In fantasy, we often explore the same themes and settings. Whether it’s epic or grimdark, we frequently draw from Nordic, Arthurian, or medieval inspirations. Rarely do we venture beyond Europe and its immediate influences on the world. We overlook what happened in Africa, Asia, Oceania, or the Americas before the arrival of Europeans. It’s a shame because that means we miss out on countless possibilities for stories and nuances. Magic: The Gathering has shown us this with its latest collection of the year, “The Lost Caves of Ixalan.”
Set in the homonymous dimension of Ixalan, this collection is inspired by Mesoamerican culture. Filled with jungles, treasures, and dangerous beasts, this return takes us deep into its caverns, where an ancient and highly advanced civilization once thrived. The catch is that they kept hidden an incredibly valuable natural resource, the cosmio, which four different factions are now seeking.
As always with Magic: The Gathering, part of the charm of “The Lost Caves of Ixalan” is how it uses color identities to speak about its world. Among the factions in conflict, we find the dinosaurs of the Sun Empire, the pirates of the Verdant Coalition, the vampires of the Legion of Dusk, and the merfolk shamans. Each faction has a commander deck, enabling exciting multiplayer games, but they also represent the four main archetypes for draft play. Drafting involves playing with cards from individual packs, creating dynamic gameplay experiences.
To reinforce the idea of exploration and discovery, “The Lost Caves of Ixalan” introduces three new mechanics: Descend, Craft, and Discover. Descend triggers effects only when we have a specific number of permanents in the graveyard. Craft requires us to use a certain quantity and types of specific permanents to transform an artifact card. And Discover allows us to exile cards from the top of our library until we find one with a cost equal to or less than the number of cards discovered.
All of this is accompanied by exquisite artwork, evident inspiration and influence from Mesoamerican culture, and countless references to the mythology and culture of civilizations before the conquest. It’s a love letter to a culture in the form of a card collection that didn’t necessarily need to make this effort, but warms our hearts for the decision to do so.
