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ABUGames.com Guide to determine what edition a Magic the Gathering card is from.
If you would like to know how to tell what set a particular Magic card is from, this web page will show you. Also this page will answer the age old question - "How do I tell the difference between Revised / 3rd Edition and Unlimited?"
(click on the card pictures below for a larger image) |
Most Magic the Gathering cards have a unique expansion symbol on the right side in about the middle of the card. Each of these symbols represents a certain set (Sets are also referred to as Editions or Releases). The  on the card below denotes that this card is from the Champions of Kamigawa set.
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The early Base / Core Sets did not have expansion symbols and are more difficult to determine which set they are from. |
Base or Core Sets- |
Alpha
- More rounded corners than any other Magic cards.
- Black bordered
- No expansion symbol
- No copyright date |
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Beta
- Near identical to Alpha except they have regular rounded corners
- Black bordered
- No expansion symbol
- No copyright date |
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Unlimited
At first Unlimited and Revised / 3rd Edition cards look the same, but they have some very unique differences. Once you see them its quite easy to tell them apart.
- White bordered
- No expansion symbol
- No copyright date
- Title text is more left justified than Revised / 3rd Edition
- Inside border is double beveled
- Ink is gennerally darker than Revised / 3rd Edition |
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Revised / 3rd Edition
- White bordered
- No expansion symbol
- No copyright date
- Title text is more right justified than Unlimited
- Inside border is single beveled
- Ink is gennerally lighter than Unlimited |
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4th Edition and 5th Edition
- 4th Edition has a 1995 copyright
- 5th Edition has a 1997 copyright
- White bordered
- No expansion symbol
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6th Edition
(copyright 1993-1999)
7th Edition
(copyright 1993-2001)
8th Edition
(copyright 1993-2003)
9th Edition
(copyright 1993-2005)
- White bordered
-Unique expansion symbols
-7th, 8th, and 9th have foil versions
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Expansion Sets-
All these expansion sets are black bordered. |
Specialty Sets |
The Specialty Sets can be tricky as they often contain reprints that include the expansion symbols from previous editions. |
Anthologies
(copyright 1993-1998)
- White bordered
- All cards are reprints from Base Sets, Arabian Nights, Antiquities, Legends, The Dark, Fallen Empires, Ice Age, Homelands, Alliances, Mirage, Visions, Weatherlight, Tempest, Stronghold, Exodus, Urza's Saga, Portal, Portal Second Age, Portal Three Kingdoms, Unglued, and Arena League
- Each card has its original expansion symbols |
no
foil |
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Battle Royale
(copyright 1993-1999)
- White bordered
- All cards are reprints from Base Sets, Arabian Nights, Legends, The Dark, Ice Age, Mirage, Visions, Tempest, Stronghold, Exodus, Urza's Saga, Urza's Legacy, Portal, Portal Second Age, Portal Three Kingdoms and Unglued
- Each card has its original expansion symbols
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no
foil |
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Beatdown
(copyright 1993-2000), White bordered |
not all
foil |
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Chronicles
(copyright 1995)
-
White bordered
- All cards are reprints from Arabian Nights, Antiquites, Legends and the Dark
- Each card has its original expansion symbols |
no
foil |
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Collectors' Edition
(no copyright)
- Black bordered
- Same cards as beta
- Square corners
- Gold trim on back edges
- "Collectors' Edition" on back in gold lettering |
no
foil |
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Collectors' Edition International
(no copyright)
- Black bordered
- Same cards as beta
- Square corners
- Gold trim on back edges
- "International Edition" on back in gold lettering
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no
foil |
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Deckmasters
(copyright 1993-2001), White bordered |
not all
foil |
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Portal
(copyright 1997), Black bordered |
no
foil |
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Portal Second Age
(copyright 1993-1998), Black bordered |
no
foil |
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Portal Three Kingdoms
(copyright 1993-1999), White bordered |
no
foil |
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Starter 1999
(copyright 1993-1999), White bordered
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no
foil |
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Unglued
(copyright 1993-1998), Black and Silver bordered |
no
foil |
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Unhinged
(copyright 1993-2004), Black and Silver bordered
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Vanguard
(copyright 1993-1997,1998,or 1999)
- Oversized, do not fit in a standard deck
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no
foil |
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Promo cards are usually special versions of existing cards. They often have "DCI" in place of an expansion symbol. ABU usually has every promo listed with pictures in the promo section. If you are not sure if a card is a promo, check the Promo section. |
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