Expansion Sets
Expansion sets beginning with Mirage have come in groups (usually three) which form a block (the preferred term in actual gameplay) or cycle (the preferred term when describing the associated storyline) consisting of one large "stand-alone" expansion set of more than 300 cards, followed by one or two small expansion sets of less than 200 cards, which continue the themes introduced in the large set. In recent years the large stand-alone expansion sets have had about 250 cards. Like the base set, stand-alone expansion sets contain basic land cards; other expansion sets do not. Beginning with Alliances, expansion sets were given codenames while in development; the code names of the three expansions of a cycle usually fit together to form a phrase or common theme.
Ice Age and Alliances were the first two sets to have a well-defined relationship, but were not created as a canonical block at the time of printing. Also beginning with Alliances in June 1996, expansion sets were released in a regular pattern: the base sets were released in October with the small expansion sets being released in February and June (Alliances was originally the third set of the block; it was retroactively made a second set with the release of Coldsnap in 2006). With the exceptions of Stronghold, a 1998 set released in March rather than February, and Scourge, a 2003 set which was released in May rather than June, this pattern of months was never broken, over a 10-year period, until 2006, when Dissension was also released a month early in May instead of June, because of the July release of Coldsnap. The third set in a block has since been released in late April or early May. Since 2005 there has been a fourth release date each year in mid-July. Since Magic 2010 this has been reserved for Core Sets, since they are now released on an annual basis; before that, core sets would occupy this slot every other year, alternating with special releases such as Coldsnap and Eventide. In recent years Wizards has experimented with other block models, with Lorwyn and Shadowmoor comprising two, connected mini-blocks of a large expansion followed by a single small expansion and the Zendikar block with Rise of the Eldrazi replacing the second small set with a stand alone large set.
Most early expansion sets did not have exact release dates; they were just shipped out within the space of a week, and retailers could start selling them as soon as the sets were received. By the time of Alliances in 1996, however, release dates were set as Mondays (the earliest set with an exact Monday release date might possibly have preceded Alliances, but Alliances is the earliest set with a cited and confirmed Monday release date). Beginning with Mirrodin in 2003, the release dates were changed from Monday to Friday.
All sets beginning with Homelands also have a pre-release date, on which cards are sold in limited quantities in pre-release tournaments. These tournaments were formerly always held two weeks before the release date, but since Shards of Alara they are now held one week before the release date.
Premium foil cards have been inserted into booster packs since Urza's Legacy. Originally 1 foil card was inserted for every 100 cards. The ratio was changed to 1 in 70 cards with the Torment expansion. Beginning with Tenth Edition the percentage was raised to 1 in 56 cards.
Set | Expansion symbol |
Expansion code |
Development codename |
Pre-release date | Release date | Size | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arabian Nights | A scimitar | ARN | none | none | December 1993 | 92 | 40 | 19 | 32 | — | 1 | — |
Antiquities | An anvil | ATQ | none | none | March 1994 | 100 | 30 | 44 | 26 | — | — | — |
Legends | The capital of a Doric column | LEG | none | none | June 1994 | 310 | 75 | 114 | 121 | — | — | — |
The Dark | A thin crescent moon | DRK | none | none | August 1994 | 119 | 40 | 44 | 35 | — | — | — |
Fallen Empires | A crown | FEM | none | none | November 1994 | 187 | 121 | 30 | 36 | — | — | — |
Homelands | The globe of Ulgrotha | HML | none | October 14, 1995 | October 1995 | 140 | 71 | 27 | 42 | — | — | — |
Ice Age Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Ice Age | A snowflake | ICE | none | none | June 1995 | 383 | 121 | 121 | 121 | — | 20 | — |
Alliances | A flowing banner | ALL | Quack | May 18, 1996 | June 10, 1996 | 199 | 110 | 43 | 46 | — | — | — |
Coldsnap | A hanging trio of icicles | CSP | Splat | July 8, 2006 | July 21, 2006 | 155 | 60 | 55 | 40 | — | — | — |
Mirage Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Mirage | A palm tree | MIR | Sosumi | September 21, 1996 | October 7, 1996 | 350 | 110 | 110 | 110 | — | 20 | — |
Visions | Zhalfirin Triangle of War/stylized "V" | VIS | Mirage Jr. | January 11, 1997 | February 3, 1997 | 167 | 62 | 55 | 50 | — | — | — |
Weatherlight | The Thran Tome, an open book | WTH | Mochalatte | May 31, 1997 | June 9, 1997 | 167 | 62 | 55 | 50 | — | — | — |
Rath Cycle or Tempest Block | ||||||||||||
Tempest | A storm cloud | TMP | Bogavhati | October 4, 1997 | October 13, 1997 | 350 | 110 | 110 | 110 | — | 20 | — |
Stronghold | A portcullis | STH | Rachimulot | February 21, 1998 | March 2, 1998 | 143 | 55 | 44 | 44 | — | — | — |
Exodus | A bridge | EXO | Gorgonzola | June 6, 1998 | June 15, 1998 | 143 | 55 | 44 | 44 | — | — | — |
Artifacts Cycle or Urza Block | ||||||||||||
Urza's Saga | Two gears | USG | Armadillo | October 3, 1998 | October 12, 1998 | 350 | 110 | 110 | 110 | — | 20 | — |
Urza's Legacy | A hammer | ULG | Guacamole | February 6, 1999 | February 15, 1999 | 143 | 55 | 44 | 44 | — | — | — |
Urza's Destiny | An Erlenmeyer flask | UDS | Chimichanga | May 29, 1999 | June 7, 1999 | 143 | 55 | 44 | 44 | — | — | — |
Masquerade Cycle or Masques Block | ||||||||||||
Mercadian Masques | A domino mask | MMQ | Archimedes | September 25, 1999 | October 4, 1999 | 350 | 110 | 110 | 110 | — | 20 | — |
Nemesis | A battle axe | NMS | Euripides | February 5, 2000 | February 14, 2000 | 143 | 55 | 44 | 44 | — | — | — |
Prophecy | Three crystals | PCY | Dionysus | May 27, 2000 | June 5, 2000 | 143 | 55 | 44 | 44 | — | — | — |
Invasion Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Invasion | The symbol of the Coalition | INV | Beijing | September 23, 2000 | October 2, 2000 | 350 | 110 | 110 | 110 | — | 20 | — |
Planeshift | A swirling portal | PLS | Hong Kong | January 27, 2001 | February 5, 2001 | 143 | 55 | 44 | 44 | — | — | — |
Apocalypse | Crying mask of Yawgmoth | APC | Shanghai | May 26, 2001 | June 4, 2001 | 143 | 55 | 44 | 44 | — | — | — |
Odyssey Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Odyssey | The Mirari, a metal orb on a helix | ODY | Argon | September 22, 2001 | October 1, 2001 | 350 | 110 | 110 | 110 | — | 20 | — |
Torment | An ouroboros | TOR | Boron | January 26, 2002 | February 4, 2002 | 143 | 55 | 44 | 44 | — | — | — |
Judgment | A balancing scale | JUD | Carbon | May 18, 2002 | May 27, 2002 | 143 | 55 | 44 | 44 | — | — | — |
Onslaught Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Onslaught | A four-legged "morph" creature | ONS | Manny | September 28, 2002 | October 7, 2002 | 350 | 110 | 110 | 110 | — | 20 | — |
Legions | Two crossed spears behind a shield | LGN | Moe | January 25, 2003 | February 3, 2003 | 145 | 55 | 45 | 45 | — | — | — |
Scourge | A dragon mask | SCG | Jack | May 17, 2003 | May 26, 2003 | 143 | 55 | 44 | 44 | — | — | — |
Mirrodin Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Mirrodin | The sword of Kaldra | MRD | Bacon | September 20, 2003 | October 3, 2003 | 306 | 110 | 88 | 88 | — | 20 | — |
Darksteel | The shield of Kaldra | DST | Lettuce | January 24, 2004 | February 6, 2004 | 165 | 55 | 55 | 55 | — | — | — |
Fifth Dawn | The helm of Kaldra | 5DN | Tomato | May 22, 2004 | June 4, 2004 | 165 | 55 | 55 | 55 | — | — | — |
Kamigawa Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Champions of Kamigawa | A torii gate | CHK | Earth | September 18, 2004 | October 1, 2004 | 306 | 110 | 88 | 88 | — | 20 | — |
Betrayers of Kamigawa | A shuriken | BOK | Wind | January 22, 2005 | February 4, 2005 | 165 | 55 | 55 | 55 | — | — | — |
Saviors of Kamigawa | A lantern | SOK | Fire | May 21, 2005 | June 3, 2005 | 165 | 55 | 55 | 55 | — | — | — |
Ravnica Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Ravnica: City of Guilds | A tower | RAV | Control | September 24, 2005 | October 7, 2005 | 306 | 110 | 88 | 88 | — | 20 | — |
Guildpact | The seal of the Guildpact | GPT | Alt | January 21, 2006 | February 3, 2006 | 165 | 55 | 55 | 55 | — | — | — |
Dissension | The broken seal of the Guildpact | DIS | Delete | April 22, 2006 | May 5, 2006 | 180 | 60 | 60 | 60 | — | — | — |
Time Spiral Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Time Spiral | An hourglass | TSP/TSB | Snap | September 23, 2006 | October 6, 2006 | 422 | 121 | 80 | 80 | — | 20 | 121 |
Planar Chaos | tilted hourglass / merging planes / stylized letters "PC" / Möbius strip |
PLC | Crackle | January 20, 2007 | February 2, 2007 | 165 | 60 | 55 | 50 | — | — | — |
Future Sight | an eye gazing through a rift portal | FUT | Pop | April 21, 2007 | May 4, 2007 | 180 | 60 | 60 | 60 | — | — | — |
Lorwyn Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Lorwyn | A leaf | LRW | Peanut | September 29, 2007 | October 12, 2007 | 301 | 121 | 80 | 80 | — | 20 | — |
Morningtide | Sunrise / A flame | MOR | Butter | January 19, 2008 | February 1, 2008 | 150 | 60 | 40 | 50 | — | — | — |
Shadowmoor Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Shadowmoor | Crown of the Reaper King | SHM | Jelly | April 19, 2008 | May 2, 2008 | 301 | 121 | 80 | 80 | — | 20 | — |
Eventide | Eclipsed sun | EVE | Doughnut | July 12, 2008 | July 25, 2008 | 180 | 60 | 60 | 60 | — | — | — |
Shards of Alara Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Shards of Alara | 5-part gem | ALA | Rock | September 27, 2008 | October 3, 2008 | 249 | 101 | 60 | 53 | 15 | 20 | — |
Conflux | 5-shard shield | CON | Paper | January 31, 2009 | February 6, 2009 | 145 | 60 | 40 | 35 | 10 | — | — |
Alara Reborn | 5-branched gem | ARB | Scissors | April 25, 2009 | April 30, 2009 | 145 | 60 | 40 | 35 | 10 | — | — |
Zendikar Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Zendikar | A hedron | ZEN | Live | September 26, 2009 | October 2, 2009 | 249 | 101 | 60 | 53 | 15 | 20 | — |
Worldwake | A hedron opening | WWK | Long | January 30, 2010 | February 5, 2010 | 145 | 60 | 40 | 35 | 10 | — | — |
Rise of the Eldrazi | A hedron opened | ROE | Prosper | April 17, 2010 | April 23, 2010 | 248 | 100 | 60 | 53 | 15 | 20 | — |
Scars of Mirrodin Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Scars of Mirrodin | Hexagon in circled hexagon | SOM | Lights | September 25, 2010 | October 1, 2010 | 249 | 101 | 60 | 53 | 15 | 20 | — |
Mirrodin Besieged | Mirran/Phyrexian symbols combined | MBS | Camera | January 29, 2011 | February 4, 2011 | 155 | 60 | 40 | 35 | 10 | 10 | — |
New Phyrexia | The letter Phi, the symbol of Phyrexia | NPH | Action | May 7, 2011 | May 13, 2011 | 175 | 60 | 60 | 35 | 10 | 10 | — |
Innistrad Cycle/Block | ||||||||||||
Innistrad | Two stylized outward facing herons | ISD | Shake | September 24, 2011 | September 30, 2011 | 264 | 107 | 67 | 59 | 16 | 15 | — |
Dark Ascension | Innistrad symbol turned inward | DKA | Rattle | January 28, 2012 | February 3, 2012 | 158 | 64 | 44 | 38 | 12 | — | — |
Avacyn Restored | The collar of Avacyn | AVR | Roll | April 28, 2012 | May 4, 2012 | 244 | 101 | 60 | 53 | 15 | 15 | — |
Return to Ravnica Cycle/Block (forthcoming) | ||||||||||||
Return to Ravnica | Stylized mitre | RTR | Hook | September 29, 2012 | October 5, 2012 | 274 | 101 | 80 | 53 | 15 | 25 | — |
Gatecrash | Pointed arch | GTC | Line | January 26, 2013 | February 1, 2013 | 249 | unrevealed | |||||
Dragon's Maze | Return to Ravnica and Gatecrash symbols combined | DGM | Sinker | April 28, 2013 | May 3, 2013 | 156 | unrevealed | |||||
2013-2014 "Friends" block (forthcoming) | ||||||||||||
"Friends" | unrevealed | unrevealed | Friends | c. September 2013 | c. October 2013 | unrevealed | ||||||
"Romans" | unrevealed | unrevealed | Romans | c. January 2014 | c. February 2014 | unrevealed | ||||||
"Countrymen" | unrevealed | unrevealed | Countrymen | c. April 2014 | c. May 2014 | unrevealed | ||||||
2014-2015 "Huey" block (forthcoming) | ||||||||||||
"Huey" | unrevealed | unrevealed | Huey | c. September 2014 | c. October 2014 | unrevealed | ||||||
"Dewey" | unrevealed | unrevealed | Dewey | c. January 2015 | c. February 2015 | unrevealed | ||||||
"Louie" | unrevealed | unrevealed | Louie | c. April 2015 | c. May 2015 | unrevealed | ||||||
2015-2016 "Blood" block (forthcoming) | ||||||||||||
"Blood" | unrevealed | unrevealed | Blood | c. September 2015 | c. October 2015 | unrevealed | ||||||
"Sweat" | unrevealed | unrevealed | Sweat | c. January 2016 | c. February 2016 | unrevealed | ||||||
"Tears" | unrevealed | unrevealed | Tears | c. April 2016 | c. May 2016 | unrevealed |
Read more about this topic: List Of Magic: The Gathering Sets
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