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{{Infobox expansion|
{{SubTabs
  set name    = Fourth Edition |
|sub1=Alternate
  symbol  = 4ED symbol.gif|
|sub2=Changes
   symbol description = 4|
|sub3=Rules changes
   design team =|
|sub4=Pocket Players' Guide
   development team = |
}}
   art director = Non|
{{Infobox set
   date_release      = May 1995 |
   |symbol_description = Roman numeral IV
   mechanics         = None new|
   |design = [[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 Reich|Barry "Bit" Reich]]<br/>[[Bill Rose]]<br/>[[Elliott Segal]]
   keywords           = None new |
   |development = Same as design
   size= 378 (121 Common 121 Uncommon 121 Rare 15 Land)|
   |art = None
   code_expansion = 4ED |
  |release = April 1995
   development code = Francesca |
   |plane = [[Multiverse|Multiversal]]
   block name = [[Advanced level]]|
   |mechanics = None new
   first set = [[Revised Edition]]|
   |keywords = None new  
   second set = '''4th Edition'''|
   |size= 378 cards<br/>{{curmb|121|121|121||15}}
   third set = [[5th Edition]]|
   |code_expansion = 4ED  
   previous set      = [[Fallen Empires]]|
  |code_expansion_ref={{DailyRef|ask-wizards-august-2004-2004-08-02|Ask Wizards - August, 2004|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|August 02, 2004}}
   this set          = Fourth Edition |
   |code_development = Francesca  
  next set          = [[Ice Age]] |
   |series = [[Core set]]s
   |first = Revised Edition
   |second = Fourth Edition  
   |third = Fifth Edition
   |previous = Fallen Empires
   |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 [[Core Set]] that was released in May, 1995.
'''''Fourth Edition (4th Edition)''''' is a ''[[Magic]]'' [[core set]] that was released in April 1995.  It is a [[reprint set]].


==Set details==
==Set details==
Fifty-one 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 seperate [[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:Tap symbol nr.2.jpg|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 (copyright date 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|mtgcom/arcana/282| White mana symbol|"[[Magic Arcana]]"|Thursday, 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|mtgcom/arcana/604|The Changing Tap Symbol|"[[Magic Arcana]]"|Monday, 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>
* A parallel print 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>
*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===
Cards were available from May 3, 1995 well past the end of the run in April 1997. 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 ''4th 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.
[[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]]. 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|4th 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|mtg/daily/feature/52b|''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==
''4th Edition'' has 5 [[cycles]].
''Fourth Edition'' has 6 [[cycle]]s, one of which is a 4 card cycle, and 15 [[mirrored pair]]s.
*'''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>.
 
*'''[[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>.
 
*'''Mana Batteries''': 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 C to your [[mana pool]], then add an additional C to your mana pool for each charge counter removed this way," where C is a specific color of mana. {{-}} <c>White Mana Battery</c>, <c>Blue Mana Battery</c>, <c>Black Mana Battery</c>, <c>Red Mana Battery</c>, and <c>Green Mana Battery</c>.
 
*'''[[Wards]]''': Uncommon [[white]] [[Aura|Auras]] with [[enchant]] creature that grant protection from a color {{-}} <c>White Ward</c>, <c>Blue Ward</c>, <c>Black Ward</c>, <c>Red Ward</c> and <c>Green Ward</c>.


==Mirrored pairs==
{| class="wikitable"
''4th Edition'' has 22 [[mirrored pair]]s.
! Cycle name
! {{W}}
! {{U}}
! {{B}}
! {{R}}
! {{G}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Circles of protection'''
|{{card|Circle of Protection: White||4ED}}
|{{card|Circle of Protection: Blue||4ED}}
|{{card|Circle of Protection: Black||4ED}}
|{{card|Circle of Protection: Red||4ED}}
|{{card|Circle of Protection: Green||4ED}}
|-
|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'''
|{{card|Purelace||4ED}}
|{{card|Thoughtlace||4ED}}
|{{card|Deathlace||4ED}}
|{{card|Chaoslace||4ED}}
|{{card|Lifelace||4ED}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Each of these rare instants permanently changes the color of a permanent.
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''[[Lucky charm]]s'''
|{{card|Ivory Cup||4ED}}
|{{card|Crystal Rod||4ED}}
|{{card|Throne of Bone||4ED}}
|{{card|Iron Star||4ED}}
|{{card|Wooden Sphere||4ED}}
|-
|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'''
|{{card|White Mana Battery||4ED}}
|{{card|Blue Mana Battery||4ED}}
|{{card|Black Mana Battery||4ED}}
|{{card|Red Mana Battery||4ED}}
|{{card|Green Mana Battery||4ED}}
|-
|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'''
|{{card|White Ward||4ED}}
|{{card|Blue Ward||4ED}}
|{{card|Black Ward||4ED}}
|{{card|Red Ward||4ED}}
|{{card|Green Ward||4ED}}
|-
|colspan="5"|Uncommon [[white]] [[Aura]]s with [[enchant]] creature that grant protection from a color.
|}


*<c>Ankh of Mishra</c> and <c>Dingus Egg</c> are both rare artifacts that deal damage when a land enters or leaves play.
===Four-card cycles===
{| 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.
|}


*<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.
===Pairs===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"|Mirrored Pairs
! Description
|-
|{{card|Crusade||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Bad Moon||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|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}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Black Knight||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|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}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Red Elemental Blast||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{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.
|-
|{{card|Deathgrip||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Lifeforce||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|Uncommon enchantments with an activated ability to counter a spell of the other's color for MM.
|-
|{{card|Holy Strength||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Unholy Strength||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|Common auras with enchant creature that give a mirrored bonus to the enchanted creature's power/toughness.
|-
|{{card|Lord of Atlantis||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Goblin King||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|Rare [[lord]]s that give +1/+1 and landwalk of its color to its creature type.
|-
|{{card|Mons's Goblin Raiders||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|{{card|Merfolk of the Pearl Trident||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|1/1 common creatures with creature types that are affected by their respective lords (e.g., Goblin King and Lord of Atlantis).
|-
|{{card|Serra Angel||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Sengir Vampire||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|Uncommon 4/4 flying creatures with a mana cost of {{3}}MM and a combat-related ability.
|-
|{{card|Wall of Water||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Wall of Fire||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{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."
|-
|{{card|Benalish Hero||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Timber Wolves||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|1/1 creatures with [[banding]] and a mana cost of M.
|-
|{{card|Castle||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{W}})}}
|{{card|Orcish Oriflamme||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|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|Feedback||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{U}})}}
|{{card|Wanderlust||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|Uncommon Auras that deal 1 damage to the controller of the enchanted permanent during each of their [[upkeep]]s.
|-
|{{card|Tsunami||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|{{card|Flashfires||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{R}})}}
|Uncommon sorceries that have a mana cost of {{3}}M and destroy lands of a particular enemy type.
|-
|{{card|Wall of Bone||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{B}})}}
|{{card|Wall of Brambles||4ED}} <br/> {{nowrap|({{G}})}}
|Walls with regeneration and a mana cost of {{2}}M and a combined [[power/toughness]] of 5.
|}


*<c>Benalish Hero</c> and <c>Timber Wolves</c> are both 1/1 creatures with banding and a mana cost of C.
==Core set changes==
 
[[File:4ED Advertisement.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Advertisement for ''Fourth Edition''.]]
*<c>Castle</c> and <c>Orcish Oriflamme</c> are both uncommon [[enchantment|enchantments]] that conditionally affect its owner's creature's power or toughness.
{{Main|Fourth Edition/Changes}}
 
;Notable changes
*<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.
*The [[dual land]]s were removed from the core sets.
 
*<c>White Knight</c> and <c>Black Knight</c> are both uncommon [[Classes#Knights|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>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>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 3CC 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 their respective Lords (e.g. Goblin King and Lord of Atlantis).
 
*<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>Tsunami</c> and <c>Flashfires</c> are both uncommon sorceries that have a mana cost of {{3}}C 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 and a combined power/toughness of 5.
 
*<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."
 
==Cards added to 4th Edition==
{{Main|4th Edition/Changes#Cards added to 4th Edition}}
 
==Changes in rarity==
{{Main|4th Edition/Changes#Changes in rarity}}
 
==Cards removed from Revised Edition==
{{Main|4th Edition/Changes#Cards removed from Revised}}
*The [[dual land]]s left the core set.


==Misprints==
==Misprints==
*<c>Segovian Leviathan</c> {{-}} The [[flavor text]] lists Job 40:25, there is no Job 40:25. It was corrected in ''[[5th Edition]]'' to read Job 41:1.
*{{card|Gaea's Liege||4ED}} {{-}} The card name is misspelled as "Gaea's Leige" once in the text box.
*{{card|Segovian Leviathan||4ED}} {{-}} 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==
==References==
Line 115: Line 199:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.wizards.com/magic/advanced/4e/Fourth_Edition.asp ''4th 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)
*{{Prodpage|fourth|4th Edition}} (new)
*[http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/products/card-set-archive/fourth-edition ''Fourth Edition'' Product Information] (new)
 
{{Sets}}


[[Category:Magic core sets|# (004)]]
{{Sets|classic}}
[[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

Advertisement for Fourth Edition.
Main article: Fourth Edition/Changes
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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