Mirrodin
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| Released |
October 2, 2003 |
| Size |
306 cards (110 commons, 88 uncommons, 88 rares, 20 basic lands) |
| Keywords |
Affinity, Imprint, Entwine |
| Mechanics |
Artifacts, Equipment |
| Designers |
Mark Rosewater (lead), Mike Elliott, Brian Tinsman, Tyler Bielman, Bill Rose |
| Developers |
Randy Buehler (lead), Brian Schneider, Henry Stern, Elaine Chase, Brandon Bozzi, and Brian Tinsman |
| Development code |
Bacon |
| Expansion code |
MRD |
| First set in the Mirrodin block |
| Mirrodin |
Darksteel |
Fifth Dawn |
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Darksteel
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| Released |
February 6, 2004 |
| Size |
165 cards (55 commons, 55 uncommons, 55 rares) |
| Keywords |
Modular |
| Mechanics |
Indestructible |
| Designers |
Bill Rose (lead), Tyler Bielman, Brian Schneider, Mark Rosewater
|
| Developers |
Henry Stern (lead), Tyler Bielman, Brandon Bozzi, Charlie Catmandu, and Brian Schneider |
| Development code |
Lettuce |
| Expansion code |
DST |
| Second set in the Mirrodin block |
| Mirrodin |
Darksteel |
Fifth Dawn |
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Fifth Dawn
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| Released |
June 4, 2004 |
| Size |
165 cards (55 commons, 55 uncommons, 55 rares) |
| Keywords |
Sunburst, Scry |
| Mechanics |
5 Colors, Cogs |
| Designers |
Mark Rosewater (lead), Randy Buehler Jr., Aaron Forsythe, and Gregory Marques |
| Developers |
Brian Schneider (lead), Brandon Bozzi, Randy Buehler Jr., Michael Donais, Mike Elliott, Devin Low, Henry Stern, and Worth Wollpert |
| Development code |
Tomato |
| Expansion code |
5DN |
| Third set in the Mirrodin block |
| Mirrodin |
Darksteel |
Fifth Dawn |
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Mirrodin is the name of the Magic: The Gathering expert-level block containing the Mirrodin (October 2, 2003, 306 cards), Darksteel (February 6, 2004, 165 cards) and Fifth Dawn (June 4, 2004, 165 cards) expansion sets. This expansion, as well as the rest of the block, is centered on artifacts and was only the second set to do so (from a card frequency point of view) since Antiquities. The percentage of artifact cards is much higher than in any preceding set. Each of the expansion symbols in the Mirrodin block depicts a legendary artifact: Sword of Kaldra (Mirrodin), Shield of Kaldra (Darksteel) and Helm of Kaldra (Fifth Dawn).
The setting for Mirrodin is a plane by the same name. An artificial world created by the planeswalker Karn, originally named Argentum, and named after the Mirari by Memnarch, Mirrodin's environments and inhabitants mix organic and metallic. Mirrodin is orbited by four satellites, which are called suns and moons interchangeably, that correspond to red, black, white and blue magic. Green was notably absent until Glissa Sunseeker became a conduit for its birth.
The set focuses on five main regions on Mirrodin, each corresponding to a part of the Magic color pie:
The main character of the story is the elf Glissa Sunseeker, who visits all these places, guided by revenge against the machines that killed her family. The story is captured in the novel The Moons of Mirrodin by Will McDermott. Magic returned to the setting of Mirrodin with the Scars of Mirrodin block.
The Darksteel Eye is the second novel in the Mirrodin Cycle by Jess Lebow. It continues the journey of Glissa, an elf, after the infiltration of the Synod and the recollection of all the golem Bosh's memories. They now must travel back across Mirrodin to seek the power that resides in the center of Mirrodin.
The final book in this expansion series is simply named The Fifth Dawn.Glissa, Bosh, and Slobad journey deep within Mirrodin's core to confront the insidious Memnarch. With them is the Kaldra avatar—an immensely powerful being of energy summoned when Kaldra's sword, shield, and helm were brought together. But what was supposed to be the world's salvation turns out to be a vile trick. With a single spell, Memnarch seizes the avatar and turns it on Glissa and her companions. Kaldra's avatar relentlessly pursues Glissa into the Tangle, destroying everything in its way. Finally, at the Radix, Glissa's destiny becomes clear. As rage and despair overcome her, Glissa's body calls forth a great column of green mana from Mirrodin's core, annihilating the avatar in the process. Now that mana hangs overhead in a glowing sphere—the green sun at last, Mirrodin's fifth dawn.
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Wikipedia
