Unearthing the Magic: A Journey into the Lost Caverns of Ixalan

Dino-Mania Unleashed: A Rampage through the Lost Caverns of Ixalan

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan has swiftly become one of my favourite sets, especially given my penchant for green decks and love for ramp strategies. Heading into the Lost Caverns of Ixalan event at the Fortress in Melbourne, I admittedly knew very little about the set. Having never explored Ixalan in the Magic: The Gathering universe, I was eager to witness the intricacies of this new world.

The excitement started building as soon as I entered the venue, with Mitch from Double Jump greeting us at the door, fully embracing the pirate persona. Al ‘Cheshire’ Caynes added to the buzz by proudly announcing his Mermaid Commander deck. Initially expecting a pirate and sea creature-themed environment, I was taken aback when Jurassic Park characters appeared on the large screen at Fortress. The revelation of the Veloci-Ramp-Tor commander deck, featuring a horde of dinosaurs, quickly shifted my expectations.

As I’ve previously mentioned, I have a soft spot for cozy Media Events, but the combination of media and general public at this event elevated the experience, making it feel truly special. New players, fresh faces, and an atmosphere resonating with the essence of Magic – it was everything one could ask for in an event.

This particular occasion, however, stood out even more due to the presence of a special guest – none other than Gavin Verhey, Wizard of the Coast Senior Game Designer & Project Architect. Gavin, whose advice on my first-ever commander deck after only drawing 2 land in the first 13 turns, was a simple “think you just need to draw more land!” Which was exceptional considering that was his over complaint about my horrible home made deck.

Verhey’s Voyage: A Night of Magic, Trivia, and Tales

At the heart of the Fortress Event, the shining star was none other than the principal Magic designer himself, Gavin Verhey. Gavin, on a brief visit to Australia following his endeavors in Japan working on the highly anticipated Universes Beyond Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy crossover set for release in 2025, brought an unparalleled energy to the gathering.

Gavin wasn’t tucked away in some far-off spot – he was everywhere! Table by table, he dived into the games, turning the event into a big, inclusive party. His friendly vibe gave the whole thing a personal touch, making it more than just a gathering – it became a shared experience we won’t forget!

The pinnacle of the night, however, was the Trivia quiz orchestrated by Gavin. The four rounds of Magic-related questions showcased the depth of his knowledge and his commitment to making the event not only enjoyable but intellectually stimulating. And as many of my friends would know, when it comes to Magic knowledge; I’m your man…. If you are short numbers & desperately need someone, I’m your man. That being said, I did get one question right!

Discover the Thrills of Veloci-Ramp-Tor Commander Deck!

Now, let’s dive into the highlight of the event – the Veloci-Ramp-Tor Commander deck. This deck aligns perfectly with my playstyle, revolving around dinosaurs and ramping up mana. The commander, Veloci-Ramp-Tor, allows you to utilize ramp spells to accelerate your mana production, facilitating the casting of colossal creatures.

One captivating aspect of this deck is the descend mechanic, featured on cards that interact with creatures entering the battlefield from the graveyard. This mechanic enables you to resurrect your favourite creatures, creating opportunities to overwhelm opponents.

Additionally, the Veloci-Ramp-Tor deck incorporates explore and discover mechanics originally from Ixalan. Ideal for players who relish exploration, these mechanics offer the chance to reveal and add a land to your hand with explore, or make a strategic decision about placing a card in your hand or graveyard with discover.

Here is a brief breakdown for all Lost Caverns of Ixalan commander decks. Here are the main features of each deck:

• Veloci-Ramp-Tor: This deck is focused on Dinosaurs and ramp. It has two new legendary creatures: Pantzala, Sun Favored and Tzimoc, Primal Dawn. Pantzala lets you create Dinosaur tokens and gives them haste and trample. Tzimoc lets you play lands from your graveyard and gives you extra combat steps. This deck is great for players who like to cast big creatures and attack with them
• Ahoy Mateys: This deck is focused on Pirates and treasure. It has two new legendary creatures: Admiral Brass, Unsinkable and Don Andres, the Renegade. Admiral Brass lets you create treasure tokens and draw cards when you attack with Pirates. Don Andres lets you steal permanents from your opponents and sacrifice them for value. This deck is great for players who like to plunder and profit from their enemies
• Blood Rites: This deck is focused on Vampires and life gain. It has two new legendary creatures: Clavileño, First of the Blessed and Carmen, Cruel Skymarcher. Clavileño lets you gain life and create Vampire tokens when you cast spells from your graveyard. Carmen lets you drain life from your opponents and buff your Vampires when you attack. This deck is great for players who like to use their life as a resource and swarm the board with Vampires.
• Explorers of the Deep: This deck is focused on Merfolk and exploration. It has two new legendary creatures: Tishana, Voice of Thunder and Kiora, the Rising Tide. Tishana lets you draw cards and play extra lands when you explore. Kiora lets you untap permanents and create Kraken tokens when you control eight or more lands. This deck is great for players who like to ramp and draw cards with Merfolk.

Magic the Gathering: The Lost Caverns of Ixalan includes Draft Boosters, Set Boosters, Collector Boosters, Commander Decks, Prerelease Packs, Bundles, and Gift Bundles. For more information on The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, visit:  https://magic.wizards.com/en/products/the-lost-caverns-of-ixalan.