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All MTG Sets In Order of Release from the First MTG Set

All MTG Sets In Order of Release from the First MTG Set

Posted by Magic Madhouse on 13th Jul 2026

Magic: The Gathering is one of the most successful TCGs of all time. Spanning 33 years and more than 227 sets, from the original ‘Alpha’ to modern Universes Beyond collaborations. There are now around 29,000 unique Magic: The Gathering cards. This is a full list of all the MTG sets in order of release.

Graphic Cover of Magic The Gathering

In short: Magic: The Gathering has released approximately 227 sets since Alpha launched at Origins Game Fair in 1993, spanning 33 years and around 29,000 unique cards. The article divides MTG's history into four eras: the Limited Edition Era (1993, covering Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited), the Golden Age (1993 to 2003, from Arabian Nights onwards), the Block Era (2003 to 2018), and the Modern Shift (2019 onwards, when core sets fell away and Universes Beyond crossovers began).

2026 features seven Standard-legal sets, the most in a single year:

  • Lorwyn Eclipsed (23 January)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (6 March)
  • Secrets of Strixhaven (24 April)
  • Marvel Super Heroes (26 June)
  • The Hobbit (14 August)
  • Reality Fracture (2 October)
  • Star Trek (20 November)

Alpha's print run was around 2.6 million cards, compared to modern estimated print runs of about 2.5 billion.

 

Magic: The Gathering is one of the most successful TCGs of all time. Spanning 33 years and more than 227 sets, from the original ‘Alpha’ to modern Universes Beyond collaborations. There are now around 29,000 unique Magic: The Gathering cards. This is a full list of all the MTG sets in order of release.

What was the first MTG set? The Limited Edition Era (1993)

Magic: the Gathering launched with the first MTG set, known as Alpha, at the Origins Game Fair in 1993, and was an instant hit. The print run was about 2.6 million cards, meaning each rare from Alpha was printed just over 1,000 times. This is much, much smaller than the estimated print runs of sets today, which are more like 2.5 billion cards. Due to its popularity, it was almost instantly reprinted (albeit with minor amends) as Beta in October 1993 and then Unlimited in December 1993. We didn’t know a lot about power level back then, and it’s fair to say that the Alpha/Beta/Unlimited MTG card set list has some of the most powerful cards we’ve ever seen.

first mtg set - Three packet envelopes labeled

 

Navigating the Eras: MTG Sets in Order of Release

The Golden Age (1993–2003): The golden age era heralded a departure from the original Alpha set of cards to new, thematic expansion sets, starting with Arabian Nights, based on the classic stories of the same name:

mtg card set list - urzas saga - Three packets of flavored cigars on a dark background.
mtg card set list - Mirrodin - Three Magic: The Gathering card packs on a dark background.

 

The Block Era (2003–2018)

While we had blocks before, things really ramped up from 2003, where blocks became more than just collections of related cards. The narrative element became stronger, as did the mechanical cohesion, as we see in narrative blocks like Ravnica and Innistrad.

mtg sets in order of release - Ravnica: City of Guilds - Three vintage-style game boxes stacked on a wooden surface.
every mtg set in oredr of release - Innistrad - Magic: The Gathering card packs on a dark background.

 

The Modern Shift (2019–2026)

Now we enter the modern era, where core sets fell away and we saw the first ‘Universes Beyond’ releases where other IPs, such as The Lord of The Rings, enter Magic for the first time.  

 

mtg sets in order of release - modern horizons - Box of

 

2026 Roadmap: The Modern MTG Card Set List

Now we know our history, let’s take a look at what 2026 has in store. There are 7 Standard sets of 2026 (the most in a single year), including the upcoming Marvel Super Heroes, releasing June 26, 2026. .

 

Set Name

Series/Type

Release Date

Lorwyn Eclipsed

Standard Expansion

January 23, 2026

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Universes Beyond

March 6, 2026

Secrets of Strixhaven

Standard Expansion

April 24, 2026

Marvel Super Heroes

Universes Beyond

June 26, 2026

The Hobbit

Universes Beyond

August 14, 2026

Reality Fracture

Standard Expansion

October 2, 2026

Star Trek

Universes Beyond

November 20, 2026

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is the current mtg card set list size?

Wizards has released approximately 227 card collections as of May 2026.

Which set is the rarest?

While Alpha is the first, specific print runs like Limited Edition Beta are also highly sought after by completionists. Often the older the set, the rarer it is, although some recent sets have serialised cards that are even rarer.

How often do new MTG sets release?

In 2026, the schedule averages one new Standard or expansion set approximately every two months.

 

Build Your Collection at Magic Madhouse

Whatever you’re looking for, Magic Madhouse has cards from every Magic set we’ve ever seen! Shop vintage singles or the latest 2026 singles or sealed products, including if you want to browse MTG Collector boxes or shop Commander Precon decks.

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