Antiquities (Magic: The Gathering) 1777717 213147187 2008-05-18T00:22:31Z 69.180.18.244 {{Infobox mtgset | Background = Lightgrey | Expansion Name = '''''Antiquities''''' | Expansion Symbol = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:exp sym atq.gif|''Antiquities'' expansion symbol]] -->| Symbol Description = [[Anvil]] | Release Date = March [[1994]] | Mechanics = Artifacts,<br>artifact effects | Keywords = None new | Size = 100 cards | Expansion Code = ATQ (AQ)| Previous Set = '''''[[Arabian Nights (Magic: The Gathering)|Arabian Nights]]''''' | This Set = '''''Antiquities''''' | Next Set = '''''[[Revised (Magic: The Gathering)|Revised]]''''' | }} '''''Antiquities''''' was the fifth ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' set and the second expert level expansion set. It was the first set to have an original [[backstory]] and explore the mythos of the ''Magic'' universe (''see'' [[Magic: The Gathering storylines|''Magic: The Gathering'' storylines]]). The set was created by the group of students at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] that had helped [[Richard Garfield]] design the original game. The expansion symbol for ''Antiquities'' was an anvil. ''Antiquities'' managed to solve many of the printing errors that had plagued previous sets, although the expansion symbol was omitted from [http://gatherer.wizards.com/gathererlookup.asp?set=Antiquities&name=reconstruction Reconstruction]. The only major problem noticed by players was the poor collation of the set; many booster boxes contained several packs with exactly the same cards in each, making it next-to-impossible for players in many parts of the country to collect complete sets. To correct this, [[Wizards of the Coast]] introduced a "buyback" program, allowing players to trade in their excess cards for money. This backfired on many players who took early advantage of it as ''Antiquities'' cards soon began rising in price on the secondary-sales market. In the [[United Kingdom|UK]] at least, the 'buyback' was limited to the uncommon cards; however, it was possible to exchange these for cards from the previous ''[[Arabian Nights (Magic: The Gathering)|Arabian Nights]]'' expansion too. ==Notable cards== *'''[http://gatherer.wizards.com/gathererlookup.asp?set=Antiquities&name=hurkyl's_recall Hurkyl's Recall]''': In an expansion with so many artifacts, returning all artifacts in play to an owner's hand could be devastating, particularly when combined with cards that do damage based on the number of cards in one's hand such as the Black Vise. It sees use in some modern type 1 combo decks, because it can be used to return tapped artifacts such as Moxen and [http://ww2.wizards.com/gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?&id=30 Mana Vault] to owner's hand, so that they can be re-played and tapped again for more mana. *'''[http://gatherer.wizards.com/gathererlookup.asp?set=Antiquities&name=millstone Millstone]''': A card created to take advantage of the rule that stated that players lost the game when they ran out of cards to draw. Millstone became a staple of deckbuilding for years, and even today, any effect that puts cards from one's library to their graveyard is known as "milling". *'''[http://gatherer.wizards.com/gathererlookup.asp?set=Antiquities&name=mishra's_factory Mishra's Factory]''': As the first land that becomes a creature, the Factory has been used time and again as an uncounterable threat in control decks. *'''[http://gatherer.wizards.com/gathererlookup.asp?set=Antiquities&name=mishra's_workshop Mishra's Workshop]''': A degenerate mana-booster for artifacts, the Workshop is the highest-priced card of the set today. This is the cornerstone of the entire Prison archetype in Vintage, that uses the mana abundance of workshop to play relatively expensive game-warping artifacts on the first turn. *'''[http://gatherer.wizards.com/gathererlookup.asp?set=Antiquities&name=strip_mine Strip Mine]''': A land that can be used for colorless mana (perfect for casting artifacts), or sacrificed to destroy a land in play. This mana denial later proved powerful enough to restrict it in Vintage. *'''[http://ww2.wizards.com/Gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?name=golgothian%20sylex Golgothian Sylex]''': The second card to care about what expansion another card is from (the first is Arabian Nights' [http://ww2.wizards.com/Gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?name=city_in_a_bottle City in a Bottle]). The concept of affecting cards from a specific set was soon abandoned due to the fact that many cards originally printed in these expansions began appearing in the main set with no expansion symbols at all. This artifact ties into the ending of the Antiquities storyline, as Urza activates the sylex bowl and '''[http://ww2.wizards.com/Gatherer/CardDetails.aspx?name=obliterate Obliterate]'''s the forest of Argoth, as well as two whole armies with it. ==Storyline== The story of ''Antiquities'' takes place on the plane of [[Dominaria]] and centers on the two brothers [[Urza]] and [[Mishra (Magic: The Gathering)|Mishra]]. Very old and incredibly powerful artifacts from the age of the [[Thran]] have been uncovered, and in a hidden cave, the two brothers find a magical stone. They battle for control of it, and their struggle, later renamed the Brothers' War, soon spans the continent of [[Terisiare]]. Both sides use the ancient artifacts of the Thran for their benefit and bring destruction to the world. The culmination of Urza's and Mishra's conflict was revealed in the 1998 expansion set ''[[Urza's Saga]]''. ==External links== *[http://www.wizards.com/magic/expert/Antiquities/Antiquities.asp Wizards' official page on ''Antiquities''] {{MTGsets}} [[Category:Magic: The Gathering sets]]