Did you know that with the release of Outlaws of Thunder Junction, Magic the Gathering has reached its 100th expansion set? One hundred sets, and the game still provides puzzles, challenges, chaotic multiplayer, and endless fun. Who would have guessed back in 1993 that this little card game would become such a juggernaut?
With that in mind, I thought I’d take a stroll down memory lane and pick one card from each set that has stuck with me over the years. To be clear, I’m not including core sets, special reprint sets, or supplemental products like Core Sets, Chronicles, or Ultimate Masters — just the expansions proper.
But first, we start with the original set that made the game:
1. Alpha
Frozen Shade: Fourth Edition was my first core set but this haunting figure that was first printed in Alpha embodies that early Magic flavor. Pump, swing, nostalgic and a tiny bit spooky.
2. Arabian Nights
The first expansion, based on the tales of Aladdin and other stories from the Arabian Nights. Dandân stands out to me, not just because of the subtle art (it's the fish under the boat). But also as a card that has somehow generated a whole game around itself; The Dandân game is a fun 2 player game, everyone should try.
3. Antiquities
When I think of Titania's Song, a green enchantment that turns artifacts into artifact creatures. I think about how it impacts the game state, how it can be used offensively or indeed to slow down greedy opponents. All those treasures, clues or other tokens gone, as they have no casting cost.
4. Legends
I adore Takklemaggot, not a sentence someone might be expected to say. But this card with rules text a mile long always makes me smile. As the maggot slowly eats it's way through creatures on the board and eventually maybe a player. If any card summed up what I like about magic it is Takklemaggot.
5. The Dark
A free donation that took my attention on the playground and dragged me into the wonder of Magic. I was given about 10 cards as a kid and Mind Bomb is the one that stood out. It is a literal mind bomb, with Mark Tedin artwork that is fantastic!
6. Fallen Empires
Often a card is measured on if it is efficient or not. My thought process though is more in the line of what can the card do for me? A card like Tidal Influence is not strong, but it is so mechanically on theme you can't not love it. As the tide goes out blue creatures get weaker and then as it comes back in they get stronger. Pure joy in a card.
7. Ice Age
Welcome to the Ice Age my first Expansion set, the one that kicked off my love of magic and snow-covered lands. This is the only set I have one of every card from, it's truly something I have a deep nostalgia for and to pick just one card is next to impossible. Expect more Ice Age talk in the future but for this list I'm going with Order of the Sacred Torch. One of the first rares I opened from Ice Age, has some interesting uses in mono white decks.
8. Homelands
It might seem too obvious but Baron Sengir, the dark lord of vampires in Ulgothra is classic example of early set flavor and big creatures. That whopping mana cost these days is a major downside, but that's how it was then.
9. Alliances
The Phantasmal Sphere is awful. A progressively large orb with an ever increasing upkeep cost and then you give an opponent one when it is destroyed. Yet, the temptation to get it to do something is always a factor for me.
10. Mirage
Basic land time! Sometimes it is the simplicity of the basic lands that capture a set’s feel better than any spell. Mirage just nailed it with the land art, just look at this Swamp so atmospheric.
11. Visions
Here is Teferi's Puzzle Box. A card that still makes me smile for its combination of chaos and fun. It is powerful as it lets you see so much of your deck and prevents people from holding on to answers. Of course if you then synergise it with cards that exploit draw it becomes a nightmare or even a game ender.
12. Weatherlight
It is safe to say I like sub-par cards. Something about them makes me want to try and use them, take for instance Shadow Rider a 3/3 knight with flanking. It's not special but I just love the art and the card. Can I get use out of it? Well yes in my Jon Irenicus deck it has a home as a donation creature.
13. Tempest
Yes I like casual, but strong cards are still fun Seeker of Skybreak is a great card that feels like it can do so much for such a simple effect.
14. Stronghold
Did you know that it's still you can both be casual and play with winning as a goal? That's why I like to Fling large blue orbs at people 😀
15. Exodus
For the last of this first list I'll just mention Dominating Licid a card with so many rules buried under it's creature type and rule text, it is almost a meme. What I find fascinating is that on the surface it looks so straightforward it just turns back and forth into an aura. I also just like it because it reminds me of the Gonchong, a parasitic creature that mind contols others like the titular Lizard King in Island of the Lizard King.
Stay tuned for the next section of this list. Until next time :)
