Mirrodin Besieged Overview

• Card Count: 155 cards

  • 60 Commons
  • 40 Uncommons
  • 35 Rares
  • 10 Mythic Rares
  • 10 Basic Lands (unusual for a small set).

• Set Symbol: An overlapping of the Mirran and Phyrexian symbols, emphasizing the clash between the two factions.

Story and Themes

The set continues the saga of the Phyrexian Invasion on the metallic plane of Mirrodin:

• The conflict intensifies as Phyrexia spreads its corruption across the plane, while the Mirran resistance struggles to survive.
• Cards are split evenly between Mirran and Phyrexian factions (72 cards each), with allegiance denoted by symbols in their text boxes.

Notable Features

1. Basic Lands with Phyrexian Influence:

   • Unusual for a small set, it includes 10 basic lands.
   • The lands extend the panoramas from Scars of Mirrodin, showing the spread of Phyrexia’s corruption.

2. Faction Boosters and Intro Packs:

   • Players chose between Mirran or Phyrexian allegiance for prerelease and release events.
   • Faction boosters contained only cards aligned with the chosen side.

3. Expanded Phyrexian Colors:

   • Phyrexia, originally confined to blue, black, and green in Scars of Mirrodin, now includes red and white, signifying its full corruption of the plane’s color pie.

4. Draft Changes:

   • For the first time, drafts began with the most recent set (Mirrodin Besieged) instead of the first set in the block (Scars of Mirrodin).
   • Players opened one Mirrodin Besieged booster, followed by two Scars of Mirrodin boosters.

Gameplay Impact

• Artifacts: As with other Mirrodin sets, artifacts remain a central theme.
• Limited Play:
  • Slower-paced compared to Scars of Mirrodin, emphasizing tactical decisions.
  • Strong factional divides encouraged thematic deck-building based on allegiance.

Unique Elements

• Phyrexian Versions of Cards:

  • Several cards are twisted, corrupted versions of previous Mirran cards, reflecting Phyrexia’s influence.

• Flavorful Design:

  • Nearly every card deepens the immersive story of Mirran desperation and Phyrexian dominance.

Why It’s Memorable

Mirrodin Besieged delivered a powerful narrative tied seamlessly into its mechanics and presentation. With its unique faction system, draft changes, and factional booster packs, it’s remembered as a flavorful and dynamic set that brought the clash between Mirrodin and Phyrexia to life.