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'''Core sets''' (stylized as '''Core Set''') formed the base [[set]] of cards for [[tournament]] play and rotations. <ref>{{NewRef|savor-flavor/core-curriculum-2011-07-20|Core Curriculum|[[Doug Beyer]]|July 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{NewRef|please-sir-i-want-some-core-2011-07-04|Please Sir, I Want Some Core|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 27, 2011}}</ref> After the ''[[Limited Edition]]'' in 1993, all core sets through ''[[10th Edition]]'' consisted solely of [[reprint]]ed cards; as of ''[[Magic 2010]]'' they featured new cards beside reprints. Core sets were discontinued in 2015, but will be reintroduced in 2018.<ref name=MetTwo>{{NewRef|making-magic/metamorphosis-2-0-2017-06-12|Metamorphosis 2.0|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 12, 2017}}</ref>
  
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|noitalic=1
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|sub1=Preconstructed theme decks
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}}
  ⚫
'''Core sets''' (stylized as '''Core Set''') form the base [[set]] of cards for [[tournament]] play and rotations.<ref>{{DailyRef|savor-flavor/core-curriculum-2011-07-20|Core Curriculum|[[Doug Beyer]]|July 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|please-sir-i-want-some-core-2011-07-04|Please Sir, I Want Some Core|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 27, 2011}}</ref> After ''[[Limited Edition]]'' in 1993, all core sets through ''[[Tenth Edition]]'' consisted solely of [[reprint]]ed cards. As of ''[[Magic 2010]]'', they feature new cards alongside reprints. Core sets were discontinued in 2015, but were reintroduced in 2018.<ref name=MetTwo>{{DailyRef|making-magic/metamorphosis-2-0-2017-06-12|Metamorphosis 2.0|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 12, 2017}}</ref>
  +
 
==History==
  
==History==
  +
[[File:Core Set symbols.jpg|right|thumb|Evolution of the Core Set Expansion symbol.]]
−
Up to the ''[[Eighth Edition]]'' core sets were referred to as '''base sets''' or '''basic sets'''.<ref>{{NewRef|arcana/revising-base-set-2002-10-31|"Revising" the base set|[[Magic Arcana]]|October 31, 2002}}</ref> However, a base set was broader defined, because the ''Fourth Edition'' base set included the ''[[Chronicles]]'' extension. The name change came into being, because there were concerns that older base sets confused newer players — their primary audience — by making them feel like they "missed out" on five or six previous editions and were hopelessly behind. <ref>{{NewRef|arcana/core-set-2003-03-31|Core Set|[[Magic Arcana]]|March 31, 2003}}</ref>
 +
Up to ''[[Eighth Edition]]'' core sets were referred to as '''base sets''' or '''basic sets'''.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/revising-base-set-2002-10-31|"Revising" the base set|[[Magic Arcana]]|October 31, 2002}}</ref> However, a base set was broader defined, because the ''Fourth Edition'' base set included the ''[[Chronicles]]'' extension. The name change came into being because there were concerns that older base sets confused newer players—their primary audience—by making them feel like they "missed out" on five or six previous editions and were hopelessly behind.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/core-set-2003-03-31|Core Set|[[Magic Arcana]]|March 31, 2003}}</ref>
   
−
''[[Fifth Edition]]'' was the first core set to implement [[expansion symbol]]s on its cards (though only on the Simplified Chinese printing), implementing a roman numeral style logo, which appeared in all languages starting with ''[[Sixth Edition]]''. The later core set expansion symbol style (the stylized 'M' from the Magic logo and an abbreviation of the set year number) was introduced with ''[[Magic 2010]]''. Core sets were printed with [[border|white borders]] from ''[[Unlimited Edition]]'' through ''[[Ninth Edition]], but a ''[[10th Edition]]'' poll resulted in that set's cards being printed with black borders, a trend that continued with all subsequent sets. [[Foil card]]s were black-bordered beginning from their core-set introduction in ''[[Seventh Edition]]''.
+
''[[Fifth Edition]]'' was the first core set to implement [[expansion symbol]]s on its cards (though only on the Simplified Chinese printing), implementing a Roman numeral style logo, which appeared in all languages with ''[[Sixth Edition]]''. ''[[Seventh Edition]]'' used a stylized numeral 7, while ''[[Eighth Edition]]'' and ''[[Ninth Edition]]'' used a fan of cards with the numeral 8 or 9, respectively, on them, and ''[[Tenth Edition]]'' went back to using a Roman numeral. Starting with ''[[Magic 2010]]'', the core set expansion symbol became the stylized 'M' from the Magic logo and an abbreviation of the set year number, with the exception of ''[[Magic Origins]]'', which had its own unique symbol.
  +
  +
Core sets were printed with [[border|white borders]] from ''[[Unlimited Edition]]'' through ''[[Ninth Edition]]'', but a ''[[Tenth Edition]]'' poll resulted in that set's cards being printed with black borders, a trend that continued with all subsequent sets. [[Foil card]]s were black-bordered beginning from their core-set introduction in ''[[Seventh Edition]]''.
 
 
−
Core sets were released at varying intervals. ''[[Fourth Edition|Fourth]]'', ''Fifth'', ''Sixth'' and ''Seventh Editions'' were scheduled erratically, followed by biannual releases through ''Magic 2010''. From ''[[Magic 2011]]'' until ''[[Magic Origins]]'', they occupied an annual summer product slot.<ref>{{NewRef|feature/magic-2011-has-big-shoes-fill-2010-06-28|''Magic 2011'' Has Big Shoes to Fill|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|June 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{NewRef|feature/nearly-25-years-magic-graphics-2017-06-13|(Nearly) 25 Years of Magic in Graphics|Diego Fumagalli|June 13 2017}}</ref>
 +
Core sets were released at varying intervals. ''[[Fourth Edition|Fourth]]'', ''Fifth'', ''Sixth'', and ''Seventh Editions'' were scheduled erratically, followed by biannual releases through ''Magic 2010''. From ''[[Magic 2011]]'' until ''[[Magic Origins]]'', they occupied an annual summer product slot.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/magic-2011-has-big-shoes-fill-2010-06-28|''Magic 2011'' Has Big Shoes to Fill|[[Aaron Forsythe]]|June 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|feature/nearly-25-years-magic-graphics-2017-06-13|(Nearly) 25 Years of Magic in Graphics|Diego Fumagalli|June 13, 2017}}</ref>
   
 
===Discontinuation and reintroduction===
  
===Discontinuation and reintroduction===
−
Core sets were discontinued after ''Magic Origins'' in 2015, but will be reintroduced in 2018. Like the sets from ''Magic 2010'' to ''[[Magic Origins]]'', these sets will contain a mix of new and reprinted cards. However, they will be smaller and geared primarily toward incoming players. <ref>{{NewRef|mm/metamorphosis|Metamorphosis|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 25, 2014}}</ref><ref name=MetTwo></ref> They will have a strong integration with the [[Welcome deck]]s, [[Planeswalker deck]]s and [[Deck Builder's Toolkit]], allowing for an easier transition between the products.<ref name=MetTwo/> These core sets do go through [[exploratory design|exploratory]] or [[vision design]].<ref>{{TumblrRef|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|URL=http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/172691094003/do-core-sets-still-go-through-all-of-the-new|title=Do core sets still go through all of the new vision design, set design, and play design steps? |tumblr-title=Blogatog|date=April 07, 2018}}</ref>
 +
Core sets were discontinued after ''Magic Origins'' in 2015, but were reintroduced in 2018. Like the sets from ''Magic 2010'' to ''[[Magic Origins]]'', these sets continue to contain a mix of new and reprinted cards, but differ in that they are geared primarily toward new players.<ref name=MetTwo /><ref>{{DailyRef|mm/metamorphosis|Metamorphosis|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 25, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Getting to the Core">{{DailyRef|making-magic/getting-core-2018-06-18|Getting to the Core|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 18, 2018}}</ref> They have a strong integration with the [[welcome deck]]s, [[planeswalker deck]]s and [[Deck Builder's Toolkit]], allowing for an easier transition between the products.<ref name=MetTwo/> These core sets do go through [[exploratory design|exploratory]] or [[vision design]].<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/172691094003/do-core-sets-still-go-through-all-of-the-new|title=Do core sets still go through all of the new vision design, set design, and play design steps? |April 07, 2018}}</ref>
  +
  +
===Second discontinuation===
  +
There was no ''Core Set 2022''. The product released in its expected time frame was ''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms]]'', which started out in design as core set but was later transformed in a more complicated [[expansion]] set.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/dd-esign-part-1-2021-07-05|D&D-esign, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|July 5, 2021}}</ref> The product announcement timeline for 2022 does not list ''Core Set 2023'' either, and Rosewater has clarified that there will be four [[premier]] sets without a direct swap.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/660511211950145536/are-core-sets-gone-for-good-mark|title=Are Core sets gone for good?|August 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/660502632878702592/which-set-announced-yesterday-is-replacing-the|title=Which set announced yesterday is replacing the Core Set? |August 25, 2021}}</ref> ''[[Jumpstart]]'' has proven to be great jumping on product instead, and R&D is working on other things to offset having no core set.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/660543198850088961/since-core-sets-are-gone-for-now-does-that-mean|title=Since core sets are gone (for now) does that mean you found alternative solutions to the problems with no core sets brought up in Metamorphosis 2.0?|August 25, 2021}}</ref>
   
 
==Description==
  
==Description==
 
Core sets formerly contained more cards than [[Set#Expansion sets|expansion sets]] and ranged from 249 cards (''[[Magic 2010]]'') to 449 cards (''[[Fifth Edition]]'').
  
Core sets formerly contained more cards than [[Set#Expansion sets|expansion sets]] and ranged from 249 cards (''[[Magic 2010]]'') to 449 cards (''[[Fifth Edition]]'').
   
−
Core sets may be distinguished from expansion sets by the addition of [[reminder text]] on cards, so as to elucidate abilities and mechanics that are unfamiliar or initially incomprehensible to newer players, such as [[first strike]], [[flying]], [[haste]], [[protection]], [[regeneration]], and [[trample]].<ref>{{NewRef|making-magic/lets-start-very-beginning-2003-07-14|Let's Start at the Very Beginning|[[Mark Rosewater]]|July 14, 2003}}</ref>
+
Core sets may be distinguished from expansion sets by the addition of [[reminder text]] on cards, so as to elucidate abilities and mechanics that are unfamiliar or initially incomprehensible to newer players, such as [[first strike]], [[flying]], [[haste]], [[protection]], [[regeneration]], and [[trample]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/lets-start-very-beginning-2003-07-14|Let's Start at the Very Beginning|[[Mark Rosewater]]|July 14, 2003}}</ref> While core sets tended not to re-use expert level keywords unless they were slated for promotion to [[evergreen]], from [[Magic 2012]] to [[Magic 2015]] a single keyword was reused, often a factional keyword expanded to new colors:
  +
* ''Magic 2012'': [[Bloodthirst]], from [[Gruul]] ({{R}}{{G}}) to {{B}}, {{R}} and {{G}}
  +
* ''Magic 2013'': [[Exalted]], from [[Bant]] ({{W}}{{U}}{{G}}) to {{B}} and {{W}}
  +
* ''Magic 2014'': [[Sliver]]s, from all five colors evenly to mostly {{W}}, {{R}}, and {{G}}
  +
* ''Magic 2015'': [[Convoke]], from [[Selesnya]] ({{G}}{{W}}), to all colors (but still mostly {{G}}{{W}})
  +
''Magic Origin''s was the first to introduce its own new keyword, [[Renown]].
   
−
Most core sets do not have a unified storyline among cards. Cards' flavor text may nevertheless refer to expansion sets and their settings or even real-world people, texts, or things (e.g., the ''Fifth Edition'' <c title="Boomerang">Boomerang|Fifth Edition</c>, the ''Seventh Edition'' <c title="Boomerang">Boomerang|Seventh Edition</c>). Two sets are an exception to this:
 +
Most core sets do not have a unified storyline among cards. Cards' flavor text may nevertheless refer to expansion sets and their settings or even real-world people, texts, or things (e.g., the ''Fifth Edition'' {{card|Boomerang||5ED}} and the ''Seventh Edition'' {{card|Boomerang||7ED}}). ''[[Seventh Edition]]'' was an exception, where it narrated the story of a war among the [[paladin]]s—{{card|Eastern Paladin||7ED}}, {{card|Northern Paladin||7ED}}, {{card|Southern Paladin||7ED}}, and {{card|Western Paladin||7ED}}— through the flavor text of cards from the set.
−
* ''Seventh Edition'' tells the story of a war among the [[Classes#Knights|paladin]]s {{Em}} <c title="Eastern Paladin">Eastern Paladin|Seventh Edition</c>, <c title="Northern Paladin">Northern Paladin|Seventh Edition</c>, <c title="Southern Paladin">Southern Paladin|Seventh Edition</c>, and <c title="Western Paladin">Western Paladin|Seventh Edition</c> {{Em}} narrated through the flavor text of cards from the set.
  
⚫
* ''Magic Origins'' focuses on the backstories of [[Gideon Jura]], [[Jace Beleren]], [[Liliana Vess]], [[Chandra Nalaar]] and [[Nissa Revane]].
  
   
  +
The core sets in Magic 2010 onward used the cycle of planeswalkers and sometimes legendary creatures as an anchor, alongside several referential cycles. A few went a little further:
⚫
Core sets were often seeded with cards that reinforced the themes of upcoming [[block]]s, or used to provide [[answer]]s to cards that were more powerful than was anticipated in the year preceding it. The last goal of core sets was to play well with the [[block]] that was leaving [[Standard]], while not relying so heavily on it that the cards would not work after rotation. <ref>{{NewRef|latest-developments/core-developments-standard-2013-07-09|Core Developments for Standard|[[Sam Stoddard]]|July 12, 2013}}</ref>
  
  +
  +
*[[Magic 2013|''Magic 2013'']] reprinted {{Card|Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker}} as the first multicolored card in a core set, alongside several henchmen.
  +
*''[[Magic 2015]]'' introduced {{Card|Garruk, Apex Predator}}, at the climax of his story, alongside a special supplemental challenge card {{Card|Garruk the Slayer}}.
  ⚫
*''[[Magic Origins]]'' focuses on the backstories of [[Gideon Jura]], [[Jace Beleren]], [[Liliana Vess]], [[Chandra Nalaar]], and [[Nissa Revane]]. Unlike the previous two, the stories told were deeper, with Legendary creatures relevant and significant events depicted as instants and sorceries.
  +
  +
With the reintroduction of core sets for [[Core Set 2019]], each set had a singular focal planeswalker that the storyline was designed around:
  +
* ''[[Core Set 2019]]'': [[Nicol Bolas]], featuring the other [[Dragon#Elder Dragons|Elder Dragons]], with five planeswalkers that have worked for or against Bolas.
  +
* ''[[Core Set 2020]]'': [[Chandra Nalaar]], featuring three planeswalkers versions of her in her youth, teenage and adult years, alongside a legendary artifact under her ownership.
  +
* ''[[Core Set 2021]]'': [[Teferi]], featuring a series of Legendary Dominarian characters; his mentor [[Barrin]], his wife [[Subira]] and daughter [[Niambi]], his allies [[Radha]] and [[Jolrael]], and nemesis [[Kaervek]]. The third player of the [[Mirage War]], [[Mangara]], was also featured.
  +
  ⚫
Core sets were often seeded with cards that reinforced the themes of upcoming [[block]]s, or used to provide [[answer]]s to cards that were more powerful than was anticipated in the year preceding it. The last goal of core sets was to play well with the [[block]] that was leaving [[Standard]], while not relying so heavily on it that the cards would not work after rotation.<ref>{{DailyRef|latest-developments/core-developments-standard-2013-07-09|Core Developments for Standard|[[Sam Stoddard]]|July 12, 2013}}</ref>
   
 
==List of core sets==
  
==List of core sets==
−
<center>
  
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
|-
  
|-
−
! scope="col" | №
 +
! №
−
! scope="col" | Edition
 +
! Edition
  ⚫
! Set size
−
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Symbol
  
  ⚫
! Released
⚫
! scope="col" | Set size
  
⚫
! scope="col" | Released
  
 
|-
  
|-
 
|01a
  
|01a
−
|''[[Alpha|Limited Edition Alpha]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|LEA|fixed=1}} ''[[Alpha|Limited Edition Alpha]]''
−
|align="center"| {{keyrune|LEA}}
  
 
|295
  
|295
 
|1993-08
  
|1993-08
 
|-
  
|-
 
|01b
  
|01b
−
|''[[Beta| Limited Edition Beta]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|LEB|fixed=1}} ''[[Beta|Limited Edition Beta]]''
−
|align="center"| {{keyrune|LEB}}
  
 
|302
  
|302
 
|1993-10
  
|1993-10
 
|-
  
|-
 
|02
  
|02
−
|''[[Unlimited Edition]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|2ED|fixed=1}} ''[[Unlimited Edition]]''
−
|align="center"| {{keyrune|2ED}}
  
 
|302
  
|302
 
|1993-12
  
|1993-12
 
|-
  
|-
 
|03
  
|03
−
|''[[Revised Edition]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|3ED|fixed=1}} ''[[Revised Edition]]''
−
|align="center"| {{keyrune|3ED}}
  
 
|306
  
|306
 
|1994-04
  
|1994-04
 
|-
  
|-
 
|04
  
|04
−
|''[[4th Edition]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|4ED|fixed=1}} ''[[Fourth Edition]]''
−
|align="center"| {{keyrune|4ED}}
  
 
|378
  
|378
 
|1995-05
  
|1995-05
 
|-
  
|-
 
|05
  
|05
−
|''[[5th Edition]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|5ED|fixed=1}} ''[[Fifth Edition]]''
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|5ED}}
  
 
|449
  
|449
 
|1997-03
  
|1997-03
 
|-
  
|-
 
|06
  
|06
−
|''[[6th Edition]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|6ED|fixed=1}} ''[[Sixth Edition]]''
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|6ED}}
  
 
|350
  
|350
 
|1999-04
  
|1999-04
 
|-
  
|-
 
|07
  
|07
−
|''[[7th Edition]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|7ED|fixed=1}} ''[[Seventh Edition]]''
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|7ED}}
  
 
|350
  
|350
 
|2001-04
  
|2001-04
 
|-
  
|-
 
|08
  
|08
−
|''[[8th Edition]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|8ED|fixed=1}} ''[[Eighth Edition]]''
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|8ED}}
  
 
|357
  
|357
 
|2003-07
  
|2003-07
 
|-
  
|-
 
|09
  
|09
−
|''[[9th Edition]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|9ED|fixed=1}} ''[[Ninth Edition]]''
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|9ED}}
  
 
|359
  
|359
 
|2005-07
  
|2005-07
 
|-
  
|-
 
|10
  
|10
−
|''[[10th Edition]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|10E|fixed=1}} ''[[Tenth Edition]]''
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|10E}}
  
 
|383
  
|383
 
|2007-07
  
|2007-07
 
|-
  
|-
 
|11
  
|11
−
|''[[Magic 2010]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|M10|fixed=1}} ''[[Magic 2010]]''
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|M10}}
  
 
|249<ref>[http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/article.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/magic2010/productinfo ''Magic 2010''] {{-}} Wizards of the Coast</ref>
  
|249<ref>[http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/article.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/magic2010/productinfo ''Magic 2010''] {{-}} Wizards of the Coast</ref>
 
|2009-07
  
|2009-07
 
|-
  
|-
 
|12
  
|12
−
|''[[Magic 2011]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|M11|fixed=1}} ''[[Magic 2011]]''
  ⚫
|249<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/announcing-magic-2011-2010-01-06|Announcing ''Magic 2011''|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|January 6, 2010}}</ref>
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|M11}}
  
⚫
|249<ref>{{NewRef|arcana/announcing-magic-2011-2010-01-06|Announcing ''Magic 2011''|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|January 6, 2010}}</ref>
  
 
|2010-07
  
|2010-07
 
|-
  
|-
 
|13
  
|13
−
|''[[Magic 2012]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|M12|fixed=1}} ''[[Magic 2012]]''
  ⚫
|249<ref>{{DailyRef|announcing-magic-2012-2011-01-03|Announcing ''Magic 2012''|[[Monty Ashley]]|January 3, 2011}}</ref>
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|M12}}
  
⚫
|249<ref>{{NewRef|announcing-magic-2012-2011-01-03|Announcing ''Magic 2012''|[[Monty Ashley]]|January 3, 2011}}</ref>
  
 
|2011-07
  
|2011-07
 
|-
  
|-
 
|14
  
|14
−
|''[[Magic 2013]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|M13|fixed=1}} ''[[Magic 2013]]''
  ⚫
|249<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/announcing-2012-01-03|Announcing ''Magic 2013 Core Set''|[[Monty Ashley]]|January 3, 2012}}</ref>
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|M13}}
  
⚫
|249<ref>{{NewRef|arcana/announcing-2012-01-03|Announcing ''Magic 2013 Core Set''|[[Monty Ashley]]|January 3, 2012}}</ref>
  
 
|2012-07
  
|2012-07
 
|-
  
|-
 
|15
  
|15
−
|''[[Magic 2014]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|M14|fixed=1}} ''[[Magic 2014]]''
  ⚫
|249<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/announcing-magic-2014-core-set-2013-01-07|Announcing the ''Magic 2014 Core Set''|[[Monty Ashley]]|January 7, 2013}}</ref>
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|M14}}
  
⚫
|249<ref>{{NewRef|feature/announcing-magic-2014-core-set-2013-01-07|Announcing the ''Magic 2014 Core Set''|[[Monty Ashley]]|January 7, 2013}}</ref>
  
 
|2013-07
  
|2013-07
 
|-
  
|-
 
|16
  
|16
−
|''[[Magic 2015]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|M15|fixed=1}} ''[[Magic 2015]]''
  ⚫
|269 (+15)<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/announcing-magic-2015-2014-01-03|Announcing ''Magic 2015''|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|January 6, 2014}}</ref>
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|M15}}
  
⚫
|269<ref>{{NewRef|arcana/announcing-magic-2015-2014-01-03|Announcing ''Magic 2015''|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|January 6, 2014}}</ref>
  
 
|2014-07
  
|2014-07
 
|-
  
|-
 
|17
  
|17
−
|''[[Magic Origins]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|ORI|fixed=1}} ''[[Magic Origins]]''
  ⚫
|272 (+16)<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/announcing-magic-origins-2015-02-08|Announcing ''Magic Origins''|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|February 8, 2015}}</ref>
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|ORI}}
  
⚫
|272<ref>{{NewRef|arcana/announcing-magic-origins-2015-02-08|Announcing ''Magic Origins''|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|February 8, 2015}}</ref>
  
 
|2015-07
  
|2015-07
 
|-
  
|-
 
|18
  
|18
−
|''[[Core Set 2019]]''
 +
|{{keyrune|M19|fixed=1}} ''[[Core Set 2019]]''
  +
|280 (+34)
−
|align="center"|{{keyrune|M19}}
  
−
|269<ref>{{NewRef|news/25th-anniversary-announcement-day-2017-06-14|25th Anniversary Announcement Day 2017|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|June 14, 2017}}</ref>
  
 
|2018-07
  
|2018-07
  +
|-
  +
|19
  +
|{{keyrune|M20|fixed=1}} ''[[Core Set 2020]]''
  +
|280 (+64)
  +
|2019-07
  +
|-
  +
|20
  +
|{{keyrune|M21|fixed=1}} ''[[Core Set 2021]]''
  +
|274 (+123)
  +
|2020-07
 
|}
  
|}
−
</center>
  
   
 
==Theme decks==
  
==Theme decks==

Revision as of 05:38, 26 August 2021

Core set
 
Preconstructed theme decks
 

Core sets (stylized as Core Set) form the base set of cards for tournament play and rotations.[1][2] After Limited Edition in 1993, all core sets through Tenth Edition consisted solely of reprinted cards. As of Magic 2010, they feature new cards alongside reprints. Core sets were discontinued in 2015, but were reintroduced in 2018.[3]

History

Core Set symbols

Evolution of the Core Set Expansion symbol.

Up to Eighth Edition core sets were referred to as base sets or basic sets.[4] However, a base set was broader defined, because the Fourth Edition base set included the Chronicles extension. The name change came into being because there were concerns that older base sets confused newer players—their primary audience—by making them feel like they "missed out" on five or six previous editions and were hopelessly behind.[5]

Fifth Edition was the first core set to implement expansion symbols on its cards (though only on the Simplified Chinese printing), implementing a Roman numeral style logo, which appeared in all languages with Sixth Edition. Seventh Edition used a stylized numeral 7, while Eighth Edition and Ninth Edition used a fan of cards with the numeral 8 or 9, respectively, on them, and Tenth Edition went back to using a Roman numeral. Starting with Magic 2010, the core set expansion symbol became the stylized 'M' from the Magic logo and an abbreviation of the set year number, with the exception of Magic Origins, which had its own unique symbol.

Core sets were printed with white borders from Unlimited Edition through Ninth Edition, but a Tenth Edition poll resulted in that set's cards being printed with black borders, a trend that continued with all subsequent sets. Foil cards were black-bordered beginning from their core-set introduction in Seventh Edition.

Core sets were released at varying intervals. Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Editions were scheduled erratically, followed by biannual releases through Magic 2010. From Magic 2011 until Magic Origins, they occupied an annual summer product slot.[6][7]

Discontinuation and reintroduction

Core sets were discontinued after Magic Origins in 2015, but were reintroduced in 2018. Like the sets from Magic 2010 to Magic Origins, these sets continue to contain a mix of new and reprinted cards, but differ in that they are geared primarily toward new players.[3][8][9] They have a strong integration with the welcome decks, planeswalker decks and Deck Builder's Toolkit, allowing for an easier transition between the products.[3] These core sets do go through exploratory or vision design.[10]

Second discontinuation

There was no Core Set 2022. The product released in its expected time frame was Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, which started out in design as core set but was later transformed in a more complicated expansion set.[11] The product announcement timeline for 2022 does not list Core Set 2023 either, and Rosewater has clarified that there will be four premier sets without a direct swap.[12][13] Jumpstart has proven to be great jumping on product instead, and R&D is working on other things to offset having no core set.[14]

Description

Core sets formerly contained more cards than expansion sets and ranged from 249 cards (Magic 2010) to 449 cards (Fifth Edition).

Core sets may be distinguished from expansion sets by the addition of reminder text on cards, so as to elucidate abilities and mechanics that are unfamiliar or initially incomprehensible to newer players, such as first strike, flying, haste, protection, regeneration, and trample.[15] While core sets tended not to re-use expert level keywords unless they were slated for promotion to evergreen, from Magic 2012 to Magic 2015 a single keyword was reused, often a factional keyword expanded to new colors:

Magic Origins was the first to introduce its own new keyword, Renown.

Most core sets do not have a unified storyline among cards. Cards' flavor text may nevertheless refer to expansion sets and their settings or even real-world people, texts, or things (e.g., the Fifth Edition Boomerang and the Seventh Edition Boomerang). Seventh Edition was an exception, where it narrated the story of a war among the paladins—Eastern Paladin, Northern Paladin, Southern Paladin, and Western Paladin— through the flavor text of cards from the set.

The core sets in Magic 2010 onward used the cycle of planeswalkers and sometimes legendary creatures as an anchor, alongside several referential cycles. A few went a little further:

With the reintroduction of core sets for Core Set 2019, each set had a singular focal planeswalker that the storyline was designed around:

Core sets were often seeded with cards that reinforced the themes of upcoming blocks, or used to provide answers to cards that were more powerful than was anticipated in the year preceding it. The last goal of core sets was to play well with the block that was leaving Standard, while not relying so heavily on it that the cards would not work after rotation.[16]

List of core sets

№ Edition Set size Released
01a Limited Edition Alpha 295 1993-08
01b Limited Edition Beta 302 1993-10
02 Unlimited Edition 302 1993-12
03 Revised Edition 306 1994-04
04 Fourth Edition 378 1995-05
05 Fifth Edition 449 1997-03
06 Sixth Edition 350 1999-04
07 Seventh Edition 350 2001-04
08 Eighth Edition 357 2003-07
09 Ninth Edition 359 2005-07
10 Tenth Edition 383 2007-07
11 Magic 2010 249[17] 2009-07
12 Magic 2011 249[18] 2010-07
13 Magic 2012 249[19] 2011-07
14 Magic 2013 249[20] 2012-07
15 Magic 2014 249[21] 2013-07
16 Magic 2015 269 (+15)[22] 2014-07
17 Magic Origins 272 (+16)[23] 2015-07
18 Core Set 2019 280 (+34) 2018-07
19 Core Set 2020 280 (+64) 2019-07
20 Core Set 2021 274 (+123) 2020-07

Theme decks

Main article: Core set/Preconstructed theme decks

References

  1. ↑ Doug Beyer (July 20, 2011). "Core Curriculum". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 27, 2011). "Please Sir, I Want Some Core". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ a b c Mark Rosewater (June 12, 2017). "Metamorphosis 2.0". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Magic Arcana (October 31, 2002). ""Revising" the base set". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Magic Arcana (March 31, 2003). "Core Set". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Aaron Forsythe (June 28, 2010). "Magic 2011 Has Big Shoes to Fill". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Diego Fumagalli (June 13, 2017). "(Nearly) 25 Years of Magic in Graphics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 25, 2014). "Metamorphosis". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 18, 2018). "Getting to the Core". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 07, 2018). "Do core sets still go through all of the new vision design, set design, and play design steps?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  11. ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 5, 2021). "D&D-esign, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 25, 2021). "Are Core sets gone for good?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  13. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 25, 2021). "Which set announced yesterday is replacing the Core Set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  14. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 25, 2021). "Since core sets are gone (for now) does that mean you found alternative solutions to the problems with no core sets brought up in Metamorphosis 2.0?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  15. ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 14, 2003). "Let's Start at the Very Beginning". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. ↑ Sam Stoddard (July 12, 2013). "Core Developments for Standard". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  17. ↑ Magic 2010 — Wizards of the Coast
  18. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (January 6, 2010). "Announcing Magic 2011". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  19. ↑ Monty Ashley (January 3, 2011). "Announcing Magic 2012". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  20. ↑ Monty Ashley (January 3, 2012). "Announcing Magic 2013 Core Set". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  21. ↑ Monty Ashley (January 7, 2013). "Announcing the Magic 2014 Core Set". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  22. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (January 6, 2014). "Announcing Magic 2015". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  23. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (February 8, 2015). "Announcing Magic Origins". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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