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4th Edition (s)
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Kard Kastle 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 Champions of Kamigawa Expansion Symbol on the card below denotes that this card is from the Champions of Kamigawa set.
Gifts Ungiven from Champions of Kamigawa

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

 Alpha Serra Angel

Beta

- Near identical to Alpha except they have regular rounded corners
- Black bordered
- No expansion symbol
- No copyright date

 Beta Serra Angel

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

Unlimited Serra Angel

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

Revised Serra Angel

4th Edition and 5th Edition

- 4th Edition has a 1995 copyright
- 5th Edition has a 1997 copyright
- White bordered
- No expansion symbol

4th Edition Date

5th Edition Date

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

6th Edition Expansion Symbols
7th Edition Expansion Symbols
8th Edition Expansion Symbols
9th Edition Expansion Symbols
Expansion Sets-
All these expansion sets are black bordered.
Name/Copyright
foil?
Expansion Symbol
Planar Chaos
(copyright 1993-2007)
Planar Chaos Expansion Symbols
Time Spiral Expansion Symbols
Time Spiral - Timeshifted Expansion Symbols
Coldsnap
(copyright 1993-2006)
Coldsnap Expansion Symbols
Dissension
(copyright 1993-2006)
Dissension Expansion Symbols
Guildpact
(copyright 1993-2006)
Guildpact Expansion Symbols
Ravnica City of Guilds
(copyright 1993-2005)
Ravnica City of Guilds Expansion Symbols
Saviors of Kamigawa
(copyright 1993-2005)
Saviors of Kamigawa Expansion Symbols
Betrayers of Kamigawa
(copyright 1993-2005)
Betrayer's of Kamigawa Expansion Symbols
Champions of Kamigawa
(copyright 1993-2004)
Champions of Kamigawa Expansion Symbols
Fifth Dawn
(copyright 1993-2004)
Fifth Dawn Expansion Symbols
Dark Steel
(copyright 1993-2004)
Dark Steel Expansion Symbols
Mirrodin
(copyright 1993-2003)
Mirrodin Expansion Symbols
Scourge
(copyright 1993-2003)
Scourge Expansion Symbols
Legions
(copyright 1993-2003)
Legions Expansion Symbols
Onslaught
(copyright 1993-2002)
Onslaught Expansion Symbols
Judgment
(copyright 1993-2002)
Judgment Expansion Symbols
Torment
(copyright 1993-2002)
Torment Expansion Symbols
Odyssey
(copyright 1993-2001)
Odyssey Expansion Symbols
Apocalypse
(copyright 1993-2001)
Apocalypse Expansion Symbols
Planeshift
(copyright 1993-2001)
Planeshift Expansion Symbols
Invasion
(copyright 1993-2000)
Invasion Expansion Symbols
Prophecy
(copyright 1993-2000)
Prophecy Expansion Symbols
Nemesis
(copyright 1993-2000)
Nemesis Expansion Symbols
Mercadian Masques
(copyright 1993-1999)
Mercadian Masques Expansion Symbols
Urza's Destiny
(copyright 1993-1999)
Urza's Destiny Expansion Symbols
Urza's Legacy
(copyright 1993-1999)
Urza's Legacy Expansion Symbols
Urza's Saga
(copyright 1993-1998)
no
foil
Urza's Saga Expansion Symbols
Exodus
(copyright 1993-1998)
no
foil
Exodus Expansion Symbols
Stronghold
(copyright 1998)
no
foil
Stronghold Expansion Symbol
Tempest
(copyright 1997)
no
foil
Tempest Expansion Symbol
Weatherlight
(copyright 1997)
no
foil
Weatherlight Expansion Symbol
Visions
(copyright 1996)
no
foil
Visions Expansion Symbol
Mirage
(copyright 1996)
no
foil
Mirage Expansion Symbol
Alliances
(copyright 1996)
no
foil
Alliances Expansion Symbol
Homelands
(copyright 1995)
no
foil
Homelands Expansion Symbol
Ice Age
(copyright 1995)
no
foil
Ice Age Expansion Symbol
Fallen Empires
(copyright 1994)
no
foil
Fallen Empires Expansion Symbol
The Dark
(copyright 1994)
no
foil
The Dark Expansion Symbol
Legends
(copyright 1994)
no
foil
Legends Expansion Symbol
Antiquities
(no copyright)
no
foil
Antiquities Expansion Symbol
Arabian Nights
(no copyright)
no
foil
Arabian Nights Expansion Symbol
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
Anthologies Expansion Symbols
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
no
foil
Battle Royal Expansion Symbols
Beatdown
(copyright 1993-2000), White bordered
not all
foil
Beatdown Expansion Symbols

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
Chronicles Expansion Symbols
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
Collectors' Edition Serra Angel
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
no
foil
Collectors' Edition International Serra Angel
Deckmasters
(copyright 1993-2001), White bordered
not all
foil
Deckmasters Expansion Symbols
Portal
(copyright 1997), Black bordered
no
foil
Portal Expansion Symbols
Portal Second Age
(copyright 1993-1998), Black bordered
no
foil
Portal Second Age Expansion Symbols
Portal Three Kingdoms
(copyright 1993-1999), White bordered
no
foil
Portal Three Kingdoms Expansion Symbols
Starter 1999
(copyright 1993-1999), White bordered
no
foil
Starter 1999 Expansion Symbols
Unglued
(copyright 1993-1998), Black and Silver bordered
no
foil
Unglued Expansion Symbols
Unhinged
(copyright 1993-2004), Black and Silver bordered
Unhinged Expansion Symbols
Vanguard
(copyright 1993-1997,1998,or 1999)
- Oversized, do not fit in a standard deck
no
foil
 Vanguard Serra
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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