Magic: The Gathering (Magic) was first introduced to the market by Wizards of the Coast back in 1993. The game is designed for two or more players each using a deck of printed cards - although in more modern times the game has added the option of virtual cards which can be played over the Internet. The 62nd Magic expansion set is the Theros series, a large expansion which also includes Born of the Gods and the latest set, Journey into Nyx...

Journey into Nyx represents the third set of the Theros block. This is a small set consisting of 165 cards. The set completes the cycle of ten dual-coloured 'demigod' cards that debuted in Born of the Gods, as well as the cycle of ten 'scary lands' that premiered in the first set of Theros.

There are five intro packs in the Journey into Nyx series. These include Mortals of Myth; Fates Foreseen; Pantheon's Power; Voracious Rage; and The Wilds and the Deep.

The Wilds and the Deep features the monstrosity ability, which allows you to pay a lump sum of mana to permanently increase a creature's power and toughness. Just when your opponent thinks everything is under control, your monstrosity creatures can grow to unfathomable size. Power out your large monsters early, and make them unstoppable late.

Creatures like Swarmborn Giant and Sealock Monster will likely be bigger than anything your opponent can muster when they hit the battlefield, and their monstrosity ability allows them to keep pace as the game goes on.

'Archetype of Imagination' lets you get past ground stalls by taking flying away from all of your opponent's creatures and granting it to yours. Your other spells work particularly well with your larger creatures.

'Time to Feed' lets you remove creatures with flying or other types of evasion that might otherwise be a problem for your grounded monsters.

Kiora, the Crashing Wave, a planeswalker from the Born of the Gods set, makes a great addition to this deck. She lets you neutralize your opponents' threats as well as draw extra cards and play extra lands, all building toward your inevitable mass of big creatures.

If you don't know how to play Magic, then worry not as these packs are designed for the novice as well as the hardcore gamer in mind. These intro pack contain everything you need to play your very first game (including instructions).

All five of the intro packs available include a ready to play 60-card deck; one foil premium rare card; two sealed 15-card booster packs; a strategy insert; and a Magic "learn to play" guide. The rare foil card in The Wilds and the Deep pack is the premium Heroes Bane

Collectors will already have had these packs on pre-order for months, but if you're new to the world of Magic, or only a casual player, it's worth picking up this latest release.

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Nick Smithson