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| ==Set details== | | == Reprint list == |
| It was released in early June 1995 and went out of print in February 1996, although it did not really dwindle in availability until the end of 1996.
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| It was the last set to have 10 starter decks in a box.
| | The reprint list is weird now, Ice Age cards don't have watermarks, and the origin of the cards seems to be random. --[[User:Hunterofsalvation|Hunter]] ([[User talk:Hunterofsalvation|talk]]) 11:52, 11 June 2020 (UTC) |
| | : Fixed it --[[User:Hunterofsalvation|Hunter]] ([[User talk:Hunterofsalvation|talk]]) 12:48, 11 June 2020 (UTC) |
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| The print run is estimated at 500 million cards.
| | == Release date == |
| :{{Systext|Rewrite. Find references.}}
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| ==Mechanics and themes==
| | An anonymous user added a release date. It's in the right ballpark, but when I search around I can't find a single place that gets any more specific than "June 1995". Does this date seem legit? Would love to know the source.[[User:Jerodast|Jerodast]] ([[User talk:Jerodast|talk]]) 06:38, 16 January 2021 (UTC) |
| ''Ice Age'' introduced [[Cumulative upkeep|cumulative upkeep]] and [[snow]] lands (then called snow-covered lands) to the game. Cumulative upkeep is a cost on permanents that increases with each turn, and was used entirely as a disadvantage on cards with powerful and/or game-changing effects in this expansion. Snow-covered lands are a [[cycle]] of [[basic]] lands that also have the Snow [[supertype]], which is meaningless by itself, but is referenced by other cards. This feature in the set is not very well developed and considered mostly a failure by the developers of the ''[[Alliances]]'' expansion, who chose not to expand much on this theme. Snow-covered lands inspired the creation of the [[Arcane]] spell type in the [[Kamigawa block]]. | | : Agree that we would need a source to let it stand --[[User:Hunterofsalvation|Hunterofsalvation]] ([[User talk:Hunterofsalvation|talk]]) 07:14, 16 January 2021 (UTC) |
| | :: Probably no need to note this since the source should have it anyway, but just in case, the proposed date was June 3, 1995.- [[User:Jerodast|jerodast]] ([[User_talk:Jerodast|talk]]) 08:23, 16 January 2021 (UTC) |
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| Another popular mechanic introduced in ''Ice Age'', but did not use a [[keyword]]: [[Cantrip|cantrips]]. These are spells that, in addition to a normal small effect, also replaced itself with a card draw. The typical formula for the mana cost of a cantrip was to add 2 to the cost of the effect, which was typically one colored mana for the typically small effect. Additionally, ''Ice Age'' set the precedent of such spells drawing a card during the next upkeep. This was done instead of today's simpler "Draw a card" because the developers were not sure if adding card drawing to simple spells would make them overpowered, and they chose to print a more conservative version of the ability. Delayed card drawing would continue on cantrips through the ''[[Visions]]'' expansion, when the delay was removed for being unnecessary.
| | == Number of cards == |
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| ''Ice Age'' also further explored [[Legendary|legendary]] [[permanents]], expanding on them from the lands and multicolored creatures in the [[Legends]] expansion to now include mono-colored creatures.
| | I believe number of cards for commons and uncommons are wrong. I checked various sites and only found about 120 commons and 120 uncommons (the wiki says that are 121 and 121). |
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| ''Ice Age'' also had a theme of allied color cooperation, with cards of one color that required or were improved by the use of allied color mana. For example, <c>Freyalise Supplicant</c> is a [[green]] [[creature]] that requires you to sacrifice a [[white]] or [[red]] creature, and <c>Word of Undoing</c> is a [[blue]] [[instant]] that returns a creature to owner's hand, as well as any white [[Aura|Auras]] you control on that creature.
| | Im checking for the number of rares this week. |
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| ''Ice Age'' was designed thematically for slow play, with very few creatures with [[evasion]] abilities. As a result, ''Ice Age'' [[limited]] play is often characterized by long games with non-flying creature stalls, as [[Magic]] sets were not yet designed specifically to support limited play.
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| :{{Systext|Rewrite. Find references.}}
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| ==Creature types==
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| ''Ice Age'' saw the return of many familiar [[Creature type|creature types]], but also introduced a number of new ones, some of which are unique to their respective creatures like those found in earlier expansions. This is not too surprising, as the design of this expansion began before [[Magic]] was even released to the public.
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| The following creature types are introduced in this expansion: [[Aurochs]], [[Barbarian]], Blinking Spirit (later changed to [[Spirit]]), [[Brownie]], [[Centaur]], Dead (later changed to [[Skeleton]]), Dinosaur (later changed to [[Lizard]]), Dog (later changed to [[Hound]]), [[Dryad]], [[Erne]], [[Fiend]], [[Fox]], [[Frostbeast]], [[Goat]], Gorilla Pack (later changed to [[Ape]]), [[Hipparion]], [[Illusion]], [[Infernal-Denizen]], [[Insect]], [[Kraken]], [[Lemure]], [[Lhurgoyf]], [[Mage]], [[Mercenary]], Mistfolk (later changed to [[Illusion]]), [[Ouphe]], [[Pyknite]], [[Ranger]], [[Shyft]], Tiger (later changed to [[Cat]]), [[Titan]], [[Toad]] (later changed to [[Frog]]), [[Wight]], [[Wiitigo]], [[Wolverine]] (separate from [[Legends]]' Wolverine Pack), and [[Worm]].
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| The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets: [[Angel]], [[Bear]], [[Cleric]], [[Demon]], [[Elf]], Ghoul (later changed to [[Zombie]]), [[Giant]], Hero (later changed to [[Warrior]]), [[Hydra]], [[Imp]], [[Knight]], [[Lord]], Mammoth (later changed to [[Elephant]]), [[Orc]], [[Paladin]](later changed to [[Knight]]), Phantasm (later changed to [[Illusion]]), [[Rat]], [[Shade]], [[Soldier]], [[Specter]], [[Spider]], [[Spirit]], [[Unicorn]], [[Vampire]], [[Wall]], [[Wizard]], [[Wolf]], [[Wurm]], [[Yeti]], and [[Zombie]].
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| :{{Systext|Column.}}
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| ==Storyline==
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| The ''Ice Age'' storyline, like the earlier sets that took place on [[Dominaria]], occurred on the continent of [[Terisiare]], where the [[Brothers' War]] had taken place. That war ended with the [[Sylex Blast]], which was powerful enough to alter the planet's climate. All the major civilizations of Terisiare had been destroyed by either the war or the ice. New cultures arose on the ice, fighting bitterly for survival, but when the [[necromancer]] [[Lim-Dûl]] unleashed a horde of [[undead]], old enemies were forced to work together or be overwhelmed.
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| The setting was based largely off of Norse style mythology and culture. Names were largely Scandinavian in character, and occasional runes and Norse-style clothing and armor can be seen in the art.
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| :{{Systext|Rewrite. References. Subsection within set details section.}}
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| ==Design & Development==
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| The "East Coast playtesters", consisting of [[Skaff Elias]], [[Jim Lin]], [[Chris Page]] and [[Dave Pettey]], that had helped [[Richard Garfield]] with the original [[Limited Edition#Alpha|''Alpha'']] set of [[Magic]] decided that they could create a "more interesting" set. They were quickly asked by Richard Garfield to create a [[Magic]] expansion, and [[Chris Page]] was assigned to join the team. At the time designers were given the freedom to either compose their sets entirely out of new cards or to use the [[common|commons]] from ''Alpha'' Edition and create only new [[uncommon|uncommons]] and [[rare|rares]]. The ''Ice Age'' group, who saw themselves as improving on ''Alpha'' Edition, chose to reuse many staple cards. The design goals are best described by Skaff Elias himself: "We wanted a set where flying was special, not just an extra word tacked on to every played creature. We wanted a set where the idea that a color was short on creatures meant something. We wanted a set where the 'allied' colors were played more often with each other than enemy colors were. We wanted strategy in simple creature combat as well as flashy enchantments that gave you cards for life. We wanted games to last longer (when we started the design of the set, the Magic environment was too fast due to unlimited card restrictions) and have more turnabouts." After ''Alpha'' Edition was published it was quickly realized that the players were ravenous for new cards and would not, at the time, stomach reprints of commons they had already seen. The presence of the reprinted commons would lead to the delayed release, and the redesign, of ''Ice Age''. This was both good and bad for the set. More cards were created, some of which were slated to replace reprints, and more time was available to test those cards. Unfortunately, last-minute untested additions to improve the strength of the expansion's themes added complications to the cards and seemed clunky. [[Snow|Snow-covered]] lands were added late to improve the environmental theme, which could explain why the snow-covered mechanic was so poorly developed.
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| While the common reprints delayed the release of ''Ice Age'', the timing for a standalone expansion was probably fortuitous, as it took time for [[Wizards of the Coast]] to collect and analyze feedback from the players and develop a plan for the long-term survival of the game. The idea of regularly recreating '''Magic''' is fundamental to the survival of the game, for which the ''Ice Age'' development team had to argue. The standalone style of this expansion was hotly debated at the time, but in the end proved to be a solid idea and important to the game and proved that players would eventually accept some reprints in an evolving game.
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| :{{Systext|Set details. References.}}
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| ==Cycles==
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| ''Ice Age'' has eight [[cycle]]s:
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| *'''Circles of protection''': 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}} {{-}} <c>Circle of Protection: White</c>, <c>Circle of Protection: Blue</c>, <c>Circle of Protection: Black</c>, <c>Circle of Protection: Red</c>, and <c>Circle of Protection: Green</c>. This cycle was reprinted from the [[Core Set]].
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| *'''[[Depletion lands]]''': Each of these rare [[dual lands]] has "{{T}}: add C or D to your mana pool. [This] doesn't untap during its controller's next untap phase." C and D are allied colors of mana {{-}} <c>Land Cap</c>, <c>Veldt</c>, <c>River Delta</c>, <c>Lava Tubes</c>, and <c>Timberline Ridge</c>. These lands were called the Depletion lands because the "doesn't untap" drawback previously used a depletion counter to remind the user not to untap it for one turn.
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| *'''Monocolored [[hosers]]''': Each of these pairs of spells punishes your opponents for playing with spells of one of its enemy colors {{-}} <c>Drought</c> and <c>Stench of Evil</c> (white vs. black), <c>Justice</c> and <c>Anarchy</c> (white vs. red), <c>Curse of Marit Lage</c> and <c>Wrath of Marit Lage</c> (blue vs. red), <c>Breath of Dreams</c> and <c>Thoughtleech</c> (blue vs. green), and <c>Leshrac's Sigil</c> and <c>Freyalise's Charm</c> (black vs. green). Out of these, the blue/red and black/green hosers are also [[mirrored pair]]s (see below).
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| *'''Multicolored hosers''': Each of these [[rare]] allied multicolored cards confer an advantage against an opponent playing the enemy color of both allied colors {{-}} <c>Glaciers</c>, <c>Flooded Woodlands</c>, <c>Ghostly Flame</c>, <c>Monsoon</c>, and <c>Reclamation</c>. (<c>Ghostly Flame</c> gives an advantage against an opponent playing white, since black and red otherwise have few ways to combat a <c>Circle of Protection: Black</c> or <c>Circle of Protection: Red</c>, which were popular weapons against these colors at the time; <c>Monsoon</c>, meanwhile, prevents blue players from making use of [[Counter#Countering Spells|counterspells]]).
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| *'''[[Painlands]]''': Each of these rare dual lands has "{{T}}: add 1 to your mana pool. {{T}}: Add C or D to your mana pool. [This] deals 1 damage to you." C and D are allied colors of mana {{-}} <c>Adarkar Wastes</c>, <c>Brushland</c>, <c>Underground River</c>, <c>Sulfurous Springs</c>, and <c>Karplusan Forest</c>.
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| *'''Scarabs''': Each of these uncommon white [[Aura|Auras]] has "Enchant creature" and "Enchanted creature can't be blocked by [color] creatures. Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 as long as an opponent controls a [color] permanent" {{-}} <c>White Scarab</c>, <c>Blue Scarab</c>, <c>Black Scarab</c>, <c>Red Scarab</c>, and <c>Green Scarab</c>.
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| *'''Talismans''': Each of these [[uncommon]] [[artifact]]s costs {{2}} and may untap a permanent for {{3}} whenever a spell of a certain color is played {{-}} <c>Nacre Talisman</c>, <c>Lapis Lazuli Talisman</c>, <c>Onyx Talisman</c>, <c>Hematite Talisman</c>, and <c>Malachite Talisman</c>. These cards are weak because play-testing revealed a degenerate combo with a less costly version.{{fact}}
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| *'''Tricolor spells''': Each of these rare spells has a [[mana cost]] that includes CDE, where C and E are two colors of mana that are allied with D, a third color of mana {{-}} <c>Merieke Ri Berit</c>, <c>Storm Spirit</c>, <c>Fiery Justice</c>, <c>Elemental Augury</c>, and <c>Earthlink</c>.
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| :{{Systext|Tabulate.}}
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| ==Mirrored pairs==
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| ''Ice Age'' has eight [[mirrored pair]]s:
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| *'''Blasts''': These [[common]] [[modal]] instants, one blue and one red, both have a casting cost of C and can be cast to either counter a spell of the other's color or to destroy a permanent of the other's color {{-}} <c>Hydroblast</c>, <c>Pyroblast</c>.
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| *'''Counter knights''': These [[rare]] 2/2 [[Classes#Knights|Knight]] creatures, one [[white]] and one [[black]], both have a casting cost of {{1}}CC and can be tapped to counter a spell of the other's color at the cost of 1 life {{-}} <c>Order of the Sacred Torch</c> and <c>Stromgald Cabal</c>.
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| *'''Evasion spirits''': These uncommon [[Elementals|Elemental]] [[Spirits|Spirit]] creatures, one blue and one red, both have a mana cost of {{4}}C and an ability that limits an opponent's ability to block it {{-}} <c>Wind Spirit</c> and <c>Stone Spirit</c>.
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| *'''Green landwalkers''': These rare green creatures each have [[landwalk]] for one of green's enemy colors {{-}} <c>Pale Bears</c> and <c>Pygmy Allosaurus</c>.
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| *'''Marit Lage enchantments''': These rare [[enchantments]] named for the being [[Marit Lage]], one blue and one red, both cost 3CC and inhibit resources associated with the other's color {{-}} <c>Wrath of Marit Lage</c> and <c>Curse of Marit Lage</c>
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| *'''Order knights''': These [[uncommon]] 2/1 Knight creatures, one white and one black, both cost CC and have [[protection]] from the other's color, "C: [This] gains first strike until end of turn", and "CC: [This] gets +1/+0 until end of turn" {{-}} <c>Order of the White Shield</c> and <c>Knight of Stromgald</c>.
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| *'''Planeswalker enchantments''': These uncommon enchantments, one black and one green, both have a casting cost of CC and an activated ability that confers card advantage at the cost of CC over opponents playing with the other's color and have "CC: Return [this] to its owner's hand." Each is named for one of the [[planeswalkers]] who impacted the ''Ice Age'' storyline {{-}} <c>Leshrac's Sigil</c> and <c>Freyalise's Charm</c>.
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| *'''Pump spirits''': There uncommon 2/3 [[Elementals|Elemental]] [[Spirits|Spirit]] creatures, one blue and one red, both have a mana cost of {{4}}C and "C: [This] gets +1/+0 until end of turn" {{-}} <c>Sea Spirit</c>, <c>Flame Spirit</c>.
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| :{{Systext|Tabulate.}}
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| ==Notable cards==
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| *<c>Brainstorm</c> was certainly less powerful than <c>Ancestral Recall</c>, but it is still a notably powerful card that continues to see lots of play in the formats it remains legal in.
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| *<c>Demonic Consultation</c> was initially considered to be too risky, but it eventually proved to be a solid [[tutor|tutoring]] spell and proved just how valuable tutoring spells really are. It, too, was later banned.
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| *<c>Fyndhorn Elves</c> adds mana acceleration to a [[Aggro deck#Evolving Aggro Archetypes|Stompy]] deck together with <c>Llanowar Elves</c>, of which it is a [[functional reprint]].
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| *<c>Illusions of Grandeur</c> gained fame when it was combined with <c>Donate</c> to gain 20 life and force an opponent to pay its Cumulative Upkeep until they lost 20 life.
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| *<c>Incinerate</c> was initially seen as only a weakened version of <c>Lightning Bolt</c>, but it has since also been decided to be too powerful for its cost until its return in [[Tenth Edition]].
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| *<c>Jester's Cap</c> was, at the time, the most valuable card in the expansion for its ability to interfere with an opponent's strategy. It has since been overshadowed and is now seldom played.
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| *<c>Necropotence</c> was originally dismissed as a bad rare and even called the worst rare of the set by [[InQuest]] Magazine. It later became the centerpiece of the powerful, mono-black deck of the same name. The deck was so powerful that its reign is often called "[[Black Summer]]" or "The Summer of Necro." Several cards from the deck were later banned, but Necropotence appeared again later in several other decks, and was finally banned itself.
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| *<c>Pox</c> had a powerful tournament deck built around it.
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| *<c>Pyroclasm</c> is a powerful, inexpensive board-clearing effect that continues to see play today.
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| *<c>Stormbind</c> is a recurring source of damage from a time when they were much harder to come by. It was a powerful tournament card at the time, comboing well with <c>Whiteout</c> for added effect.
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| *<c>Urza's Bauble</c> is one of only two [[cantrip]]s in existence, without any costs attached. Although it does next to nothing, the card would be very good if it wouldn't be a [[slowtrip]].
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| *<c>Zuran Orb</c> is a powerful and zero cost artifact that gives any deck life-gain, and was notorious for prolonging games. It eventually was banned or restricted in every sanctioned format it could have been played in as a result.
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| :{{Systext|Find quality references or leave out.}}
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| ==Reprinted cards==
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| The following cards have been [[Reprint|reprinted]] from previous sets and included in ''Ice Age''.
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| *<c>Circle of Protection: Black</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''[[4th Edition]]''.
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| *<c>Circle of Protection: Blue</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Circle of Protection: Green</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Circle of Protection: Red</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Circle of Protection: White</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Counterspell</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Dark Ritual</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Death Ward</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Disenchant</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Fear</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Giant Growth</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Howl From Beyond</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Hurricane</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Icy Manipulator</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''[[Unlimited]]''.
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| *<c>Lure</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Power Sink</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Regeneration</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Shatter</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Sleight of Mind</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Stone Rain</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Swords to Plowshares</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Wild Growth</c> {{-}} was last seen in ''4th Edition''.
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| :{{Systext|Tabulate.}}
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| ==Functional reprints==
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| ''Ice Age'' has ten [[functional reprint]]s:
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| *<c>Balduvian Bears</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Grizzly Bears</c> from ''[[4th Edition]]'' and <c>Barbary Apes</c> from ''[[Legends]]'' (save for creature type).
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| *<c>Fyndhorn Elves</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Llanowar Elves</c> from ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Hydroblast</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Blue Elemental Blast</c> from ''4th Edition'' (save for a slight rules side case)
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| *<c>Juniper Order Druid</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Ley Druid</c> from ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Kjeldoran Warrior</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Benalish Hero</c> from ''4th Edition'', save for creature type.
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| *<c>Knight of Stromgald</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Order of the Ebon Hand</c> from ''[[Fallen Empires]]'', save for creature type.
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| *<c>Moor Fiend</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Bog Wraith</c> from ''4th Edition'', save for creature type.
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| *<c>Orcish Cannoneers</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Orcish Artillery</c> from ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Order of the White Shield</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Order of Leitbur</c> from ''Fallen Empires'', save for creature type.
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| *<c>Pyroblast</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Red Elemental Blast</c> from ''4th Edition'' (save for a slight rules side case)
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| *<c>Tor Giant</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Hill Giant</c> from ''4th Edition''.
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| *<c>Zuran Spellcaster</c> is a functional reprint of <c>Prodical Sorcerer</c> from ''4th Edition''.
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| :{{Systext|Tabulate.}}
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| ==Trivia==
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| {{Main|Ice Age/Trivia}}
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| :{{Systext|See also section.}}
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| ==Misprint==
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| *<c>Balduvian Shaman</c> - The first word in the [[Text box|text box]] is spelled Perman'''a'''ntly instead of Perman'''e'''ntly.
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| *<c>Johtull Wurm</c> - In the text box of the card, it refers to itself as Johtull W'''o'''rm instead of W'''u'''rm.
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| *<c>Jokulhaups</c> is a type of mudslide that occurs when a volcano erupts beneath a glacier. It is actually misspelled and should be [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jokulhlaup Jökulhlaup].
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| :{{Systext|Set details section.}}
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