1996

The year 1996 was the fourth year of existence for Magic: The Gathering.

Events

Date	Event
February 16–18	First Pro Tour held in New York City. Won by Michael Loconto. Start of the Junior Pro Tour
March 4	First publishing of the Reserved List.
April 13	Opening of the Wizards of the Coast Official Tournament Center.
May	Release of the Pro Tour Collector Set.
May 5–7	Pro Tour Los Angeles, won by Shawn "Hammer" Regnier
June 5	First mentioning of Gleemax, the brain behind R&D.
June	Release of Alliances, after an expansion hiatus of eight months.
June	Release of the Rivals Quick Start Set, the first box set with preconstructed theme decks.
Summer	Black Summer, dominated by Necropotence-based decks and anti-Necropotence decks like Turbo Stasis.
July 4	Debute of the Arena League
July 6–7	Pro Tour Columbus, won by Olle Råde
July	First issue of the Sideboard magazine
August 14–18	1996 World Championships in Seattle, won by Tom Chanpheng. Team champions: United States of America.
September 13–15	Pro Tour Atlanta (Season 1996-1997), won by Frank Adler.
October 7	Release of Mirage, the first set in the new block model. Start of the Second Stage of Design Cosmetic changes to the cards, including a slightly expanded text box and border, more visible power/toughness numbers and reminder text.
November	Release of the Multiverse Gift Box, previewing Visions
November 22–24	Pro Tour Dallas, won by Paul McCabe.
End of 1996	Release of the Introductory Two-Player Set for European and Asian markets.
December	DCI gets 100,000th member.
	Player of the Year: Olle Råde

Publications

• Arabian Nights (comic) - January
• Antiquities War - January, February
• Wayfarer - January, February, March
• Homelands (comic) - February
• Ashes of the Sun - March
• Legend of Jedit Ojanen - March, April
• Shandalar (comic) - March, April
• Elder Dragons (comic) - April, May
• Fallen Angel (comic) - May
• Dakkon Blackblade (comic) - June
• Distant Planes - June
• Song of Time - June
• And Peace Shall Sleep - July
• Serra Angel (comic) - August
• Urza–Mishra War - September, October
• Fallen Empires (comic) - September, October
• Dark Legacy - December
• Magic: The Gathering Official Encyclopedia
• Magic: The Puzzling

First involved

Wizards of the Coast

• Sue-Ann Harkey (art director)

Design and Development

• Michael Elliott
• Howard Kahlenberg
• Paul Peterson
• Henry Stern

Artists

Alliances

• Bill Sienkiewicz
• Carol Heyer
• D. Alexander Gregory
• Diana Vick
• Greg Simanson
• John Matson
• Lawrence Snelly
• Rebecca Guay
• Terese Nielsen
• Zak Plucinsky

Mirage

• Adam Rex
• Adrian Smith
• Al Davidson
• Andrew Robinson
• Bob Eggleton
• Charles Gillespie
• Chippy
• Cliff Nielsen
• David O'Connor
• David Ho
• Dermot Power
• Donato Giancola
• Gary Leach
• Geofrey Darrow
• Gerry Grace
• Hannibal King
• Ian Miller
• Janine Johnston
• Jeff Miracola
• Jennifer Law
• John Avon
• John Bolton
• John Coulthart
• John Malloy
• Junior Tomlin
• Kari Johnson
• Kathryn Rathke
• Kev Walker
• Martin McKenna
• Mike Dringenberg
• Mike Kerr
• Robert Bliss
• Roger Raupp
• Scott M. Fischer
• Steve Luke
• Steve White
• Stuart Beel
• Stuart Griffin
• Thomas Gianni
• Tom Kyffin
• Tony Roberts
• Una Fricker
• William Donohoe
• Zina Saunders

Arena League promo

• Kevin McCann