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   |art = None
   |art = None
   |release = April 1995  
   |release = April 1995  
   |plane = [[Multiverse]]
   |plane = [[Multiverse|Multiversal]]
   |mechanics = None new
   |mechanics = None new
   |keywords = None new  
   |keywords = None new  
   |size= 378 <small>(121 common, 121 uncommon, 121 rare, 15 land)</small>
   |size= 378 cards<br/>{{curmb|121|121|121||15}}
   |code_expansion = 4ED  
   |code_expansion = 4ED  
   |code_expansion_ref=<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-august-2004-2004-08-02|Ask Wizards - August, 2004|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|August 02, 2004}}</ref>
   |code_expansion_ref={{DailyRef|ask-wizards-august-2004-2004-08-02|Ask Wizards - August, 2004|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|August 02, 2004}}
   |code_development = Francesca  
   |code_development = Francesca  
   |series = [[Core set]]s  
   |series = [[Core set]]s  
   |first = [[Revised Edition]]
   |first = Revised Edition
   |second = '''Fourth Edition'''
   |second = Fourth Edition  
   |third = [[Fifth Edition]]
   |third = Fifth Edition
   |previous = [[Fallen Empires]]
   |previous = Fallen Empires
   |next = [[Ice Age]]
   |next = Ice Age
}}
}}
[[File:4ED booster.jpg|thumb|right|''Fourth Edition'' booster]]
[[File:4ED booster.jpg|thumb|right|''Fourth Edition'' booster]]
'''''Fourth Edition''''' ('''''4th Edition''''') is a ''[[Magic]]'' [[core set]] that was released in April 1995. This set contained no new cards.
'''''Fourth Edition (4th Edition)''''' is a ''[[Magic]]'' [[core set]] that was released in April 1995. It is a [[reprint set]].


==Set details==
==Set details==
51 cards were removed from the ''[[Revised Edition]]'' and 122 cards from previous expansions (''[[Legends]]'' and ''[[The Dark]]'') were added. ''Fourth Edition'' was the first set to have its [[basic land]]s printed on a separate [[print sheet]]. This freed up room on the other card sheets to include more spells. ''Fourth Edition'' cards have white borders in the American printing while foreign printings have black borders when no prior edition was released on that market. The set has no expansion symbol.
To create ''Fourth Edition'', 51 cards were removed from ''[[Revised Edition]]'', and 122 cards from ''[[Arabian Nights]], [[Antiquities]], [[Legends]]'', and ''[[The Dark]]'' were added. ''Fourth Edition'' was the first set to have [[basic land]]s printed on a separate [[print sheet]]. This freed up room on the common and uncommon card sheets to include more spells, and also allowed boosters to be packaged without lands.  It was also the first set to have the same number of commons, uncommons, and rares, a practice which continued for large [https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Set#Expansions expansion] sets until the release of ''[[Mirrodin]]''.
 
At the time of printing, Wizards policy was that core sets had white borders, but also that a card could not be put into a white-bordered set without first appearing in a black-bordered set in that language.  To make ''Fourth Edition'' sets uniform, ''[[Renaissance]]'' sets were printed in German, Italian, and French to create black bordered versions of cards not previously available in those languages. These printings meant ''Fourth Edition'' cards in English, French, German, Italian could be printed exclusively with white borders.  Japanese, traditional Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese ''Fourth Edition'' cards were printed with black borders. However, after the black bordered versions were printed, the set was almost immediately reprinted with white borders in Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese.


[[File:T 2nd.svg|thumb|The second tap symbol.]]
[[File:T 2nd.svg|thumb|The second tap symbol.]]
*A copyright notice now appeared on the bottom of the cards (dated 1995). The copyright was now attributed to [[Wizards of the Coast]], and not to the [[artist]] anymore.
*A copyright notice dated 1995 is printed on the bottom of the cards.
*The beveled border missing from ''[[Revised]]'' was restored. The colors were also much brighter.  
*The beveled frame missing from ''[[Revised]]'' was restored. The colors were also much more saturated.
*A new [[white]] [[mana symbol]] ({{W}}) was introduced.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/white-mana-symbol-2003-02-06|White mana symbol|[[Magic Arcana]]|February 6, 2003}}</ref>
*A new [[white]] [[mana symbol]] ({{W}}) was introduced.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/white-mana-symbol-2003-02-06|White mana symbol|[[Magic Arcana]]|February 6, 2003}}</ref>
*The [[tap symbol]] changed to a curved arrow symbol, with a black rectangle representing the tapping card behind it.<ref>{{DailyRef|changing-tap-symbol-2004-07-12|The Changing Tap Symbol|[[Magic Arcana]]|July 12, 2004}}</ref>
* The other mana symbols were redesigned as well, but less noticeably.  Black's skull became more elongated, blue's water drop became slimmer and more symmetrical, red's fireball lost the flame licks coming off of it, and green's tree received different branches and a less thick base.*The [[tap symbol]] changed to a curved arrow symbol, with a black rectangle representing the tapping card behind it.<ref>{{DailyRef|changing-tap-symbol-2004-07-12|The Changing Tap Symbol|[[Magic Arcana]]|July 12, 2004}}</ref>
*An [[Alternate Fourth Edition]] run was printed by the United States Playing Card Corporation in Cincinnati. Due to a dispute between the two companies, the cards were never officially published.<ref>[http://www.wizardscupboard.com/4th-edition-alternate-starter-deck-p-19542.html The Wizards Cupboard: 4th Edition alternate starter deck]</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/25-more-random-things-about-magic-2016-06-20|25 More Random Things About Magic|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 20, 2016}}</ref>
*An [[Alternate Fourth Edition]] run was printed by the United States Playing Card Corporation in Cincinnati. Due to a dispute between the two companies, the cards were never officially published.<ref>[http://www.wizardscupboard.com/4th-edition-alternate-starter-deck-p-19542.html The Wizards Cupboard: 4th Edition alternate starter deck]</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/25-more-random-things-about-magic-2016-06-20|25 More Random Things About Magic|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 20, 2016}}</ref>
===Marketing===
===Marketing===
[[File:4ED Gift Box.jpg|right|thumb|''Fourth Edition'' Gift Box]]
[[File:4ED Gift Box.jpg|right|thumb|''Fourth Edition'' Gift Box]]
Cards were available from May 3, 1995 well past the end of the run in April 1997.<ref name="1999 rulings summary">Stephen D'Angelo (February 2, 1999) "[[Card Rulings Summary (02/17/99)|Card Rulings Summary]]". Usenet.</ref> The print run is estimated at 500 million cards. The cards were sold in 60-card [[starter deck]]s and 15-card [[boosters]]. ''Fourth Edition'' was the first set with booster packs made of foil wrappers and the first with artwork on the wrappers (<c>Brass Man</c>, <c>Hurloon Minotaur</c>, <c>Mana Vault</c>, <c>Mesa Pegasus</c>, and <c>Spirit Link</c>). The boosters didn't contain [[basic land]]s anymore. Starters included an extra [[rare]] card, up from 2 to 3 from previous releases and uncommons were reduced to 9 from the previous 13. The package of the starter decks now displayed the five mana symbols, instead of the five colored stones. The set was supplemented with a special [[2-Player Starter Set|Gift Box]]. The ''Fourth Edition'' Gift Box included two starter decks, 30 glass [[counters]], a flannel bag for storing the counters, an illustrated rulebook and a card collectors' checklist.
Cards were available from May 3, 1995 well past the end of the run in April 1997.<ref name="1999 rulings summary">Stephen D'Angelo (February 2, 1999) "[[Card Rulings Summary (02/17/99)|Card Rulings Summary]]". Usenet.</ref> The print run is estimated at 500 million cards. The cards were sold in 60-card [[starter deck]]s and 15-card [[boosters]]. Boosters included 1 rare, 3 uncommons, and 11 commons.  ''Fourth Edition'' was the first set with booster packs with foil wrappers and the first with artwork on the wrappers (<c>Brass Man</c>, <c>Hurloon Minotaur</c>, <c>Mana Vault</c>, <c>Mesa Pegasus</c>, and <c>Spirit Link</c>).   Starters included 3 rares, 9 uncommons, 26 commons, and 22 land. The package of the starter decks displayed the five mana symbols instead of the five colored stones on previous versions. The set was supplemented with a special [[2-Player Starter Set|Gift Box]]. The ''Fourth Edition'' Gift Box included two starter decks, 30 glass [[counters]], a flannel bag for storing the counters, an illustrated rulebook, and a card collectors' checklist.
 
''Fourth Edition'' was published in English, French, German, Italian, and as a first for a ''Magic'' set in Japanese, traditional Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese (primarily for the Brazilian market).


===Rules changes===
===Rules changes===
{{Main|Fourth Edition/Rules changes}}
{{Main|Fourth Edition/Rules changes}}
*The rules concerning [[fast effects]] and the [[batch]] were solidified, as well as those for [[phase]]s, [[activation cost]]s, [[target]]s, and [[damage prevention]].<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/fourth-edition-faq-and-general-rulings-summary-2009-08-17|''Fourth Edition'' FAQ and General Rulings Summary|Adam Conus, [[Tom Wylie]], Jim Lin, and Rich Redman|August 17, 2009}}</ref>
*The rules concerning [[fast effect]]s and the [[batch]] were solidified, as well as those for [[phase]]s, [[activation cost]]s, [[target]]s, and [[damage prevention]].<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/fourth-edition-faq-and-general-rulings-summary-2009-08-17|''Fourth Edition'' FAQ and General Rulings Summary|Adam Conus, [[Tom Wylie]], Jim Lin, and Rich Redman|August 17, 2009}}</ref>


==Cycles==
==Cycles==
''Fourth Edition'' has five [[cycles]].
''Fourth Edition'' has 6 [[cycle]]s, one of which is a 4 card cycle, and 15 [[mirrored pair]]s.


{| class="wikitable wrapped-table"  
{| class="wikitable"  
! Cycle name  
! Cycle name  
! {{W}}
! {{W}}
Line 65: Line 65:
|{{card|Circle of Protection: Green||4ED}}
|{{card|Circle of Protection: Green||4ED}}
|-
|-
|colspan="6"|Each of these common [[white]] [[enchantment]]s has a mana cost of {{1}}{{W}} and the ability to prevent the all [[damage]] from a [[source]] of a given color for {{1}}.
|colspan="5"|Each of these common [[white]] [[enchantment]]s has a mana cost of {{1}}{{W}} and the ability to prevent the all [[damage]] from a [[source]] of a given color for {{1}}.
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''[[Lace]]s'''
|rowspan="2"|'''[[Lace]]s'''
Line 74: Line 74:
|{{card|Lifelace||4ED}}
|{{card|Lifelace||4ED}}
|-
|-
|colspan="6"|Each of these rare instants permanently changes the color of a permanent.
|colspan="5"|Each of these rare instants permanently changes the color of a permanent.
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''[[Lucky charm]]s'''
|rowspan="2"|'''[[Lucky charm]]s'''
Line 83: Line 83:
|{{card|Wooden Sphere||4ED}}
|{{card|Wooden Sphere||4ED}}
|-
|-
|colspan="6"|Each of these [[uncommon]] [[artifact]]s has a [[triggered ability]] that allows the controller pay {{1}} to gain 1 life when a spell of a given color resolves.
|colspan="5"|Each of these [[uncommon]] [[artifact]]s has a [[triggered ability]] that allows the controller pay {{1}} to gain 1 life when a spell of a given color resolves.
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Mana batteries'''
|rowspan="2"|'''Mana batteries'''
Line 92: Line 92:
|{{card|Green Mana Battery||4ED}}
|{{card|Green Mana Battery||4ED}}
|-
|-
|colspan="6"|Uncommon artifacts with a casting cost of {{4}} and the two activated abilities "{{2}}, {{T}}: Put a charge [[counter]] on [this]" and "{{T}}, Remove any number of charge counters from [this]: Add M, then add an additional M for each charge counter removed this way," where M is a specific color of mana.
|colspan="5"|Uncommon artifacts with a casting cost of {{4}} and the two activated abilities "{{2}}, {{T}}: Put a charge [[counter]] on [this]" and "{{T}}, Remove any number of charge counters from [this]: Add M, then add an additional M for each charge counter removed this way," where M is a specific color of mana.
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''[[Ward]]s'''
|rowspan="2"|'''[[Ward]]s'''
Line 101: Line 101:
|{{card|Green Ward||4ED}}
|{{card|Green Ward||4ED}}
|-
|-
|colspan="6"|Uncommon [[white]] [[aura]]s with [[enchant]] creature that grant protection from a color.
|colspan="5"|Uncommon [[white]] [[Aura]]s with [[enchant]] creature that grant protection from a color.
|}
|}


==Mirrored pairs==
===Four-card cycles===
''Fourth Edition'' has 22 [[mirrored pairs]].
{| class="wikitable"
! Cycle name
!colspan="2"| {{U}}
!colspan="2"| {{R}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Classic Elementals'''
|{{card|Air Elemental||4ED}}
|{{card|Water Elemental||4ED}}
|{{card|Fire Elemental||4ED}}
|{{card|Earth Elemental||4ED}}
|-
|colspan="4"|These four uncommon Elemental creature are based on the traditional four Elements.
|}


{| class="wikitable wrapped-table"
===Pairs===
|-
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"|Mirrored Pairs
! colspan="2"|Mirrored Pairs
!
! Description
|-
|{{card|Ankh of Mishra||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{C}})}}
|{{card|Dingus Egg||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{C}})}}
|These [[rare]] artifacts deal damage when a land enters or leaves the battlefield.
|-
|{{card|Air Elemental||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Earth Elemental||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|These uncommon [[Elemental]] creatures each have a mana cost of {{3}}MM and a [[power]] of 4.
|-
|{{card|Benalish Hero||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Timber Wolves||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|These are both 1/1 creatures with banding and a mana cost of M.
|-
|{{card|Castle||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Orcish Oriflamme||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|These are both uncommon [[enchantment]]s that conditionally affect its owner's creature's power or toughness.
|-
|{{card|Crusade||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Bad Moon||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|These are both rare enchantments with a [[converted mana cost]] of 2 and an effect to give all creatures of its color +1/+1.
|-
|{{card|White Knight||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Black Knight||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|These are both uncommon [[knight]]s with a mana cost of MM, power/toughness of 2/2, [[first strike]] and protection from the other's color.
|-
|{{card|Blue Elemental Blast||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Red Elemental Blast||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|These are both common instants (formerly interrupts) with a mana cost of M and with a [[modal]] ability to either destroy a permanent of the other's color or counter a spell of the other's color.
|-
|-
|{{card|Deathgrip||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Crusade||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Lifeforce||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|{{card|Bad Moon||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|These are each uncommon enchantments with an activated ability to counter a spell of the other's color for MM.
|Rare enchantments with a [[converted mana cost]] of 2 and an effect to give all creatures of its color +1/+1.
|-
|-
|{{card|Earthquake||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|White Knight||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Hurricane||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|{{card|Black Knight||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|These are both sorceries that have a mana cost of {{X}}M and deal {{X}} damage to all non-flying or flying creatures and each player.
|Uncommon [[knight]]s with a mana cost of MM, power/toughness of 2/2, [[first strike]] and protection from the other's color.
|-
|-
|{{card|Feedback||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Blue Elemental Blast||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Wanderlust||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|{{card|Red Elemental Blast||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|These are both uncommon Auras that deal 1 damage to the controller of the enchanted permanent during each of their [[upkeep]]s.
|Common instants (formerly interrupts) with a mana cost of M and with a [[modal]] ability to either destroy a permanent of the other's color or counter a spell of the other's color.
|-
|-
|{{card|Water Elemental||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Deathgrip||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Fire Elemental||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Lifeforce||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|These are both uncommon elementals with a mana cost of 3MM and a power/toughness of 5/4.
|Uncommon enchantments with an activated ability to counter a spell of the other's color for MM.
|-
|-
|{{card|Holy Strength||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Holy Strength||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Unholy Strength||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Unholy Strength||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|These are both common auras with enchant creature that give a mirrored bonus to the enchanted creature's power/toughness.
|Common auras with enchant creature that give a mirrored bonus to the enchanted creature's power/toughness.
|-
|-
|{{card|Living Lands||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|{{card|Lord of Atlantis||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Kormus Bell||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{C}})}}
|{{card|Goblin King||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|These are both rare cards that turned lands of a particular type into 1/1 creatures.
|Rare [[lord]]s that give +1/+1 and landwalk of its color to its creature type.
|-
|-
|{{card|Lord of Atlantis||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Mons's Goblin Raiders||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Goblin King||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Merfolk of the Pearl Trident||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|These are both rare [[lord]]s that give +1/+1 and landwalk of its color to its creature type.
|1/1 common creatures with creature types that are affected by their respective lords (e.g., Goblin King and Lord of Atlantis).
|-
|-
|{{card|Manabarbs||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Serra Angel||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Power Surge||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Sengir Vampire||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|These are both rare red enchantments that deal damage to a player based on the number of lands they do or don't tap.
|Uncommon 4/4 flying creatures with a mana cost of {{3}}MM and a combat-related ability.
|-
|-
|{{card|Mons's Goblin Raiders||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Wall of Water||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Merfolk of the Pearl Trident||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Wall of Fire||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|These are both 1/1 common creatures with creature types that are affected by their respective lords (e.g., Goblin King and Lord of Atlantis).
|0/5 walls illustrated by [[Richard Thomas]] with a silhouetted figure behind a wall and the activated ability "M: [this] gets +1/+0 until end of turn."
|-
|-
|{{card|Serra Angel||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Benalish Hero||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Sengir Vampire||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Timber Wolves||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|These are both uncommon 4/4 flying creatures with a mana cost of {{3}}MM and a combat-related ability.
|1/1 creatures with [[banding]] and a mana cost of M.
|-
|-
|{{card|Smoke||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Castle||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Winter Orb||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{C}})}}
|{{card|Orcish Oriflamme||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|These are both allow players to only untap one of a type of permanent each turn.
|Uncommon [[enchantment]]s with a cost of 3M. Oriflame give +1/0 for attacking creatures and Castle gives +0/2 for defending (untapped) creatures.
|-
|{{card|Earthquake||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Hurricane||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|Sorceries that have a mana cost of {{X}}M and deal {{X}} damage to all non-flying or flying creatures and each player.
|-
|-
|{{card|Tsunami||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|{{card|Feedback||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Flashfires||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Wanderlust||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|These are both uncommon sorceries that have a mana cost of {{3}}M and destroy lands of a particular enemy type.
|Uncommon Auras that deal 1 damage to the controller of the enchanted permanent during each of their [[upkeep]]s.
|-
|-
|{{card|Wall of Bone||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Tsunami||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|{{card|Wall of Brambles||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|{{card|Flashfires||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|These are both walls with regeneration and a mana cost of {{2}}M and a combined power/toughness of 5.
|Uncommon sorceries that have a mana cost of {{3}}M and destroy lands of a particular enemy type.
|-
|-
|{{card|Wall of Water||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Wall of Bone||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Wall of Fire||4ED}} {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Wall of Brambles||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|These are both 0/5 walls illustrated by [[Richard Thomas]] with a silhouetted figure behind a wall and the activated ability "M: [this] gets +1/+0 until end of turn."
|Walls with regeneration and a mana cost of {{2}}M and a combined [[power/toughness]] of 5.
|}
|}


==Core set changes==
==Core set changes==
[[File:4ED Advertisement.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Advertisement for ''Fourth Edition''.]]
{{Main|Fourth Edition/Changes}}
{{Main|Fourth Edition/Changes}}
;Notable changes
;Notable changes
Line 210: Line 199:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.wizards.com/magic/advanced/4e/Fourth_Edition.asp ''Fourth Edition'' Official Page] (old)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171028182920/http://www.wizards.com/magic/advanced/4e/Fourth_Edition.asp ''Fourth Edition'' Official Page] (old)
*[http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/products/card-set-archive/fourth-edition ''Fourth Edition'' Product Information] (new)
*[http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/products/card-set-archive/fourth-edition ''Fourth Edition'' Product Information] (new)


{{Sets|classic}}
{{Sets|classic}}
[[Category:Magic core sets|4]]
[[Category:Magic core sets|4]]

Latest revision as of 13:01, 13 April 2024

Fourth Edition
 
Alternate
 
Changes
 
Rules changes
 
Pocket Players' Guide
 
Fourth Edition
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description Roman numeral IV
Design Richard Garfield
with contributions from
Charlie Cateeno
Skaff Elias
Don Felice
Tom Fontaine
Jim Lin
Joel Mick
Chris Page
Dave Pettey
Barry "Bit" Reich
Bill Rose
Elliott Segal
Development Same as design
Art direction None
Release date April 1995
Plane Multiversal
Themes and mechanics None new
Keywords/​ability words None new
Set size 378 cards
(121 commons, 121 uncommons, 121 rares, 15 basic lands)
Expansion code 4ED[1]
Development codename Francesca
Core sets
Revised Edition Fourth Edition Fifth Edition
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Fallen Empires Fourth Edition Ice Age
Fourth Edition booster

Fourth Edition (4th Edition) is a Magic core set that was released in April 1995. It is a reprint set.

Set details

To create Fourth Edition, 51 cards were removed from Revised Edition, and 122 cards from Arabian Nights, Antiquities, Legends, and The Dark were added. Fourth Edition was the first set to have basic lands printed on a separate print sheet. This freed up room on the common and uncommon card sheets to include more spells, and also allowed boosters to be packaged without lands. It was also the first set to have the same number of commons, uncommons, and rares, a practice which continued for large expansion sets until the release of Mirrodin.

At the time of printing, Wizards policy was that core sets had white borders, but also that a card could not be put into a white-bordered set without first appearing in a black-bordered set in that language. To make Fourth Edition sets uniform, Renaissance sets were printed in German, Italian, and French to create black bordered versions of cards not previously available in those languages. These printings meant Fourth Edition cards in English, French, German, Italian could be printed exclusively with white borders. Japanese, traditional Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese Fourth Edition cards were printed with black borders. However, after the black bordered versions were printed, the set was almost immediately reprinted with white borders in Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese.

The second tap symbol.
  • A copyright notice dated 1995 is printed on the bottom of the cards.
  • The beveled frame missing from Revised was restored. The colors were also much more saturated.
  • A new white mana symbol ({W}) was introduced.[2]
  • The other mana symbols were redesigned as well, but less noticeably. Black's skull became more elongated, blue's water drop became slimmer and more symmetrical, red's fireball lost the flame licks coming off of it, and green's tree received different branches and a less thick base.*The tap symbol changed to a curved arrow symbol, with a black rectangle representing the tapping card behind it.[3]
  • An Alternate Fourth Edition run was printed by the United States Playing Card Corporation in Cincinnati. Due to a dispute between the two companies, the cards were never officially published.[4][5]

Marketing

Fourth Edition Gift Box

Cards were available from May 3, 1995 well past the end of the run in April 1997.[6] The print run is estimated at 500 million cards. The cards were sold in 60-card starter decks and 15-card boosters. Boosters included 1 rare, 3 uncommons, and 11 commons. Fourth Edition was the first set with booster packs with foil wrappers and the first with artwork on the wrappers (Brass Man, Hurloon Minotaur, Mana Vault, Mesa Pegasus, and Spirit Link). Starters included 3 rares, 9 uncommons, 26 commons, and 22 land. The package of the starter decks displayed the five mana symbols instead of the five colored stones on previous versions. The set was supplemented with a special Gift Box. The Fourth Edition Gift Box included two starter decks, 30 glass counters, a flannel bag for storing the counters, an illustrated rulebook, and a card collectors' checklist.

Rules changes

Main article: Fourth Edition/Rules changes

Cycles

Fourth Edition has 6 cycles, one of which is a 4 card cycle, and 15 mirrored pairs.

Cycle name {W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Circles of protection Circle of Protection: White Circle of Protection: Blue Circle of Protection: Black Circle of Protection: Red Circle of Protection: Green
Each of these common white enchantments has a mana cost of {1}{W} and the ability to prevent the all damage from a source of a given color for {1}.
Laces Purelace Thoughtlace Deathlace Chaoslace Lifelace
Each of these rare instants permanently changes the color of a permanent.
Lucky charms Ivory Cup Crystal Rod Throne of Bone Iron Star Wooden Sphere
Each of these uncommon artifacts has a triggered ability that allows the controller pay {1} to gain 1 life when a spell of a given color resolves.
Mana batteries White Mana Battery Blue Mana Battery Black Mana Battery Red Mana Battery Green Mana Battery
Uncommon artifacts with a casting cost of {4} and the two activated abilities "{2}, {T}: Put a charge counter on [this]" and "{T}, Remove any number of charge counters from [this]: Add M, then add an additional M for each charge counter removed this way," where M is a specific color of mana.
Wards White Ward Blue Ward Black Ward Red Ward Green Ward
Uncommon white Auras with enchant creature that grant protection from a color.

Four-card cycles

Cycle name {U} {R}
Classic Elementals Air Elemental Water Elemental Fire Elemental Earth Elemental
These four uncommon Elemental creature are based on the traditional four Elements.

Pairs

Mirrored Pairs Description
Crusade
({W}) 		Bad Moon
({B}) 		Rare enchantments with a converted mana cost of 2 and an effect to give all creatures of its color +1/+1.
White Knight
({W}) 		Black Knight
({B}) 		Uncommon knights with a mana cost of MM, power/toughness of 2/2, first strike and protection from the other's color.
Blue Elemental Blast
({U}) 		Red Elemental Blast
({R}) 		Common instants (formerly interrupts) with a mana cost of M and with a modal ability to either destroy a permanent of the other's color or counter a spell of the other's color.
Deathgrip
({B}) 		Lifeforce
({G}) 		Uncommon enchantments with an activated ability to counter a spell of the other's color for MM.
Holy Strength
({W}) 		Unholy Strength
({B}) 		Common auras with enchant creature that give a mirrored bonus to the enchanted creature's power/toughness.
Lord of Atlantis
({U}) 		Goblin King
({R}) 		Rare lords that give +1/+1 and landwalk of its color to its creature type.
Mons's Goblin Raiders
({R}) 		Merfolk of the Pearl Trident
({U}) 		1/1 common creatures with creature types that are affected by their respective lords (e.g., Goblin King and Lord of Atlantis).
Serra Angel
({W}) 		Sengir Vampire
({B}) 		Uncommon 4/4 flying creatures with a mana cost of {3}MM and a combat-related ability.
Wall of Water
({U}) 		Wall of Fire
({R}) 		0/5 walls illustrated by Richard Thomas with a silhouetted figure behind a wall and the activated ability "M: [this] gets +1/+0 until end of turn."
Benalish Hero
({W}) 		Timber Wolves
({G}) 		1/1 creatures with banding and a mana cost of M.
Castle
({W}) 		Orcish Oriflamme
({R}) 		Uncommon enchantments with a cost of 3M. Oriflame give +1/0 for attacking creatures and Castle gives +0/2 for defending (untapped) creatures.
Earthquake
({R}) 		Hurricane
({G}) 		Sorceries that have a mana cost of {X}M and deal {X} damage to all non-flying or flying creatures and each player.
Feedback
({U}) 		Wanderlust
({G}) 		Uncommon Auras that deal 1 damage to the controller of the enchanted permanent during each of their upkeeps.
Tsunami
({G}) 		Flashfires
({R}) 		Uncommon sorceries that have a mana cost of {3}M and destroy lands of a particular enemy type.
Wall of Bone
({B}) 		Wall of Brambles
({G}) 		Walls with regeneration and a mana cost of {2}M and a combined power/toughness of 5.

Core set changes

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Notable changes

Misprints

  • Gaea's Liege — The card name is misspelled as "Gaea's Leige" once in the text box.
  • Segovian Leviathan — The quotation in the flavor text is from Job 41:1, not Job 40:25 (although it is Job 40:25 in the original Hebrew text). This error was corrected in Fifth Edition.

References

  1. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (August 02, 2004). "Ask Wizards - August, 2004". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Magic Arcana (February 6, 2003). "White mana symbol". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Magic Arcana (July 12, 2004). "The Changing Tap Symbol". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ The Wizards Cupboard: 4th Edition alternate starter deck
  5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 20, 2016). "25 More Random Things About Magic". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Stephen D'Angelo (February 2, 1999) "Card Rulings Summary". Usenet.
  7. ↑ Adam Conus, Tom Wylie, Jim Lin, and Rich Redman (August 17, 2009). "Fourth Edition FAQ and General Rulings Summary". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

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