Beta: Difference between revisions

From MTG Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
VisualWikitext
>RivalRowan
(For some reason we just never had the release day in the info box.)
 
(128 intermediate revisions by 29 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Expansion |
{{Infobox set
   Expansion Name    = '''''Limited Edition Beta''''' |
   |name = Limited Edition/Beta
   Symbol  = Beta.gif|
   |image = MTG.jpg
   Symbol Description =|
   |symbol_description = The letter “B” against a black box
   Design Team = [[Richard Garfield]],<br>with contributions from<br>[[Charlie Cateeno]],<br>[[Skaff Elias]],<br>[[Don Felice]],<br>[[Tom Fontaine]],<br>[[Jim Lin]],<br>[[Joel Mick]],<br>[[Chris Page]],<br>[[Dave Pettey]],<br>[[Barry "Bit" Reich]],<br>[[Bill Rose]]<br>and [[Elliott Segal]]|
   |design = <small>(See ''[[Alpha]]'')</small>
   Development Team = Same as Design Team|
  |development = <small>(See ''[[Alpha]]'')</small>
   Release Date      = Between July & December 1993 |
  |art = <small>(See ''[[Alpha]]'')</small>
  Mechanics          = The entire game |
  |release = October 4, 1993
  Keywords          = [[Banding]], [[First Strike]], [[Flying]], [[Landwalk]], [[Protection]], [[Regeneration]], [[Trample]]|
  |plane = [[Multiverse|Multiversal]]
   Size= 302 (75 Common 95 Uncommon 117 Rare 15 Land)|
  |mechanics = <small>(See ''[[Alpha]]'')</small>
   Expansion Code = LEB |
  |keywords = <small>(See ''[[Alpha]]'')</small>
  Block Name = [[Advanced level]]|
  |size = 302 cards<br/>{{curmb|75|95|117||15}}
   First Set = [[Alpha]]|
   |code_expansion = LEB
   Second Set = '''Limited Edition Beta'''|
   |code_expansion_ref={{DailyRef|ask-wizards-august-2004-2004-08-02|Ask Wizards - August, 2004|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|August 02, 2004}}
   Third Set = [[Unlimited]]|
   |code_development =  
   Previous Set      = '''''[[Alpha]]'''''|
   |series = [[Core set]]s
  This Set          = '''''Limited Edition Beta''''' |
   |first = Alpha{{!}}Limited Edition Alpha
   Next Set          = '''''[[Unlimited]]''''' |
   |second = Beta{{!}}Limited Edition Beta
   |third = Unlimited Edition
   |previous = Alpha{{!}}Limited Edition Alpha
   |next = Unlimited Edition
}}
}}
'''''Limited Edition Beta''''', commonly known as '''''Beta''''', is the second print run of ''[[Limited Edition]]'', which was the first [[core set]] of ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]''. It contains 302 [[border|black-bordered]] cards. It was released shortly after ''[[Alpha]]'', the first printing of the ''Limited Edition'', sold out.


'''Limited Edition Beta''', or more commonly '''Beta''', is the second printing of the first edition of Magic, includes 302 black-bordered cards, and was released shortly after ''[[Alpha]]'', the first printing of the first edition, sold out.
''Beta'' is actually a nickname, but widely accepted as the name for this print run.<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-june-2008-2008-06-02|Ask Wizards, June 2008|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|June 2, 2008}}</ref>


==Set details==
==Set details==
[[File:LEA and LEB Islands.jpg|right|thumb|Comparison between ''Alpha'' and ''Beta'' card corners.]]
''Beta'' included a few changes from ''Alpha'':
''Beta'' included a few changes from ''Alpha'':
*Its cards use a less rounded corner than ''Alpha'' cards, which has been used on all cards, a new 4MM corner diecut was purchased due to the increase in demand of millions of cards and also made distinction from a standard 1/2" corner found on playing cards. This allowed future sets to have larger artwork and smaller borders.
*Its cards use a less rounded corner than ''Alpha'' cards. A new 4mm corner diecut was purchased by [[Carta Mundi]] to facilitate the increase in demand for millions of cards. Due to this, there is a difference from the standard 1/2" corner found on playing cards. This change also allowed future cards to be printed with larger artwork and smaller borders.
*<c>Circle of Protection: Black</c> and <c>Volcanic Island</c>, which were accidentally left out of ''Alpha'', were added,
*<c>Circle of Protection: Black</c> and <c>Volcanic Island</c>, which were accidentally left out of ''Alpha'', were added.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/alpha-oops-iii-2002-04-10|Alpha "Oops…" III|[[Magic Arcana]]|April 10, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/alpha-oops-v-2002-07-12|Alpha "Oops…" V|[[Magic Arcana]]|July 12, 2002}}</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>
*the misprinted <c>Cyclopean Tomb</c>, <c>Elvish Archers</c>, <c>Orcish Artillery</c>, <c>Orcish Oriflamme</c> and <c>Demonic Hordes</c> were fixed,
*The misprinted <c>Cyclopean Tomb</c>, <c>Force of Nature</c>, <c>Birds of Paradise</c>, <c>Demonic Hordes</c>, <c>Elvish Archers</c>, <c>Orcish Artillery</c>, <c>Orcish Oriflamme</c>, <c>Phantasmal Forces</c>, <c>Red Elemental Blast</c>, <c>Rock Hydra</c>, <c>Sedge Troll</c>, <c>Unsummon</c>, and <c>Tropical Island</c> were fixed.
*and a third version of each [[basic]] [[land]] with new artwork was added to bring the set's card count above 300, as the Limited Edition had been advertised (mistakenly for ''Alpha'') as having "more than 300 cards."
*A third version of each [[basic]] [[land]] with new artwork was added.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/land-latecomers-2002-11-08|Land latecomers|[[Magic Arcana]]|November 08, 2002}}</ref>
 
Among ''Alpha'', ''Beta'', and ''[[Unlimited]]'', cards from ''Beta'' are considered to be the most valuable because of the black border and the use of the 4MM rounded corner (''Alpha'' cards were originally shunned as [[marked card|marked cards]] in early tournament decks, which had to appear unmarked without sleeves under early tournament rules).
 
Due to the printing process, it is possible to get Island cards in a rare , uncommon, or common card slot. The chance is approximately 3.31% for rares, 21.5% for uncommons and 38.02% for commons. This is because they put lands on all three printed sheets.
4 Rare Island as described by Richard Garfield in Duelist May 1994 "Are you kidding?" says Garfield. "Actually it is worth noting people were never meant to know they had rare islands. We were under the impression your rares would appear randomly in the deck and in random numbers. Had we known, they would have been something else; this is just the soonest we could really correct the mistake."
 
The starter deck rulebook had Bog Wraith on the cover and "Worzel's Story" was dropped to include a summary of play.
 
UPC codes were included on the bottom of each starter deck, Alpha starter decks do not have it.
 
The print run was announced by Wizards to be 7.3 million cards.
 
==Mechanics and themes==
As the first edition of Magic, ''Alpha'' introduced many [[mechanic|mechanics]] and [[theme|themes]]. [[Keyword|Keyworded]] [[ability|abilities]] introduced in this set include [[Banding]], [[First Strike]], [[Flying]], [[Landwalk]], [[Protection]], [[Regeneration]] and [[Trample]]. The [[Defender]], [[Fear]], [[Haste]] and [[Vigilance]] mechanics were also introduced without keywords but later received them. Most other game mechanics were also introduced in this set but are too numerous to be listed here.
 
==Storyline==
 
''Beta'' did not have a specific storyline, although the cards had a lot of flavor built into them based on the premise that [[player|players]] took on the role of a [[planeswalker]] who [[summon|summoned]] [[creature|creatures]] and cast spells in a [[duel]] against another planeswalker.
 
==Design & development==
 
Magic: The Gathering received its "The Gathering" subtitle for two reasons. First, "Magic" was thought to be too generic a name to copyright. Second, it left open the possibility for future expansions to have other subtitles, such as "Magic: Arabian Nights."
 
The names of many cards were initially very generic, such as "Angel" instead of <c>Serra Angel</c> and "Skeletons" instead of <c>Drudge Skeletons</c>. Adding these descriptors created more flavor on the cards and allowed other types of angels, skeletons, and everything else to appear in future expansions.
 
The rarity of many cards was based on the idea that players would have a limited set of cards in a particular area, such that there would only be a few copies of <c>Mox Sapphire</c> or <c>Black Lotus</c> in a particular area, thus naturally restricting the power of these cards. The rapid popularity of the game created a much larger community of players than initially considered, allowing players to amass large collections of these powerful cards.
 
The rule limiting only four copies of all cards except basic lands in decks did not exist in the earliest rules but was rapidly adopted from tournament play.
 
Under the original rules, players with life less than 1 were not considered to have lost until the end of the current [[:Category:Turn structure|phase]], giving that player a chance to find a solution.
 
[[Ante]] was an optional part of the original game of Magic that remained a part of the game until after the ''[[Homelands]]'' expansion.
 
There were originally three types of [[artifact|artifacts]]: [[mono]] artifacts, [[poly]] artifacts, and continuous artifacts. Mono artifacts have activated abilities that can only be used once and tap the artifact with its use. These now have [[errata]] adding "T" to the [[activation cost]]. Poly artifacts have activated abilities that do not have "T" as part of the activation cost and can be used multiple times. Continuous artifacts have a continuous effect that does not require activation. Continuous artifacts were also understood to be "turned off" when tapped, and newer versions of some of these original artifacts now have this restriction printed on them. These three types were removed following the ''[[Antiquities]]'' expansion and before the ''[[Revised Edition]]''.
 
[[Interrupt|Interrupts]] were similar to instants, only "faster." This meant that when an interrupt was played, only other interrupts could be played in response. The timing rules of interrupts caused some other cards (such as <c>Red Elemental Blast</c>) to be interrupts for them to work properly under these rules.
 
[[Wall]] was the only [[creature type]] with a rule associated with it: Walls have [[defender]]. This rule remained a part of the game until the ''[[Champions of Kamigawa]]'' expansion.
 
==Cycles==
''Beta'' has nine [[cycle]]s and 3 [[vertical cycle]]s.
*'''Basic lands''': The five [[basic]] [[land]]s were introduced in Limited Edition {{-}} <c>Plains</c>, <c>Island</c>, <c>Swamp</c>, <c>Mountain</c>, and <c>Forest</c>.
*'''[[Boons]]''': Each of these [[common]] [[instant]]s has a [[mana cost]] of C and an effect involving the number 3 {{-}} <c>Healing Salve</c>, <c>Ancestral Recall</c>, <c>Dark Ritual</c>, <c>Lightning Bolt</c>, and <c>Giant Growth</c>.
*'''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>.
*'''[[Dual lands]]''': Each of these ten [[rare]] lands has two basic land types and can produce mana of two colors: <c>Tundra</c>, <c>Scrubland</c>, <c>Plateau</c>, <c>Savannah</c>, <c>Underground Sea</c>, <c>Volcanic Island</c>, <c>Tropical Island</c>, <c>Badlands</c>, <c>Bayou</c>, and <c>Taiga</c>.
*'''Laces''': Each of these rare instants permanently changes the color of a permanent {{-}} <c>Purelace</c>, <c>Thoughtlace</c>, <c>Deathlace</c>, <c>Chaoslace</c>, and <c>Lifelace</c>.
*'''[["Lucky charms"|Lucky charms]]''': 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 {{-}} <c>Ivory Cup</c>, <c>Crystal Rod</c>, <c>Throne of Bone</c>, <c>Iron Star</c>, and <c>Wooden Sphere</c>.
*'''[[Moxen]]''': Each of these [[rare]] artifacts has a mana cost of {{0}} and "{{T}}: Add C to your mana pool" {{-}} <c>Mox Pearl</c>, <c>Mox Sapphire</c>, <c>Mox Jet</c>, <c>Mox Ruby</c>, and <c>Mox Emerald</c>.
*'''Top-down cycle''': Each of these rare cards was designed at the last minute before the release of Alpha. They were never playtested and were designed to fit pieces of unused artwork {{-}} <c>Island Sanctuary</c>, <c>Stasis</c>, <c>Word of Command</c>, <c>Sedge Troll</c>, and <c>Birds of Paradise</c>{{unref}}
*'''Wards''': Each of these uncommon [[white]] [[Aura]]s with [[enchant]] creature grants protection from a given color {{-}} <c>White Ward</c>, <c>Blue Ward</c>, <c>Black Ward</c>, <c>Red Ward</c>, and <c>Green Ward</c>.
 
===Vertical cycles===
*'''Goblins''': Each of these [[red]] [[Goblin]] creatures exists at a different level of rarity {{-}} <c>Mons's Goblin Raiders</c>, <c>Goblin Balloon Brigade</c>, <c>Goblin King</c>.
*'''Red three-drop humanoids''': Each of these 2/2 red creatures has a mana cost of {{2}}{{r}} and increasingly powerful abilities {{-}} <c>Gray Ogre</c>, <c>Uthden Troll</c>, and <c>Sedge Troll</c>. <c>Granite Gargoyle</c> might also be considered part of this group, though it doesn't fit the theme of monstrous human-like creatures.
*'''Pingers''' {{-}} Each of these permanents has "{{T}}: [This] deals 1 damage to target creature or player" {{-}} <c>Prodigal Sorcerer</c>, <c>Rod of Ruin</c>, and <c>Pirate Ship</c>.
 
==Mirrored pairs==
''Beta'' has 26 [[mirrored pair]]s.
 
*<c>Ankh of Mishra</c> and <c>Dingus Egg</c> are both rare artifacts that deal damage when a land enters or leaves play.
 
*<c>Air Elemental</c> and <c>Earth Elemental</c> are both uncommon [[Elemental|Elementals]] with a mana cost of {{3}}CC and a [[power]] of 4.
 
*<c>Benalish Hero</c> and <c>Timber Wolves</c> are both 1/1 creatures with banding and a mana cost of C.
 
*<c>Castle</c> and <c>Orcish Oriflamme</c> are both uncommon [[enchantment|enchantments]] that conditionally affect a creature's power or toughness.
 
*<c>Crusade</c> and <c>Bad Moon</c> are both rare enchantments with a [[converted mana cost]] of 2 and an effect to give all creatures of its color +1/+1.
 
*<c>White Knight</c> and <c>Black Knight</c> are both uncommon [[Knight|Knights]] with a mana cost of CC, power/toughness of 2/2, first strike and protection from the other's color.
 
*<c>Blue Elemental Blast</c> and <c>Red Elemental Blast</c> are both common instants (formerly interrupts) with a mana cost of C and with a [[modal]] ability to either destroy a permanent of the other's color or counter a spell of the other's color.
 
*<c>Braingeyser</c> and <c>Mind Twist</c> are both rare [[sorcery|sorceries]] that cause [[target]] [[player]] to [[draw]] or [[discard]] cards.
 
*<c>Gaea's Liege</c> and <c>Cyclopean Tomb</c> are both rare cards with an [[activated ability]] that can permanently change a land's type.
 
*<c>Deathgrip</c> and <c>Lifeforce</c> are each uncommon enchantments with an activated ability to counter a spell of the other's color for CC.
 
*<c>Earthquake</c> and <c>Hurricane</c> are both sorceries that have a mana cost of {{X}}C and deal X damage to all non-flying or flying creatures and each player.
 
*<c>Fear</c> and <c>Invisibility</c> are both common [[Aura]]s that make the enchanted creature more difficult to block.
 
*<c>Feedback</c> and <c>Wanderlust</c> are both uncommon Auras that deal 1 damage to the controller of the enchanted permanent during each of their [[upkeep|upkeeps]].
 
*<c>Water Elemental</c> and <c>Fire Elemental</c> are both uncommon Elementals with a mana cost of {{3}}CC and a power/toughness of 5/4.
 
*<c>Holy Strength</c> and <c>Unholy Strength</c> are both common Auras with enchant creature that give a mirrored bonus to the enchanted creature's power/toughness.
 
*<c>Living Lands</c> and <c>Kormus Bell</c> are both rare cards that turned lands of a particular type into 1/1 creatures.
 
*<c>Lord of Atlantis</c> and <c>Goblin King</c> are both rare [[Lord|Lords]] that give +1/+1 and landwalk of its color to its creature type.
 
*<c>Manabarbs</c> and <c>Power Surge</c> are both rare red enchantments that deal damage to a player based on the number of lands he or she does or does not tap.
 
*<c>Mons's Goblin Raiders</c> and <c>Merfolk of the Pearl Trident</c> are both 1/1 common creatures with creature types that are affected by Lord of Atlantis and Goblin King.
 
*<c>Phantom Monster</c> and <c>Roc of Kher Ridges</c> are both 3/3 creatures with flying.
 
*<c>Serra Angel</c> and <c>Sengir Vampire</c> are both uncommon 4/4 flying creatures with a mana cost of {{3}}CC and a combat-related ability.
 
*<c>Smoke</c> and <c>Winter Orb</c> both allow players to only untap one of a type of permanent each turn.
 
*<c>Timetwister</c> and <c>Wheel of Fortune</c> are both rare sorceries that cause all players to draw a new hand of 7 cards.
 
*<c>Tsunami</c> and <c>Flashfires</c> are both uncommon sorceries that have a mana cost of 3C and destroy lands of a particular enemy type.
 
*<c>Wall of Bone</c> and <c>Wall of Brambles</c> are both Walls with regeneration and a mana cost of {{2}}C.
 
*<c>Wall of Water</c> and <c>Wall of Fire</c> are both 0/5 Walls illustrated by [[Richard Thomas]] with a silouetted figure behind a wall and the activated ability "C: [this] gets +1/+0 until end of turn."
 
==Hosers==
[[Hoser]]s were introduced, which are cards that affect one (or sometimes two) specific color(s): <c>Karma</c>, <c>Blue Elemental Blast</c>, <c>Deathgrip</c>, <c>Flashfires</c>, <c>Tsunami</c>, <c>Conversion</c>, <c>Lifetap</c>, <c>Gloom</c>, <c>Red Elemental Blast</c>, and <c>Lifeforce</c>.
 
==Notable cards==
*The [[Power Nine]] are some of the most valuable and powerful cards ever printed.
 
*The original ten [[Dual Lands]] are some of the most powerful and valuable lands ever printed.
 
*<c>Armageddon</c> forms the basis of the [[Erhnamgeddon]] [[control]] deck.
 
*<c>Balance</c> was initially understood, as were many symmetrical effects, but quickly proved to be a very powerful card and is now on the [[Restricted List]].
 
*<c>Berserk</c> was once considered powerful enough to be added to the Restricted List.
 
*<c>Birds of Paradise</c> has proven itself to be one of the best [[Mana fixing|mana fixers]] ever printed.
 
*<c>Black Vise</c> was far too powerful, especially when played on the first turn, and is also found on the Restricted List.
 
*<c>Braingeyser</c> was also once considered powerful enough to be added to the Restricted List.
 
*<c>Channel</c> was a key component of the fabled Channel-<c>Fireball</c> first-turn win in combination with <c>Black Lotus</c> and a source of red mana.
 
*<c>Chaos Orb</c> is the first of a class of "dexterity" cards that required some physical skill to achieve maximum effect, and like all dexterity cards and ante cards, is now on the [[Banned List]].
 
*<c>Contract from Below</c> is an insanely powerful card that allows its caster to draw 7 cards at the price of adding to the [[ante]], but the effect is powerful enough to make the added risk very acceptable. Some even consider this the most powerful card ever printed.
 
*<c>Dark Ritual</c> enabled many black decks to accelerate powerful cards into play quickly, especially <c>Hypnotic Specter</c>.
 
*<c>Demonic Tutor</c> is another powerful effect with a small mana cost that has found its way onto the Restricted List.
 
*<c>Fastbond</c>, like many other cards on the Restricted List, allows a player to quickly access more mana.
 
*<c>Hypnotic Specter</c> was originally thought to be too powerful, and indeed it is powerful, but the real problem was eventually revealed to be its combination with Dark Ritual.
 
*<c>Icy Manipulator</c> was used in many control decks to slow the opponent down.
 
*<c>Illusionary Mask</c> later gained fame for its ability to get <c>Phyrexian Dreadnought</c> into play quickly and cheaply.
 
*<c>Lightning Bolt</c> is a very powerful (and common) direct damage spell that still sees play.


*<c>Mind Twist</c> proved to be very powerful, especially with all the mana acceleration available in Alpha. Like Black Vise, it quickly put an opponent at a great disadvantage and was added to the Restricted List.
Between ''Alpha'', ''Beta'', and ''[[Unlimited]]'', cards from ''Beta'' were initially the most desirable due to the combination of black borders and the use of the 4mm rounded corner. Due to the different corner radius, ''Alpha'' cards were considered [[Marked card|marked]] unless a deck comprised only ''Alpha'' cards, but the advent of [[Set|expansion sets]] with the smaller corners made the use of all-Alpha decks suboptimal.


*<c>Nevinyrral's Disk</c> was especially useful in monocolored black decks with no access to artifact and enchantment destruction.
''Beta'' cards were printed using three different [[Print sheet|print sheets]] - one for [[Rare|rares]], one for [[Uncommon|uncommons]], and one for [[Common|commons]].  As part of Richard Garfield's plan to keep players from guessing rarities, [[Basic land|basic lands]] were included on all three sheets.  The chance is approximately 3.31% for rares, 21.5% for uncommons, and 38.02% for commons.  The only lands on the rare sheets were four copies of {{Card|Island}}.


*<c>Red Elemental Blast</c> is a common anti-blue card that still sees play today.
===Marketing===
''Beta'' was released on October 4, 1993. ''Limited Edition'' was advertised as having “more than 300 cards,” so a third version of each basic land was added in the ''Beta'' release in order to validate this claim. The print run was announced by Wizards to be 7.83 million cards.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.facebook.com/peter.adkison/posts/pfbid02E7Vha1ZLWhtzAy2MiLioSi9kH1u2LfZ4KdYMLuWjymdsweGtLkyMrbPBPd7rPfZzl|title=Magic: The Gathering print runs from 1993|author=[[Peter Adkison]]|date=March 5, 2021|publisher=[[Wikipedia:Facebook|Facebook]]}}</ref> Cards were available from mid-October 1993 until mid-December 1993.<ref name="1999 rulings summary">Stephen D'Angelo (February 2, 1999) "[[Card Rulings Summary (02/17/99)|Card Rulings Summary]]". Usenet.</ref> The cards were evenly divided over 60-card [[starter deck]]s and 15-card [[boosters]]. UPC codes were now printed on the bottom of each starter deck (''Alpha'' had none).


*<c>Regrowth</c>, like Demonic Tutor, is a powerful effect with a small mana cost, especially when combined with any number of other powerful cards and is now found on the Restricted List.
The 40-page ''Beta'' rulebook had <c>Bog Wraith</c> on the cover and “[[Roreca|Worzel's Story]]” was dropped to include a summary of play, an FAQ and an Index.<ref name="The Original Magic Rulebook">{{DailyRef|feature/original-magic-rulebook-2004-12-25|The Original ''Magic'' Rulebook|[[John Carter]]|December 25, 2004}}</ref>


*<c>Savannah Lions</c> is considered one of the best [[White Weenie]] cards.
==== Collectors' Editions ====
[[File:LEB International Edition Air Elemental.jpg|thumb|right|An ''International Edition'' card is distinguished by its square corners and its gold card border as seen on the backside of a card.]]
{{main|Collectors' Edition|30th Anniversary Edition}}


*<c>Serra Angel</c> was used to finish many games in control decks and is one of the iconic creatures of the game. It was once considered too powerful and left the [[Core Set]] for a time.
The ''Collectors' Edition'' was a special commemorative edition of ''Beta'' cards released on December 10, 1993.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/collectors-edition-2003-06-20|Collectors' Edition|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|June 20, 2003}}</ref> [[Wizards of the Coast]] produced about 13,500 copies of this set.<ref name="AdkisonNewsgroup">[[Peter Adkison]] (Dec 30, 1993) [https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.board/c/t09zQbgHrDQ/m/TZJc6u_gUosJ?hl=en&pli=1 "MTG: International VS Collectors"]. Newsgroup: rec.games.board. Retrieved July 23, 2022.</ref><ref name="4thPPG">T. Brian Wagner & Victor K. Wertz (1995). "Magic: a collecting history". In Michael G. Ryan (Ed.), ''[[Fourth Edition/Pocket Players' Guide|The Pocket Players' Guide for Magic: The Gathering - Fourth Edition]]'' (pp. F-1 to F-4). [[Wizards of the Coast]]."...we released 13,500 ''Collectors' Edition'' sets of ''Magic: The Gathering''. These limited edition sets contained 363 cards, including one of each of the 302 different cards, with multiple land cards making up the difference. Ten thousand sets were sold in the U.S. and Canada, while 3,500 ''International Collectors' Edition'' sets were produced for sale overseas."</ref>{{efn|If 10,000 copies were ''sold'' in the US and Canada, 8500-9000 of which comprised the full print run of the ''Collectors' Edition'' and the remainder from the ''International Collectors' Edition'', leaving 3500-4000 of the ''ICE'' sets (5000 total) to actually be sold overseas, it is roughly consistent with both sources.}} These cards have square corners and a gold border on the back, and thus are not legal in [[DCI]]-sanctioned tournaments. <references group="lower-alpha"/>


*<c>Sinkhole</c>, with a converted mana cost of 2, is considered to be far too cheap for the damaging effect of [[land destruction]], especially as a common card.
Out of those, 5000 were printed as the ''International Collectors' Edition'', some of which were sold in the US and Canada to make up a shortfall in the regular print run, and the remainder sold overseas. The difference between the international and domestic versions is that the international edition says “International Edition” on the back of the card.<ref name="AdkisonNewsgroup" />


*<c>Sol Ring</c> is yet another card great at accelerating mana and is also found on the Restricted List.
In November 2022, the ''[[30th Anniversary Edition]]'' was released, which is a commemorative, collectible, non-tournament-legal product celebrating 30 years of Magic, inspired by ''Beta''.<ref>{{DailyRef|news/kicking-magics-30th-anniversary-celebration-2022-10-04|Kicking Off ''Magic's'' 30th Anniversary|[[Blake Rasmussen]]|October 4, 2022}}</ref>


*<c>Swords to Plowshares</c> is the iconic white creature removal card.
== Cards and cycles added to ''Beta''==
[[File:Uncut-LEB-R.jpg|thumb|right|Uncut ''Beta'' [[print sheet]]]]
The following cards from ''Beta'' were not printed in ''[[Alpha]]'':


*<c>Time Vault</c> has had numerous changes to its function in order to make it work as intended. In 2006 the function at the time led to an infinite damage combo with <c>Flame Fusillade</c>.
*Third versions of the [[basic land]]s
 
*<c>Wheel of Fortune</c> is on the Restricted List for the power of drawing 7 cards.
 
*<c>Wrath of God</c> has been a tournament staple since players learned that powerful symmetrical effects can be good.
 
==Cards added to ''Beta''==
The following cards from ''Beta'' were not printed in ''[[Alpha]]''.
*<c>Circle of Protection: Black</c>
*<c>Circle of Protection: Black</c>
*<c>Volcanic Island</c>
*<c>Volcanic Island</c>  
 
==Creature types==
[[Creature type|Creature types]] were originally intended only to express flavor on creature cards, like [[flavor text]]. Thus, the intentional use of creature types to classify different races was not considered until around the design of the [[Fallen Empires]] [[expansion]], despite cards like <c>Lord of Atlantis</c> that cared about a creature's race in this set.
 
The creature types introduced in this set are: [[Angel]], [[Assassin]] (later changed to [[Human]] Assassin), [[Avatar]], [[Basilisk]], [[Bear]], Bodyguard (later changed to Human), [[Cleric]], Clone (later changed to [[Shapeshifter]]), [[Cockatrice]], [[Demon]], [[Djinn]], Doppelganger (later changed to Shapeshifter), [[Dragon]], [[Dwarf]], [[Elemental]], [[Elf]], Enchantress (later changed to Human [[Druid]]), [[Faerie]], Force (later changed to Elemental), Fungusaur (later changed to Fungus Lizard), Gaea's Liege (later changed to Avatar), [[Gargoyle]], Ghoul (later changed to Zombie), [[Giant]], [[Goblin]], Goblin King (later changed to Goblin [[Lord]]), Hero (later changed to Human [[Soldier]]), [[Hydra]], [[Imp]], [[Knight]], Lion (later changed to [[Cat]]), [[Lord]], Lord of Atlantis (later changed to Merfolk Lord), Mammoth (later changed to [[Elephant]]), Mana Bird (later changed to [[Bird]]), [[Merfolk]], [[Minotaur]], [[Nightmare]], Nymph (later changed to [[Dryad]]), [[Ogre]], [[Orc]], Paladin (later changed to Knight), [[Pegasus]], Phantasm (later changed to [[Illusion]]), [[Rat]], [[Roc]], [[Serpent]], [[Shade]], Shadow (later changed to [[Spirit]]), Ship (later changed to Human [[Pirate]]), [[Skeleton]], [[Specter]], [[Spider]], [[Treefolk]], [[Troll]], [[Unicorn]], [[Vampire]], [[Wall]], Will-O'-the-Wisp (later changed to Spirit), [[Wizard]] (later changed to Human Wizard), [[Wolf]], [[Wraith]], [[Wurm]] and [[Zombie]].
 
==Points of interest==
Each color, except [[red]], has two [[Aura|Auras]] with [[enchant]] [[land]].
 
*<c>Ancestral Recall</c>, one of the [[Power Nine]], is considered by R&D to be the most powerful blue card ever created. It was originally called "Ancestral Memories."
 
*<c>Ankh of Mishra</c> uses the real-world Ankh symbol in its artwork.
 
*<c>Armageddon</c> was included in the beginner-oriented sets [[Portal]] and [[Portal Second Age]] and functionally reprinted as <c>Ravages of War</c> in the [[Portal Three Kingdoms]] set, yet it was removed from the [[Core Set]] after [[Sixth Edition]] for being too powerful.
 
*<c>Basalt Monolith</c> had [[errata]] for a while to prevent the mana it generated from being usable with itself because of an infinite mana combo with <c>Power Artifact</c> and an infinite damage-to-player combo with the original wording of <c>Relic Bind</c>, which also received errata to prevent this combo.
 
*<c>Berserk</c> was removed from the [[Core Set]] for being a "spoiler," or too good, after its addition to the first [[Restricted List]] in January 1994. [[Richard Garfield]] explained its absence from the [[Revised]] set in [[The Duelist]] Supplement thus: "Anything that multiplies is potentially abusive. Failure to have a <c>Fog</c> should not warrant 80 damage." Berserk was removed from the Restricted List in April 2003 because it has decreased in power as a result of the variety of cards now available in [[Vintage]].
 
*<c>Birds of Paradise</c> was created because the bird in the artwork comissioned for <c>Tropical Island</c> was too prominant. It has always been available in [[Standard]] except for a brief time after ''[[Eighth Edition]]'' rotated out and before the ''[[Ravnica]]'' expansion rotated in.
 
*<c>Braingeyser</c> was on the first Restricted List in January 1994 and was removed from it in September 2004 for being expensive, slow, and worse than other cards in Vintage.
 
*<c>Camouflage</c> turned attacking creatures [[face-down]], but when the [[Morph]] mechanic defined the characteristics of a face-down card the wording of Camouflage was changed to create a random assignment of blockers, which effectively emulated the original intent of the card.
 
*<c>Castle</c> is one of a few early cards that were later functionally changed, making it both better and easier to understand. The removed text prevented attacking creatures from gaining the bonus because of [[Vigilance]].
 
*<c>Celestial Prism</c> is rather underpowered and is strictly worse than <c>Mana Prism</c>, <c>Mana Cylix</c>, <c>Darksteel Ingot</c> and <c>Prismatic Lens</c>.
 
*<c>Channel</c> is one of many cards that is overpowered because of its ability to trade one resource for another at a low cost, in this case life for mana.
 
*<c>Chaos Orb</c> was removed from the Core Set with the intention of it or a card like it returning one day. Richard Garfield said of its absence from Revised: "No, we didn't can the concept. There will always be weirdo cards like this floating around, but the same old one gets passé." The card was later added to the [[Banned List]] for being a "dexterity card," or a card that could be better based on a player's skill in using it, removing it from tournament play and from future sets. Chaos Orb was also the focus of an urban legend that said an early tournament was won by a player who tore his card into small pieces and scattered them over his opponent's cards.
 
*<c>Circle of Protection: Black</c> was left out of the ''[[Alpha]]'' set in part due to confusion surrounding its artwork. The contracted artist bailed at the last moment so the original Art Director, [[Jesper Myrfors]], created its original artwork quickly on the computer.
 
*<c>Circle of Protection: Red</c> is the only Circle of Protection to appear in every Core Set (and even a few [[large expansion|large expansions]]) until ''[[10th Edition]]''.
 
*<c>Clockwork Beast</c> was originally worded to remove a +1/+0 counter when declared as an attacker or blocker, although this was unclear. It was functionally changed in ''[[4th Edition|Fourth Edition]]'' to reflect how most players played the card. It also has the greatest combined [[power]] and [[toughness]] among [[artifact]] [[creature|creatures]] in ''Beta'' and was played early on for having power greater than its [[converted mana cost]] and for the advantages of it being an artifact creature.
 
*<c>Cockatrice</c> was ironically generally worse than its [[uncommon]] comrade, <c>Thicket Basilisk</c> because having [[flying]] somewhat negated the <c>Venom</c> ability.
 
*<c>Consecrate Land</c> is the first card to use [[indestructible|indestructibility]], although that [[keyword]] would not be created until 2003.
 
*<c>Conservator</c> is strictly worse than <c>Pearl Shard</c>.
 
*<c>Contract from Below</c>, <c>Darkpactk</c>, <c>Demonic Attorney</c>,like all other [[ante]] cards, has been on the Banned List from its inception.
 
*<c>Copy Artifact</c> is unusual for its ability to be both an [[enchantment]] and an artifact when in play.
 
*<c>Craw Wurm</c> excites many players initially because it is usually the first creature of its size that new players come across. This makes it a good [[Timmy]] card.
 
*<C>Dingus Egg</c> was actually on the original Restricted List for its combo with <c>Armageddon</c>, <c>Balance</c> and other powerful land destruction spells.
 
*<c>Disintegrate</c> was one of two common red X-damage spells in ''Beta''.
 
*<c>Disrupting Scepter</c> was considered a good card initially, as discard was a powerful strategy then.
 
*<c>Dragon Whelp</c> is one of only a few "actually good" cards in the original [[Sligh]] deck.
 
*<c>Drain Life</c> plays an important role in many <c>Necropotence</c> decks to recoup life lost to the Skull.
 
*<c>Firebreathing</c> is the only non-[[creature]] card in ''Beta'' with [[flavor text]].
 
*<c>Force of Nature</c> has the greatest combined power and toughness among [[green]] creatures in ''Beta''.
 
*<c>Lord of the Pit</c> has the greatest combined power and toughness among [[black]] creatures in ''Beta''.


*<c>Mahamoti Djinn</c> has the greatest combined power and toughness among [[blue]] creatures in ''Beta''.
''Beta'' therefore adds the following cycles to those present in ''Alpha'':
*'''Circles of protection''': Five 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>.
*'''[[Dual land]]s''': Ten [[rare]] lands with two [[basic land type]]s.
**'''Allied colors''' {{-}} <c>Tundra</c>, <c>Underground Sea</c>, <c>Badlands</c>, <c>Taiga</c>, and <c>Savannah</c>.
**'''Enemy colors''' {{-}} <c>Scrubland</c>, <c>Volcanic Island</c>, <c>Bayou</c>, <c>Plateau</c>, and <c>Tropical Island</c>.


*<c>Personal Incarnation</c> has the greatest combined power and toughness among [[white]] creatures in ''Beta''.
==Misprints==
*Almost every instance of the artist [[Douglas Shuler]]'s name was misspelled as “Schuler”.  (These include: {{card|Animate Artifact||LEB}}, {{card|Benalish Hero||LEB}}, {{card|Circle of Protection: White||LEB}}, {{card|Contract from Below||LEB}}, {{card|Demonic Tutor||LEB}}, {{card|Drain Life||LEB}}, {{card|Drain Power||LEB}}, {{card|Dwarven Warriors||LEB}}, {{card|Force of Nature||LEB}}, {{card|Frozen Shade||LEB}}, {{card|Glasses of Urza||LEB}}, {{card|Hypnotic Specter||LEB}}, {{card|Mountain||LEB|#=298}} (#298) {{card|Mountain||LEB|#=299}} (#299), {{card|Northern Paladin||LEB}}, {{card|Power Surge||LEB}}, {{card|Prodigal Sorcerer||LEB}}, {{card|Psionic Blast||LEB}}, {{card|Righteousness||LEB}}, {{card|Serra Angel||LEB}}, {{card|Tranquility||LEB}}, {{card|Unholy Strength||LEB}}, {{card|Unsummon||LEB}}, {{card|Uthden Troll||LEB}}, {{card|Veteran Bodyguard||LEB}}, {{card|Volcanic Explosion||LEB}}, and {{card|Weakness||LEB}}.) The only two cards in Beta that have [[Douglas Shuler]]'s name spelled correctly are {{card|Icy Manipulator||LEB}} and the third (new) version of {{card|Mountain||LEB|#=297}} (#297).
*{{card|Goblin Balloon Brigade||LEB}} {{-}} the wording for the activated ability could be interpreted to give all [[Goblin]]s [[Flying]] instead of only itself, which was the original intent. The wording was changed to reflect the original intent beginning with ''[[Revised Edition]]''.<ref name="Alpha Revised">{{DailyRef|arcana/alpha-typos-2009-09-22|''Alpha'' Typos|[[Magic Arcana]]|September 22, 2009}}</ref>
*{{card|Goblin King||LEB}} {{-}} the wording gave all [[Goblin]]s +1/+1 and [[mountainwalk]], but the original intent was that this would not apply to the Goblin King itself. Beginning with [[Revised Edition]] this problem was solved by listing the Goblin King's type as “Lord”; beginning with Ninth Edition the word “Goblin” returned to the type and the wording for the ability was changed to “Other Goblins get +1/+1 and have mountainwalk.”<ref name="Alpha Revised" />


*<c>Shivan Dragon</c> has the greatest combined power and toughness among [[red]] creatures in ''Beta''.
==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.wizards.com/magic/advanced/1_2_3e/ABUnlim.asp Official product page] (old)
*[http://www.wizards.com/magic/advanced/1_2_3e/ABUnlim.asp Official product page] (old)
*{{Prodpage|abu|Limited Edition Beta}} (new)
*[http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/products/card-set-archive/alpha-beta-and-unlimited ''Limited Edition Beta'' product information page] (new)


{{sets}}
{{Sets|classic}}
[[Category:Expansions and sets]]
[[Category:Magic core sets|1B]]

Latest revision as of 05:48, 26 June 2024

Limited Edition
Beta
[[File:{{#setmainimage:MTG.jpg}}|250px]]
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description The letter “B” against a black box
Design (See Alpha)
Development (See Alpha)
Art direction (See Alpha)
Release date October 4, 1993
Plane Multiversal
Themes and mechanics (See Alpha)
Keywords/​ability words (See Alpha)
Set size 302 cards
(75 commons, 95 uncommons, 117 rares, 15 basic lands)
Expansion code LEB[1]
Core sets
Limited Edition Alpha Limited Edition Beta Unlimited Edition
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Limited Edition Alpha Limited Edition
Beta		 Unlimited Edition

Limited Edition Beta, commonly known as Beta, is the second print run of Limited Edition, which was the first core set of Magic: The Gathering. It contains 302 black-bordered cards. It was released shortly after Alpha, the first printing of the Limited Edition, sold out.

Beta is actually a nickname, but widely accepted as the name for this print run.[2]

Set details

Comparison between Alpha and Beta card corners.

Beta included a few changes from Alpha:

Between Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited, cards from Beta were initially the most desirable due to the combination of black borders and the use of the 4mm rounded corner. Due to the different corner radius, Alpha cards were considered marked unless a deck comprised only Alpha cards, but the advent of expansion sets with the smaller corners made the use of all-Alpha decks suboptimal.

Beta cards were printed using three different print sheets - one for rares, one for uncommons, and one for commons. As part of Richard Garfield's plan to keep players from guessing rarities, basic lands were included on all three sheets. The chance is approximately 3.31% for rares, 21.5% for uncommons, and 38.02% for commons. The only lands on the rare sheets were four copies of Island.

Marketing

Beta was released on October 4, 1993. Limited Edition was advertised as having “more than 300 cards,” so a third version of each basic land was added in the Beta release in order to validate this claim. The print run was announced by Wizards to be 7.83 million cards.[7] Cards were available from mid-October 1993 until mid-December 1993.[8] The cards were evenly divided over 60-card starter decks and 15-card boosters. UPC codes were now printed on the bottom of each starter deck (Alpha had none).

The 40-page Beta rulebook had Bog Wraith on the cover and “Worzel's Story” was dropped to include a summary of play, an FAQ and an Index.[9]

Collectors' Editions

An International Edition card is distinguished by its square corners and its gold card border as seen on the backside of a card.
Main articles: Collectors' Edition and 30th Anniversary Edition

The Collectors' Edition was a special commemorative edition of Beta cards released on December 10, 1993.[10] Wizards of the Coast produced about 13,500 copies of this set.[11][12][a] These cards have square corners and a gold border on the back, and thus are not legal in DCI-sanctioned tournaments.

  1. ↑ If 10,000 copies were sold in the US and Canada, 8500-9000 of which comprised the full print run of the Collectors' Edition and the remainder from the International Collectors' Edition, leaving 3500-4000 of the ICE sets (5000 total) to actually be sold overseas, it is roughly consistent with both sources.

Out of those, 5000 were printed as the International Collectors' Edition, some of which were sold in the US and Canada to make up a shortfall in the regular print run, and the remainder sold overseas. The difference between the international and domestic versions is that the international edition says “International Edition” on the back of the card.[11]

In November 2022, the 30th Anniversary Edition was released, which is a commemorative, collectible, non-tournament-legal product celebrating 30 years of Magic, inspired by Beta.[13]

Cards and cycles added to Beta

Uncut Beta print sheet

The following cards from Beta were not printed in Alpha:

Beta therefore adds the following cycles to those present in Alpha:

Misprints

References

  1. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (August 02, 2004). "Ask Wizards - August, 2004". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (June 2, 2008). "Ask Wizards, June 2008". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Magic Arcana (April 10, 2002). "Alpha "Oops…" III". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Magic Arcana (July 12, 2002). "Alpha "Oops…" V". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 20, 2016). "25 More Random Things About Magic". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Magic Arcana (November 08, 2002). "Land latecomers". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Peter Adkison (March 5, 2021). "Magic: The Gathering print runs from 1993". Facebook.
  8. ↑ Stephen D'Angelo (February 2, 1999) "Card Rulings Summary". Usenet.
  9. ↑ John Carter (December 25, 2004). "The Original Magic Rulebook". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (June 20, 2003). "Collectors' Edition". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. ↑ a b Peter Adkison (Dec 30, 1993) "MTG: International VS Collectors". Newsgroup: rec.games.board. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  12. ↑ T. Brian Wagner & Victor K. Wertz (1995). "Magic: a collecting history". In Michael G. Ryan (Ed.), The Pocket Players' Guide for Magic: The Gathering - Fourth Edition (pp. F-1 to F-4). Wizards of the Coast."...we released 13,500 Collectors' Edition sets of Magic: The Gathering. These limited edition sets contained 363 cards, including one of each of the 302 different cards, with multiple land cards making up the difference. Ten thousand sets were sold in the U.S. and Canada, while 3,500 International Collectors' Edition sets were produced for sale overseas."
  13. ↑ Blake Rasmussen (October 4, 2022). "Kicking Off Magic's 30th Anniversary". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. ↑ a b Magic Arcana (September 22, 2009). "Alpha Typos". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

External links

Magic: The Gathering sets
 
M15 frame sets
Welcome & Core sets
Expansions
 
Special sets
Special series
Supplemental sets
Non-English Reprint sets
Other Box sets
Un sets
Commemorative sets
Retrieved from "https://mtg.wiki/index.php?title=Beta&oldid=50495"