Release Notes 4.1 *Update (04/07/20)

Magic:PQ Support Team
Magic:PQ Support Team ADMINISTRATORS Posts: 3,257 Chairperson of the Boards
edited April 2020 in MtGPQ General Discussion

4.1 Pre-Release Notes


New Planeswalker

Daxos the Returned

“Daxos of Meletis was killed by a Planeswalker he loved, but he was freed from the Underworld in a cruel bargain with the god of the dead. Now he is one of the Returned, traveling across the plane of Theros in an endless search for his beloved Elspeth Tirel — but she has taken his place in the realm of the dead. His blank, featureless face is hidden behind a golden mask twisted into a grotesque caricature of his grief.”

Max Level Stats


 
Greater Eidolon of Longing
(White/Black) Creature - Enchantment Spirit (1/1) Token
"When you activate a Loyalty ability: You gain 1 Experience point.
When you cast an Aura or an Enchantment card: You gain 1 Experience point.
At the end of your turn: This creature's power and toughness become X/X. X is equal to your Experience points."

(See Planeswalker Abilities Progression HERE)


Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas

"The giants of Theros are born from the land itself, drawing their strength from the ancient rocks of the hills, the roots of old-growth trees, the surging waters of great rivers, and even the darkness of echoing caverns. Kalemne, though, has turned to a different source to refine and hone her power: she offers her devotion to the god of victory and heroism, mighty Iroas. Anything but a savage brute, Kalemne is a true disciple of the soldier’s god, leading superhuman troops — angels, giants, and even dragons — to glorious triumphs."

Max Level Stats


Greater Avatar of Iroas
(White/Red) Support Card - Enchantment (2) Token
"When you activate a Loyalty ability: You gain 1 Experience point.
When you cast a creature card with base cost 14 or greater: You gain 2 Experience points.
While on the board: Your first creature gets +X/+X and gains Haste. X is equal to your Experience points."
Greater Giant’s Triumph
(White/Red) Support Card - Enchantment (4) Token, Resilient
"When a creature you control with base cost 14 or greater attacks: It deals damage equal to its power to its power to the opponent's Planeswalker and to the first opposing creature."

(See Planeswalker Abilities Progression HERE)

New Mechanics:

Flashback

  • Flashback is a new Graveyard mechanic that allows players to cast spells directly from their Graveyard.

  • It works in a similar way to Escape, but instead of focusing on gaining mana from Graveyard gems only, it benefits from having other cards with Flashback in your Graveyard, playing well with self mill and self discard.

  • Flashback ability hint reads:

    • “When this card enters your Graveyard from anywhere, the last first card with Flashback in your Graveyard gains 2 mana. When you cast this card from your Graveyard, exile it.”

Flashback Evergreen

Experience Points

  • Experience reads: 

    • “Experience points can empower certain abilities of cards and Planeswalkers.”



Changes

Ability Hint Change - Cast

The description has changed to: “A card is cast if it's played from your hand or played from another zone by paying its mana cost.

Ability Hint Change - Graveyard Gems

The description has changed from: “When you match a Graveyard Gem, the last card in your graveyard with Buried, that can gain mana, gains 3 mana.” to: “When you match a Graveyard Gem, the first card in your graveyard with Buried, that can gain mana, gains 3 mana.”

Mechanic Change - Vigilance

  • The current Vigilance hint reads:

    • “This creature blocks your opponent's creatures but lets creatures with Defender or Reach block first."

  • Vigilance will be changed in 4.1 to:

    • "This creature blocks opposing creatures only if it will survive combat damage of the basic damage step. It allows creatures with Defender and Reach to block first."

CARDS THAT CHANGED:
  • The following cards gained Vigilance:

    • Questing Beast (ELD)

    • Realm-Cloaked Giant (ELD)

    • Faeburrow Elder (ELD)

    • Linden, the Steadfast Queen (ELD)

    • Conclave Cavalier (GRN)

    • Knight of the Last Breath (RNA)

    • Orzhov Pontiff (RNA)

    • Orzhov Enforcer (RNA)

  • The following cards lost Vigilance:

    • Venerable Knight (ELD)

    • Imperious Oligarch (RNA)

    • Steadfast Sentry (M20)

    • Unwavering Initiate (AKH)

    • Ghostly Sentinel (BFZ)

    • Steadfast Sentinel (HOU)

    • Winged Shepherd (HOU)

    • Rosemane Centaur (GRN)

    • Angel of Grace (RNA)

    • Bounty Agent (GRN)

    • Razia, Boros Archangel (GRN)

    • Exquisite Archangel (AER)

    • Cavalier of Dawn (M20)

    • Archon of the Falling Stars (THB)

    • Feasting Troll King (ELD)

    • Aven Wind Guide (AKH)

    • Deathless Behemoth (BFZ)

    • Vexing Gull (THB)

    • Hanged Executioner (M20)

  • The following cards gained Defender:

    • Venerable Knight (ELD)

    • Imperious Oligarch (RNA)

    • Steadfast Sentry (M20)

    • Unwavering Initiate (AKH)

    • Ghostly Sentinel (BFZ)

    • Steadfast Sentinel (HOU)

    • Winged Shepherd (HOU)

    • Rosemane Centaur (GRN)

    • Angel of Grace (RNA)

    • Bounty Agent (GRN)

    • Razia, Boros Archangel (GRN)

    • Exquisite Archangel (AER)

    • Cavalier of Dawn (M20)

    • Archon of the Falling Stars (THB)

    • Feasting Troll King (ELD)

    • Aven Wind Guide (AKH)

    • Deathless Behemoth (BFZ)

    • Cerulean Drake (M20)

    • Martyr for the Cause (WAR)

    • Hunted Witness (GRN)

    • Syndicate Messenger (RNA)

    • Ministrant of Obligation (RNA)

    • Vexing Gull (THB)

    • Hanged Executioner (M20)

  • The following cards gained Berserker:

    • Murderous Rider (ELD)

    • Silverback Shaman (M20)

    • Goblin Cratermaker (GRN)

    • Debtor's Transport (RNA)

    • Orzhov Racketeers (RNA)

    • Cauldron Familiar (ELD)

Card Changes

  • Exclusive Card Nantuko Monastery (Mythic) has been buffed. The amount of cards for the second and third Threshold ability has been reduced from 4 to 3 and from 7 to 5, respectively.

  • The following former promotional cards are now available in the Booster rotation From the Vault, Odyssey:

    • Barbarian Ring, Cabal Pit, Centaur Garden, Cephalid Coliseum, Nomad Stadium.

    • And all 5 cards have been buffed.  The amount of cards for the first and second Threshold ability has been reduced from 3 to 2 and from 7 to 4, respectively.

  • Due to the Vigilance ability change, some cards lost some of their written abilities that were emulating Vigilance, and gained the evergreen instead: 

    • Questing Beast (ELD) reads now: “While this creature is on the battlefield, your opponent's creatures lose Defender. Whenever this creature deals combat damage to an opposing Planeswalker, an opposing Vanguard loses 3 shield.”

    • Realm-Cloaked Giant (ELD) gains Vigilance and the former description has been removed.

    • Linden, the Steadfast Queen (ELD) now reads: “Leader: Human, Knight. Whenever this creature attacks, gain X life. X is this creature's reinforcements.”

    • Faeburrow Elder (ELD) now reads: “When this creature enters the battlefield, it gets +1/+1 for each color among nontoken cards you control. Activate 3: For each color among nontoken cards you control, convert 1 gem to that color.”

  • To avoid potential misunderstandings, the description of the following cards with Adamant was changed:

    • Searing Barrage (ELD) now reads: “Deal 4 damage to target opposing creature. Adamant - Red: Then, deal 4 damage to your opponent's Planeswalker.”

    • Slaying Fire (ELD) now reads: “Deal 5 damage to any target. Adamant - Red: Then, an opposing Vanguard support loses 3 shield.”

    • Turn into a Pumpkin (ELD) now reads: “Return target creature to its owner's hand. Then, draw a card. Adamant - Blue: Then, create a Food Token.”

  • Arcades, the Strategist (M19) now reads: “Whenever a creature with Defender or Vigilance enters the battlefield under your control, draw a card. While this creature is on the battlefield, your creatures with Defender or Vigilance get +X/+0, where X is their toughness.”

  • Infuriate (M20) has its Power and Toughness bonus increased and reads: “Target creature you control gets +6/+3 until end of turn.”

  • Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge (WAR) Vanguard Card has changed the second active ability to “Exile the first 4 cards from your library. Then, move the first 2 non-spell Artifacts from your exile to play under your control.”

  • In order to align some cards, there has been a change to the following cards: Razia, Boros Archangel (GRN), Underrealm Lich (GRN) and Ugin's Conjurant (WAR) are losing Prevent Damage for 3 turns, instead of 2. This is an effort to standardize with other cards that have the same ability: Polukranos, Unchained (THB) and Oathsworn Knight (ELD).

  • Card Emry, Lurker of the Loch (ELD) has changed to not interact with Artifact Spells and reads now: “This card's cost is reduced by 1 for each Artifact you control. When this creature enters the battlefield, destroy the top 5 cards from your library. At the end of your turn: Return the first Artifact creature or Artifact support from your graveyard to play under your control.”

  • Card Molderhulk (GRN) has changed to not interact with Land Spells and reads now: “Undergrowth: 8: This creature’s cost is reduced by X. When this creature enters the battlefield: Return the first Land Support from your graveyard to the board under your control.”

Planeswalker Change

  • Planeswalker Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge’s 3rd ability, Planar Retrieval: 

    • This ability now moves non-spell Artifacts from your exile to play under your control. We have added non-spell to all 4 levels of this ability.

Event Changes

  • Event Avacyn’s Madness: Objective Change in 4th node, 2nd Encounter (Soul Swallower). The 3rd objective has changed from Sacrifice to Commander. It reads: “Summon 4 or more creatures during a single fight.”

Other Changes

  • The music in the battle has been changed with a new song.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed some text related issues. 

  • Fixed an issue with Happily Ever After's second effect triggering on different cases.

  • Fixed an issue where Thassa, Deep-Dwelling's and Erebos, Bleak-Hearted's static ability wasn't triggering if the opponent doesn't have a creature on the battlefield.

  • Fixed an issue where Chord of Calling was not triggering if it doesn't have X Stored Mana to give mana to the fetched card.

  • Fixed an issue where Bond of Revival would get blocked to cast if there were 3 creatures on the battlefield.

  • Fixed an issue where Harmonious Archon's effect would remain active in different cases.

  • Fixed an issue where Aphemia, the Cacophony was creating a 4/4 Zombie instead of the 2/2 Zombie according to its description.

  • Fixed an issue where Nyxbloom Ancient was converting its gems based on the opponent's highest Devotion color.

  • Fixed an issue where Deathsprout would, sometimes, fetch a non-Land support.

  • Fixed an issue where Alhammarret's Archive when combined with other cards, wouldn't allow the trigger of those cards.

  • Fixed an issue with Duets of Mana - Tears and Memories' event where cards fetched by Killer Instinct were not being accounted for on the Fetcher Objective at Vivien's Arkbow node. 

  • Fixed an issue with Duets of Mana - Tears and Memories' event where Liliana, Defiant Necromancer's Gravemist Ability would not count towards the Loyalty Objective at Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter node.

  • Fixed an issue where the Adapt counter Evergreen was resetting whenever a support or a creature was cast by both the player and/or AI.

  • Fixed an issue with Fables of Eldraine event - Lovestruck Beast node, Peasant objective's text.

  • Fixed an issue with Fables of Eldraine event - Crystal Slipper node, Close to Midnight ability trigger.

  • Fixed an issue with Fables of Eldraine event - Giant Opportunity node, Veteran objective's text.

  • Fixed an issue where Fervent Champion would not buff another Knight if there were no Equipment in the owner's hand.

  • Fixed an issue with the Titanomachy event – Commander objective counting.

  • Fixed an issue where tokens were being destroyed instead of exiled.

  • Fixed an issue where the game would soft lock when pressing the "Not Now" option while being possible to cast cards from the graveyard with Buried.

  • Fixed an issue where casting Repeated Reverberation would cause a game crash when the player has a full hand and the copied spell has stored mana.

  • Fixed an issue where copying a card with The Akroan War - Chapter 1 and giving it any Evergreen would cause a soft lock if the opponent created the same token again.

  • Fixed an issue where Mask of Immolation would fail to trigger the damaging effect whenever there was more than 1 creature on the battlefield.

  • Fixed an issue where Mask of Immolation would trigger the damaging effect even if when exiling creatures, not destroying.

  • Fixed an issue where Nicol Bolas, Dragon God Vanguard would trigger its "gain Loyalty" effect even if the player press "Not Now".

  • Fixed an issue where Niblis of Frost was not triggering when casting a spell card.

  • Fixed an issue where Dynavolt Tower's Energize mechanic was not creating Energize gems.

  • Fixed an issue where Vivien, Arkbow Ranger's first ability was not buffing correctly.

New Event

  • Daxos vs. Kalemne (DvK) - TEASER

    • Duel Deck (PvE/PvP)

    • Standard

    • 34 New Cards

    • 2 New Planeswalkers

  • Hero’s Path - Face the Hydra (THB)

    • PvE

    • Standard

    • 2 Nodes with 3 Encounters each

    • Entrance fee of 15 Mana Crystals

    • All Planeswalkers colors are allowed

    • Recharge Time: 8h

    • Duration: 46hs

    • Max Charges (per node): 5

    • Initial Charges (per node): 2

    • Max Charges (per node): 6

    • Each encounter features a different version of the main enemy - with increased status and additional abilities

    • This event also has a new feature: Players can choose a Support Card at the start.

  • Seize the Day (ODY)

    • PvP

    • As it’s a block event, it only allows cards from the Magic: Puzzle Quest core sets: Origins, M19, M20 and Odyssey itself

    • There is an entrance fee of 15 Mana Crystals

    • This event has a rank reward

    • All Planeswalkers' colors are allowed in all nodes. Nodes are unlocked since the beginning

    • Recharge Time: 8h

    • Duration: 46hs

    • Initial Charges (per node): 1

    • Max Charges (per node): 6

    • Node themes:

      • Atogs (top node)

      • The Cabal (left node)

      • Battles in the Pits (right node)

    • This event also has a new feature: Players can choose a Support Card at the start.

New Content

New Collection: From the Vault (ODY)

  • 60 New Cards

  • 2 New Planeswalkers 

New Vanguard Cards (THB)

  • 10 New Cards

New Full Art Cards

  • 22 Full Art Cards from THB, ELD, M20, XLN, HOU and BFZ

New Bundles:

  • Cephalid Emperor Bundle

  • Pit Fighter Bundle

  • Cabal Patriarch Bundle

  • Odyssey Collector Box Bundle

  • Jewels Vault Bundle

  • Hunger for Territory Bundle

  • Hunger for Tales Bundle

Improvements

  • Initial Loading Time decreased
  • Game Performance improved

Changes

Event Hero’s Path - Face the Hydra

    • Initial Charges were changed from 2 to 3

    • The Score Points for the Win the fight objective of the following encounters have been changed from 5 points to 10 points:

      • Offspring Deadlock, Young Hydra Dilemma and Champions’ Bane

    • The Score Points for the Win the fight objective of the following encounters have been changed from 10 points to 15 points:

      • Giant Hydra Crisis, Ancient Hydra Showdown and Elder Hydra Catastrophe

VIP Tier - Additional Content

    • Tier 13: Access to Additional Discount on Mono Color Planeswalkers

      • Basic Mono Color Planeswalkers (ORI) cost 30 Mana Crystals (VIP Tier 13+)

      • Regular Mono Color Planeswalkers cost 275 Mana Crystals (VIP Tier 13+)

    • Tier 14: 3000 Mana Orbs

Card Gallery

Available on Facebook:

From the Vault: Odyssey

Duel Deck (DvK)

Vanguards (THB)

(You can access it even if you don’t have a Facebook account.)


Comments

  • Mburn7
    Mburn7 Posts: 3,427 Chairperson of the Boards
    edited March 2020
    New Events:  Good
    Vigilance Change:  Card distribution of old/new abilities looks good right now
    New Duel Decks with cool new walkers:  Good
    Bug fixes:  Always welcome
    Better threshold cards:  Forgot those existed
    New pseudo-set:  Good, if it works right
    Facebook-only galleries:  Not good, but the new normal I guess

    Overall this seems like a really good update!  I might even log in to check the loading times and play a round or two.
    Nice job!
  • ArielSira
    ArielSira Posts: 489 Mover and Shaker
    Sounds/reads like a good update, really like that you guys changed older things (ability and cards) as well.
  • Kinesia
    Kinesia Posts: 1,621 Chairperson of the Boards
    I really appreciate the thought that has gone into all these changes, even some text changes for clarity! Excellent, that's unprecendented!
  • bk1234
    bk1234 Posts: 2,924 Chairperson of the Boards
    This is an extremely thorough and thoughtful update. I’m looking forward to seeing it rolled out. 
  • Aeroplane
    Aeroplane Posts: 314 Mover and Shaker
    Would this qualify to open up Booster crafting?
  • madwren
    madwren Posts: 2,226 Chairperson of the Boards
    edited March 2020
    Looks like a great update. Two questions:

    1. Will the "From the Vault" cards be Legacy-only (aside from the new "block" event)? Because it contains threshold cards that were previously legacy-only.

    2. Why change the objective on Avacyn's Madness 4.2?  That's an odd change to make in isolation.



  • Panneo
    Panneo Posts: 21 Just Dropped In
    "Fixed an issue where casting Repeated Reverberation would cause a game crash when the player has a full hand and the copied spell has stored mana."

    Finally, most importaint fix for me.
  • Magic:PQ Support Team
    Magic:PQ Support Team ADMINISTRATORS Posts: 3,257 Chairperson of the Boards
    UPDATE 03/18/20*

    Flashback ability hint reads:
    “When this card enters your Graveyard from anywhere, the last first card with Flashback in your Graveyard gains 2 mana. When you cast this card from your Graveyard, exile it.”

    Ability Hint Change - Graveyard Gems
    “When you match a Graveyard Gem, the last first card in your graveyard with Buried, that can gain mana, gains 3 mana.”
  • Tilwin90
    Tilwin90 Posts: 662 Critical Contributor
    I said it before and I'll say it again: Vanguard cards are too expensive, too complicated, make the gameplay too slow for me, and not worth all the fuss.
    Not to mention it's ridiculous how they got their own packs instead of being part of the regular packs and require only PURPLES to obtain them... and rare ones go duplicate like coo-coo crazy.
    WAR was different because we had Fblthp where you could get the cards, but other than that for me Vanguard cards are as if they don't exist...
  • Stormcrow
    Stormcrow Posts: 461 Mover and Shaker
    edited March 2020
    • The following cards gained Berserker:

      • Murderous Rider (ELD)

      • Silverback Shaman (M20)

      • Goblin Cratermaker (GRN)

      • Debtor's Transport (RNA)

      • Orzhov Racketeers (RNA)

      • Cauldron Familiar (ELD)

    Giving defender or berserker to various commons/uncommons that have "on-death" beneficial effects and no particular way to trigger them makes perfect sense (so even though this nerfs Cauldron Familiar in the one deck I use it in, I understand). However, this seems like an unnecessary nerf to Murderous Rider and a major nerf to Orzhov Racketeers.

    @Oktagon_Support can you remind the devs that, besides creatures, there are also a lot of spells and supports that give out Vigilance either permanently or temporarily? Particularly if I'm casting a spell that gives Vigilance for 1 turn, presumably it's because I want the creature to block, not because I want the creature to maybe block if it likes its chances. Off the top of my head, Assure, Knightly Valor, Nature's Way, On Serra's Wings, Sentinel's Mark, True-Faith Censer all should at least get looked at, and I'm sure there are more (edit: maybe High Alert? Though I can't decide whether it'll be better or worse after this change). Also, Amonkhet block included a number of cards that made 1/1 Soldier tokens with Vigilance, and there's no point in a 1/1 having Vigilance anymore so those tokens should probably be changed as well. Some of the other soldier/knight tokens with Vigilance might be more debatable.
  • Magic:PQ Support Team
    Magic:PQ Support Team ADMINISTRATORS Posts: 3,257 Chairperson of the Boards
    UPDATE (03/19/20)
    • In order to align some cards, there has been a change to the following cards: Razia, Boros Archangel (GRN), Underrealm Lich (GRN) and Ugin's Conjurant (WAR) are losing Prevent Damage for 3 turns, instead of 2. This is an effort to standardize with other cards that have the same ability: PolukranosUnchained (THB) and Oathsworn Knight (ELD).

    • Card Emry, Lurker of the Loch (ELD) has changed to not interact with Artifact Spells and reads now: “This card's cost is reduced by 1 for each Artifact you control. When this creature enters the battlefield, destroy the top 5 cards from your library. At the end of your turn: Return the first Artifact creature or Artifact support from your graveyard to play under your control.”

    • Card Molderhulk (GRN) has changed to not interact with Land Spells and reads now: “Undergrowth: 8: This creature’s cost is reduced by X. When this creature enters the battlefield: Return the first Land Support from your graveyard to the board under your control.”

  • Magic:PQ Support Team
    Magic:PQ Support Team ADMINISTRATORS Posts: 3,257 Chairperson of the Boards

    UPDATE (03/20/20)

    Ability Hint Change - Cast

    The description has changed to: “A card is cast if it's played from your hand or played from another zone by paying its mana cost.

  • GrizzoMtGPQ
    GrizzoMtGPQ Posts: 776 Critical Contributor
    @Oktagon_Support is 4.1 releasing tomorrow (3/24)?
  • Avahad
    Avahad Posts: 296 Mover and Shaker
    I really really hope so- I think a lot of people have a lot more time on their hands right now.
  • Magic:PQ Support Team
    Magic:PQ Support Team ADMINISTRATORS Posts: 3,257 Chairperson of the Boards
    UPDATE (03/24/20)

    Improvements

    • Initial Loading Time decreased
    • Game Performance improved
  • Bubbles_CS
    Bubbles_CS Posts: 332 Mover and Shaker
    UPDATE (03/24/20)

    Improvements

    • Initial Loading Time decreased
    • Game Performance improved
    Woohoo!

    I know a lot of us are curious, how was this accomplished?
  • Magic:PQ Support Team
    Magic:PQ Support Team ADMINISTRATORS Posts: 3,257 Chairperson of the Boards
    UPDATE (04/07/2020)

    Changes

    Event Hero’s Path - Face the Hydra

    • Initial Charges were changed from 2 to 3

    • The Score Points for the Win the fight objective of the following encounters have been changed from 5 points to 10 points:

      • Offspring Deadlock, Young Hydra Dilemma and Champions’ Bane

    • The Score Points for the Win the fight objective of the following encounters have been changed from 10 points to 15 points:

      • Giant Hydra Crisis, Ancient Hydra Showdown and Elder Hydra Catastrophe

    VIP Tier - Additional Content

    • Tier 13: Access to Additional Discount on Mono Color Planeswalkers

      • Basic Mono Color Planeswalkers (ORI) cost 30 Mana Crystals (VIP Tier 13+)

      • Regular Mono Color Planeswalkers cost 275 Mana Crystals (VIP Tier 13+)

    • Tier 14: 3000 Mana Orbs
  • soultwist
    soultwist Posts: 325 Mover and Shaker
    UPDATE (04/07/2020)

    Changes


    VIP Tier - Additional Content

    • Tier 13: Access to Additional Discount on Mono Color Planeswalkers

      • Basic Mono Color Planeswalkers (ORI) cost 30 Mana Crystals (VIP Tier 13+)

      • Regular Mono Color Planeswalkers cost 275 Mana Crystals (VIP Tier 13+)

    • Tier 14: 3000 Mana Orbs
    Will this be added to the FAQ for VIP?  also is there content for levels 7-12?