2.5 Release Notes (3/13/18)

Brigby

2.5 Release Notes

New Card Set: Rivals of Ixalan

The fabled, golden city of Orazca has finally been found...but news of its discovery travels fast. Soon all of Ixalan’s tribes will be wrestling for control of the city, and the treasure within it: The Immortal Sun.

With more than 100 new cards and 2 new Planeswalkers, do you have the strength to wield their power and overcome your rivals?

New Mechanic

With the 4 tribes battling for control of Orazca, a new mechanic emerges to reflect this struggle for power.

Ascend
While a card with Ascend is in play or when one is played, it checks whether or not the sum of your creatures, your supports and your reinforcements is greater than or equal to 10. If it is, then you get the City's Blessing for the rest of the game, which unlocks unique and powerful benefits to the player.

Planeswalkers

Angrath, the Flame-Chained
A planeswalking mishap has stranded this Planeswalker in Ixalan, witnessing the tempestuous conflict between the warring four tribes, alongside the Pirates of Captain Radcliff’s crew.

• Ability 1 (9):
• Level 1: Deal 2 damage to your opponent.
• Level 2: Deal 2 damage to your opponent. Then, your opponent discards a card.
• Level 3: Deal 2 damage to your opponent and find a Treasure. Then, your opponent discards a card.
• Level 4: Deal 2 damage to your opponent and find 2 Treasures. Then, your opponent discards a card.
• Ability 2 (12):
• Level 1: Gain control of target creature that costs 5 or less until end of turn. It gains Haste.
• Level 2: Gain control of target creature that costs 10 or less until end of turn. It gains Haste.
• Level 3: Gain control of target creature that costs 15 or less until end of turn. It gains Haste.
• Level 4: Gain control of target creature that costs 15 or less until end of turn. It gains Haste and “This creature is destroyed at the end of turn”.
• Ability 3 (18):
• Level 1: Creates a support with: “Whenever a creature enters your opponent’s graveyard from anywhere, deal 2 damage to your opponent.”
• Level 2: Creates a support with: “Whenever a creature or support enters your opponent’s graveyard from anywhere, deal 2 damage to your opponent.”
• Level 3: Creates a support with: “Whenever a creature or support enters your opponent’s graveyard from anywhere, deal 6 damage to your opponent.”
• Level 4: Create a support with: “Whenever a card enters your opponent’s graveyard from anywhere, deal 6 damage to your opponent.”

Huatli, Radiant Champion
Previously instructed to locate the city of Orazca by the Emperor, Huatli now rejoins the Sun Empire in the fight for control over the golden city and its fabled treasure: The Immortal Sun.

• Ability 1 (9):
• Level 1: Create a support with “Whenever you match 3 or more White or Green gems, gain 2 Loyalty.”
• Level 2: Create a support with “Whenever you match 3 or more White or Green gems, gain 2 Loyalty. If you control a creature, gain 3 Loyalty instead.”
• Level 3: Create a support with “Whenever you match 3 or more White or Green gems, gain X Loyalty where X is 3 plus the number of creatures you control.”
• Level 4: Create a support with “Whenever you match 3 or more White or Green gems, gain X Loyalty where X is 3 plus the number of creatures and creature reinforcements you control.”
• Ability 2 (12):
• Level 1: Target creature gets +X/+X until end of turn where X is the amount of creatures you control.
• Level 2: Target creature gets +X/+X until end of turn where X is the amount of creatures you control times 2.
• Level 3: Target creature gains Trample and gets +X/+X until end of turn where X is the amount of creatures you control times 2.
• Level 4: Target creature gains Trample, Berserker, Prevent Damage and gets +X/+X until end of turn where X is the amount of creatures you control times 2.
• Ability 3 (18):
• Level 1: Draw a card for each creature you control and gain 6 mana.
• Level 2: Draw a card for each creature you control then gain 4 mana for each creature you control.
• Level 3: Draw 2 cards for each creature you control then gain 6 mana for each creature you control.
• Level 4: Draw 2 card for each creature you control then gain 8 mana for each creature you control.

Events

Battle of Four Tribes - Coalition PvE - Standard
Join your Coalition and fight for control of Orazca in this new event. Beating encounters and completing objectives will help you and your Coalition gain control of the Golden City. Coalitions will be ranked based on how close to controlling Orazca you are.

• Node 1: Pirates
• During its boss fight, both players will face a special condition: Whenever they match four or more gems of specific colors (Blue, Black or Red), special effects will trigger and the tides of war can change.
• Node 2: Sun Empire
• During the boss fight, activated gems (Red, Green and White) will grant special benefits for each player's dinosaurs, while harming their opponent's strategy.
• Node 3: Shapers
• During the boss fight, casting creatures, spells and drawing cards will create cyclical benefits by reducing mana costs, empowering creatures and increasing the speed of the battle.
• Node 4: Dusk Legion
• During the boss fight, sacrificing your own vampires and destroying the opponent's creatures will grant players control of the battlefield. Try to disable, exile or gain control of the enemy's army to achieve victory.
• Node 5: Azor, the Lawbringer
• On the first node, the Golden Guardians will fully benefit from loyalty gems. They have abilities to replicate themselves and smash the player's planeswalker. Be ready to face a constant flow of large Golems.
• On the second node, Azor's Gateway should be approached as a puzzle, as you try to ascend as fast as possible to receive the City's Blessing, in order to deliver the ultimate hit on the opponent’'s planeswalker. Be aware of a one-hit KO battle, and prevent the Gateway from Ascending.
• During the boss fight, players will face Azor himself. The sphinx has a great variety of binding spells, bounce effects and creatures that Disable, which can completely fizzle out strategies that were not built to defeat him.

Standard Card Sets

Kaladesh and Aether Revolt will be rotating out of Standard. Since Aether Revolt was a significantly smaller set than Kaladesh as well as dependent on it, removing Kaladesh once Ixalan released would had had a negative impact on the environment. As such we decided to wait until Ixalan’s smaller set is released to remove Kaladesh block as a whole. 

Card Balance Adjustments

We'd like to take a moment to talk about Ixalan; more precisely, Ixalan cards' mana costs. Since release, we've been closely monitoring the forums, in order to gather feedback. A recurring one was that the cards in Ixalan were costed above the curve of the game. Because of that, we re-evaluated the collection as a whole and identified the issues that led to those high costs.

To summarize:

• We added two new mechanics in Ixalan (Explore and Treasures) that increased the mana generation potential for players. The impact of this was overestimated.

• We wanted to address the power creep issue.

Another issue was the self destructing supports. While definitely over-used in Ixalan, the mechanic will remain a tool with which we control very powerful supports. Rest assured, however, the mechanic’s use will be significantly reduced in future collections. In order to help ease the issue with XLN’s self-destructing supports, while keeping with our planned RIX release, we have increased their starting shield and reduced cost where necessary.

Before we show the changes, we’d like to thank the community for the mountain-load of useful feedback that allowed us to quickly identify the issue and correct it for future collections. So thank you for being an active and passionate community.

In light of that, we have decided to rebalance the set to bring the cost more in-line with the game's overall cost/stat line. Here are the changes to the Ixalan Planeswalkers and Cards.

Planeswalkers

Vraska, Relic Seeker

Ability 2: Yarghhh!!!

• Cost changed to 15.

Ability 3: Gorgon's Gaze

• Cost changed to 18.
• Life loss on Rank 3 changed to 4.
• Life loss on Rank 4 changed to 5.

Huatli, Warrior-Poet

Ability 2: Call Dinosaur

• Cost changed to 12.
• Sun-Blessed Mount is now a 6/6.

Ability 3: Sun Empire's Rage

• Cost changed to 18. 
• Damage to opposing creatures increased to 6 at maximum rank.

Jace, Cunning Castaway

Ability 1: Fight and Steal

• Cost changed to 6.

Ability 2: Illusionist's Illusion

• Creates 3 tokens in Rank 4.
• Cost changed to 12.

Ability 3: I'm Over Here

• Cost changed to 18.
• Creates 3 tokens in Rank 3.
• Creates 4 tokens in Rank 4.
• Increased Loyalty gain to 5 in Rank 1.
• Increased Loyalty gain to 6 in Rank 2.
• Increased Loyalty gain to 6 in Rank 3.
• Increased Loyalty gain to 8 in Rank 4.

Ixalan Cards
(P/T stands for Power / Toughness)

Masterpieces

Aether Vial

• Initial Shield changed to 5.

Curse of Predation

• Initial Shield changed to 6.
• P/T bonus changed to +3/+3.

Electrolize

• Initial damage changed to 4.
• Damage per reinforcement changed to 3.

Flusterstorm

• Initial shield changed to 6.
• Now always drains 4 mana each turn.

Knight of the Reliquary

• P/T bonus changed to +2/+2 per Land.
• Mana bonus changed to 6.

Magus of the Moon

• Cost changed to 13.

Sanguine Bond

• Cost changed to 12.

Spiritmonger

• Activate Black changed to 2.
• Activate Green changed to 2.
• Has Berserker now.

Double-Faced

Arguel's Blood Fast // Temple of Aclazotz

• Cost changed to 7.
• Front-side shield changed to 4.
• Flip-side shield changed to 4.
• Flip-side mana conversion changed to 3.

Dowsing Dagger // Lost Vale

• Cost changed to 4.
• Front-side shield changed to 3.

Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun

• Front-side shield changed to 4.
• Flip-side shield changed to 5.
• Flip-side mana conversion is now 3 times the amount of creatures you control.

Legion's Landing // Adanto, the First Fort

• Cost changed to 7.
• Front-side shield changed to 4.
• Flip-side shield changed to 4.
• Flip-side Activate changed to 3.
• Flip-side mana conversion changed to 3.

Primal Amulet // Primal Wellspring

• Front-side shield changed to 2.
• Front-side shield required to transform changed to 2.
• Flip-side shield changed to 5.

Search for Azcant // Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin

• Cost changed to 7.
• Front-side shield changed to 4.
• Flip-side shield changed to 4.
• Flip-side Activate changed to 3.
• Flip-side mana conversion changed to 3.
• Flip-side bonus mana changed to 5.

Thaumatic Compass // Spires of Orazca

• Flip-side shield changed to 5.

Treasure Map // Treasure Cove

• Front-side shield changed to 2.
• Front Activate now grants 2 shield.

Vance's Blasting Cannons // Spitfire Bastion

• Front-side shield changed to 4.
• Flip-side shield changed to 4.
• Flip-side Activate changed to 3.
• Flip-side mana conversion changed to 3.

Mythics

Admiral Beckett Brass

• P/T changed to 7/7.

Burning Sun's Avatar

• Cost changed to 16.
• Damage to planeswalker changed to 6.
• Damage to creature changed to 6.

Regisaur Alpha

• Now has Haste.
• Cost changed to 15.

Sanctum Seeker

• Cost changed to 13.

Shadowed Caravel

• Crew changed to 3.

Sorcerous Spyglass

• Cost changed to 10.
• Initial Shield changed to 3.

Spell Swindle

• Cost changed to 10.

Vanquisher's Banner

• Cost changed to 13.
• Shield changed to 3.

Vona, Butcher of Magan

• Cost changed to 16.
• Activate changed to 2.

Rares

Arcane Adaptation

• Cost changed to 6.

Axis of Mortality

• Cost changed to 12.

Bishop of Rebirth

• Cost changed to 14.
• P/T changed to 5/5.
• Now returns creatures that cost 9 or less.

Bishop of the Bloodstained

• Cost changed to 12.

Call to the Feast

• Cost changed to 11.

Captivating Crew

• Activate changed to 2.

Daring Saboteaur

• Cost changed to 10.

Fathom Fleet Captain

• P/T changed to 4/3.
• Mana drain changed to 2.

Fleet Swallower

• Cost changed to 18.

Goring Ceratops

• P/T changed to 5/6.

Herald of the Secret Streams

• Cost changed to 11.

Kinjalli's Sunwing

• P/T changed to 4/4.

Ixalan's Binding

• Cost changed to 11.
• Shield changed to 3.

Overflowing Insight

• Cost changed to 13.

Rampaging Ferocidon

• Damage whenever a creature enters the battlefield changed to 2.

Repeating Barrage

• Cost changed to 5.
• Gem count necessary to return it to hand changed to 6.

Revel in Riches

• Cost changed to 14
• Mana bonus changed to 3.
• Treasure requirement changed to 4.
• Shield changed to 3.

Ripjaw Raptor

• Now has Berserker.

River's Rebuke

• Cost changed to 21.

Shapers of Nature

• Cost changed to 12.

Settle the Wreckage

• Shield changed to 2

Siren Stormtammer

• Cost changed to 11.

Sunbird's Invocation

• Cost changed to 15.
• Mana cost to trigger the ability changed to 10 or more.
• Fetches cards that cost 9 or less.

Sword-Point Diplomacy

• Shield changed to 5.

Vraska's Contempt

• Cost changed to 9.

Wildgrowth Walker

• Cost changed to 10.

Uncommon

Bellowing Aegisaur

• Now has Defender.
• P/T changed to 4/6.

Charging Monstrosaur

• Cost changed to 14.
• P/T changed to 5/5.

Deadeye Plunderer

• Cost changed to 15.

Deadeye Quartermaster

• Cost changed to 11.

Deathless Ancient

• Cost changed to 15.

Deeproot Waters

• Cost changed to 10.
• Shield changed to 6.

Dire Fleet Captain

• Cost changed 9.

Drover of the Mighty

• Activate changed to 2.

Elaborate Firecannon

• Shield changed to 3.

Favorable Winds

• Shield changed to 3.

Fire Shrine Keeper

• Cost changed to 10.

Glorifier of Dusk

• Activate White changed to "until the beginning of your next turn".

Grim Captain's Call

• Cost changed to 8.

Ixalli's Keeper

• Cost changed to 10.

Kinjalli's Caller

• Cost changed to 4.
• Toughness changed to 4.
• No longer has Defender.

Kitesail Freebooter

• Power changed to 2.

Kumena's Speaker

• Cost changed to 7.
• P/T bonus changed to +2/+2.

Lightning-Rig Crew

• Cost changed to 9.

Lookout Dispersal

• Cost changed to 8.

Makeshift Munitions

• Shield changed to 4.

Merfolk Branchwalker

• Cost changed to 8.

Otepec Huntmaster

• Activate changed to 2.
• P/T changed to 2/3.

Pillar of Origins

• Cost changed to 10.
• Shield changed to 3.

Prying Blade

• Shield changed to 3.
• Cost changed to 9.

Queen's Commission

• Cost changed to 5.

Raging Swordtooth

• Cost changed to 16.

Raiders' Wake

• Cost changed to 14.

Ranging Raptors

• Cost changed to 11.
• Toughness changed to 5.
• Now has Berserker.

Rigging Runner

• Cost changed to 8.

River Sneak

• Cost changed to 8.

Savage Stomp

• Cost changed to 8.
• Mana cost reduction changed to 4.

Sentinel Totem

• Shield changed to 3.
• Cost changed to 6.

Shapers' Sanctuary

• Cost changed to 6.
• Shield changed to 6.

Shore Keeper

• Cost changed to 10.

Storm Fleet Aerialist

• Cost changed to 10.

Tempest Caller

• Cost changed to 12.

Thundering Spineback

• Cost changed to 16.
• Activate changed to 2.

Trove of Temptation

• Cost changed to 9.
• Shield changed to 3.

Vicious Conquistador

• Cost changed to 7.
• Power changed to 1.

Vineshaper Mystic

• Cost changed to 9.

Walk the Plank

• Cost changed to 7.

Wily Goblin

• Cost changed to 3.

Common

Adanto Vanguard

• Power bonus when attacking changed to +2.
• Prevent Damage from the activate lasts "until the beginning of your next turn."

Brazen Buccanners

• Cost changed to 8.

Colossal Dreadmaw

• Cost changed to 16.

Costly Plunder

• Amount of cards drawn changed to 3.
• Cost changed to 3.

Deadeye Tormentor

• Cost changed to 10.

Deeproot Warrior

• Cost changed to 7.
• P/T bonus changed to +2/+2.

Depths of Desire

• Cost changed to 6.

Desperate Castaways

• Cost changed to 9.

Dire Fleet Interloper

• Cost changed to 11.

Dusk Legion Dreadnought

• Cost changed to 20.

Emergent Growth

• Cost changed to 9.
• P/T bonus changed to +4/+4.

Emissary of Sunrise

• Cost changed to 9.

Firecannon Blast

• Cost changed to 6.
• Damage if Raided changed to 5.

Heartless Pillage

• Cost changed to 8.

Hierophant's Chalice

• Cost changed to 12.
• Activate changed to 2.

Inspiring Cleric

• Cost changed to 9.
• Toughness changed to 2.

Ixalli's Diviner

• Cost changed to 11.

Jade Guardian

• Cost changed to 9.

Jungle Delver

• Activate changed to 2.

Lurking Chupacabra

• Cost changed to 11.
• P/T changed to 3/4.
• Debuff changed to -2/-2.

Legion's Judgement

• Cost changed to 6.
• Power restriction changed to 7.

One with the Wind

• Cost changed to 6.

Paladin of the Bloodstained

• Cost changed to 9.

Perilous Voyage

• Cost changed to 5.

Pirate's Cutlass

• Cost changed to 6.

Pirate's Prize

• Cost changed to 6.

Prosperous Pirates

• Cost changed to 11.

Queen's Agent

• Cost changed to 16.

Rile

• Cost changed to 4.

Ritual of Rejuvenation

• Cost changed to 7.

Seeker's Squire

• Cost changed to 8.

Shapers Apprentice

• Cost changed to 7.

Shipwreck Looter

• Cost changed to 7.

Siren Lookout

• Cost changed to 11.

Siren's Ruse

• Cost changed to 6.

Steadfast Armasaur

• Cost changed to 12.
• P/T changed 2/5.

Storm Fleet Pyromancer

• Damage if Raided changed to 4.

Sun-Crowned Hunters

• Cost changed to 17.

Swashbuckling

• Cost changed to 6.

Thrash of Raptors

• Cost changed to 14.

Unfriendly Fire

• Cost changed to 8.

Unknown Shores

• Cost changed to 11

Special Offers

Bolster your forces and strengthen your tribe with brand new special offers available - including Planeswalker and Tribal themed bundles.

General Changes

After an initial overall adjustment to the AI in the Release of 2.3.0 (XLN), the AI has been adjusted again, to fine-tune the difficulty during the battles.

Bug Fixes

• Liliana, Death's Majesty's Anoint ability is now correctly able to add +3/+3 to a creature more than once.
• Tishana, Voice of Thunder now correctly reinforces when she is buffed upon entering the battlefield
• Sorcerous Spyglass now correctly prevents the opponent’s Planeswalker from activating any Loyalty abilities
• Damage is now correctly dealt before Pirate creatures Explore, when Vraska, Relic Seeker’s Level 3 YARGHHH!!! Support is on the board