey 's most expensive rare, Call of the Herd showcases the Flashback mechanic by producing two Elephant tokens from a single card for a cheap cost.
- Shadowmage Infiltrator - Magic Champion Jon Finkel designed his Invitational Card after his favorite creature Ophidian (from Weatherlight). Shadowmage Infiltrator's art bears Finkel's likeness. The Infiltrator was reprinted as a timeshifted card in Time Spiral.
- Wild Mongrel - This green common creature interacts so well with every card in Odyssey that when Torment and finally Judgment were released, Wild Mongrel became the most played creature in many tournaments.
- Psychatog - One of the game's most powerful creatures, Psychatog can efficiently convert cards drawn and spells played into damage to the opponent. With the release of Odyssey, Psychatog dominated tournaments immediately, and remains the premier win condition for many control decks. Also known by many players as 'Dr. Teeth'. It was offered as a player reward card for players who played in many 20 or more tournaments.
- Braids, Cabal Minion - A dementia mistress who works for the Cabal. Her insane but controlled nature is so contagious, it forces players to sacrifice a non-enchantment permanent during their respective upkeeps. Because of this, she frequently showed up in black control decks. Although Braids can be as damaging to the player as to the opponent, the disadvantage can be offset with simple token production. Interestingly, this character was added late in the set's development after another card's (Diabolic Tutor) concept art was re-envisioned.[1]
- Upheaval - This powerful spell, returning all permanents in play back to their owners' hands, found its way into many decks based around Psychatog. When these two cards are played on the same turn, the opponent usually has no resources to stop Psychatog from killing him. Magic developer Randy Buehler later admitted that putting these cards in the same set was a mistake.
