
Urza's Destiny Magic The Gathering Cards
Urza's Destiny is a Magic: The Gathering set, third in the Urza Block.
Urza's Destiny was released on June 23, 1999. It is widely considered
one of the most powerful sets ever printed, spawning some of the most
feared decks of all time.
Urza's Destiny expanded further on some of the mechanics introduced in Urza's Saga.
Several creatures and enchant creatures trigger various abilities
when put into a graveyard from play. Famous examples of this mechanic
include Pattern of Rebirth, Academy Rector, and Gamekeeper.
Some permanents have the ability to be sacrificed for 2 mana to
draw a card, like a cycling ability for cards in play that are no
longer useful. Three creatures have this ability in addition to a
"graveyard from play" ability. Yavimaya Elder is the most popular, a
small green creature that can put three cards in its controller's hand
(1 for the sac to draw, 2 lands when put into graveyard).
There is a class of spells that become more effective as a result
of the number of cards of a certain color the caster reveals from
his/her hand, as well as a cycle of creatures with abilities that
emulate those spells.
Urza's Destiny also introduced a cycle of cards that remove a card
of a certain type from the game, and then also remove all copies of
that card not in play from its controller's deck. Called "Lobotomy"
cards due to their resemblance to the card of that name, they were
later reprinted in Betrayers of Kamigawa.
Yet another noteworthy aspect is that Urza's Destiny was the first
Expert-level set to be printed under the then-new 6th Edition rules
changes; the most notable change seen on cards is the text of
creatures. Whereas a card like Llanowar Elves would be given "Summon
Elf" in previous sets, it would now be given "Creature - Elf".