Ice Age and Alliances were the first two sets to have a well-defined relationship, but the idea of

calling connected sets a "block" or "cycle" did not exist 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. 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. From 2005-2015, there was a fourth release date each year in
mid-July, usually reserved for base sets. Other summer releases included Coldsnap and
Eventide.[XXVI]

Fallen Empires was an experimental expansion in which most cards have three or four different
pieces of artwork. You could see them as 121 common cards, by art, or 36 cards by the text. It
was also a major expansion in the idea of tribes, especially Goblins and Merfolk.

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[VI] 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 cards have been inserted into booster packs since Urza's Legacy. Originally 1 premium
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 rate was increased to 1 in 56 cards.[28] This later
changed to 1 in 45 cards with "Core Set 2020"

Starting with Battle for Zendikar cycle, sets sometimes also contain an entry in the Masterpiece
Series.[29]

The block model has evolved as time went on. In addition to a formalized structure (which was
occasionally varied) Wizards began to have trouble developing small sets that satisfied their own
quality standards. Players also reported fatigue at playing in the same environment for a year at a
time. The decision to remove one small set from each block, as showcased in Battle For
Zendikar block, was a result of this dissatisfaction. It culminated in the decision to delete small
sets entirely; since the conclusion of Ixalan cycle, all sets have been large-sized sets. However,
not all large-size sets will involve travel to a new plane; some will be sequels to the set prior to
it, if the depth of the plane's story and mechanics allows. Dominaria, released in 2018, was the
first set under this model.[29]
 Expansi Size[3][5]
Expa Expa Developm
on Pre- Rele
nsion nsion ent My Ba
Set symbol releas ase Unco R Ot
symb code[4 codename[ Total Com
mmo ar
thic sic
he
descripti ][3] 26] e date date Cards mon Ra La
ol n e r
on[3] re nd

Pre-cycle sets[29]
Dece
Arabia
A Arabian mber 3
n ARN none 92[V] 41 19 — 1 —
scimitar Nights[30] 1993[ 2
Nights 31]

Marc
Antiqui Antiquities h 100[ 2
An anvil ATQ [30] none 30 44 — — —
ties 1994[ VI] 6
32]

The
capital June 1
Legend
of a LEG Legends[30] none 1994[ 310 75 114 2 — — —
s 33]
Doric 1
column
Augu
A thin
The The st 3
crescent DRK none 119 40 44 — — —
Dark Dark[30] 1994[ 5
moon 34]

Nove
Fallen
Fallen mber 187[ 12 3
Empire A crown FEM none 30 — — —
Empires[30] 1994[ VII] 1 6
s 35]

A June 1
Ice none[ 12 1
snowflak ICE Ice Age [30]
VII] 1995[ 383 121 2 — —
Age 36] 1 5
e 1
Octob Octo
Homel The
Homelands er 14, ber 140[ 4
ands[IX globe of HML [30] [ [ X] 71 27 — — —
] 1995 1995 2
Ulgrotha VII] 37]

May June
A
Allianc 18, 10, 199[ 11 4
flowing ALL Quack[26] 43 — — —
es 1996[3 1996[ XI] 0 6
banner 8] 10]

Mirage Block
 Expansi Size[3][5]
Expa Expa Developm
on Pre- Rele
nsion nsion ent My Ba
Set symbol releas ase Unco R Ot
symb code[4 codename[ Total Com
mmo ar
thic sic
he
descripti ][3] 26] e date date Cards mon Ra La
ol n e r
on[3] re nd

Septe Octo
mber ber 1
A palm Sosumi/M 11 2
Mirage MIR 21, 7, 350 110 1 — —
tree enagerie[26] 0 0
1996[3 1996[ 0
9][XXV] 10]

Zhalfirin Febr
Janua
Triangle uary
Mirage ry 11, 5
Visions of VIS 3, 167 62 55 — — —
Jr.[26] 1997[4 0
War/styli 0] 1997[
41]
zed "V"
The
May June
Thran
Weath Mochalatte 31, 9, 5
Tome, WTH [26] 167 62 55 — — —
erlight 1997[4 1997[ 0
an open 2] 10]
book
Tempest Block
Octo
Octob
ber 1
Tempe A storm Bogavhati[ er 4, 11 2
TMP 26] 13, 350 110 1 — —
st cloud 1997[4 [ 0 0
3] 1997 0
10]

Febru
Marc
A ary
Strong Rachimulo h 2, 4
portculli STH 21, [ 143 55 44 — — —
hold t[26] [4 1998 4
s 1998 10]
4]

June June
Gorgonzol 6, 15, 4
Exodus A bridge EXO 143 55 44 — — —
a[26] 1998[4 1998[ 4
5] 10]

Urza's Block
Octo
Octob
ber 1
Urza's Two Armadillo[ er 3, 11 2
USG 26] 12, 350 110 1 — —
Saga gears 1998[4 [ 0 0
6] 1998 0
47]
 Expansi Size[3][5]
Expa Expa Developm
on Pre- Rele
nsion nsion ent My Ba
Set symbol releas ase Unco R Ot
symb code[4 codename[ Total Com
mmo ar
thic sic
he
descripti ][3] 26] e date date Cards mon Ra La
ol n e r
on[3] re nd

Febr
Febru
uary
Urza's A Guacamole ary 6, 4
ULG [26] [4 15, 143 55 44 — — —
Legacy hammer 1999 [ 4
8] 1999
10]

May June
Urza's An
Chimichan 29, 7, 4
Destin Erlenme UDS [26] 143 55 44 — — —
ga 1999 1999[
[4
4
y yer flask 3] 49]

Masques Block
Septe Octo
Merca
A mber ber 1
dian Archimede 11 2
domino MMQ [26] 25, 4, 350 110 1 — —
Masqu s 0 0
mask 1999[5 1999[ 0
es 0] 51]

The
Febr
spiked Febru
uary
Nemesi halberd Euripides[2 ary 5, 4
NEM 6] 14, 143 55 44 — — —
s wielded 2000[5 [ 4
2] 2000
by 53]
Crovax
June
May
Prophe Three Dionysus[2 5, 4
PCY 6] 27, 143 55 44 — — —
cy crystals 2000[ 4
2000 54]

Invasion Block
The Septe Octo
symbol mber ber 1
Invasio 11 2
of the INV Beijing[26]
23, 2, 350 110 1 — —
n 0 0
Coalition 2000[4 2000[ 0
[XII] 3] 55]

Febr
Janua
A uary
Planes Hong ry 27, 4
swirling PLS 5, 143 55 44 — — —
hift Kong[26] 2001[5 [ 4
portal 6] 2001
56]
 Expansi Size[3][5]
Expa Expa Developm
on Pre- Rele
nsion nsion ent My Ba
Set symbol releas ase Unco R Ot
symb code[4 codename[ Total Com
mmo ar
thic sic
he
descripti ][3] 26] e date date Cards mon Ra La
ol n e r
on[3] re nd

The May
[2 June
Apocal mask of Shanghai 26, 4
APC 6] 4, 143 55 44 — — —
ypse Yawgmo 2001[5 4
7] 2001
th
Odyssey Block
The Septe
Octo
Mirari mber 1
Odysse ber 11 2
on a ODY Argon[26] 22, 350 110 1 — —
y 1, 0 0
twisted 2001[4 0
3] 2001
stand
Febr
Janua
An uary
Torme ry 26, 4
ouroboro TOR Boron[26] 4, 143 55 44 — — —
nt 2002[5 4
s 8] 2002[
58]

May
A May
Judgm 27, 4
balancin JUD Carbon[26] 18, 143 55 44 — — —
ent 2002[ 4
g scale 2002 59]

Onslaught Block
A four- Septe Octo
legged mber ber 1
Onslau 11 2
"morph"[ ONS Manny[26] 28, 7, 350 110 1 — —
ght XIII] 0 0
2002[6 2002 [
0
0] 60]
creature
Two
Janua Febr
crossed
Legion ry 25, uary 4
spears LGN Moe[26] 145 55 45 — — —
s 2003[6 3, 5
behind a 1]
2003
shield
May May
A
Scourg 17, 26, 4
dragon SCG Jack[26] 143 55 44 — — —
e 2003[6 2003[ 4
mask 2] 62]

Mirrodin Block
 Expansi Size[3][5]
Expa Expa Developm
on Pre- Rele
nsion nsion ent My Ba
Set symbol releas ase Unco R Ot
symb code[4 codename[ Total Com
mmo ar
thic sic
he
descripti ][3] 26] e date date Cards mon Ra La
ol n e r
on[3] re nd

Septe Octo
The mber ber
Mirrod 11 8 2
Sword of MRD Bacon[26] 20, 3, 306 88 — —
in 0 8 0
Kaldra 2003[6 2003[
3] 63]

Febr
Janua
The uary
Darkst ry 24, 5
shield of DST Lettuce[26] 6, 165 55 55 — — —
eel 2004[6 5
Kaldra 4] 2004[
64]

May June
The
Fifth 22, 4, 5
helm of 5DN Tomato[26] 165 55 55 — — —
Dawn 2004[6 2004[ 5
Kaldra 5] 66]

Kamigawa Block
Septe Octo
Champ
mber ber
ions of A torii 11 88[X 8 2
CHK Earth[26] 18, 1, 306 IV] — —
Kamig gate 0 8 0
2004[6 2004 [
awa 7] 68]

Febr
Betray Janua
uary
ers of A ry 22, 5
BOK Wind[26] 4, 165 55 55 — — —
Kamig shuriken 2005[6 [ 5
9] 2005
awa 68]

Savior A May June

s of Japanese 21, 3, 5
SOK Fire[26] 165 55 55 — — —
Kamig -style 2005[7 2005[ 5
0] 68]
awa lantern
Ravnica Block
A Septe Octo
Ravnic
Gothic- mber ber
a: City 11 8 2
style RAV Control[71] 24, 7, 306 88 — —
of 0 8 0
church 2005[7 2005[
Guilds 2] 73]
tower
 Expansi Size[3][5]
Expa Expa Developm
on Pre- Rele
nsion nsion ent My Ba
Set symbol releas ase Unco R Ot
symb code[4 codename[ Total Com
mmo ar
thic sic
he
descripti ][3] 26] e date date Cards mon Ra La
ol n e r
on[3] re nd

Febr
The seal Janua
uary
Guildp of the ry 21, 5
GPT Alt[71] [7 3, 165 55 55 — — —
act Guildpac 2006 [ 5
4] 2006
t 74]

The
broken April May
Dissen seal of 22, 5, 6
DIS Delete[71] 180 60 60 — — —
sion the 2006[7 2006[ 0
5] 75]
Guildpac
t
Coldsnap
A July July
Coldsn hanging 8, 21, 4
CSP Splat [26]
155 60 55 — — —
ap[IX] trio of 2006[7 2006[ 0
6] 77]
icicles
Time Spiral Block
Septe Octo
An mber ber 1
Time TSP/T 422[ 12 8 2
hourglas Snap[71] 23, 6, XV] 80 — 2
Spiral SB[XV] 1 0 0
s 2006[7 2006[ 1
8] 78]

Stylized Febr
Janua
letters uary
Planar ry 20, 165[ 5
"PC" / PLC Crackle[71] [7 2, XV] 60 55 — — —
Chaos 2007 0
Möbius 9] 2007[
79]
strip
An eye
April May
gazing
Future 21, 4, 180[ 6
through FUT Pop[71] [8 [ XV] 60 60 — — —
Sight 2007 2007 0
a rift 0] 80]
portal
Lorwyn Block
Elvish Septe Octo
Lorwy 12 8 2
"leaf LRW Peanut[81] mber ber 301 80 — —
n 1 0 0
blade" 29, 12,
 Expansi Size[3][5]
Expa Expa Developm
on Pre- Rele
nsion nsion ent My Ba
Set symbol releas ase Unco R Ot
symb code[4 codename[ Total Com
mmo ar
thic sic
he
descripti ][3] 26] e date date Cards mon Ra La
ol n e r
on[3] re nd

with a 2007[8 2007[

2] 82]
serrated
edge
Febr
Janua
uary
Morni Sunrise / ry 19, 5
MOR Butter[81] 1, 150 60 40 — — —
ngtide A flame 2008[8 [ 0
3] 2008
83]

Shadowmoor Block[84]
Crown April May
Shado of the 19, 2, 12 8 2
SHM Jelly[81] 301 80 — —
wmoor Reaper 2008 2008[
[8
1 0 0
5] 85]
King
July July
[8
Eventi Eclipsed Doughnut 12, 25, 6
EVE 4] 180 60 60 — — —
de sun 2008[8 2008[ 0
6] 86]

Alara Block
Septe Octo
Shards mber ber
5-part 10 5 2
of ALA Rock[87] 27, 3, 249 60 15 —
gem 1 3 0
Alara 2008[8 2008[
8] 89]

Febr
Janua
uary
Conflu 5-shard ry 31, 3
CON Paper[87] [9 6, 145 60 40 10 — —
x shield 2009 [ 5
0] 2009
90]

April April
5-
Alara 25, 30, 3
branched ARB Scissors[87] 145 60 40 10 — —
Reborn 2009 2009[
[9
5
gem 1] 91]

Zendikar Block
Zendik A Septe Octo 10 5 2
ZEN Live[87] 249 60 15 —
ar hedron mber ber 1 3 0
 Expansi Size[3][5]
Expa Expa Developm
on Pre- Rele
nsion nsion ent My Ba
Set symbol releas ase Unco R Ot
symb code[4 codename[ Total Com
mmo ar
thic sic
he
descripti ][3] 26] e date date Cards mon Ra La
ol n e r
on[3] re nd

26, 2,
2009 2009[
[9
2] 92]

Febr
Janua
A uary
World ry 30, 3
hedron WWK Long[87] 5, 145 60 40 10 — —
wake 2010[9 [ 5
opening 3] 2010
93]

April April
Rise of A
17, 23, 10 5 2
the hedron ROE Prosper[87] 248 60 15 —
2010[9 2010[ 0 3 0
Eldrazi opened 4] 94]

Scars of Mirrodin Block

Encircle
d Septe Octo
Scars
hexplate mber ber
of 10 5 2
with a SOM Lights[95] 25, 1, 249 60 15 —
Mirrod 1 3 0
smaller 2010[9 2010 [
in 6] 96]
hex cut
out
Mirran/P Febr
Mirrod Janua
hyrexian uary
in ry 29, 3 1
symbols MBS Camera[95] 4, 155 60 40 10 —
Besieg 2011[9 [ 5 0
combine 7] 2011
ed 97]
d
The
letter May May
New
Phi, the 7, 13, 3 1
Phyrex NPH Action[95] 175 60 60 10 —
symbol 2011[9 2011[ 5 0
ia 8][99] 98][99]
of
Phyrexia
Innistrad Block
Septe Septe
Two
mber mber
Innistr stylized ISD[10 264[ 10 5 1
1] Shake[95] 24, 30, XXVII] 67 16 —
ad outward 7 9 5
2011[1 2011[
facing 02] 102]
 Expansi Size[3][5]
Expa Expa Developm
on Pre- Rele
nsion nsion ent My Ba
Set symbol releas ase Unco R Ot
symb code[4 codename[ Total Com
mmo ar
thic sic
he
descripti ][3] 26] e date date Cards mon Ra La
ol n e r
on[3] re nd

herons[10
0]

Innistrad Febr
Janua
Dark symbol uary
DKA[ ry 28, 158[ 64 3
Ascens turned 104] Rattle[95] [1 3, XXVII] 44 12 — —
2012 8
ion inward[10 04] 2012[
3] 104]

April May
Avacyn The
AVR[ 28, 4, 10 5 1
Restor collar of 105] Roll[95] 244 60 15 —
2012 2012[
[1
1 3 5
ed Avacyn 05] 105]

Return to Ravnica Block

Symbol Septe Octo
Return
of the mber ber
to RTR[1 Hook[87][107 10 5 2
five 06] ] 29, 5, 274 80 15 —
Ravnic 1 3 5
guilds in 2012[1 2012[
a 06] 106]
set
Febr
Janua
uary
Gatecr Pointed GTC[1 ry 26, 10 5
08] Line[87][107] 1, 249 80 15 — —
ash arch 2013[1 [ 1 3
08] 2013
108]

Return
to
Ravnica
April May
Drago and 156[
DGM[ Sinker[87][1 27, 3, 3
n's Gatecras 109] 07]
XXVIII 70 40 11 — —
2013[1 2013[ ] 5
Maze h 09] 109]
symbols
combine
d[109]
Theros Block
Septe Septe
mber mber
Column THS[1 Friends[87][ 10 5 2
Theros 10] 107] 21, 27, 249 60 15 —
and arcs 1 3 0
2013[1 2013[
10] 110]
 Expansi Size[3][5]
Expa Expa Developm
on Pre- Rele
nsion nsion ent My Ba
Set symbol releas ase Unco R Ot
symb code[4 codename[ Total Com
mmo ar
thic sic
he
descripti ][3] 26] e date date Cards mon Ra La
ol n e r
on[3] re nd

Febr
Febru
Born uary
Horns of BNG[ Romans[87] ary 1, 3
of the 111] [107] [1 7, 165 60 60 10 — —
Xenagos 2014 [ 5
Gods 11] 2014
111]

Horns of April May

Journe
Xenagos JOU[1 Countryme 26, 2, 3
y into 12] [87][107] 165 60 60 10 — —
and n 2014 2014[
[1
5
Nyx 13] 112]
column
Khans of Tarkir Block
Two
Septe Septe
crossed
Khans mber mber
scimitars KTK[1 10 5 2
of 14] Huey[115] 20, 26, 269 80 15 —
in front 1 3 0
Tarkir 2014[1 2014[
of a 14] 114]
shield
Janu
Janua
Fate Two ary
FRF[11 ry 17, 185[ 3 1
Reforg mirrored 6] Dewey[115] [1 23, XXIX] 70 60 10 —
2015 [ 5 0
ed fangs 16] 2015
116]

A shield
in the Marc Marc
Drago
shape of DTK[1 h 21, h 27, 10 5 1
ns of 17] Louie[115] 264 80 15 —
a 2015[1 2015[ 1 3 5
Tarkir 17] 117]
dragon's
face