Magic The Gathering - ABUGames.com - Magic Singles, Boxes, Packs and Card Supplies

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.
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
Beta - Near identical to Alpha except they have regular rounded corners - Black bordered - No expansion symbol - No copyright date
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 generally darker than Revised / 3rd Edition
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 generally lighter than Unlimited
4th Edition and 5th Edition - 4th Edition has a 1995 copyright - 5th Edition has a 1997 copyright - White bordered - No expansion symbol
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
10th Edition (copyright 1993-2007) - 10th Edition has foil versions - Black bordered - Unique expansion symbol
Magic 2010 / M10 (copyright 1993-2009) - Magic 2010 / M10 has foil versions - Black bordered - Expansion symbol displays the shortened name of the set
Magic 2011 / M11 (copyright 1993-2010) - Magic 2011 / M11 has foil versions - Black bordered - Expansion symbol displays the shortened name of the set

Expansion Sets-
All these expansion sets are black bordered.

Name/Copyright	foil?	Expansion Symbol
Mirrodin Besieged (copyright 1993-2011)	foil
Scars of Mirrodin (copyright 1993-2010)	foil
Rise of the Eldrazi (copyright 1993-2010)	foil
Worldwake (copyright 1993-2010)	foil
Zendikar (copyright 1993-2009)	foil
Alara Reborn (copyright 1993-2009)	foil
Conflux (copyright 1993-2009)	foil
Shards of Alara (copyright 1993-2008)	foil
Eventide (copyright 1993-2008)	foil
Shadowmoor (copyright 1993-2008)	foil
Morningtide (copyright 1993-2008)	foil
Lorwyn (copyright 1993-2007)	foil
Future Sight (copyright 1993-2007)	foil
Planar Chaos (copyright 1993-2007)	foil
Time Spiral Time Spiral - Timeshifted (copyright 1993-2006)	foil foil
Coldsnap (copyright 1993-2006)	foil
Dissension (copyright 1993-2006)	foil
Guildpact (copyright 1993-2006)	foil
Ravnica City of Guilds (copyright 1993-2005)	foil
Saviors of Kamigawa (copyright 1993-2005)	foil
Betrayers of Kamigawa (copyright 1993-2005)	foil
Champions of Kamigawa (copyright 1993-2004)	foil
Fifth Dawn (copyright 1993-2004)	foil
Dark Steel (copyright 1993-2004)	foil
Mirrodin (copyright 1993-2003)	foil
Scourge (copyright 1993-2003)	foil
Legions (copyright 1993-2003)	foil
Onslaught (copyright 1993-2002)	foil
Judgment (copyright 1993-2002)	foil
Torment (copyright 1993-2002)	foil
Odyssey (copyright 1993-2001)	foil
Apocalypse (copyright 1993-2001)	foil
Planeshift (copyright 1993-2001)	foil
Invasion (copyright 1993-2000)	foil
Prophecy (copyright 1993-2000)	foil
Nemesis (copyright 1993-2000)	foil
Mercadian Masques (copyright 1993-1999)	foil
Urza's Destiny (copyright 1993-1999)	foil
Urza's Legacy (copyright 1993-1999)	foil
Urza's Saga (copyright 1993-1998)	no foil
Exodus (copyright 1993-1998)	no foil
Stronghold (copyright 1998)	no foil
Tempest (copyright 1997)	no foil
Weatherlight (copyright 1997)	no foil
Visions (copyright 1996)	no foil
Mirage (copyright 1996)	no foil
Alliances (copyright 1996)	no foil
Homelands (copyright 1995)	no foil
Ice Age (copyright 1995)	no foil
Fallen Empires (copyright 1994)	no foil
The Dark (copyright 1994)	no foil
Legends (copyright 1994)	no foil
Antiquities (no copyright)	no foil
Arabian Nights (no copyright)	no foil

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
Archenemy (copyright 1993-2010) - Black bordered - Reprinted cards with a new expansion symbol - Special Scheme Cards are also included in the Archenemy set, and include the same Archenemy expansion symbol	no foil
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 unless its a base set reprint	no foil
Beatdown (copyright 1993-2000), White bordered	not all foil
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
Coldsnap Theme Deck Reprints (copyright 1993-2006) - Black bordered - All cards are reprints from Ice Age and Alliances - Each card has a similar expansion symbol to the original, but the symbols are somewhat updated and more modern - looking - Not a typical individual set; found in the Coldsnap Theme Decks	no foil
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 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
Deckmasters (copyright 1993-2001), White bordered	not all foil
Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic (copyright 1993-2009) - Black bordered - Reprinted cards with a new expansion symbol - Features alternate or new artwork on several cards	not all foil
Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Tezzeret (copyright 1993-2010) - Black bordered - Reprinted cards with a new expansion symbol - Features alternate or new artwork on several cards	not all foil
Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins (copyright 1993-2007) - Black bordered - Reprinted cards with a new expansion symbol - Features alternate or new artwork on several cards	not all foil
Duel Decks: Garruk vs. Liliana (copyright 1993-2009) - Black bordered - Reprinted cards with a new expansion symbol - Features alternate or new artwork on several cards	not all foil
Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra (copyright 1993-2008) - Black bordered - Reprinted cards with a new expansion symbol - Features alternate or new artwork on several cards	not all foil
Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (copyright 1993-2011) - Black bordered - Reprinted cards with a new expansion symbol - Features alternate or new artwork on several cards	not all foil
Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. The Coalition (copyright 1993-2010) - Black bordered - Reprinted cards with a new expansion symbol - Features alternate or new artwork on several cards	not all foil
From The Vault: Dragons (copyright 1993-2008) - Black bordered	all foil
From The Vault: Exiled (copyright 1993-2009) - Black bordered	all foil
From The Vault: Relics (copyright 1993-2010) - Black bordered	all foil
Planechase (copyright 1993-2009) - Black bordered - Special Plane Cards are also included in the Planechase set, with the same expansion symbol	no foil
Portal (copyright 1997), Black bordered	no foil
Portal Second Age (copyright 1993-1998), Black bordered	no foil
Portal Three Kingdoms (copyright 1993-1999), White bordered	no foil
Premium Deck Series: Fire & Lightning (copyright 1993-2010) - Black bordered	all foil
Premium Deck Series: Slivers (copyright 1993-2009) - Black bordered	all foil
Starter 1999 (copyright 1993-1999), White bordered	no foil
Unglued (copyright 1993-1998), Black and Silver bordered	no foil
Unhinged (copyright 1993-2004), Black and Silver bordered	foil
Vanguard (copyright 1993-1997,1998,or 1999) - Oversized, do not fit in a standard deck	no foil

Promo Cards

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.