Magic the Gathering > Cards > Odyssey
Odyssey Magic The Gathering Cards
Odyssey is the 24th 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).
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 impulse).% 26nbsp;
- Laquatus is a blue antagonist (Blue is the color of knowledge, trickery, and now, even deceit).% 26nbsp;
- 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.% 26nbsp;
- 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).
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 generating spells are some of the most powerful tokens generators in Magic history. This was because if spells had Flashback they could be played from the graveyard for its Flashback cost and would be removed from the game once it resolved. This essentially allowed you to play the same spell twice. The most noteable card among these was Call of the Herd which was later reprinted as one of the Time Spiral 'Timeshifted' cards.
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.
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.% 26nbsp;
- Threshold - Certain spells and creatures gain bonuses when your
graveyard reaches or exceeds the seven card threshold. Blue is lacking
in threshold cards but has the easiest time achieving threshold
* All cards are Mint/NM and in English unless otherwise specified.
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