Ice Age (Magic: The Gathering) - Set History

Set History

Ice Age was the first "stand-alone" expansion; that is, it was the first set that could be played independently of other Magic: The Gathering products. It was the first expansion to reprint all five basic lands. Ice Age is also the first set that was printed for a certain period. Previous sets had a previously specified print run and were then sold while supplies lasted.

With the release of Ice Age Wizards replaced the original white mana symbol with a more defined version of itself. Two cards in the set, Fylgja and Prismatic Ward, were printed with the old mana symbol anyway due to some printer deadline issues that arose because Fylgja and Prismatic Ward had been chosen as promotional cards to be release in magazines prior to the release of Ice Age.

As Ice Age was the first "stand-alone" expansion set, the designers believed that some "staple" cards from the basic set and expansions should be in the set. Thus, the set was also the first expansion set (aside from the Arabian Nights Mountain misprint) to reprint cards. Staple cards like Swords to Plowshares, Giant Growth, Counterspell, and Dark Ritual, as well as popular older cards like Icy Manipulator were reprinted in Ice Age. All in all the set included about 8% reprints of old cards. Also, another 8% of the cards were functional reprints of already-printed cards; that is, aside from the name (and possibly the creature type), these cards were identical to cards in other sets. Examples include Fyndhorn Elves, a functional reprint of Llanowar Elves; Zuran Spellcaster, a functional reprint of Prodigal Sorcerer.

Ice Age was the first Magic expansion that was released in French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.