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Throughout ''[[Magic]]''<nowiki/>'s history, [[expansion]] [[set]]s have been given codenames when under [[design]], well before a set's theme, identity, and lore have been solidified. This allows expansion developers and designers to work ahead further than any other section in the company, and still have terminology to refer to the set as a whole.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/codename-game-2002-08-12-0|Codename of the Game|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 12, 2002}}</ref>
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Throughout ''[[Magic]]''<nowiki/>'s history, [[expansion]] [[set]]s have been given '''codenames''' when under [[design]], well before a set's theme, identity, and lore have been solidified. This allows expansion developers and designers to work ahead further than any other section in the company, and still have terminology to refer to the set as a whole.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/codename-game-2002-08-12-0|Codename of the Game|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 12, 2002}}</ref>
   
 
==History==
  
==History==
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The [[Masques block]] was the first instance of all the codenames of the sets in a block being connected; the [[Onslaught block]] was the first to have the codenames be assigned in a order, typically referencing something in popular culture. When it was announced there would be a change in the number of sets per block from three to two starting with "Blood", the codenames that had already been released for the unannounced sets became decoupled from their previous block.<ref>{{DailyRef|mm/metamorphosis|Metamorphosis|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 25, 2014}}</ref>
  
The [[Masques block]] was the first instance of all the codenames of the sets in a block being connected; the [[Onslaught block]] was the first to have the codenames be assigned in a order, typically referencing something in popular culture. When it was announced there would be a change in the number of sets per block from three to two starting with "Blood", the codenames that had already been released for the unannounced sets became decoupled from their previous block.<ref>{{DailyRef|mm/metamorphosis|Metamorphosis|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 25, 2014}}</ref>
 
 
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To make things easier internally, a new codename naming system was introduced in 2017. It follows a single theme (currently sports) alphabetically, A through Z.<ref name="A through Z">{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/170252475778/are-codenames-gonna-skip-letters-or-are-we-going|title=Are codenames gonna skip letters?|January 28, 2018}}</ref> That way everyone at [[Wizards of the Coast]] will know what comes before and after what.<ref name="Archery"/>
 +
To make things easier internally, a new codename naming system was introduced in 2017. It follows a single theme (currently sports) alphabetically.<ref name="A through Z">{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/170252475778/are-codenames-gonna-skip-letters-or-are-we-going|title=Are codenames gonna skip letters?|January 28, 2018}}</ref> That way everyone at [[Wizards of the Coast]] will know what comes before and after what.<ref name="Archery"/>
   
 
===Codenames for expansions===
  
===Codenames for expansions===
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||''[[Weatherlight]]''|| "Mochalatte" || A favorite type of coffee of a friend of the designers.
  
||''[[Weatherlight]]''|| "Mochalatte" || A favorite type of coffee of a friend of the designers.
 
|-
  
|-
−
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Tempest]]''|| "Bogavhati" || A different spelling of [[Wikipedia:Bhogavati|Bhogavati]], a world from Indian mythology. This codename was used as the namesake of [[Vhati il-Dal]].
 +
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Tempest]]''|| "Bogavhati" || A "gross misspelling" of [[Wikipedia:Bhogavati|Bhogavati]], a place in Indian mythology said to be inhabited by poisonous snakes, about the set's [[Poison counter|poison]] theme that would later be dropped from the set in development. This codename would be used as the namesake of [[Vhati il-Dal]].<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/something-wicked-way-comes-part-1-2010-09-06|Something Wicked This Way Comes, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|2010-09-06}}</ref><ref name="Trivial Pursuit">{{DailyRef|making-magic/trivial-pursuit-whats-in-a-name|Trivial Pursuit: What's in a Name?|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 9, 2023}}</ref>
 
|-
  
|-
−
||''[[Stronghold]]''|| "Rachimulot" || Reference to a card in the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[Wikipedia:Spellfire|Spellfire CCG]].
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||''[[Stronghold]]''|| "Rachimulot" || Reference to the card "Richemulot" in the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[Wikipedia:Spellfire|Spellfire CCG]].
 
|-
  
|-
 
||''[[Exodus]]''|| "Gorgonzola" || Favorite cheese of [[Bill Rose]].
  
||''[[Exodus]]''|| "Gorgonzola" || Favorite cheese of [[Bill Rose]].
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||''[[Urza's Destiny]]''|| "Chimichanga" ||
 
||''[[Urza's Destiny]]''|| "Chimichanga" ||
 
|-
  
|-
−
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Mercadian Masques]]''|| "Archimedes" || rowspan="3" valign="middle" | All three codenames were mostly chosen for their difficulty in spelling. They are all Ancient Greek Scientists.
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| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Mercadian Masques]]''|| "Archimedes" || rowspan="3" valign="middle" | All three codenames were mostly chosen for their difficulty in spelling. They are all Ancient Greek scientists.
 
|-
  
|-
 
||''[[Nemesis]]''|| "Euripides"
  
||''[[Nemesis]]''|| "Euripides"
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||''[[Apocalypse]]''|| "Shanghai"
  
||''[[Apocalypse]]''|| "Shanghai"
 
|-
  
|-
−
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Odyssey]]''|| "Argon" || rowspan="3" valign="middle" | Codenames chosen for the ABC order and ease of spelling in contrast to previous codenames.
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| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Odyssey]]''|| "Argon" || rowspan="3" valign="middle" | Chemical elements. Codenames chosen for the ABC order and ease of spelling in contrast to previous codenames.
 
|-
  
|-
 
||''[[Torment]]''|| "Boron"
  
||''[[Torment]]''|| "Boron"
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||''[[Dissension]]''|| "Delete"
  
||''[[Dissension]]''|| "Delete"
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Coldsnap]]''|| "Splat"<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-july-2006-2006-07-03|Ask Wizards - July, 2006|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|July, 2006}}</ref>|| Reference to a Macintosh sound file.
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| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Coldsnap]]''|| "Splat"<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-july-2006-2006-07-03|Ask Wizards - July, 2006|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|July, 2006}}</ref>||
 
|-
  
|-
 
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Time Spiral]]''|| "Snap" || rowspan="3" valign="middle" |[[Wikipedia:Rice Krispies|Rice Krispies]] cereal mascots and slogan from advertising.
  
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Time Spiral]]''|| "Snap" || rowspan="3" valign="middle" |[[Wikipedia:Rice Krispies|Rice Krispies]] cereal mascots and slogan from advertising.
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||''[[Dragon's Maze]]''|| "Sinker"
  
||''[[Dragon's Maze]]''|| "Sinker"
 
|-
  
|-
−
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Theros]]''|| "Friends" || rowspan="3" valign="middle" | Oft-quoted excerpt from [[Wikipedia:Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears|''Julius Ceasar'']] by William Shakespeare.
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| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Theros]]''|| "Friends" || rowspan="3" valign="middle" | Oft-quoted excerpt from [[Wikipedia:Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears|''Julius Caesar'']] by William Shakespeare.
 
|-
  
|-
 
||''[[Born of the Gods]]''|| "Romans"
  
||''[[Born of the Gods]]''|| "Romans"
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||''[[Journey into Nyx]]''|| "Countrymen"
  
||''[[Journey into Nyx]]''|| "Countrymen"
 
|-
  
|-
−
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Khans of Tarkir]]''|| "Huey" || rowspan="3" valign="middle" | Popular [[Wikipedia:Huey, Dewey, and Louie|Disney characters]] of the same name.
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| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Khans of Tarkir]]''|| "Huey" || rowspan="3" valign="middle" | Popular [https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Huey,_Dewey,_and_Louie Disney characters] of the same name. Considered to be a bad choice by Wizards employees in retrospect because the right order of these names turned out too difficult to remember.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|0Sff1ZSHkL0|The Very Strange Art of Picking Magic Set Codenames!|channel=Good Morning Magic!|date=May 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/78884121492/whats-confusing-about-huey-dewey-louie-is|title=what's confusing about "Huey, Dewey, Louie"? Is it just the spelling?|2014-03-07}}</ref>
 
|-
  
|-
 
||''[[Fate Reforged]]''|| "Dewey"
  
||''[[Fate Reforged]]''|| "Dewey"
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| rowspan="2" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Amonkhet]]''|| "Barrel"
  
| rowspan="2" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Amonkhet]]''|| "Barrel"
 
|-
  
|-
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||''[[Hour of Devastation]]''|| "Laughs" || This used to be "Monkeys", with the "Barrel" overlap a reference to the "barrel of monkeys" idiom.<br>It was changed for an internal reason.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/119632317253/new-codenames|title=New Codenames|May 22, 2015}}</ref> Now referencing a "barrel of laughs", something or someone very funny.
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||''[[Hour of Devastation]]''|| "Laughs" || This used to be "Monkeys", with the "Barrel" overlapping a reference to the "barrel of monkeys" idiom.<br>It was changed for an internal reason.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/119632317253/new-codenames|title=New Codenames|May 22, 2015}}</ref> Now referencing a "barrel of laughs", something or someone very funny.
 
|-
  
|-
 
| rowspan="2" bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Ixalan]]''
  
| rowspan="2" bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Ixalan]]''
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|| "Ham" || rowspan="2" valign="middle" | A hearty breakfast. A product survey preceding the announcement of the name "Ixalan" also offered the names ''Atlazan'' and ''Conquest of Power''.<ref>{{DailyRef|daily-magic-update/update-2016-12-09|The December 9, 2016 Update|[[Blake Rasmussen]]|December 9, 2016}}</ref>
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|| "Ham" || rowspan="2" valign="middle" | A hearty breakfast. The food theme for the following sets used the order of meals, so people would know the order of the blocks as well.
 
|-
  
|-
 
||''[[Rivals of Ixalan]]''|| "Eggs"
  
||''[[Rivals of Ixalan]]''|| "Eggs"
 
|-
  
|-
−
| rowspan="2" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Dominaria]]''|| "Soup" || rowspan="2" valign="middle" | A light lunch. Codenames released before the change to the [[Block#Three-and-One Model|Three-and-One Model]]. Later Dominaria became its own entity. The second set was replaced by ''[[Core Set 2019]]''.
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| rowspan="2" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Dominaria]]''|| "Soup" || rowspan="2" valign="middle" | A light lunch. Codenames released before the change to the [[Block#Three-and-One Model|Three-and-One Model]]. Later Dominaria became its entity. The second set was replaced by ''[[Core Set 2019]]''.
 
|-
  
|-
 
|| Cancelled || "Salad"
  
|| Cancelled || "Salad"
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|| Cancelled || "Cookies"
  
|| Cancelled || "Cookies"
 
|}
  
|}
  +
====Sports====
−  
−
From ''Throne of Eldraine'' forward alphabetical themes are used, currently sports.<ref name="A through Z" /><ref name="Archery">{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/160142121793/new-codenames|title= New Codenames|April 30, 2017}}</ref>
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From ''Throne of Eldraine'' forward alphabetical themes are used, currently sports.<ref name="Archery">{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/160142121793/new-codenames|title= New Codenames|April 30, 2017}}</ref> Although [[Mark Rosewater]] initially said he had a list of A through Z<ref name="A through Z" />. He later stated that sports V through Z were too difficult to name, and probably would change to another list after U;<ref name="Codenames 2">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/650665149802430464/drive-to-work-832-codenames-part-2|title=Codenames, Part 2|May 8, 2021}}</ref> Later, however, it was decided to just skip X rather than stopping after U<ref name="Concurrency"/><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/694353742130266112|title=What farthest letter in the alphabet in the new naming system are you at currently?|september 03, 2022}}</ref>.
 
{| class="wikitable"
  
{| class="wikitable"
−
! !! Expansion !! Codename
 +
! !! Expansion !! Codename || Notes
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Throne of Eldraine]]''|| "Archery"<ref name="Where">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/174888234208/where-can-we-find-a-list-of-all-of-the-upcoming|title=Where can we find a list of all of the upcoming sets' Codenames?|June 14, 2018}}</ref>
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| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Throne of Eldraine]]''|| "Archery"<ref name="Where">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/174888234208/where-can-we-find-a-list-of-all-of-the-upcoming|title=Where can we find a list of all of the upcoming sets' Codenames?|June 14, 2018}}</ref> ||
 
|-
  
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Theros Beyond Death]]''|| "Baseball"<ref name="Where"/> || Originally planned to be the second set in the Eldraine block.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/dominaria-united-states-design-part-1-2022-08-29|Dominaria United States of Design, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 29, 2022}}</ref><br>It also used to be codenamed "Cricket", but it got moved up a slot and consequently became "Baseball".<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/742865552396124160|title=If y'all decide to change a set's release order, does it keep its codename?|February 20, 2024}}</ref>
⚫
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Theros Beyond Death]]''|| "Baseball"<ref name="Where"/>
  
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]''|| "Cricket"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/168099619663/do-we-know-the-codename-of-the-set-you-worked-on|title=Do we know the codename of the set you worked on today?|December 1, 2017}}</ref>
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| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]''|| "Cricket"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/168099619663/do-we-know-the-codename-of-the-set-you-worked-on|title=Do we know the codename of the set you worked on today?|December 1, 2017}}</ref> ||
 
|-
  
|-
 
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Zendikar Rising]]''|| "Diving"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/170748478168/for-frame-of-reference-the-stuff-you-work-on-next|title=For frame of reference, the stuff you work on next...|February 10, 2018}}</ref>
  
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Zendikar Rising]]''|| "Diving"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/170748478168/for-frame-of-reference-the-stuff-you-work-on-next|title=For frame of reference, the stuff you work on next...|February 10, 2018}}</ref>
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Kaldheim]]''|| "Equestrian"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/173421903688/mark-i-turn-30-today-i-want-something-juicy|title=Mark. I turn 30 today. I want something juicy...|April 29, 2018}}</ref>
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| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Kaldheim]]''|| "Equestrian"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/173421903688/mark-i-turn-30-today-i-want-something-juicy|title=Mark. I turn 30 today. I want something juicy...|April 29, 2018}}</ref> ||
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Strixhaven: School of Mages]]''|| "Fencing"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/176505880798/you-havent-been-answering-as-much-which-means|title=Could you tell us about something you made recently but without spoiling it to tease us all?|August 1, 2018}}</ref>
 +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Strixhaven: School of Mages]]''|| "Fencing"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/176505880798/you-havent-been-answering-as-much-which-means|title=Could you tell us about something you made recently but without spoiling it to tease us all?|August 1, 2018}}</ref> ||
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[Innistrad: Werewolves]]''|| "Golf"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/182772608658/lets-say-i-start-work-today-designing-magic-what|title=Let’s say I start work today designing Magic. What set would I be working on?|February 12, 2019}}</ref>
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| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[Innistrad: Midnight Hunt]]''|| "Golf"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/182772608658/lets-say-i-start-work-today-designing-magic-what|title=Let’s say I start work today designing Magic. What set would I be working on?|February 12, 2019}}</ref> || Forming a pair with ''[[Innistrad: Crimson Vow]]'' ("Clubs") which deviates from the normal alphabetical sports naming convention,<br>because it was conceived after the following codenames were already established.<ref name="Pair">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/648826497241694208/hi-mark-what-were-the-codenames-for-the||April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Codenames 2"/>
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || Untitled Spring 2022 Set || "Hockey"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/185013557253/what-stage-are-you-at-with-hockey|title=What stage are you at with Hockey?|May 20, 2019}}</ref>
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| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || ''[[Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty]]'' || "Hockey"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/185013557253/what-stage-are-you-at-with-hockey|title=What stage are you at with Hockey?|May 20, 2019}}</ref> || Originally planned to be "Handball".<ref name="Codenames 2"/>
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || Untitled Summer 2022 Set || "Ice Skating"<ref>{{TwitterRef|Maro254|1177303205950021637|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|title=We had a lot of fun making this blackboard. |date=September 26, 2019}}</ref>
 +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[Streets of New Capenna]]'' || "Ice Skating"<ref>{{TwitterRef|Maro254|1177303205950021637|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|title=We had a lot of fun making this blackboard. |date=September 26, 2019}}</ref> || Originally planned to be "Ice Hockey".<ref name="Codenames 2"/>
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||Untitled Fall 2022 Set|| "Judo"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/190673010938/how-many-more-sets-have-their-sport-code-names|title=How many more sets have their sport code names already?|February 5, 2020}}</ref>
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| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || ''[[Dominaria United]]'' || "Judo"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/190673010938/how-many-more-sets-have-their-sport-code-names|title=How many more sets have their sport code names already?|February 5, 2020}}</ref>||
 
|-
  
|-
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| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || Untitled Winter 2023 Set || "Kayaking"<ref>{{DriveRef|drivetowork745_matttabak_pjwj99Ed.mp3|745|Matt Tabak|date=June 5, 2020}}</ref>
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| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[The Brothers' War]]'' || "Kayaking"<ref>{{DriveRef|drivetowork745_matttabak_pjwj99Ed.mp3|745|Matt Tabak|date=June 5, 2020}}</ref>||
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || Untitled Spring 2023 Set || "Lacrosse"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/627644380344467456/if-you-are-currently-working-or-thinking-about-set|title=I'm working on L - Lacrosse|August 27, 2020}}</ref>
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| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || ''[[Phyrexia: All Will Be One]]'' || "Lacrosse"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/627644380344467456/if-you-are-currently-working-or-thinking-about-set|title=I'm working on L - Lacrosse|August 27, 2020}}</ref>||
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || Untitled Summer 2023 Set|| "Marathon"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/648824539317469184/archery-baseball-cricket-diving-equestrian|April 18, 2021}}</ref>
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| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[March of the Machine]]'' || "Marathon"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/648824539317469184/archery-baseball-cricket-diving-equestrian|April 18, 2021}}</ref>||Followed by "Marathon: Epilogue" (''[[The Aftermath]]'')<ref name="Epilogue"/>
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || Untitled Fall 2023 Set || "Netball"<ref name="April 18, 2021">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/648788046599356416/how-far-ahead-are-you-working-on-projects-compared|April 18, 2021}}</ref>
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| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || ''[[Wilds of Eldraine]]'' || "Netball"<ref name="April 18, 2021">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/648788046599356416/how-far-ahead-are-you-working-on-projects-compared|April 18, 2021}}</ref>||
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || Untitled Winter 2023 Set || "Offroading"<ref name="April 18, 2021"/>
 +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[The Lost Caverns of Ixalan]]'' || "Offroading"<ref name="April 18, 2021"/>||
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || ''[[Murders at Karlov Manor]]'' || "Polo"<ref name="August 9, 2021">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/659053870443577344/when-can-we-learn-the-codename-for-the-set-after|August 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/659081681536417792/when-will-polo-be-release-to-the-masses-2-3-years|August 9, 2021}}</ref>||
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[Outlaws of Thunder Junction]]'' || "Quilting"<ref name="October 24, 2021">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/665961625698926592/when-can-we-learn-the-codename-for-the-q-set|October 24, 2021}}</ref>|| Originally planned to be "Quoits".<ref name="October 24, 2021"/><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/679660425597616128/wait-quilting-is-a-sport|title=Wait. Quilting is a sport?|March 24, 2022}}</ref>
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|-
  +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || ''[[Bloomburrow]]''|| "Rugby"<ref name="January 15, 2022">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/673493245559504896/yes-we-dont-give-timetables-for-future-events|January 15, 2022}}</ref>||
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[Duskmourn: House of Horror]]''|| "Swimming"<ref name="March 24, 2022">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/679654033782374400/whats-something-you-worked-on-today-that-you-can|March 24, 2022}}</ref>||
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || Untitled Winter 2025 || "Tennis"<ref name="March 24, 2022"/>||[[Death Race]] set across three planes, two of which are returning for the first time and one of which is being promoted from a background plane.
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || Untitled Spring 2025 || "Ultimate"<ref name="July 22, 2022">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/690493806384234496/hi-mark-do-you-already-have-a-new-codename-list|July 22, 2022}}</ref>|| [[Return to Tarkir]].
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || Untitled Summer 2025 || "Volleyball"<ref name="Concurrency">{{DriveRef||964|Concurrency|date=September 2, 2022}}</ref>||Set in outer space using a [[Space Opera]] theme.
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || Untitled Fall 2025 || "Wrestling"<ref name="October 11, 2022">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/697829504020807680/how-far-is-wizard-working-on-standard-now-have|October 11, 2022}}</ref>||[[Return to Lorwyn]].
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || Untitled Winter 2026 Set || "Yachting"<ref>{{YouTubeRef|N6Ox3YHSYRE|Picture That: 30 Years in Pictures with Mark Rosewater - Magic30|channel=[[Magic: The Gathering]]|date=November 4, 2022}}</ref>||[[Return to Arcavios]].
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || Untitled Spring 2026 Set || "Ziplining"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/714603248735174656/hi-mark-what-set-have-you-been-spending-the|title=Hi Mark, what set have you been spending the...|April 14, 2023}}</ref>|| The cap stone finale set in the ''[[Metronome]]'' story arc.
  +
|}
  +
  +
====Cities====
  +
With the completion of the sports naming convention, set codenames will restart at "A" using a new theme based on cities around the world.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/709797181022945280|title=What is the earliest set that hasn’t been locked in?|February 20, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Cities">{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/733173103387131904/hi-mark-im-curious-which-magic-set-design-are|title=Hi Mark, I'm curious, which Magic set design are...|November 5, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/733364855017472000|title=Amsterdam and Berlin are also capital cities. Is this a coincidence?|November 7, 2023}}</ref>
  +
{| class="wikitable"
  +
! !! Expansion !! Codename || Notes
  +
|-
  ⚫
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || Untitled Summer 2026 Set || "Amsterdam"<ref name="Cities" /> ||
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || Untitled Fall 2026 Set || "Berlin"<ref name="Cities" /> ||
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || Untitled Winter 2027 Set || "Cairo"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/742449444442734592/hi-mark-im-a-major-vorthos-while-i-do-also-love|title=Hi Mark, I'm a major vorthos. While I do also love...|February 15, 2024}}</ref>||
 
|}
  
|}
   
 
===Codenames for other sets===
  
===Codenames for other sets===
−
Some [[Core Set]]s, Starter level sets and [[Supplemental set]]s also had codenames.
 +
Some [[Core Set]]s, Starter level sets, [[Supplemental set]]s, and extra expansions also had codenames.
 
{| class="wikitable"
  
{| class="wikitable"
 
|+
  
|+
 
! !! Set !! Codename !! Notes
  
! !! Set !! Codename !! Notes
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Summer Magic]]''|| "Edgar" || A never released edition of ''[[Revised]]''.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/magic-history-time-2009-06-01|A Magic History of Time|[[Michael G. Ryan]]|June 01, 2009}}</ref>
 +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Summer Magic]]''|| "Edgar" || A never released edition of ''[[Revised]]''.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/magic-history-time-2009-06-01|A Magic History of Time|[[Michael G. Ryan]]|June 01, 2009}}</ref> It used the letter E, because<br>it was originally planned to be the fifth set (after ''Alpha'', ''Beta'', ''Unlimited'' and ''Revised'').<ref name="Codenames 2"/>
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Fourth Edition]]''|| "Francesca" || Also shortened as "Franny".<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-may-2007-2007-05-01|Ask Wizards - May, 2008|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|May, 2007}}</ref>
 +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Fourth Edition]]''|| "Francesca" || Also shortened as "Franny".<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-may-2007-2007-05-01|Ask Wizards - May, 2008|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|May, 2007}}</ref> It used the letter F because it came after E(dgar).<ref name="Codenames 2"/>
 
|-
  
|-
 
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Vanguard]]''|| "Commando" || Alluding to the concept of heroes joining the battle (the idea for the set at the time).<ref>[[Mark Rosewater]], ''Top 10 Expansion Codenames'', [[The Duelist]] #23 (March, 1998)</ref>
  
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Vanguard]]''|| "Commando" || Alluding to the concept of heroes joining the battle (the idea for the set at the time).<ref>[[Mark Rosewater]], ''Top 10 Expansion Codenames'', [[The Duelist]] #23 (March, 1998)</ref>
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Portal]]''|| "Harvey" || After the invisible rabbit in the [[Wikipedia:Harvey (play)|famous play and movie]].
 +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Portal]]''|| "Harvey" || Because nobody knew it existed, it was named after an invisible rabbit in a [[Wikipedia:Harvey (play)|famous play and movie]].<ref name="Codenames 2"/>
 
|-
  
|-
 
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Planechase]]''|| "Hopscotch"<ref name="Match">{{TwitterRef|GavinVerhey|1253044458255351813|author=[[Gavin Verhey]]|title=Can you match these 12 Magic products correctly with the codename?|date=April 22, 2020}}</ref> || A children's game in which each child by turn hops into and over squares marked on the ground.
  
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Planechase]]''|| "Hopscotch"<ref name="Match">{{TwitterRef|GavinVerhey|1253044458255351813|author=[[Gavin Verhey]]|title=Can you match these 12 Magic products correctly with the codename?|date=April 22, 2020}}</ref> || A children's game in which each child by turn hops into and over squares marked on the ground.
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Commander]]''|| "Bedlam" <ref name="Match"/>|| A scene of uproar and confusion.
 +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Commander (2011)|Commander]]''|| "Bedlam" <ref name="Match"/>|| A scene of uproar and confusion.
 
|-
  
|-
 
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia]]''|| "Mac 'n' Cheese"<ref>{{YouTubeRef|37gRw8PWf5Y|Five Strange Magic Oddities You've Never Seen|channel=Good Morning Magic|date=July 8, 2020}}</ref> || A dish of cooked macaroni pasta and a cheese sauce.
  
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia]]''|| "Mac 'n' Cheese"<ref>{{YouTubeRef|37gRw8PWf5Y|Five Strange Magic Oddities You've Never Seen|channel=Good Morning Magic|date=July 8, 2020}}</ref> || A dish of cooked macaroni pasta and a cheese sauce.
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Modern Masters]]''|| "Picasso"<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/future-masters-2018-02-22|The Future of Masters|[[Gavin Verhey]]|February 22, 2018}}</ref>|| A [[Wikipedia:Pablo Picasso|Spanish painter and sculptor]].
 +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Modern Masters]]''|| "Picasso"<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/future-masters-2018-02-22|The Future of Masters|[[Gavin Verhey]]|February 22, 2018}}</ref>|| A [[Wikipedia:Pablo Picasso|Spanish painter and sculptor]]. Literally a Modern Master.
 
|-
  
|-
 
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Conspiracy]]''|| "Hydra"<ref name="Match"/>|| A [[Wikipedia:Hydra (comics)|fictional terrorist organization]] appearing in American comic books.
  
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Conspiracy]]''|| "Hydra"<ref name="Match"/>|| A [[Wikipedia:Hydra (comics)|fictional terrorist organization]] appearing in American comic books.
Line 234: Line 266:
 
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Battlebond]]''|| "Slingshot"<ref name="New Challenger">{{DailyRef|card-preview/new-challenger-approaches-2018-05-21|A New Challenger Apporaches|[[Gavin Verhey]]|May 21, 2018}}</ref> || The effect of the gravitational pull of a celestial object in accelerating and changing the course of another object.
 
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Battlebond]]''|| "Slingshot"<ref name="New Challenger">{{DailyRef|card-preview/new-challenger-approaches-2018-05-21|A New Challenger Apporaches|[[Gavin Verhey]]|May 21, 2018}}</ref> || The effect of the gravitational pull of a celestial object in accelerating and changing the course of another object.
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Modern Horizons]]''|| "Contemporary"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/183380463538/can-you-tell-us-now-what-was-the-modern-horizons|title=Can you tell us now what was the Modern Horizons set codename?|March 11, 2019}}</ref> || Something occurring at the same time.
 +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Modern Horizons]]''|| "Contemporary"<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/183380463538/can-you-tell-us-now-what-was-the-modern-horizons|title=Can you tell us now what was the Modern Horizons set codename?|March 11, 2019}}</ref> || A synonym for Modern.<ref name="Codenames 2"/>
 
|-
  
|-
 
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[Mystery Booster]]'' || "Whirlpool"<ref name="Unraveling">{{DailyRef|feature/unraveling-mystery-booster-2019-11-14|Unraveling the Mystery Booster|[[Gavin Verhey]]|November 14, 2019}}</ref> ||A quickly rotating mass of water.
 
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[Mystery Booster]]'' || "Whirlpool"<ref name="Unraveling">{{DailyRef|feature/unraveling-mystery-booster-2019-11-14|Unraveling the Mystery Booster|[[Gavin Verhey]]|November 14, 2019}}</ref> ||A quickly rotating mass of water.
Line 246: Line 278:
 
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[Time Spiral Remastered]]'' || "Project Cupcake"<ref name="Test">{{DailyRef|making-magic/test-time-spiral-remastered-2021-03-01|The Test of Time Spiral Remastered|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 1, 2021}}</ref> || A small cake with a decadent amount of frosting on top.
  
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[Time Spiral Remastered]]'' || "Project Cupcake"<ref name="Test">{{DailyRef|making-magic/test-time-spiral-remastered-2021-03-01|The Test of Time Spiral Remastered|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 1, 2021}}</ref> || A small cake with a decadent amount of frosting on top.
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || ''[[Innistrad: Crimson Vow]]'' || "Clubs" || Forming a pair with ''[[Innistrad: Midnight Hunt]]'' ("Golf")
+
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || ''[[Modern Horizons 2]] || "Decadent"<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/modern-approach-part-1-2021-05-24|A Modern Approach, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|May 24, 2021}}</ref> || Luxuriously self-indulgent.
 
|-
  
|-
−
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms]]'' || "Zebra" || An animal with a striped skin of black and white
 +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms]] || "Zebra"''<ref name="Pair"/> || An animal with a skin of contrasting black and white stripes (i.e. 2 IP's merging). Replaced ''Core Set 2022''.
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || ''[[Innistrad: Crimson Vow]]'' || "Clubs"<ref name="Pair"/> || Forming a [[Innistrad: Double Feature|pair]] with ''[[Innistrad: Midnight Hunt]]'' ("Golf")
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[Unfinity]]''|| "Umbrella"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/660905139031392256/late-to-it-but-huge-congrats-on-yet-another-unset|title=Late to it, but huge congrats on yet another Unset...|August 29, 2021}}</ref> ||A collapsible shade for protection.
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | ||''[[Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate]]''|| "Pentagon"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/679802592147193856/hi-mark-what-was-the-code-name-for-baldurs-gate|title=Hi Mark, what was the code name for Baldur's Gate?|March 26, 2022}}</ref> || A fortified structure.
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | ||''[[March of the Machine: The Aftermath]]'' || "Marathon Epilogue"<ref name="Epilogue">{{DailyRef|news/your-sneak-peek-double-masters-2022-dominaria-united-and-beyond-2022-05-12|Your Sneak Peek at ''Double Masters 2022'', ''Dominaria United'', and Beyond|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|May 12, 2022}}</ref> ||A [[Micro set|new product]] tied to the ''March of the Machine'' premier set.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/684170673688625152/for-the-next-magic-year-starting-from-dominaria|title=Here’s what I can say about Marathon Epilogue (and it’s not much)|May 13, 2022}}</ref>
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#FFFFFF" | || ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth]]'' || "Anvil"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/715895524265476096|title=Hi Mark, can you tell us the codenames of Commander Masters and Lord of the Rings?|April 28, 2023}}</ref> ||A heavy iron block, on which metal can be hammered and shaped. The plan for ''[[Universes Beyond]]'' was to use an alphabet codename system, tools A to Z, but this idea was later abandoned.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/716006408859025408|title=Can you share if there was any particular reason LOTR was code named Anvil?|April 30, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/716078459183661056|title=What would the Universes Beyond codename alphabetical theme have been if it stuck?|April 30, 2023}}</ref>
  +
|-
  +
| bgcolor="#DDDDDD" | || ''[[Commander Masters]]'' || "Actuary"<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/701468039825276928|title=I'm wondering if we know anything about the sets codenamed Actuary and Nutball?|November 20, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/701564394060038144|title=What's Actuary?|November 21, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/717803939776610304|title=Has the set codenamed “Actuary” been revealed yet?|May 19, 2023}}</ref> ||A person who compiles and analyses statistics and uses them to calculate insurance risks and premiums.
 
|}
  
|}
   
  +
As of August 2023, [[Universes Beyond]] sets are given codenames that are fruits.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/724829343534219264/hi-mark-what-was-the-codename-for-doctor-who|title=Hi Mark, what was the codename for Doctor Who?|August 5, 2023}}</ref>
⚫
=== Miscellaneous ===
  
  +
−
''Handlebar'' was used to refer to the "Bolas arc" of the story, running through ten sets from ''[[Kaladesh]]'' through ''[[War of the Spark]]''.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://twitter.com/EthanFleischer/status/1119273886439235584|title=This has been "Codename: Handlebar"|access-date=2019-04-20|date=April 20, 2019|author=[[Ethan Fleischer]]}}</ref>
  
  ⚫
===Miscellaneous===
  +
*''Power Lunch'', an 1995 product concept by [[Bill Rose]] that would have contained cards of a universally high power level, on par with <c>Ancestral Recall</c>, to enable epic battles between two players, or one player with a ''Power Lunch'' deck to take on multiple players.<ref name="From the Heart">{{WebRef|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125165136/https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/heart-2010-06-14|title=From the Heart|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|date=une 14, 2010|publisher=Magicthegathering.com}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/704361206702555136|title=Reading an article on the set “Power Lunch”|December 22, 2022}}</ref>
  +
*''Handlebar'' was used to refer to the "[[Bolas Arc]]" of the story, running through ten sets from ''[[Kaladesh]]'' through ''[[War of the Spark]]''.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://twitter.com/EthanFleischer/status/1119273886439235584|title=This has been "Codename: Handlebar"|access-date=2019-04-20|date=April 19, 2019|author=[[Ethan Fleischer]]}}</ref> This codename refers both to the handlebar mustache worn by stereotypical pulp movie serial villains,<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/bolas-arc-part-1-2019-10-28|title=The Bolas Arc, Part 1|access-date=2021-08-29|date=October 28, 2019|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]}}</ref> and to the shape of Bolas's horns.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://twitter.com/mtgaaron/status/1119353730019680256|title=Basically.|access-date=2021-08-29|date=April 19, 2019|author=[[Aaron Forsythe]]}}</ref>
  +
*''Parallax'' was used to refer to the [[Phyrexian Arc]], running from [[Throne of Eldraine]] through [[March of the Machine]].<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/making-magic/wilds-story-part-1|title=Wilds Story, Part 1||access-date=2023-08-15|date=August 15, 2023|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815212109/https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/making-magic/wilds-story-part-1|archivedate=August 15, 2023}}</ref>
  +
*''Metronome'' is a three-year story arc, containing the [[Omenpath Arc]], the [[Dragonstorm Arc]] and one other story arc.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|5wlBofOnmg4|Magic: The Gathering 30th Anniversary Panel at GenCon – A Recap of MTG's Past, Present & Future|channel=[[Magic: The Gathering]]|creator=Jess Lanzillo, Chris Kiritz, Athena Froehlich & [[Mark Rosewater]]|date=August 5, 2023}}</ref> It will run through twelve sets from ''[[Wilds of Eldraine]]'' through ''Ziplining''.
   
 
==References==
  
==References==

Latest revision as of 13:42, 28 February 2024

Throughout Magic's history, expansion sets have been given codenames when under design, well before a set's theme, identity, and lore have been solidified. This allows expansion developers and designers to work ahead further than any other section in the company, and still have terminology to refer to the set as a whole.[1]

History[ | ]

This practice was put into place starting with the Alliances expansion set; codenames for previous sets were simply the name of the set.[2] Codenames are chosen by the head designer, Mark Rosewater.[3] The codenames are designed to not have any connection to the mechanics of the set they refer to. They are selected before the designers even know what the set will be about.[4]

The Masques block was the first instance of all the codenames of the sets in a block being connected; the Onslaught block was the first to have the codenames be assigned in a order, typically referencing something in popular culture. When it was announced there would be a change in the number of sets per block from three to two starting with "Blood", the codenames that had already been released for the unannounced sets became decoupled from their previous block.[5]

To make things easier internally, a new codename naming system was introduced in 2017. It follows a single theme (currently sports) alphabetically.[6] That way everyone at Wizards of the Coast will know what comes before and after what.[7]

Codenames for expansions[ | ]

Expansion Codename Notes
Alliances "Quack" Reference to a Macintosh sound file.
Mirage "Sosumi" Reference to a Macintosh sound file of the same name. Initial codename was "Menagerie".
Visions "Mirage Jr." Thought of as Mirage's offspring. Real name was established very close to the start of development.
Weatherlight "Mochalatte" A favorite type of coffee of a friend of the designers.
Tempest "Bogavhati" A "gross misspelling" of Bhogavati, a place in Indian mythology said to be inhabited by poisonous snakes, about the set's poison theme that would later be dropped from the set in development. This codename would be used as the namesake of Vhati il-Dal.[8][9]
Stronghold "Rachimulot" Reference to the card "Richemulot" in the Dungeons & Dragons Spellfire CCG.
Exodus "Gorgonzola" Favorite cheese of Bill Rose.
Urza's Saga "Armadillo"
Urza's Legacy "Guacamole"
Urza's Destiny "Chimichanga"
Mercadian Masques "Archimedes" All three codenames were mostly chosen for their difficulty in spelling. They are all Ancient Greek scientists.
Nemesis "Euripides"
Prophecy "Dionysius"
Invasion "Beijing" Chinese cities.
Planeshift "Hong Kong"
Apocalypse "Shanghai"
Odyssey "Argon" Chemical elements. Codenames chosen for the ABC order and ease of spelling in contrast to previous codenames.
Torment "Boron"
Judgment "Carbon"
Onslaught "Manny" First set of codenames to use a known pre-set order, these being the names of the Pep Boys mascots.
Legions "Moe"
Scourge "Jack"
Mirrodin "Bacon" Key ingredients in the BLT sandwich. Selected due to the widespread knowledge of the order.
Darksteel "Lettuce"
Fifth Dawn "Tomato"
Champions of Kamigawa "Earth" American band Earth, Wind & Fire.
Betrayers of Kamigawa "Wind"
Saviors of Kamigawa "Fire"
Ravnica: City of Guilds "Control" Keystroke combination used in Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Guildpact "Alt"
Dissension "Delete"
Coldsnap "Splat"[10]
Time Spiral "Snap" Rice Krispies cereal mascots and slogan from advertising.
Planar Chaos "Crackle"
Future Sight "Pop"
Lorwyn "Peanut" Reflecting the nature of the two mini-blocks, so too did the codenames overlap in a before and after style.
Morningtide "Butter"
Shadowmoor "Jelly"
Eventide "Doughnut"
Shards of Alara "Rock" Classic hand game of the same name.
Conflux "Paper"
Alara Reborn "Scissors"
Zendikar "Live" Phrase that normally accompanies the Vulcan salute in the Star Trek franchise.
Worldwake "Long"
Rise of the Eldrazi "Prosper"
Scars of Mirrodin "Lights" Traditional cue to a film crew at the beginning of a take during a television or movie production.
Mirrodin Besieged "Camera"
New Phyrexia "Action"
Innistrad "Shake" Popular phrase derived from the 1954 rhythm and blues song.
Dark Ascension "Rattle"
Avacyn Restored "Roll"
Return to Ravnica "Hook" Popular phrase derived from the three crucial pieces of fishing tackle.
Gatecrash "Line"
Dragon's Maze "Sinker"
Theros "Friends" Oft-quoted excerpt from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.
Born of the Gods "Romans"
Journey into Nyx "Countrymen"
Khans of Tarkir "Huey" Popular Disney characters of the same name. Considered to be a bad choice by Wizards employees in retrospect because the right order of these names turned out too difficult to remember.[11][12]
Fate Reforged "Dewey"
Dragons of Tarkir "Louie"
Battle for Zendikar "Blood" Popular phrase and 1960s American jazz band.
Codenames were released before the change from three sets per block to two was announced, after which the codenames were decoupled from their respective blocks.
Oath of the Gatewatch "Sweat"
Shadows over Innistrad "Tears"
Eldritch Moon "Fears" With the "Tears" overlap, a reference to the English new wave band of the same name.
Kaladesh "Lock" The sets per block change also disrupted this trio of previously announced codenames, a common figure of speech.
Aether Revolt "Stock"
Amonkhet "Barrel"
Hour of Devastation "Laughs" This used to be "Monkeys", with the "Barrel" overlapping a reference to the "barrel of monkeys" idiom.
It was changed for an internal reason.[13] Now referencing a "barrel of laughs", something or someone very funny.
Ixalan "Ham" A hearty breakfast. The food theme for the following sets used the order of meals, so people would know the order of the blocks as well.
Rivals of Ixalan "Eggs"
Dominaria "Soup" A light lunch. Codenames released before the change to the Three-and-One Model. Later Dominaria became its entity. The second set was replaced by Core Set 2019.
Cancelled "Salad"
Guilds of Ravnica "Spaghetti" An Italian-American dinner.[14]
Ravnica Allegiance "Meatballs"
War of the Spark "Milk" A midnight snack.[15] After the introduction of Three-and-One Model, "Cookies" was replaced by Core Set 2020.[16][17][18]
Cancelled "Cookies"

Sports[ | ]

From Throne of Eldraine forward alphabetical themes are used, currently sports.[7] Although Mark Rosewater initially said he had a list of A through Z[6]. He later stated that sports V through Z were too difficult to name, and probably would change to another list after U;[19] Later, however, it was decided to just skip X rather than stopping after U[20][21].

Expansion Codename Notes
Throne of Eldraine "Archery"[22]
Theros Beyond Death "Baseball"[22] Originally planned to be the second set in the Eldraine block.[23]
It also used to be codenamed "Cricket", but it got moved up a slot and consequently became "Baseball".[24]
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths "Cricket"[25]
Zendikar Rising "Diving"[26]
Kaldheim "Equestrian"[27]
Strixhaven: School of Mages "Fencing"[28]
Innistrad: Midnight Hunt "Golf"[29] Forming a pair with Innistrad: Crimson Vow ("Clubs") which deviates from the normal alphabetical sports naming convention,
because it was conceived after the following codenames were already established.[30][19]
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty "Hockey"[31] Originally planned to be "Handball".[19]
Streets of New Capenna "Ice Skating"[32] Originally planned to be "Ice Hockey".[19]
Dominaria United "Judo"[33]
The Brothers' War "Kayaking"[34]
Phyrexia: All Will Be One "Lacrosse"[35]
March of the Machine "Marathon"[36] Followed by "Marathon: Epilogue" (The Aftermath)[37]
Wilds of Eldraine "Netball"[38]
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan "Offroading"[38]
Murders at Karlov Manor "Polo"[39][40]
Outlaws of Thunder Junction "Quilting"[41] Originally planned to be "Quoits".[41][42]
Bloomburrow "Rugby"[43]
Duskmourn: House of Horror "Swimming"[44]
Untitled Winter 2025 "Tennis"[44] Death Race set across three planes, two of which are returning for the first time and one of which is being promoted from a background plane.
Untitled Spring 2025 "Ultimate"[45] Return to Tarkir.
Untitled Summer 2025 "Volleyball"[20] Set in outer space using a Space Opera theme.
Untitled Fall 2025 "Wrestling"[46] Return to Lorwyn.
Untitled Winter 2026 Set "Yachting"[47] Return to Arcavios.
Untitled Spring 2026 Set "Ziplining"[48] The cap stone finale set in the Metronome story arc.

Cities[ | ]

With the completion of the sports naming convention, set codenames will restart at "A" using a new theme based on cities around the world.[49][50][51]

Expansion Codename Notes
Untitled Summer 2026 Set "Amsterdam"[50]
Untitled Fall 2026 Set "Berlin"[50]
Untitled Winter 2027 Set "Cairo"[52]

Codenames for other sets[ | ]

Some Core Sets, Starter level sets, Supplemental sets, and extra expansions also had codenames.

Set Codename Notes
Summer Magic "Edgar" A never released edition of Revised.[53] It used the letter E, because
it was originally planned to be the fifth set (after Alpha, Beta, Unlimited and Revised).[19]
Fourth Edition "Francesca" Also shortened as "Franny".[54] It used the letter F because it came after E(dgar).[19]
Vanguard "Commando" Alluding to the concept of heroes joining the battle (the idea for the set at the time).[55]
Portal "Harvey" Because nobody knew it existed, it was named after an invisible rabbit in a famous play and movie.[19]
Planechase "Hopscotch"[56] A children's game in which each child by turn hops into and over squares marked on the ground.
Commander "Bedlam" [56] A scene of uproar and confusion.
Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia "Mac 'n' Cheese"[57] A dish of cooked macaroni pasta and a cheese sauce.
Modern Masters "Picasso"[58] A Spanish painter and sculptor. Literally a Modern Master.
Conspiracy "Hydra"[56] A fictional terrorist organization appearing in American comic books.
Eternal Masters "Jitterbug"[59] An old-fashioned dance.
Unstable "Quicksilver" Unfortunately, this codename gave away what the set was, so it was never publicly used.[60]
Battlebond "Slingshot"[61] The effect of the gravitational pull of a celestial object in accelerating and changing the course of another object.
Modern Horizons "Contemporary"[62] A synonym for Modern.[19]
Mystery Booster "Whirlpool"[63] A quickly rotating mass of water.
Secret Lair Drop Series "Raindrop"[64] A single drop of rain.
Unsanctioned "Parachute"[65] A ready to go set, that could be employed when needed.[66]
Commander Legends "Chevron"[56] A V-shaped line or stripe, especially one on the sleeve of a uniform indicating rank or length of service.
Time Spiral Remastered "Project Cupcake"[67] A small cake with a decadent amount of frosting on top.
Modern Horizons 2 "Decadent"[68] Luxuriously self-indulgent.
Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms "Zebra"[30] An animal with a skin of contrasting black and white stripes (i.e. 2 IP's merging). Replaced Core Set 2022.
Innistrad: Crimson Vow "Clubs"[30] Forming a pair with Innistrad: Midnight Hunt ("Golf")
Unfinity "Umbrella"[69] A collapsible shade for protection.
Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate "Pentagon"[70] A fortified structure.
March of the Machine: The Aftermath "Marathon Epilogue"[37] A new product tied to the March of the Machine premier set.[71]
The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth "Anvil"[72] A heavy iron block, on which metal can be hammered and shaped. The plan for Universes Beyond was to use an alphabet codename system, tools A to Z, but this idea was later abandoned.[73][74]
Commander Masters "Actuary"[75][76][77] A person who compiles and analyses statistics and uses them to calculate insurance risks and premiums.

As of August 2023, Universes Beyond sets are given codenames that are fruits.[78]

Miscellaneous[ | ]

References[ | ]

  1. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 12, 2002). "Codename of the Game". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 15, 2017). "Has there ever been an instance where somethings code/design name got very close to becoming its actual name?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 27, 2017). "Who chooses the code names for sets?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  4. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 28, 2018). "Do set codes have any vague connection to what the actual set is?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 25, 2014). "Metamorphosis". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (January 28, 2018). "Are codenames gonna skip letters?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  7. ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (April 30, 2017). "New Codenames". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. ↑ Mark Rosewater (2010-09-06). "Something Wicked This Way Comes, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 9, 2023). "Trivial Pursuit: What's in a Name?". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (July, 2006). "Ask Wizards - July, 2006". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. ↑ The Very Strange Art of Picking Magic Set Codenames! (Video). Good Morning Magic!. YouTube (May 3, 2021).
  12. ↑ Mark Rosewater (2014-03-07). "what's confusing about "Huey, Dewey, Louie"? Is it just the spelling?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  13. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 22, 2015). "New Codenames". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  14. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 15, 2015). "We Had Our First Exploratory Design Meeting Today…". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  15. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 31, 2016). "Do you have code names of the Spring 2019 and Summer 2019 sets yet?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  16. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 14, 2017). "Salad (M19) and Cookies (M20) got code names to hide the news that core sets were coming back, but will M21 and forward get code names?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  17. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 28, 2018). "Is "Cookies" Magic 2020?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  18. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 30, 2018). "Now that Core Sets are a thing again, is "Cookies" confirmed to be Core Set 2020?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  19. ↑ a b c d e f g h Mark Rosewater (May 8, 2021). "Codenames, Part 2". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  20. ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (September 2, 2022). "#964 - Concurrency". Drive to Work.
  21. ↑ Mark Rosewater (september 03, 2022). "What farthest letter in the alphabet in the new naming system are you at currently?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  22. ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (June 14, 2018). "Where can we find a list of all of the upcoming sets' Codenames?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  23. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 29, 2022). "Dominaria United States of Design, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  24. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 20, 2024). "If y'all decide to change a set's release order, does it keep its codename?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  25. ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 1, 2017). "Do we know the codename of the set you worked on today?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  26. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 10, 2018). "For frame of reference, the stuff you work on next...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  27. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 29, 2018). "Mark. I turn 30 today. I want something juicy...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  28. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 1, 2018). "Could you tell us about something you made recently but without spoiling it to tease us all?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  29. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 12, 2019). "Let’s say I start work today designing Magic. What set would I be working on?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  30. ↑ a b c Mark Rosewater. "Hi mark what were the codenames for the...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  31. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 20, 2019). "What stage are you at with Hockey?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  32. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 26, 2019). "We had a lot of fun making this blackboard.". Twitter.
  33. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 5, 2020). "How many more sets have their sport code names already?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  34. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2020). "#745 - Matt Tabak". Drive to Work.
  35. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 27, 2020). "I'm working on L - Lacrosse". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  36. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 18, 2021). "Archery baseball cricket diving equestrian...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  37. ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (May 12, 2022). "Your Sneak Peek at Double Masters 2022, Dominaria United, and Beyond". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  38. ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (April 18, 2021). "How far ahead are you working on projects compared...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  39. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 9, 2021). "When can we learn the codename for the set after...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  40. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 9, 2021). "When will polo be release to the masses 2 3 years...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  41. ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (October 24, 2021). "When can we learn the codename for the q set...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  42. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 24, 2022). "Wait. Quilting is a sport?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  43. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 15, 2022). "Yes we dont give timetables for future events...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  44. ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (March 24, 2022). "Whats something you worked on today that you can...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  45. ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 22, 2022). "Hi mark do you already have a new codename list...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  46. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 11, 2022). "How far is wizard working on standard now have...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  47. ↑ Picture That: 30 Years in Pictures with Mark Rosewater - Magic30 (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (November 4, 2022).
  48. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 14, 2023). "Hi Mark, what set have you been spending the...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  49. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 20, 2023). "What is the earliest set that hasn’t been locked in?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  50. ↑ a b c Mark Rosewater (November 5, 2023). "Hi Mark, I'm curious, which Magic set design are...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  51. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 7, 2023). "Amsterdam and Berlin are also capital cities. Is this a coincidence?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  52. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 15, 2024). "Hi Mark, I'm a major vorthos. While I do also love...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  53. ↑ Michael G. Ryan (June 01, 2009). "A Magic History of Time". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  54. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May, 2007). "Ask Wizards - May, 2008". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  55. ↑ Mark Rosewater, Top 10 Expansion Codenames, The Duelist #23 (March, 1998)
  56. ↑ a b c d Gavin Verhey (April 22, 2020). "Can you match these 12 Magic products correctly with the codename?". Twitter.
  57. ↑ Five Strange Magic Oddities You've Never Seen (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (July 8, 2020).
  58. ↑ Gavin Verhey (February 22, 2018). "The Future of Masters". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  59. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 23, 2016). "Having Eldritch Moon (EMN) and Eternal Masters (EMA) coming out so close to each other was probably not the best idea.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  60. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 18, 2018). "What was Unstable's design codename?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  61. ↑ Gavin Verhey (May 21, 2018). "A New Challenger Apporaches". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  62. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 11, 2019). "Can you tell us now what was the Modern Horizons set codename?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  63. ↑ Gavin Verhey (November 14, 2019). "Unraveling the Mystery Booster". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  64. ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 07, 2019). "Hey Mark, what was the behind-the-scenes codename for Secret Lair?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  65. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 10, 2019). "what is Parachute?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  66. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 10, 2020). "Un-Boxing, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  67. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 1, 2021). "The Test of Time Spiral Remastered". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  68. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 24, 2021). "A Modern Approach, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  69. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 29, 2021). "Late to it, but huge congrats on yet another Unset...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  70. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 26, 2022). "Hi Mark, what was the code name for Baldur's Gate?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  71. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 13, 2022). "Here’s what I can say about Marathon Epilogue (and it’s not much)". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  72. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 28, 2023). "Hi Mark, can you tell us the codenames of Commander Masters and Lord of the Rings?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  73. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 30, 2023). "Can you share if there was any particular reason LOTR was code named Anvil?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  74. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 30, 2023). "What would the Universes Beyond codename alphabetical theme have been if it stuck?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  75. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 20, 2022). "I'm wondering if we know anything about the sets codenamed Actuary and Nutball?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  76. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 21, 2022). "What's Actuary?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  77. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 19, 2023). "Has the set codenamed “Actuary” been revealed yet?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  78. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 5, 2023). "Hi Mark, what was the codename for Doctor Who?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  79. ↑ Mark Rosewater (une 14, 2010). "From the Heart". Magicthegathering.com.
  80. ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 22, 2022). "Reading an article on the set “Power Lunch”". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  81. ↑ Ethan Fleischer (April 19, 2019). "This has been "Codename: Handlebar""
  82. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 28, 2019). "The Bolas Arc, Part 1"
  83. ↑ Aaron Forsythe (April 19, 2019). "Basically."
  84. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 15, 2023). "Wilds Story, Part 1". Archived from the original on August 15, 2023.
  85. ↑ Jess Lanzillo, Chris Kiritz, Athena Froehlich & Mark Rosewater (August 5, 2023). "Magic: The Gathering 30th Anniversary Panel at GenCon – A Recap of MTG's Past, Present & Future (Video)". Magic: The Gathering. YouTube.
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