Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths

 

Box Toppers

 

Card comparisons

 

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Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
[[File:{{#setmainimage:ILB logo.png}}|250px]]
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description	A monstrous eye
Design	Mark Rosewater (lead) Andrew Veen Corey Bowen David Humpherys Peter Lee
Development	David Humpherys (lead) Andrew Brown George Fan Donald Smith, Jr Jiachen Tao Gavin Verhey
Art direction	Several
Release date	April 17, 2020 (Asia) May 15, 2020 (other)
Plane	Ikoria
Themes and mechanics	Human tribal, keyword counters, wedge colors
Keywords/​ability words	Mutate, companion, cycling
Set size	274 cards (111 commons, 80 uncommons, 53 rares, 15 mythic rares, 15 basic lands) +1 Buy-a-Box promo +3 borderless planeswalkers +35 showcase cards +50 extended-art cards +1 bundle promo +5 dark-frame promos +18 box toppers
Expansion code	IKO
Development codename	Cricket
Core Set 2021 Standard
Throne of Eldraine Theros Beyond Death Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Challenger Decks 2020 Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Commander 2020

File:ILB expansion symbol.png

Expansion symbol

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, often shortened as Ikoria, is the 84th Magic expansion. It was originally scheduled to be released on April 24, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the paper release was advanced to April 17, 2020 for Asia, and delayed until May 15, 2020 for the other continents, while Magic Online and MTG Arena released on April 16, 2020. Despite this, the cards became legal in Standard and other formats on April 24, 2020, the original release date.

Set details

“

There's Always a Bigger Monster

”

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths makes use of monster movie tropes, and is especially inspired by Kaiju (a Japanese genre of films featuring giant monsters like Godzilla). The set is mostly designed bottom-up, but there are also some top-down individual card designs. Monsters are the focal point of the set. Monsters are fighting other monsters, and monsters are fighting humans and their cities. As in Core 2020, the Gainlands appear over the basic lands in about 5/12 boosters.

The set contains 274 cards (111 commons, 80 uncommons, 53 rares, 15 mythic rares, 15 basic lands), and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards. A unique Buy-a-Box promotional card is also considered to be part of the set. Cards with an alternate card frames have another card number than the original version. The Buy-a-Box is #275, borderless planeswalkers are numbered #276-278, Showcase cards are numbered #279-313, and the extended artwork cards are numbered #314-363. The Bundle promo is numbered #364, and the FNM-treatment cards from the universal promo pack are numbered #365-369. Finally, there are Godzilla Series Monster cards that are numbered #370-387. Both regular and foil versions of most of these cards may be found in the Collector Boosters.

The set's expansion symbol is a monstrous eye. The Showcase cards are connected to the mutate mechanic. They feature a comic book style.

Storyline

File:Ikoria.png

Key art

The setting is Ikoria, a plane of beasts and monsters. As the world of Ikoria developed, humans quickly realized what types of defenses were needed to stave off monsters. The humans were quick to become both militaristic and ingenious. Unfortunately for the humans, the monsters of Ikoria have begun to mutate and the fortresses that were previously successful at protecting humans have now become fodder for the monsters to annihilate. Featured planeswalkers are Vivien Reid, Lukka and Narset.

The cards that represent the Story Spotlights in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths are:

• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Tentative Connection" artist="">Tentative Connection</c>
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Sanctuary Lockdown" artist="">Sanctuary Lockdown</c>
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Thwart the Enemy" artist="">Thwart the Enemy</c>
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Heartless Act" artist="">Heartless Act</c>
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Lead the Stampede" artist="">Lead the Stampede</c>

Marketing

File:IKO Comic Book showcase - Illuna Apex of Wishes.png

Comic book showcase treatment.

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths is sold in regular 16-card Draft Boosters (one card being a marketing card), mono-colored Theme Boosters, Collector Boosters, the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths bundle and five Commander decks. The Draft Boosters feature artwork from <c>Vivien, Monsters' Advocate</c>, <c>Kogla, the Titan Ape</c> and <c>Prickly Marmoset</c>. The Theme Boosters feature art from <c>Titanoth Rex</c> (Monsters), <c>Fight as One</c> (File:W.svg), <c set="IKO" number="" title="Frost Lynx" artist="">Frost Lynx</c> (File:U.svg), <c>Cunning Nightbonder</c> (File:B.svg), <c>Porcuparrot</c> (File:R.svg), and <c>Humble Naturalist</c> (File:G.svg). The Collector Boosters feature a showcase version of the key art.

Godzilla Series Monster cards

Each booster box contains a box topper. For the box toppers Wizards of the Coast partnered with Toho Corporation to feature its iconic monsters such as Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah. These skinned cards, called the Godzilla Series Monster cards, feature Godzilla themed "skins" on reprints of regular cards. The name of the original card is featured in a small font below the Godzilla name of the card. The skin name is considered flavor text and has no effect on game play.

Each booster box has a single-card Box Topper pack featuring a foil Godzilla Series Monster card. In Japanese boosters, there are 18 different Box topper cards in foil, three of which are only in Japanese. Due to an internal error, these Japanese-only cards do not appear in English or French Collector Boosters. In all other languages, there are 15 different box toppers. WPN stores will have an additional foil Godzilla card as part of the Buy-a-Box promotion.

The 19th card with this treatment is the set's Buy-a-Box card <c set="" number="" title="Zilortha, Strength Incarnate" artist="">Zilortha, Strength Incarnate</c>, which initially only existed as a preview card in its Godzilla Series form. The in-Multiverse version would finally be released three years later in Commander Masters.

The 20th card with this treatment is a second Buy-a-Box card through a promotional event; this being <c set="PLG20" number="" title="Hangarback Walker" artist="">Hangarback Walker</c> as Mechagodzilla. The Hangarback Walker is not considered to be be a part of the Ikoria set.

Godzilla Series' card are also featured Magic Online (as a part of Treasure Chests) and MTG Arena. While all 19 cards from Ikoria are featured in Arena, Magic Online only featured 15 cards (The non-Japanese Box Topper cards other than <c set="IKO" number="104" title="Void Beckoner" artist="">Void Beckoner</c>, as well as the Buy-a-Box). The 3 Japanese-only cards will have their Godzilla name in their supported language in the Arena version.

Events

• Magic Online and MTG Arena release: April 16, 2020.
• Tabletop Prerelease / Release: April 17, 2020 (Asia) / May 15, 2020 (North America, Europe, Latin America, and Australia/New Zealand).
  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic stores are allowed to sell Prerelease Packs and Commander Decks for players to take home without participating in an in-store event, and they may also enroll players in at-home Prerelease events.
• Commander Nights: April 27–June 18. A weekly Commander league with rotating rules and achievement-based prizes.

Promotional cards

• Prerelease: a stamped card that can be any rare or mythic rare of Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.
• Other events: cards from the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths universal promo pack.
  • The seasonal dark-frame promos are: <c set="IKO" number="365" title="Flourishing Fox" artist="">Flourishing Fox</c>, <c set="IKO" number="366" title="Heartless Act" artist="">Heartless Act</c>, <c set="IKO" number="367" title="Forbidden Friendship" artist="">Forbidden Friendship</c>, <c set="IKO" number="368" title="Migration Path" artist="">Migration Path</c> and <c set="IKO" number="369" title="Sprite Dragon" artist="">Sprite Dragon</c>.
• Buy-a-Box: foil Godzilla, King of the Monsters (<c set="" number="" title="Zilortha, Strength Incarnate" artist="">Zilortha, Strength Incarnate</c>, but only available in its Godzilla Series form).
• Bundle promo: foil alternate art <c set="IKO" number="364" title="Colossification" artist="">Colossification</c>.
• "Welcome Back": <c set="PLG20" number="" title="Mechagodzilla, Battle Fortress" artist="">Hangarback Walker</c> (buy any booster box).
• "Love Your LGS": <c set="PLG20" number="" title="Reliquary Tower" artist="">Reliquary Tower</c> (buy any product).
• Box topper: see Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths/Box Toppers

Tokens, emblems and markers

File:Companion marker.png

Companion marker

The sixteenth card in the boosters is a token, emblem, or marker with advertisements on the back side.

1. File:W.svg 1/1 Cat creature with lifelink, created by <c>Cubwarden</c>.
2. File:W.svg 1/1 Cat Bird creature with flying, created by <c>Skycat Sovereign</c>.
3. File:W.svg 1/1 Human Soldier creature, created by <c>Bastion of Remembrance</c>, <c>Daysquad Marshal</c>, <c>Forbidden Friendship</c>, <c>Garrison Cat</c>, <c>General's Enforcer</c>, <c>Nightsquad Commando</c> and <c>Valiant Rescuer</c> (1 of 3).
4. File:W.svg 1/1 Human Soldier creature (2 of 3).
5. File:W.svg 1/1 Human Soldier creature (3 of 3).
6. File:U.svg 8/8 Kraken creature, created by <c>Ominous Seas</c>.
7. File:U.svg X/X Shark creature with flying, created by <c>Shark Typhoon</c>.
8. File:R.svg Artifact named <c set="" number="" title="Feather" artist="">Feather</c> with "File:1.svg, Sacrifice Feather: Return target Phoenix card from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped," created by <c>Everquill Phoenix</c>.
9. File:R.svg 1/1 Dinosaur creature with haste, created by <c>Forbidden Friendship</c>.
10. File:G.svg 3/3 Beast creature, created by <c>Trumpeting Gnarr</c> and <c>Vivien, Monsters' Advocate</c>.
11. File:G.svg X/X Dinosaur Beast creature with trample, created by <c>Quartzwood Crasher</c>.
12. <c set="" number="" title="Emblem" artist="">Narset of the Ancient Way Emblem</c> for <c set="" number="" title="Narset of the Ancient Way" artist="">Narset of the Ancient Way</c>.
13. <c set="" number="" title="Companion" artist="">Companion</c> marker.

Punch card

File:IKO Keyword counter punch cards.png

Double-sided keyword counter punch card

There is also a set of double-sided keyword counters on a punch card. The counters correspond to the "Modal Creatures" cycle as listed below.

Punch card
	#001	#002
File:W.svg	First strike	Flying
File:R.svg	Menace	Trample
File:B.svg	Lifelink	Deathtouch
File:U.svg	Hexproof	Flying
File:G.svg	Reach	Vigilance
File:C.svg	+1/+1	+1/+1

Themes and mechanics

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths is about "building your own monsters". This is represented by the keyword ability mutate. You can mutate a creature you control by paying the mutate cost and placing the card below or above a non-Human creature. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it. A creature can be mutated multiple times. Mutate was first referred to on the silver-bordered card <c>Surgeon General Commander</c> in Unsanctioned.

The set also introduces the mechanic companion. The companion ability lists a deckbuilding rule. If your starting deck follows that rule, then the legendary creature outside the game (i.e. sideboard) can serve as your chosen companion. Originally the mechanic allowed players to play their companion from the sideboard as if that card is in your hand once during the game, it was later modified to players may pay File:3.svg to move their companion from sideboard to hand in sorcery speed (See Notable card for details). Once your companion enters the game it doesn't return to the sideboard at the rest of the game.

The set makes use of keyword counters. These were introduced on a test card in the Mystery Booster set (<c>Recycla-bird</c> with Flying counters). The set uses twelve different types of counters (thirteen including loyalty counters). The others are bounty, foreshadow, +1/+1, deathtouch, first strike, flying, hexproof, lifelink, menace, reach, trample and vigilance counters. Note that double strike and indestructible counters only appear on cards in the C20-set, and not in Ikoria itself. Some creatures gain variable ability counters, and tying into the theme of granting keywords there are several creatures that reward creatures with particular keywords (keyword "lords").

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths also features the return of Human tribal, hybrid mana and cycling.

Color-wise, the set is enemy color themed, leaning into wedges for the apex predator legends and associated triomes. This is reflected in the uncommon multicolor cards: there are three cycles of gold enemy-color signposts as opposed one cycle of hybrid ally-color signposts. Unlike Khans of Tarkir, this implementation of wedges focuses on the common enemy color (ex. for the File:W.svgFile:B.svgFile:G.svg wedge, Indatha is primarily black, while Abzan is primarily white). Fixing is more prevalent than in Khans but it tends towards splashes more than even splits, and there are only ten cards (two Rare cycles) that can only be cast with full wedge mana. Overall enemy color decks are most populous with gold support, while allied color decks have minor support and full wedge decks are less likely from format speed.

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths supports the following draft archetypes:

• File:W.svgFile:B.svg: Human-tribal (<c>General's Enforcer</c> & <c set="" number="" title="Dire Tactics" artist="">Dire Tactics</c>)
• File:U.svgFile:R.svg: Noncreature spells (<c>Sprite Dragon</c> & <c set="" number="" title="Channeled Force" artist="">Channeled Force</c>)
• File:B.svgFile:G.svg: Graveyard recursion (<c set="" number="" title="Skull Prophet" artist="">Skull Prophet</c> & <c>Back for More</c>)
• File:R.svgFile:W.svg: Cycling (<c set="" number="" title="Savai Thundermane" artist="">Savai Thundermane</c> & <c>Zenith Flare</c>)
• File:G.svgFile:U.svg: Mutate (<c>Parcelbeast</c> & <c set="" number="" title="Primal Empathy" artist="">Primal Empathy</c>)

• File:W.svgFile:U.svg: Flying (<c>Jubilant Skybonder</c>)
• File:U.svgFile:B.svg: Flash (<c>Cunning Nightbonder</c>)
• File:B.svgFile:R.svg: Menace (<c>Sonorous Howlbonder</c>)
• File:R.svgFile:G.svg: Trample (<c>Proud Wildbonder</c>)
• File:G.svgFile:W.svg: Vigilance (<c>Alert Heedbonder</c>)

All allied color combinations have an archetype focused on a keyword in those color types.

Card types

The set introduces the Otter creature type and reintroduces the Shark type. It also features the first standard-legal Brushwagg since Mirage (<c>Almighty Brushwagg</c>), and the first black-bordered Squirrel since Odyssey (<c>Helica Glider</c>).

The set also introduces the Lukka planeswalker type.

Cycles

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths has 22 cycles, including two double cycles. There is also one mirrored pair.

Cycle name	File:W.svg	File:U.svg	File:B.svg	File:R.svg	File:G.svg
Mythos	<c>Mythos of Snapdax</c>	<c>Mythos of Illuna</c>	<c>Mythos of Nethroi</c>	<c>Mythos of Vadrok</c>	<c>Mythos of Brokkos</c>
	Five rare monocolored spells that become better if the associated wedge mana was also spent to cast it. All are illustrated by Seb McKinnon with a cave-painting aesthetic.
Rare mutants	<c>Cubwarden</c>	<c>Sea-Dasher Octopus</c>	<c>Dirge Bat</c>	<c>Everquill Phoenix</c>	<c>Gemrazer</c>
	Five rare creatures with mutate.
X mutants	<c>Huntmaster Liger</c>	<c>Archipelagore</c>	<c>Insatiable Hemophage</c>	<c>Porcuparrot</c>	<c>Auspicious Starrix</c>
	Five uncommon creatures with mutate and an ability that scales based off the number of times it mutated.
Counter cyclers	<c>Splendor Mare</c> (lifelink)	<c>Avian Oddity</c> (flying)	<c>Void Beckoner</c> (deathtouch)	<c>Sanctuary Smasher</c> (first strike)	<c>Titanoth Rex</c> (trample)
	Five uncommon creatures with cycling that put a given keyword counter on a creature when cycled.
Mentors	<c>Keensight Mentor</c> (vigilance)	<c>Wingspan Mentor</c> (flying)	<c>Duskfang Mentor</c> (lifelink)	<c>Frillscare Mentor</c> (menace)	<c>Hornbash Mentor</c> (trample)
	Five uncommon Humans, that when they enter the battlefield put a given keyword counter on a creature, and tap to put a +1/+1 counter on creatures with that keyword.
Apex powers	<c>Will of the All-Hunter</c>	<c>Boon of the Wish-Giver</c>	<c>Call of the Death-Dweller</c>	<c>Blitz of the Thunder-Raptor</c>	<c>Charge of the Forever-Beast</c>
	Five uncommon monocolored spells that are each associated with one of the Apexes.
Modal creatures	<c>Helica Glider</c>	<c>Wingfold Pteron</c>	<c>Boot Nipper</c>	<c>Ferocious Tigorilla</c>	<c>Flycatcher Giraffid</c>
	Five common creatures that enter the battlefield with your choice of one of two keyword counters.
Common mutants	<c>Vulpikeet</c>	<c>Dreamtail Heron</c>	<c>Cavern Whisperer</c>	<c>Cloudpiercer</c>	<c>Migratory Greathorn</c>
	Five common creatures with mutate and a mutation trigger.
Keyword bonus spells	<c>Solid Footing</c> (vigilance)	<c>Gust of Wind</c> (flying)	<c>Mutual Destruction</c> (flash)	<c>Tentative Connection</c> (menace)	<c>Ram Through</c> (trample)
	Five common noncreature spells that reward having one of the five keywords supported below.
Cycle name	File:W.svgFile:U.svg	File:U.svgFile:B.svg	File:B.svgFile:R.svg	File:R.svgFile:G.svg	File:G.svgFile:W.svg
Keyword lords	<c>Skycat Sovereign</c> (flying)	<c>Slitherwisp</c> (flash)	<c>Labyrinth Raptor</c> (menace)	<c>Quartzwood Crasher</c> (trample)	<c>Frondland Felidar</c> (vigilance)
	Five rare allied colored creatures, each one of which has an evergreen keyword ability and cares about creatures you control with that keyword.
Bonders	<c>Jubilant Skybonder</c> (flying)	<c>Cunning Nightbonder</c> (flash)	<c>Sonorous Howlbonder</c> (menace)	<c>Proud Wildbonder</c> (trample)	<c>Alert Heedbonder</c> (vigilance)
	Five uncommon hybrid mana allied colored Humans, each one of which cares about creatures you control with a specific evergreen keyword.
Cycle name	File:W.svgFile:B.svg	File:U.svgFile:R.svg	File:B.svgFile:G.svg	File:R.svgFile:W.svg	File:G.svgFile:U.svg
Mythic humans	<c>General Kudro of Drannith</c>	<c>Rielle, the Everwise</c>	<c>Chevill, Bane of Monsters</c>	<c>Winota, Joiner of Forces</c>	<c>Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy</c>
	Five mythic rare enemy colored legendary Human creatures.
Two-mana signpost creatures	<c>General's Enforcer</c>	<c>Sprite Dragon</c>	<c>Skull Prophet</c>	<c>Savai Thundermane</c>	<c>Parcelbeast</c>
	Five uncommon enemy colored creatures, each a signpost for a draft archetype and each costing two mana to cast (or in one case, two mana to mutate.)
Signpost spells	<c>Dire Tactics</c>	<c>Channeled Force</c>	<c>Back for More</c>	<c>Zenith Flare</c>	<c>Primal Empathy</c>
	Five uncommon enemy-colored noncreature spells, each another signpost for a draft archetype but is also generically powerful while giving a clear clue on what strategy it supports.
Hybrid mutants	<c>Necropanther</c>	<c>Lore Drakkis</c>	<c>Boneyard Lurker</c>	<c>Regal Leosaur</c>	<c>Trumpeting Gnarr</c>
	Five uncommon enemy-colored creatures with a mutate cost that uses hybrid mana, giving them broader use in limited formats.
Cycle name	File:R.svgFile:W.svgFile:B.svg	File:G.svgFile:U.svgFile:R.svg	File:W.svgFile:B.svgFile:G.svg	File:U.svgFile:R.svgFile:W.svg	File:B.svgFile:G.svgFile:U.svg
Apexes	<c>Snapdax, Apex of the Hunt</c>	<c>Illuna, Apex of Wishes</c>	<c>Nethroi, Apex of Death</c>	<c>Vadrok, Apex of Thunder</c>	<c>Brokkos, Apex of Forever</c>
	Five mythic rare wedge colored legendary creatures with mutate, a secondary mutate ability, and have the three dominant creature types of their colors. The mutate cost is XHNN, where H is a hybrid cost with both enemy colors to N, which facilitates easier playability in two-color decks.
Ultimatums	<c>Ruinous Ultimatum</c>	<c>Genesis Ultimatum</c>	<c>Eerie Ultimatum</c>	<c>Inspired Ultimatum</c>	<c>Emergent Ultimatum</c>
	Five rare wedge colored sorceries with powerful effects and mana costs in the format MMNNNOO. This completes the cycle started in Shards of Alara.
Enchantments	<c>Offspring's Revenge</c>	<c>Song of Creation</c>	<c>Death's Oasis</c>	<c>Whirlwind of Thought</c>	<c>Titans' Nest</c>
	Five rare wedge colored enchantments.
Crystals	<c>Savai Crystal</c>	<c>Ketria Crystal</c>	<c>Indatha Crystal</c>	<c>Raugrin Crystal</c>	<c>Zagoth Crystal</c>
	Five uncommon wedge colored mana stones, one for each triome. Each costs File:3.svg and has cycling File:2.svg.
Triomes	<c>Savai Triome</c>	<c>Ketria Triome</c>	<c>Indatha Triome</c>	<c>Raugrin Triome</c>	<c>Zagoth Triome</c>
	Five rare wedge colored taplands, one for each triome. Each has the three basic land types associated with their colors and has cycling File:3.svg.

^ While the File:UB.svg color pair cares about flash, flash isn't something that makes sense for a keyword counter, so the black mentor instead cares about lifelink. The other allied pairs care about flying (File:WU.svg), menace (File:BR.svg), trample (File:RG.svg) and vigilance (File:GW.svg).

Double cycles

Cycle name	File:WU.svg	File:UB.svg	File:BR.svg	File:RG.svg	File:GW.svg	File:WB.svg	File:UR.svg	File:BG.svg	File:RW.svg	File:GU.svg
Companions	<c>Yorion, Sky Nomad</c>	<c>Gyruda, Doom of Depths</c>	<c>Obosh, the Preypiercer</c>	<c>Jegantha, the Wellspring</c>	<c>Kaheera, the Orphanguard</c>	<c>Lurrus of the Dream-Den</c>	<c>Lutri, the Spellchaser</c>	<c>Umori, the Collector</c>	<c>Zirda, the Dawnwaker</c>	<c>Keruga, the Macrosage</c>
	Ten rare hybrid mana legendary creatures, each with companion.
Gainlands	<c>Tranquil Cove</c>	<c>Dismal Backwater</c>	<c>Bloodfell Caves</c>	<c>Rugged Highlands</c>	<c>Blossoming Sands</c>	<c>Scoured Barrens</c>	<c>Swiftwater Cliffs</c>	<c>Jungle Hollow</c>	<c>Wind-Scarred Crag</c>	<c>Thornwood Falls</c>
	Ten common taplands originally printed in Khans of Tarkir. They enter the battlefield tapped, gain the controller one life, and can tap for 2 different colors of mana.

Pairs

Mirrored Pairs		Description
<c set="IKO" number="" title="Drannith Stinger" artist="">Drannith Stinger</c> (File:R.svg)	<c set="IKO" number="" title="Drannith Healer" artist="">Drannith Healer</c> (File:W.svg)	Two common Humans, each being a bear with cycling File:1.svg and having a triggered ability whenever you cycle another card.

Reprinted cards

The following cards have been reprinted:

• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Adventurous Impulse" artist="">Adventurous Impulse</c>, first printed in Dominaria, last seen in Mystery Booster.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Anticipate" artist="">Anticipate</c>, first printed in Dragons of Tarkir, last seen in Core Set 2020.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Blazing Volley" artist="">Blazing Volley</c>, first printed in Amonkhet, last seen in Mystery Booster.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Bristling Boar" artist="">Bristling Boar</c>, first printed in Core Set 2019, last seen in Mystery Booster.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Capture Sphere" artist="">Capture Sphere</c>, first printed in Guilds of Ravnica, last seen in Mystery Booster.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Cathartic Reunion" artist="">Cathartic Reunion</c>, first printed in Kaladesh, last seen in Mystery Booster.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Convolute" artist="">Convolute</c>, first printed in Ravnica: City of Guilds, last seen in Core Set 2020.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Corpse Churn" artist="">Corpse Churn</c>, first printed in Oath of the Gatewatch.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Dark Bargain" artist="">Dark Bargain</c>, first printed in Dominaria.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Dead Weight" artist="">Dead Weight</c>, first printed in Innistrad, last seen in Guilds of Ravnica.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Divine Arrow" artist="">Divine Arrow</c>, first printed in War of the Spark.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Essence Scatter" artist="">Essence Scatter</c>, first printed in Magic 2010, last seen in Mystery Booster.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Evolving Wilds" artist="">Evolving Wilds</c>, first printed in Rise of the Eldrazi, last seen in Commander 2019.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Fertilid" artist="">Fertilid</c>, first printed in Morningtide, last seen in Battlebond.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Frenzied Raptor" artist="">Frenzied Raptor</c>, first printed in Ixalan, last seen in Mystery Booster.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Frost Lynx" artist="">Frost Lynx</c>, first printed in Magic 2015, last seen in Core Set 2020.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Greater Sandwurm" artist="">Greater Sandwurm</c>, first printed in Amonkhet, last seen in Mystery Booster.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Ivy Elemental" artist="">Ivy Elemental</c>, first printed in Odyssey, last seen in Iconic Masters.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Lead the Stampede" artist="">Lead the Stampede</c>, first printed in Mirrodin Besieged, last seen in Mystery Booster — now notably a Story Spotlight.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Pacifism" artist="">Pacifism</c>, first printed in Mirage, last seen in Mystery Booster.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Plummet" artist="">Plummet</c>, first printed in Archenemy, last seen in Theros Beyond Death.
• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Unlikely Aid" artist="">Unlikely Aid</c>, first printed in War of the Spark.
• All 10 gainlands, first printed in Khans of Tarkir, last seen as a complete cycle in Core Set 2020.

Functional reprints

• <c set="IKO" number="" title="Savai Sabertooth" artist="">Savai Sabertooth</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Prowling Caracal</c>, including creature types, and a functional reprint of <c>Blade of the Sixth Pride</c>, <c>Devilthorn Fox</c>, <c>Dromoka Warrior</c>, <c>Knight of New Benalia</c>, <c>Oreskos Swiftclaw</c> and <c>Raptor Companion</c>, except for creature types.

Preconstructed decks

Planeswalker decks are discontinued for expansions. For this set, they are replaced by five Commander decks (Ikoria Commander). This is essentially Commander 2020 aligning with Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths. The 71 new cards in the decks are set on the world of Ikoria, but the reprints can be from anywhere. There are a handful of cards from the main Ikoria set in these decks in the reprint slots, but the number is fairly small. The cards are only legal in Eternal formats like Legacy, Vintage, and Pauper. They have their own expansion symbol and set code (C20) to set them apart.

Theme deck name	Color Identity					Commander
	File:W.svg	File:U.svg	File:B.svg	File:R.svg	File:G.svg
Ruthless Regiment	W		B	R		<c set="" number="" title="Jirina Kudro" artist="">Jirina Kudro</c>
Arcane Maelstrom		U		R	G	<c set="" number="" title="Kalamax, the Stormsire" artist="">Kalamax, the Stormsire</c>
Symbiotic Swarm	W		B		G	<c set="" number="" title="Kathril, Aspect Warper" artist="">Kathril, Aspect Warper</c>
Timeless Wisdom	W	U		R		<c set="" number="" title="Gavi, Nest Warden" artist="">Gavi, Nest Warden</c>
Enhanced Evolution		U	B		G	<c set="" number="" title="Otrimi, the Ever-Playful" artist="">Otrimi, the Ever-Playful</c>

Notable cards

Companions

Companion creatures were deemed to be too strong as they dominated in almost every constructed format — three of them had been banned in at least one sanctioned format in less than two months, prompting WotC to change Companion's rules altogether.

• <c>Lutri, the Spellchaser</c> was banned in Brawl the day it was released in digital form. But more notably, mtgcommander.net, the governing body of Commander, announced Lutri's commander ban on the day it was spoiled. As Lutri's deckbuilding restriction is satisfied by every Commander/Brawl deck, it would have granted an unfair advantage to Blue-Red decks.
• <c>Lurrus Of The Dream-Den</c>'s deckbuilding restriction mattered very little in formats already built around cheap permanents. It was banned in Legacy, but surprisingly in Vintage as well, the first card banned in Vintage specifically for power level reasons. It was later returned to Vintage in February 2021, given that the companion tax had long since been established to be effective. Lurrus remained a dominant contender in Modern and Pioneer for several years until it was banned in those formats in March 2022.
• <c>Zirda, the Dawnwaker</c> was banned in Legacy alongside Lurrus for its infinite mana combo with <c>Grim Monolith</c>. This was the fastest ever ban in the format (other than cards that received a 0-day ban like <c>Mind's Desire</c>). Otherwise, Zirda had little to no impact in other formats.
• <c>Yorion, Sky Nomad</c> had the greatest impact on Standard. "Yorion Piles", decks that used Sagas and other entry-effect enchantments from Theros Beyond Death to generate value, dominated the midrange, control and ramp ends of the metagame. Leaning towards a long-game strategy, it was least affected by the rules change, and its power as a flicker engine is held back in larger formats where diluting a deck's power density is more detrimental and mana efficiency is paramount. Modern Horizons 2's pitch Elemental cycle created a deck with strong blink-supporting answers, giving Yorion a strong niche. The clunkiness of the eighty-card deck, growing strength of the four-color spell pool, and tedious gameplay lead to it being banned in Modern on October 10, 2022. This was the last major Companion influence in competitive metagames, and with its departure the remainder are fringe players.
• <c>Kaheera, the Orphanguard</c> and <c>Jegantha, the Wellspring</c> were the easiest to free-roll, the former appearing in creature-less or creature-low decks, the latter being a fringe benefit once the core of a deck was built.
• <c>Obosh, the Preypiercer</c> had minor success pre- and post-change, with the restriction easily manageable with larger formats expanding the 1-drop slot, or with Adventure creatures filling the curve.
• <c>Gyruda, Doom of Depths</c> generated a combo deck revolving around resolving as many of its triggers as possible, but as a six-mana blue spell, it was far too vulnerable.
• <c>Keruga, the Macrosage</c> had potential in <c>Fires of Invention</c> decks with Adventure creatures, but eventually it was clear the lack of cheap interaction was untenable and it was supplanted by Yorion before the rules change. It is still occasionally seen in Historic Brawl decks alongside <c>Jodah, Archmage Eternal</c> as the commander.
• <c>Umori, the Collector</c> had some Standard success pre-change in mutate decks, but the rules change crippled its cost-reduction ability, as usually, players wanted to cast it turn 3 before an explosive turn 4.

Banned and restricted cards

• <c>Winota, Joiner of Forces</c> asks for cheap non-Humans to cheat out powerful Humans, which resulted in decks attempting to rush out as many copies of <c>Agent of Treachery</c> as possible. While this was alleviated in Standard with the banning of Agent, such an effect only gained power with larger formats, and it was hence banned in Brawl in May and Historic in July — it was in fact so powerful the Historic suspension was done under emergency timing. Winota's rise to power in Pioneer was more gradual, coming to be seen as balanced for a good while. However, it quickly proved too much for the reduced Pioneer format Explorer shortly after its introduction to Arena, and so the card was once again banned in May 2022. This was a sign of things to come, for Winota was banned in Pioneer a month later. Historic would later rebalance the card so that it triggers only once per turn, thereby permitting its return to the format.
• <c set="" number="" title="Drannith Magistrate" artist="">Drannith Magistrate</c> was a catch-all hate piece for Companions, Escape and Adventures, among other things, but the ability catching Commanders was considered generally unfun for Brawl, where it was banned in May 2020. Ironically, its application for stopping Companions was prevented after the rules change.

Trivia

• The Godzilla Series Monster card <c set="IKO" number="373" title="Spacegodzilla, Death Corona" artist="">Void Beckoner</c> had an unfortunate name in view of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic that developed after its creation. All reprint editions of the set will remove this card. On MTG Arena, it was renamed to <c set="IKO" number="373A" title="Spacegodzilla, Void Invader" artist="">Void Beckoner</c>. And in Magic Online, the card won't be distributed in Treasure Chests. Note that this is a special version of the card <c set="IKO" number="104" title="Void Beckoner" artist="">Void Beckoner</c>, which will not be affected by any changes.
• <c>Kogla, the Titan Ape</c> is a reference to King Kong. Its rules text is similar to the M11 "titan trigger". While well known in relation to Godzilla as a western Kaiju-esque creation, it has no special treatment likely due to the rights largely being owned by Universal Studios. <c>Yidaro, Wandering Monster</c> is a similar case, a reference to the Daiei-owned (and Toho Co. rival) Japanese Kaiju Gamera.
• <c>Shark Typhoon</c> is a reference to the Sharknado franchise.
• <c>Adaptive Shimmerer</c>, <c>Cryptic Trilobite</c>, <c>Farfinder</c> and <c>Mysterious Egg</c> join the short list as the fourth to seventh colorless non-artifact non-Eldrazi creatures.
• The art of <c>Forbidden Friendship</c>, <c set="IKO" number="" title="Capture Sphere" artist="">Capture Sphere</c> and <c set="IKO" number="" title="Cathartic Reunion" artist="">Cathartic Reunion</c> tells a story about a bonder and his monster. A similar story is also told by <c>Proud Wildbonder</c> and <c>Fully Grown</c>.
• <c>Flame Spill</c> is a near-functional reprint and black bordered version, of <c>Super-Duper Death Ray</c> from Unstable. <c>Ram Through</c> similarly uses the mechanic.
• <c>Fiend Artisan</c> is the first mythic rare hybrid mana card to be printed in a booster pack since the rarity was introduced in Shards of Alara, almost 12 years earlier.
• The design of <c>The Ozolith</c> was inspired by the silver-bordered <c>Giant Fan</c>.
• The song featured in Ikoria's cinematic is Bad Reputation by Joan Jett.
• The set was nicknamed "Monster Island" by R&D.

External links

• Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Official Trailer – Magic: The Gathering (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (April 2, 2020).
• Wizards of the Coast (April 10, 2020). "The Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Story on Cards". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Mark Rosewater (May 11, 2020). "Odds & Ends: Ikoria". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Mark Rosewater (May 18, 2020). "More Odds & Ends: Ikoria". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Mark Rosewater (May 25, 2020). "The Grand Experiment". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Mark Rosewater (October 9, 2023). "Lessons Learned, Part 6". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.