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The other five guilds
What this set is
Gatecrash is the second set of the Return to Ravnica block and brings the five guilds the first set left out: Boros, Dimir, Gruul, Orzhov and Simic. Like Return to Ravnica, every guild gets its own mechanic, so a draft deck's colors tell you what it does.
It reprinted the five shock lands for those guilds (Breeding Pool, Godless Shrine, Sacred Foundry, Stomping Ground and Watery Grave), finishing the cycle the first set started. Boros Charm, Aetherize, Rapid Hybridization and Crypt Ghast are among its Commander staples.
Themes
Every mechanic in Gatecrash
Battalion (Boros)
An ability word that triggers when this creature and at least two others attack. Boros rewards attacking with three creatures at once.
Cipher (Dimir)
After the spell resolves, you may exile it encoded on a creature you control. Whenever that creature deals combat damage to a player, you may cast a copy of the spell for free.
Bloodrush (Gruul)
Discard the creature card from your hand to give its power, toughness and abilities to an attacking creature until end of turn. A creature that is also a combat trick.
Extort (Orzhov)
Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {W/B}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much. Each extort permanent triggers separately, which adds up in multiplayer.
Evolve (Simic)
Whenever a creature enters under your control with greater power or toughness than this one, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Curving up from small to large creatures grows each of them.
Where You Can Play It
Format legality
Gatecrash shipped under a single code. It came after Return to Ravnica, so it is legal in Pioneer as well as Modern and the eternal formats.
Not Standard-legal; Standard only ever holds the last few years of sets. Gatecrash cards are playable in Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage and Commander, with three exceptions: Balustrade Spy is banned in Pioneer, Undercity Informer is banned in Pioneer and Legacy, and Sylvan Primordial is banned in Commander. Commons from any set are Pauper-legal; that isn't listed per set here.
Limited
The draft format
Drafted as three packs of Gatecrash. Five two-color guild decks, each with a mechanic that tells you how it wins.
Boros
Aggro
Battalion creatures that attack in groups of three.
Dimir
Evasion
Evasive creatures carrying cipher spells, plus self-mill.
Gruul
Big attackers
Bloodrush creatures that double as pump spells.
Orzhov
Attrition
Extort drains over a long game.
Simic
Counters
Evolve creatures played in order of size.
Commanders
The most played commanders from Gatecrash
The legends this set is best known for. Tap one for its printings and what it costs.
Boosters, precons and singles from Gatecrash are on TCGplayer.
FAQ
Common questions
Which guilds are in Gatecrash?
Boros, Dimir, Gruul, Orzhov and Simic. Return to Ravnica had the other five, and Dragon's Maze had all ten.
Is Gatecrash legal in Pioneer?
Yes. Gatecrash released after Return to Ravnica, where Pioneer begins. Balustrade Spy and Undercity Informer are banned there.
How does extort work in Commander?
Whenever you cast a spell, each extort permanent you control lets you pay {W/B}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much, so it scales with the number of opponents.
All card names, art, and mechanics belong to Wizards of the Coast. Gatecrash released on Feb 1, 2013; details reflect the set as published. Sources: Wizards of the Coast set pages and release notes, Draftsim, Untapped.gg.
Playing Gatecrash in Commander?
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