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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:

  • Arabian Nights - December 17, 1993 - Expansion set
  • Antiquities - March 4, 1994 - Expansion set
  • Revised Edition - April 11, 1994 - Core set
  • Legends - June 10, 1994 - Expansion set
  • The Dark - August 8, 1994 - Expansion set
  • Fallen Empires - November 15, 1994 - Expansion set
  • Fourth Edition - April, 1995 - Core set
  • Ice Age - June, 1995 - Expansion set
  • Chronicles - July, 1995 - Compilation set
  • Renaissance - August, 1995 - Compilation set
  • Homelands - October 14, 1995 - Expansion set
  • Mirage - October 8, 1996 - Expansion set
  • Alliances - June 10, 1996 - Expansion set
  • Visions - February 3, 1997 - Expansion set
  • Fifth Edition - March 24, 1997 - Core set
  • Portal - May 1, 1997 - Starter set
  • Weatherlight - June 9, 1997 - Expansion set
  • Tempest - October 14, 1997 - Expansion set
  • Stronghold - March 2, 1998 - Expansion set
  • Exodus - June 15, 1998 - Expansion set
  • Portal Second Age - June 24, 1998 - Starter set
  • Unglued - August 11, 1998 - Un-set
  • Urza's Saga - October 12, 1998 - Expansion set
  • Anthologies - November, 1998 - Box set
  • Urza's Legacy - February 15, 1999 - Expansion set
  • Sixth Edition - April 21, 1999 - Core set
  • Portal Three Kingdoms - May, 1999 - Starter set
  • Urza's Destiny - June 7, 1999 - Expansion set
  • Starter 1999 - July 12, 1999 - Starter set
  • Mercadian Masques - October 4, 1999 - Expansion set
  • Battle Royale - November 12, 1999 - Box set
  • Nemesis - February 14, 2000 - Expansion set
  • Starter 2000 - April 24, 2000 - Starter set
  • Prophecy - June 5, 2000 - Expansion set
  • Invasion - October 2, 2000 - Expansion set
  • Beatdown - October, 2000 - Box set
  • Planeshift - February 5, 2001 - Expansion set
  • Seventh Edition - April 11, 2001 - Core set
  • Apocalypse - June 4, 2001 - Expansion set
  • Odyssey - October 1, 2001 - Expansion set
  • Torment - February 8, 2002 - Expansion set
  • Judgment - May 27, 2002 - Expansion set
  • Onslaught - October 7, 2002 - Expansion set
  • Legions - February 3, 2003 - Expansion set
  • Scourge - May 26, 2003 - Expansion set
  • Eighth Edition - July 29, 2003 - Core set
  • Mirrodin - October 2, 2003 - Expansion set
  • Darksteel - February 6, 2004 - Expansion set
  • Fifth Dawn - June 4, 2004 - Expansion set

 

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.

  • Champions of Kamigawa - September 18, 2004 - Expansion set
  • Unhinged - November 20, 2004 - Un-set
  • Betrayers of Kamigawa - January 22, 2005 - Expansion set
  • Saviors of Kamigawa - May 21, 2005 - Expansion set
  • Ninth Edition - July 29, 2005 - Core set
  • Salvat 2005 - August, 2005 - Compilation set
  • Ravnica: City of Guilds - October 7, 2005 - Expansion set
  • Guildpact - February 3, 2006 - Expansion set
  • Dissension - May 5, 2006 - Expansion set
  • Coldsnap - July 21, 2006 - Expansion set
  • Time Spiral - October 6, 2006 - Expansion set
  • Planar Chaos - January 20, 2007 - Expansion set
  • Future Sight - May 4, 2007 - Expansion set
  • Tenth Edition - July 13, 2007 - Core set
  • Lorwyn - October 12, 2007 - Expansion set
  • Morningtide - February 1, 2008 - Expansion set
  • Shadowmoor - May 2, 2008 - Expansion set
  •  
  • Eventide - July 25, 2008 - Expansion set
  • Shards of Alara - October 3, 2008 - Expansion set
  • Conflux - February 6, 2009 - Expansion set
  • Alara Reborn - April 30, 2009 - Expansion set
  • Magic 2010 - July 17, 2009 - Core set
  • Planechase - September 4, 2009 - Other multiplayer set
  • Zendikar - October 2, 2009 - Expansion set
  • Worldwake - March 6, 2010 - Expansion set
  • Rise of the Eldrazi - April 23, 2010 - Expansion set
  • Duels of the Planeswalkers - June 4, 2010 - Box set
  • Archenemy - June 18, 2010 - Supplemental set
  • Magic 2011 - July 16, 2010 - Core set
  • Scars of Mirrodin - October 1, 2010 - Expansion set
  • Mirrodin Besieged - February 4, 2011 - Expansion set
  • New Phyrexia - May 13, 2011 - Expansion set
  • Commander - June 17, 2011 - Commander
  • Magic 2012 - July 15, 2011 - Core set
  • Innistrad - September 30, 2011 - Expansion set
  • Dark Ascension - February 3, 2012 - Expansion set
  • Avacyn Restored - May 4, 2012 - Expansion set
  • Planechase 2012 Edition - June 1, 2012 - Other multiplayer sets
  • Magic 2013 - July 13, 2012 - Core set
  • Return to Ravnica - October 5, 2012 - Expansion set
  • Commander's Arsenal - November 2, 2012 - Commander
  • Gatecrash - February 1, 2013 - Expansion set
  • Dragon's Maze - May 3, 2013 - Expansion set
  • Modern Masters - June 7, 2013 - Compilation set
  • Magic 2014 - July 19, 2013 - Core set
  • Theros - September 27, 2013 - Expansion set
  • Commander 2013 Edition - November 7, 2014 - Commander
  • Born of the Gods - February 7, 2014 - Expansion set
  • Journey into Nyx - May 2, 2014 - Expansion set
  • Conspiracy - June 6, 2014 - Supplemental set
  • Vintage Masters - June 16, 2014 - MTGO Compilation set
  • Magic 2015 - July 18, 2014 - Core set
  • Khans of Tarkir - September 26, 2014 - Expansion set
  • Commander 2014 - November 7, 2014 - Commander
  • Fate Reforged - January 23, 2015 - Expansion set
  • Dragons of Tarkir - March 27, 2015 - Expansion set
  • Tempest Remastered - May 6, 2015 - MTGO Compilation set
  • Modern Masters 2015 - May 22, 2015 - Compilation set
  • Magic Origins - July 17, 2015 - Core set
  • Battle for Zendikar - October 2, 2015 - Expansion set
  • Commander 2015 - November 12, 2015 - Commander
  • Oath of the Gatewatch - January 22, 2016 - Expansion set
  • Shadows over Innistrad - April 8, 2016 - Expansion set
  • Eternal Masters - June 10, 2016 - Compilation set
  • Eldritch Moon - July 22, 2016 - Expansion set
  • Conspiracy, Take the Crown - August 26, 2016 - Supplemental set
  • Kaladesh - September 30, 2016 - Expansion set
  • Commander 2016 - November 11, 2016 - Other multiplayer set
  • Planechase Anthology - November 25, 2016 - Other multiplayer set
  • Aether Revolt - January 20, 2017 - Expansion set
  • Amonkhet - April 28, 2017 - Expansion set
  • Commander Anthology - June 9, 2017 - Commander
  • Archenemy: Nicol Bolas - June 16, 2017 - Other multiplayer set
  • Hour of Devastation - July 14, 2017 - Expansion set
  • Commander 2017 - August 27, 2017 - Commander
  • Ixalan - September 29, 2017 - Expansion set
  • Iconic Masters - November 17, 2017 - Compilation set
  • Explorers of Ixalan - November 24, 2017 - Other multiplayer set
  • Unstable - December 8, 2017 - Un-set
  • Rivals of Ixalan - January 19, 2018 - Expansion set
  • Masters 25 - March 16, 2018 - Compilation set
  • Dominaria - April 27, 2018 - Expansion set
  • Battlebond - June 8, 2018 - Supplemental set
  • Commander Anthology II - June 8 2019 - Commander
  • Core Set 2019 - July 13, 2018 - Core set
  • Commander 2018 - August 10, 2018 - Commander
  • Guilds of Ravnica - October 5, 2018 - Expansion set
  • Game Night - November 16, 2018 - Box set
  • Ultimate Masters - December 7, 2018 - Compilation set

 

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 (2019–2024)

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.

 

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