Mega cycle: Difference between revisions

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A '''mega cycle''' is a [[cycle]] with its member cards distributed across separate [[set]]s in a block. When these sets are spread across multiple blocks, this is sometimes referred to as a '''mega-mega cycle''' - with the shift away from blocks, normal mega cycles are much rarer.
A '''mega cycle''' is a [[cycle]] with its member cards distributed across separate [[set]]s in a block. When these sets are spread across multiple blocks, this is sometimes referred to as a '''mega-mega cycle'''. However, since blocks are now obsolete, normal mega cycles are much rarer, and cycles distributed across sets in the present day are termed as '''mega-mega cycles''' by default.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/only-murders-that-were-building-part-1|Only Murders That We'e Building, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 29, 2024}}</ref>


==List of mega cycles==
==List of mega cycles==
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|-
|-
| colspan="3" |Three red rare legendary Dragons released in each Core Set starting from 2019 to 2021.
| colspan="3" |Three red rare legendary Dragons released in each Core Set starting from 2019 to 2021.
|-
! colspan="2" |Phyrexian Monsters
|-
|{{card|Phyrexian Obliterator|New Phyrexia}}
|{{card|Phyrexian Vindicator|Phyrexia: All Will Be One}}
|{{card|Phyrexian Harvester}}
|-
| colspan="3" |Three 5/5 Phyrexian Horrors with a mana cost of four colored pips, with an evergreen ability and an ability that does something powerful when they are damaged. {{card|Phyrexian Obliterator}} was a "reverse" {{card|Phyrexian Negator}}, and was also reprinted in ''[[Phyrexia: All Will Be One]]''.
|}
|}


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!Cycle name
!Cycle name
!{{1}}
!{{1}}
!{{8}}
!{{3}}
!{{3}}
!{{4}}
!{{4}}
!{{8}}
|-  
|-  
| rowspan="2" |'''Walking batteries'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Walking batteries'''
|{{card|Myr Moonvessel|Darksteel}}
|{{card|Myr Moonvessel|Darksteel}}
|{{card|Su-Chi Cave Guard|}}
|{{card|Cathodion|Urza's Saga}}
|{{card|Cathodion|Urza's Saga}}
|{{card|Su-chi|Antiquities}}
|{{card|Su-chi|Antiquities}}
|{{card|Su-Chi Cave Guard|The Brothers' War}}
|-  
|-  
| colspan="4" |Each of these X/X artifact creatures with X mana cost produces X colorless mana when they die.
| colspan="4" |Each of these X/X artifact creatures with X mana cost produces X colorless mana when they die.
|-
!Cycle name
!{{R/W}}
!{{U}}
!{{B}}
!{{G}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''1 Mana Figures'''
|{{card|Figure of Destiny|Eventide}}
|{{card|Ascendant Spirit|Kaldheim}}
|{{card|Evolved Sleeper|Dominaria United}}
|{{card|Warden of the First Tree|Fate Reforged}}
|-
| colspan="4" |Each of these creatures costs 1 mana, and have 3 habilities who need to be activated in order, improving the creature step by step. Because they are the 5 colors between the 4 creatures we can consider the cycle complete, also could be two cycles using the same template.
|-
!Cycle name
!{{R}}{{W}}
!
!{{B}}{{R}}
!{{G}}{{U}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Elder Titans'''
|{{card|Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury|Modern Horizons 3}}
|Skotha, Titan of Eternal Dark
|{{card|Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger|Theros Beyond Death}}
|{{card|Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath|Theros Beyond Death}}
|-
| colspan="4" | Each of these Elder Giants has MN in its casting cost and MMNN as its escape cost.
|-
!Cycle name
!1st Set
!2nd Set
!3rd Set
!4th Set
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Kellan]] in the [[Omenpath Arc]]'''
|{{Card|Kellan, the Fae-Blooded}} // {{Card|Birthright Boon}} (''[[Wilds of Eldraine]]'')
|{{Card|Kellan, Daring Traveler}} // {{Card|Journey On}} (''[[The Lost Caverns of Ixalan]]'')
|{{Card|Kellan, Inquisitive Prodigy}} // {{Card|Tail the Suspect}} ([[Murders at Karlov Manor|''Murders at Karlov Manor'']])
|{{card|Kellan, the Kid}} (''[[Outlaws of Thunder Junction]]'')
|-
| colspan="4" |Four [[Legendary]] [[Human]] [[Faerie]]s that have [[Adventure]]s or synergize with Adventures, a mechanic which originated in ''[[Throne of Eldraine]]''. They represent the [[Eldraine]] denizen Kellan and his journey across various [[plane]]s during the [[Omenpath Arc]]. On each plane, he retains a color from his previous card and gains a new one, starting from a monocolored {{R}} creature and progressively becoming a multicolored {{G}}{{W}}{{U}} creature over the arc, as a reflection of his character development.
|}
|}


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|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Innistrad angels'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Innistrad angels'''
|{{card|Avacyn, Angel of Hope|Avacyn Restored}}
|{{card|Avacyn, Angel of Hope|Avacyn Restored}}<br>{{card|Avacyn, Guardian Angel}}
|{{card|Bruna, Light of Alabaster|Avacyn Restored}}
|{{card|Bruna, Light of Alabaster|Avacyn Restored}}
|{{card|Liesa, Shroud of Dusk|Commander Legends}}<br>{{card|Liesa, Forgotten Archangel|Innistrad: Midnight Hunt}}
|{{card|Liesa, Shroud of Dusk|Commander Legends}}<br>{{card|Liesa, Forgotten Archangel|Innistrad: Midnight Hunt}}
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| colspan="5" |Each of these uncommon young [[Spellcaster]]s is imitating a famous planeswalker of same [[race]] and same [[creature class]].
| colspan="5" |Each of these uncommon young [[Spellcaster]]s is imitating a famous planeswalker of same [[race]] and same [[creature class]].
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Return of the Phyrexian Praetors'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Phyrexian Preators in the [[Phyrexian Arc]]'''
|{{card|Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines|Phyrexia: All Will Be One}}
|{{card|Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines|Phyrexia: All Will Be One}}
|{{card|Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant|Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty}}
|{{card|Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant|Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty}}
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|{{card|Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider|Kaldheim}}  
|{{card|Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider|Kaldheim}}  
|-
|-
| colspan="5" | Five [[mythic rare]] [[legendary]] [[Phyrexian]] [[Praetor]] creatures depicting the rulers of the Phyrexians, who were introduced in [[New Phyrexia]]. They appear individually within sets across multiple planes. Similar to their original versions, they give a positive effect to the player controlling them, and a mirrored effect that hurts the opponent.
| colspan="5" | Five [[mythic rare]] [[legendary]] [[Phyrexian]] [[Praetor]] creatures depicting the rulers of the Phyrexians, who were introduced in [[New Phyrexia]]. They appear individually within sets across multiple planes in the [[Phyrexian Arc]]. Similar to their original versions, they give a positive effect to the player controlling them, and a mirrored effect that hurts the opponent.
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Charm creatures'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Charm creatures'''
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|{{card|Aether Channeler|Dominaria United}}
|{{card|Aether Channeler|Dominaria United}}
|{{card|Callous Bloodmage|Strixhaven: School of Mages}}
|{{card|Callous Bloodmage|Strixhaven: School of Mages}}
|{{card|Kargan Intimidator|Zendikar Rising}}
|{{card|Kargan Intimidator|Zendikar Rising}}<hr />{{card|Charming Scoundrel|Wilds of Eldraine}}
|{{card|Gala Greeters|Streets of New Capenna}}
|{{card|Gala Greeters|Streets of New Capenna}}
|-
|-
| colspan="5" |Five [[rare]] creatures that have an ability with three modes.
| colspan="5" |Five [[rare]] creatures that have an ability with three modes.
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Commander Suspend spells'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Commander suspend spells'''
|
|
|{{card|Inspiring Refrain|Commander 2021}}
|{{card|Inspiring Refrain|Commander 2021}}
|
|{{Card|Charnel Serenade}} (''[[Murders at Karlov Manor/Commander decks|Murders at Karlov Manor Commander]]'')
|{{card|Rousing Refrain|Commander 2021}}
|{{card|Rousing Refrain|Commander 2021}}
|{{card|Venture Forth|Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate}}
|{{card|Venture Forth|Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate}}
|-
|-
| colspan="5" |Five spells that are rather overcosted, but have a significantly cheaper [[suspend]] cost. In addition, once they resolve, they exile themselves with time counters, allowing them to be reused. So far, each has been printed in a preconstructed Commander deck and synergizes specifically with the face commander.
| colspan="5" |Five spells that are rather overcosted, but have a significantly cheaper [[suspend]] cost. In addition, once they resolve, they exile themselves with time counters, allowing them to be reused. So far, each has been printed in a preconstructed Commander deck and synergizes specifically with the face commander.
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Phyrexian Monsters'''
|{{card|Phyrexian Vindicator|Phyrexia: All Will Be One}}
|
|{{card|Phyrexian Obliterator|New Phyrexia}}
|{{card|Phyrexian Harvester}}(''[[Alchemy: Phyrexia]]'')
|
|-
| colspan="5" |5/5 Phyrexian Horrors with a mana cost of four colored pips, with an evergreen ability and an ability that does something powerful when they are damaged. Each one's flavor text is that color's associated Phyrexian praetor detailing a quality of the monster. Phyrexian Harvester is the first and currently only member of a mega cycle to be [[Designed-for-digital|designed for digital]].
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Un-Set'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Un-Set'''
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|-
|-
| colspan="5" | [[Legendary]] [[Human]] [[Gamer]] creatures representing the [[Player type|Player Types]]. They are [[Acorn]] cards that were introduced in different [[Acorn#Un-sets|Un-Sets]]. In particular, the [[Player type#Psychographic profile|psychographic profiles]] ([[Player type#Timmy/Tammy|Timmy/Tammy]], [[Player type#Johnny/Jenny|Johnny/Jenny]], and [[Player type#Spike|Spike]]) are 1/1 creatures that cost 2MM with an [[activated ability]] that has a mana value of 4.<ref>https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/696337224955035649/hello-mark-i-love-vorthos-but-why-is-she-a-13</ref>
| colspan="5" | [[Legendary]] [[Human]] [[Gamer]] creatures representing the [[Player type|Player Types]]. They are [[Acorn]] cards that were introduced in different [[Acorn#Un-sets|Un-Sets]]. In particular, the [[Player type#Psychographic profile|psychographic profiles]] ([[Player type#Timmy/Tammy|Timmy/Tammy]], [[Player type#Johnny/Jenny|Johnny/Jenny]], and [[Player type#Spike|Spike]]) are 1/1 creatures that cost 2MM with an [[activated ability]] that has a mana value of 4.<ref>https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/696337224955035649/hello-mark-i-love-vorthos-but-why-is-she-a-13</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Common]] [[Relentless]] cards'''
|
|{{card|Persistent Petitioners}}
|{{card|Shadowborn Apostle}}
|{{card|Dragon's Approach}}
|{{card|Slime Against Humanity}}
|-
| colspan="5" |Five [[common]] cards with a [[relentless]] ability that allows a deck to have any number of cards with the same name, which is based on {{card|Relentless Rats||5DN}}.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/743799413111177216/i-would-like-to-request-a-white-card-with-the-rat?|title=I would like to request a White card with the Relentless ability.|March 1, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Subgame Sorceries'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Subgame Sorceries'''
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|-
|-
| colspan="5" |Rare or higher sorceries that generate a subgame. {{Card|Shahrazard}} is renowned as one of the strangest cards due to introducing the subgame, and due to the subgame being identical to a normal game, it resulted in extremely long games and was banned anywhere it would be legal because of it. As such, the others are [[Acorn]] cards that were introduced in subsequent [[Acorn#Un-sets|Un-Sets]], each with a provision to accelerate the subgame. To complete the cycle, Rosewater believes the next subgame card is likely to be blue.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/odds-ends-unfinity-2022-10-24|ODDS & ENDS: UNFINITY|Mark Rosewater|date=October 24, 2022}}</ref>
| colspan="5" |Rare or higher sorceries that generate a subgame. {{Card|Shahrazard}} is renowned as one of the strangest cards due to introducing the subgame, and due to the subgame being identical to a normal game, it resulted in extremely long games and was banned anywhere it would be legal because of it. As such, the others are [[Acorn]] cards that were introduced in subsequent [[Acorn#Un-sets|Un-Sets]], each with a provision to accelerate the subgame. To complete the cycle, Rosewater believes the next subgame card is likely to be blue.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/odds-ends-unfinity-2022-10-24|ODDS & ENDS: UNFINITY|Mark Rosewater|date=October 24, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Arch-Charms'''
|
|{{Card|Archmage's Charm}} (''[[Modern Horizons]]'')
|
|
|{{Card|Archdruid's Charm}} (''[[Murders at Karlov Manor]]'')
|-
| colspan="5" |[[Charms]] that cost MMM but have powerful effects to balance out their pip requirements.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/only-murders-that-were-building-part-1|Only Murders That We're Building, Part 1|Mark Rosewater|date=January 29, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Tripled Common Creatures'''
|{{Card|Healer's Flock}} (''[[Modern Horizons 2]]'') ({{Card|Healer's Hawk}})
|
|
|{{Card|Mogg Mob}} (''[[Modern Horizons 3]]'') ({{Card|Mogg Fanatic}})
|{{Card|Llanowar Tribe}} (''[[Modern Horizons]]'') ({{Card|Llanowar Elves}})
|-
| colspan="5" |Creatures that are essentially "tripled" versions of iconic common single-mana creatures from ''Magic'''s history, with their mana cost, power, toughness, and abilities all increased by a factor of three. To date, one member of the cycle has been printed in each ''Modern Horizons'' set at uncommon.
|-
|-
!Cycle name
!Cycle name
! East
!East
!North  
!North  
!Center
!Center
!South  
!South
! West
!West
|-  
|-  
| rowspan="2" |'''Kodamas'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Kodamas'''
|{{card|Kodama of the East Tree|Commander Legends}}
|{{card|Kodama of the East Tree|Commander Legends}}
|{{card|Kodama of the North Tree|Champions of Kamigawa}}
|{{card|Kodama of the North Tree|Champions of Kamigawa}}
|{{card|Kodama of the Center Tree|Betrayers of Kamigawa}}
|{{card|Kodama of the Center Tree|Betrayers of Kamigawa}}  
|{{card|Kodama of the South Tree|Champions of Kamigawa}}
|{{card|Kodama of the South Tree|Champions of Kamigawa}}
|{{card|Kodama of the West Tree|Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty}}
|{{card|Kodama of the West Tree|Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty}}
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|-  
|-  
| rowspan="2" |'''Omnath'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Omnath'''
|{{card|Omnath, Locus of Mana|Worldwake}}
|{{card|Omnath, Locus of Mana|Worldwake}}  
|{{card|Omnath, Locus of Rage|Battle for Zendikar}}
|{{card|Omnath, Locus of Rage|Battle for Zendikar}}  
|{{card|Omnath, Locus of the Roil|Core Set 2020}}
|{{card|Omnath, Locus of the Roil|Core Set 2020}}
|{{card|Omnath, Locus of Creation|Zendikar Rising}}
|{{card|Omnath, Locus of Creation|Zendikar Rising}}
|{{card|Omnath, Locus of All|March of the Machine|MOM}}
|{{card|Omnath, Locus of All|March of the Machine|MOM}}
|-
|-
| colspan="5" |Omnath's Evolution. This cycle will be completed in future sets and there is a possibility of a {{C}}{{W}}{{U}}{{B}}{{R}}{{G}} version to be included.<ref name="gd" />
| colspan="5" |Omnath's Evolution. There is a possibility of a {{C}}{{W}}{{U}}{{B}}{{R}}{{G}} version to be included.<ref name="gd" />
|-
|}
|}
===Six-card mega-mega cycles===
===Six-card mega-mega cycles===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Cycle name
!Cycle name
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!{{R}}{{W}}{{B}}
!{{R}}{{W}}{{B}}
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Elder dragons'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Elder Dragons'''
|{{card|Arcades Sabboth||LEG}}
|{{card|Arcades Sabboth||LEG}}
|{{card|Chromium||LEG}}
|{{card|Chromium||LEG}}
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Many [[land]] cycles are double mega-mega cycles that started in one set and were completed in another.
Many [[land]] cycles are double mega-mega cycles that started in one set and were completed in another.
{| class="wikitable"   
{| class="wikitable"   
!Cycle name!!{{W}}{{U}}!!{{U}}{{B}}!!{{B}}{{R}}!!{{R}}{{G}}!!{{G}}{{W}}!!{{W}}{{B}}!!{{U}}{{R}}!!{{B}}{{G}}!!{{R}}{{W}}!!{{G}}{{U}}
!Cycle name !!{{W}}{{U}}!!{{U}}{{B}}!!{{B}}{{R}}!!{{R}}{{G}}!!{{G}}{{W}}!!{{W}}{{B}}!!{{U}}{{R}}!!{{B}}{{G}}!! {{R}}{{W}}!!{{G}}{{U}}
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Pain land]]s'''
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Pain land]]s'''
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|{{card|Yavimaya Coast||APC}}
|{{card|Yavimaya Coast||APC}}
|-
|-
| colspan="10" |Ten rare [[dual land]]s that add either one of two colors, dealing 1 damage to its user in the process, and can also add colorless mana without any drawback. The allied pain lands were printed originally in ''[[Ice Age]]'' and the enemy ones were originally printed in ''[[Apocalypse]]''. They have been reprinted many times since.
| colspan="10" |Ten rare [[dual land]]s that add either one of two colors, dealing 1 damage to its user in the process, and can also add colorless mana without any drawback. The allied pain lands were printed originally in ''[[Ice Age]]'' and the enemy ones were originally printed in ''[[Apocalypse]]''. They have been reprinted many times since.  
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Pain lands#Pain talismans|Talismans]]'''
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Pain lands#Pain talismans|Talismans]]'''
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|{{card|Talisman of Curiosity||MH1}}
|{{card|Talisman of Curiosity||MH1}}
|-
|-
| colspan="10" |Ten uncommon artifacts that resemble the pain lands mentioned above, having the same text box as them, except they are artifacts that cost 2 generic to cast. The cycle started in ''[[Mirrodin]]'' with the allied colors and was completed in ''[[Modern Horizons]]'' with the enemy colors, almost 19 years later.
| colspan="10" |Ten uncommon artifacts that resemble the pain lands mentioned above, having the same text box as them, except they are artifacts that cost 2 generic to cast. The cycle started in ''[[Mirrodin]]'' with the allied colors and was completed in ''[[Modern Horizons]]'' with the enemy colors, almost 19 years later. The artwork of <c>Pristine Talisman</c> refers to the original cycle and is the functional opposite of the talismans themselves, producing no colored mana but gaining life instead of costing life.
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Check land]]s'''
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Check land]]s'''
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|-
|-
| colspan="10" |Ten rare [[dual land]]s that enter the battlefield tapped unless the player controls a land with a basic land type that corresponds with either color the land can produce. The allied colors were originally printed in ''[[Magic 2010]]'' and the enemy colors were originally printed two years later in ''[[Innistrad]]''. They have been reprinted many times since.
| colspan="10" |Ten rare [[dual land]]s that enter the battlefield tapped unless the player controls a land with a basic land type that corresponds with either color the land can produce. The allied colors were originally printed in ''[[Magic 2010]]'' and the enemy colors were originally printed two years later in ''[[Innistrad]]''. They have been reprinted many times since.
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Restless Lands'''
|{{card|Restless Anchorage||LCI}}
|{{card|Restless Reef||LCI}}
|{{card|Restless Vents||LCI}}
|{{card|Restless Ridgeline||LCI}}
|{{card|Restless Prairie||LCI}}
|{{card|Restless Fortress||WOE}}
|{{card|Restless Spire||WOE}}
|{{card|Restless Cottage||WOE}}
|{{card|Restless Bivouac||WOE}}
|{{card|Restless Vinestalk||WOE}}
|-
| colspan="10" |Ten rare taplands that can be [[animate]]d and have an attack trigger. The cycle started in ''[[Wilds of Eldraine]]'' with the allied colors and was completed in ''[[The Lost Caverns of Ixalan]]'' with the enemy colors, the next set.
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{X}} '''Spells'''
| rowspan="2" |{{X}} '''Spells'''
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|{{card|Rakdos's Return|Return to Ravnica}}
|{{card|Rakdos's Return|Return to Ravnica}}
|{{card|Clan Defiance|Gatecrash}}
|{{card|Clan Defiance|Gatecrash}}
|{{card|March of the Multitudes|Guilds of Ravnica}}
|{{card|March of the Multitudes|Guilds of Ravnica}}  
|{{card|Immortal Servitude|Gatecrash}}
|{{card|Immortal Servitude|Gatecrash}}
|{{card|Epic Experiment|Return to Ravnica}}<hr />{{card|Invoke the Firemind|Guildpact}}
|{{card|Epic Experiment|Return to Ravnica}}<hr />{{card|Invoke the Firemind|Guildpact}}
|{{card|Gaze of Granite|Dragon's Maze}}  
|{{card|Gaze of Granite|Dragon's Maze}}
|{{card|Aurelia's Fury|Gatecrash}}<hr />{{card|Brightflame|Ravnica: City of Guilds}}
|{{card|Aurelia's Fury|Gatecrash}}<hr />{{card|Brightflame|Ravnica: City of Guilds}}
|{{card|Biomass Mutation|Gatecrash}}
|{{card|Biomass Mutation|Gatecrash}}
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|{{card|Lumbering Falls||BFZ}}
|{{card|Lumbering Falls||BFZ}}
|-
|-
| colspan="10" |Ten rare lands that produce two colors of mana, enter the battlefield tapped and can become Elemental creatures. This cycle started with the allied colors in ''[[Worldwake]]'' and completed with the enemy colors in ''[[Battle for Zendikar]]'' and ''[[Oath of the Gatewatch]]''.
| colspan="10" |Ten rare lands that produce two colors of mana, enter the battlefield tapped and can become Elemental creatures. This cycle started with the allied colors in ''[[Worldwake]]'' and completed with the enemy colors in ''[[Battle for Zendikar]]'' and ''[[Oath of the Gatewatch]]''.  
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Pathway]]s'''
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Pathway]]s'''
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|<c>Rodolf Duskbringer</c> ({{nowrap|{{B}}}})
|<c>Rodolf Duskbringer</c> ({{nowrap|{{B}}}})
|<c>Mizzix, Replica Rider</c> ({{nowrap|{{R}}}})
|<c>Mizzix, Replica Rider</c> ({{nowrap|{{R}}}})
|<c>Zask, Skittering Swarmlord</c> ({{nowrap|{{G}}}})
|<c>Zask, Skittering Swarmlord</c> ({{nowrap|{{G}}}})  
|<c>Agrus Kos, Eternal Soldier</c> ({{nowrap|{{W}}}})
|<c>Agrus Kos, Eternal Soldier</c> ({{nowrap|{{W}}}})  
|<c>Kenessos, Priest of Thassa</c> ({{nowrap|{{U}}}})
|<c>Kenessos, Priest of Thassa</c> ({{nowrap|{{U}}}})  
|-
|-
| colspan="10" |Ten rare (mythic rare in Emiel's case) [[monocolored]] legendary creatures seen in the physical [[Jumpstart]] sets, each of which has an ability requiring [[hybrid mana]]. Their colors are the second color of each pair.
| colspan="10" |Ten rare (mythic rare in Emiel's case) [[monocolored]] legendary creatures seen in the physical [[Jumpstart]] sets, each of which has an ability requiring [[hybrid mana]]. Their colors are the second color of each pair.
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| rowspan="2" |'''[[Mirran swords]]'''
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Mirran swords]]'''
|{{card|Sword of Truth and Justice|Modern Horizons}}
|{{card|Sword of Truth and Justice|Modern Horizons}}
|
|{{card|Sword of Once and Future|March of the Machine|MOM}}
|{{card|Sword of Sinew and Steel|Modern Horizons}}  
|{{card|Sword of Sinew and Steel|Modern Horizons}}
|{{card|Sword of Forge and Frontier|Phyrexia: All Will Be One}}
|{{card|Sword of Forge and Frontier|Phyrexia: All Will Be One}}
|{{card|Sword of Hearth and Home|Modern Horizons 2}}
|{{card|Sword of Hearth and Home|Modern Horizons 2}}
|{{card|Sword of Light and Shadow|Darksteel}}
|{{card|Sword of Light and Shadow|Darksteel}}
|{{card|Sword of Fire and Ice|Darksteel}}
|{{card|Sword of Fire and Ice|Darksteel}}  
|{{card|Sword of Feast and Famine|Mirrodin Besieged}}
|{{card|Sword of Feast and Famine|Mirrodin Besieged}}  
|{{card|Sword of War and Peace|New Phyrexia}}
 
|{{card|Sword of Body and Mind|Scars of Mirrodin}}
|{{card|Sword of War and Peace|New Phyrexia}}  
|{{card|Sword of Body and Mind|Scars of Mirrodin}}  
|-
|-
| colspan="10" |Each of these rare/mythic rare [[Equipment]] costing {{3}} has an [[equip]] cost of {{2}} and "Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has [[protection]] from [color 1] and from [color 2].", and an ability with two effects, one associated with each color, that is triggered whenever the equipped creature deals combat damage to a player. The colors associated with the Swords are nominally and visually alluded to.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/history-swords-2011-01-24|A History of Swords|[[Monty Ashley]]|January 24, 2011}}</ref> This cycle may or may not be completed before October 6, 2024.<ref name="gd" /> {{card|Sword of Dungeons & Dragons|Unstable}} is a parody of this cycle.  
| colspan="10" |Each of these rare/mythic rare [[Equipment]] costing {{3}} has an [[equip]] cost of {{2}} and "Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has [[protection]] from [color 1] and from [color 2].", and an ability with two effects, one associated with each color, that is triggered whenever the equipped creature deals combat damage to a player. The colors associated with the Swords are nominally and visually alluded to.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/history-swords-2011-01-24|A History of Swords|[[Monty Ashley]]|January 24, 2011}}</ref> {{card|Sword of Dungeons & Dragons|Unstable}} is a parody of this cycle.
|-
|-
!Cycle name!!{{G}}{{W}}{{U}}!! {{W}}{{U}}{{B}}!!{{U}}{{B}}{{R}}!!{{B}}{{R}}{{G}}!!{{R}}{{G}}{{W}}!!{{R}}{{W}}{{B}}!!{{G}}{{U}}{{R}}!!{{W}}{{B}}{{G}}!!{{U}}{{R}}{{W}}!!{{B}}{{G}}{{U}}
!Cycle name !!{{G}}{{W}}{{U}}!!{{W}}{{U}}{{B}}!!{{U}}{{B}}{{R}}!!{{B}}{{R}}{{G}}!!{{R}}{{G}}{{W}}!!{{R}}{{W}}{{B}}!!{{G}}{{U}}{{R}}!!{{W}}{{B}}{{G}}!!{{U}}{{R}}{{W}}!!{{B}}{{G}}{{U}}
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Ultimatums'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Ultimatums'''
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|{{card|Emergent Ultimatum||IKO}}
|{{card|Emergent Ultimatum||IKO}}
|-
|-
| colspan="10" |Ten rare three-colored [[Sorcery|sorceries]] with powerful effects and mana costs in the format MMNNNOO. This cycle started with the [[shard]] colors in ''[[Shards of Alara]]'' and completed with the [[wedge]] colors in ''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]''.
| colspan="10" | Ten rare three-colored [[Sorcery|sorceries]] with powerful effects and mana costs in the format MMNNNOO. This cycle started with the [[shard]] colors in ''[[Shards of Alara]]'' and completed with the [[wedge]] colors in ''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]''.
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |'''Triple [[Tapland]]s'''
| rowspan="2" |'''Triple [[Tapland]]s'''
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|{{card|Zagoth Triome||IKO}}
|{{card|Zagoth Triome||IKO}}
|-
|-
| colspan="10" |Ten uncommon lands that come into play tapped and can be tapped for one of three colors of mana or cycled for {{3}}. This cycle started with the [[wedge]] colors in ''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]'' and completed with the [[shard]] colors in ''[[Streets of New Capenna]]''.
| colspan="10" |Ten rare lands that come into play tapped and can be tapped for one of three colors of mana or cycled for {{3}}. This cycle started with the [[wedge]] colors in ''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]'' and completed with the [[shard]] colors in ''[[Streets of New Capenna]]''. Coincidentally, both sets debuted the second planes with a set of five tri-colored factions.
|}
|}


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*[[Vertical cycle]]
*[[Vertical cycle]]


==References==
==References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Cards]]
[[Category:Cards]]
[[Category:Magic slang]]
[[Category:Magic slang]]

Latest revision as of 05:16, 4 July 2024

A mega cycle is a cycle with its member cards distributed across separate sets in a block. When these sets are spread across multiple blocks, this is sometimes referred to as a mega-mega cycle. However, since blocks are now obsolete, normal mega cycles are much rarer, and cycles distributed across sets in the present day are termed as mega-mega cycles by default.[1]

List of mega cycles

Three-card mega cycles

One card per set within one block.

Cycle name 1st Set 2nd Set 3rd Set
Land Kavus Slimy Kavu (Invasion) Kavu Recluse (Planeshift) Tundra Kavu (Apocalypse)
Each of these Kavu is a red 2/2 creature with a mana cost of {2}{R} and an activated ability requiring to tap {T} to change a land's type into another. The first two change the land into the allies of red, while the last one changes it into the color's enemies.
Kaldra Sword of Kaldra (Mirrodin) Shield of Kaldra (Darksteel) Helm of Kaldra (Fifth Dawn)
Each of these three rare legendary Equipment is a constituent required to put the legendary Kaldra creature token onto the battlefield. Each of these cards was its set's prerelease promotional card.
Ezrith destroy Premature Burial (Time Spiral) Cradle to Grave (Planar Chaos) Grave Peril (Future Sight)
Each of these black cards costs {1}{B} and destroy a nonblack creature at different points in time. They feature a flavor text of Ezrith, Druid of the Dark Hours.

Four-card mega cycles

Cycle name {W}{U} {U}{B} {U}{R} {G}{U}
Gold counterspells Absorb (Invasion)
(Healing Salve)
Undermine (Invasion)
(Bump in the Night)
Suffocating Blast (Apocalypse)
(Lightning Strike)
Mystic Snake (Apocalypse)
(Grizzly Bears)
Each of these multicolored spells has {U}{U} in its casting cost and includes a Counterspell attached to a color appropriate effect.
Cycle name {G}{W} {G}{U} {B}{G} {R}{G}
Mutations Aura Mutation (Invasion)
(Enchantments)
Aether Mutation (Apocalypse)
(Creatures - bounce)
Death Mutation (Apocalypse)
(Creatures - destroy)
Artifact Mutation (Invasion)
(Artifacts)
Each of these multicolored spells has {G} in its casting cost, destroys or disrupts resources, and creates 1/1 Saproling creature tokens equal to the resource's converted mana cost.

Five-card mega cycles

Cycle name {W} {U} {B} {R}

{G}

Retrievers Treasure Hunter (Exodus)
(Artifacts)
Scrivener (Exodus)
(Instants)
Gravedigger (Tempest)
(Creatures)
Anarchist (Exodus)
(Sorceries)
Cartographer (Exodus)
(Lands)
Each of these 2/2 creatures returns a card of a certain type from your graveyard to your hand when it comes into play.
Alternate-win enchantments Test of Endurance (Judgment) Battle of Wits (Odyssey) Mortal Combat (Torment) Chance Encounter (Odyssey) Epic Struggle (Judgment)
Each of these cards is an alternate-win card.
Tapping lords Master Apothecary (Odyssey)
(Clerics)
Patron Wizard (Odyssey)
(Wizards)
Zombie Trailblazer (Torment)
(Zombies)
Dwarven Bloodboiler (Judgment)
(Dwarven)
Seton, Krosan Protector (Odyssey)
(Druids)
Each of these creatures costs MMM and confers an effect by tapping other creatures of the same subtype. Of note, the green card of this cycle is the only one to have its creature be legendary.[2]
Dominarian legendary lands Flagstones of Trokair (Time Spiral) Academy Ruins (Time Spiral) Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth (Planar Chaos) Kher Keep (Time Spiral) Pendelhaven (Time Spiral)
Some of these lands help to show the degradation of Dominaria.
Lorwyn legends Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile (Lorwyn) Vendilion Clique (Morningtide) Maralen of the Mornsong (Morningtide) Ashling the Pilgrim (Lorwyn) Rhys the Exiled (Morningtide)
Each of these legendary monocolored creatures are from Lorwyn–Shadowmoor plane.
Rare Changelings Mirror Entity (Lorwyn) Shapesharer (Lorwyn) Cairn Wanderer (Lorwyn) Taurean Mauler (Morningtide) Chameleon Colossus (Morningtide)
Each of these rare shapeshifter creatures has changeling and another powerful ability.
Rare artifacts Peacewalker Colossus (Aether Revolt) Merchant's Dockhand (Aether Revolt) Scrapheap Scrounger (Kaladesh) Bomat Courier (Kaladesh) Lifecrafter's Bestiary (Aether Revolt)
Each of these rare artifacts has an activated ability requiring a color.

Guild mega cycles

Ravnica's design is based upon the use of all ten two-color combinations in the forms of guild, and its popularity has resulted in multiple set revisits. As such, mega cycles are prevalent, even after the shift to leave small sets and yearly blocks behind.

List of mega-mega cycles

A mega-mega cycle (a.k.a Supercycle)[3] is a cycle with its member cards distributed across separate sets; unlike a megacycle, however, these sets are not all within a single block but are from multiple blocks.[4]

Two-card mega-mega cycles

Mirrored pair Description
Platinum Angel (Mirrodin) Abyssal Persecutor (Worldwake) An angel that makes it impossible for you to lose the game and your opponents to win and a demon that does the opposite.
Chief Engineer (Magic 2015) Inspiring Statuary (Aether Revolt) A creature that grants Convoke to artifacts and an artifact that grants Improvise to non-artifacts.
Druid of the Anima (Shards of Alara) Urborg Elf (Apocalypse) Two 1/1 green Elf Druids with mana cost {1}{G}. One tap for {G} or one of its ally colors {R}{W} and the other for {G} or one of its enemy colors {U}{B}.
Noble Hierarch (Conflux) Ignoble Hierarch (Modern Horizons 2) Two 0/1 green creatures with mana cost {G} and Exalted. One tap for {G} or one of its adjacent clockwise colors {W}{U} (Bant) and the other for {G} or one of its adjacent counterclockwise colors {B}{R} (Jund).

Three-card mega-mega cycles

Cycle name Common Uncommon Rare
Delver evolution Delver of Secrets (Innistrad) Aberrant Researcher (Shadows over Innistrad) Docent of Perfection (Eldritch Moon)
Each of these double-faced cards depicts the further descent into madness of a single unknown researcher. The type line, power, and toughness of each card's front face are identical to that of the previous card's back face.
Cycle name {1} {2} {3}
Mana/Draw rocks Mind Stone (Weatherlight) Hedron Archive (Battle for Zendikar) Dreamstone Hedron (Rise of the Eldrazi)
Each of these Artifacts with 2X mana cost can be tapped for X colorless mana, or draw X cards by paying X mana and sacrificing them.
Cycle name
Legendary dragons Lathliss, Dragon Queen (Core Set 2019) Drakuseth, Maw of Flames (Core Set 2020) Gadrak, the Crown-Scourge (Core Set 2021)
Three red rare legendary Dragons released in each Core Set starting from 2019 to 2021.

Four-card mega-mega cycles

Cycle name {W}{U} {U}{B} {U}{R} {G}{U}
Gold counterspells Absorb (Invasion)
Render Silent (Dragon's Maze)
Undermine (Invasion) Double Negative (Alara Reborn)
Counterflux (Return to Ravnica)
Voidslime (Dissension)
Each of these rare instants costs {U}{U} plus one mana of another color. The cycle was originally "completed" with Alara Reborn, but Return to Ravnica block added two others. Each of these cards is a counterspell with a bonus or increased flexibility.
Cycle name {W} vs {B} {W} vs {R} {B} vs {G} {B} vs {W}
Paladins Northern Paladin (Alpha) Southern Paladin (Weatherlight) Eastern Paladin (Urza's Saga) Western Paladin (Urza's Saga)
Each of these paladins is a 3/3 black or white knight creature with a converted mana cost of 2MM. The black paladins can tap for {B}{B} to destroy a creature of one specific color; the white paladins can destroy any permanent of one specific color for {W}{W} and tapping instead. All of them were reprinted in Seventh Edition, in which there is a story of a war among the paladins narrated through the flavor text of cards from the set.
Cycle name {1} {3} {4} {8}
Walking batteries Myr Moonvessel (Darksteel) Cathodion (Urza's Saga) Su-chi (Antiquities) Su-Chi Cave Guard (The Brothers' War)
Each of these X/X artifact creatures with X mana cost produces X colorless mana when they die.
Cycle name {R/W} {U} {B} {G}
1 Mana Figures Figure of Destiny (Eventide) Ascendant Spirit (Kaldheim) Evolved Sleeper (Dominaria United) Warden of the First Tree (Fate Reforged)
Each of these creatures costs 1 mana, and have 3 habilities who need to be activated in order, improving the creature step by step. Because they are the 5 colors between the 4 creatures we can consider the cycle complete, also could be two cycles using the same template.
Cycle name {R}{W} {B}{R} {G}{U}
Elder Titans Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury (Modern Horizons 3) Skotha, Titan of Eternal Dark Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger (Theros Beyond Death) Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath (Theros Beyond Death)
Each of these Elder Giants has MN in its casting cost and MMNN as its escape cost.
Cycle name 1st Set 2nd Set 3rd Set 4th Set
Kellan in the Omenpath Arc Kellan, the Fae-Blooded // Birthright Boon (Wilds of Eldraine) Kellan, Daring Traveler // Journey On (The Lost Caverns of Ixalan) Kellan, Inquisitive Prodigy // Tail the Suspect (Murders at Karlov Manor) Kellan, the Kid (Outlaws of Thunder Junction)
Four Legendary Human Faeries that have Adventures or synergize with Adventures, a mechanic which originated in Throne of Eldraine. They represent the Eldraine denizen Kellan and his journey across various planes during the Omenpath Arc. On each plane, he retains a color from his previous card and gains a new one, starting from a monocolored {R} creature and progressively becoming a multicolored {G}{W}{U} creature over the arc, as a reflection of his character development.

Five-card mega-mega cycles

Cycle name {W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Legendary lands Kor Haven (Nemesis) Teferi's Isle (Mirage) Volrath's Stronghold (Stronghold) Keldon Necropolis (Invasion) Yavimaya Hollow (Urza's Destiny)
The "original" Mega-Mega cycle. Each of these rare legendary lands has at least two abilities, one of which is a mana ability. These lands represent notable locations from the Weatherlight Saga of the Magic storyline.
Legendary lands II Kor Haven (Nemesis) Academy Ruins (Time Spiral) Volrath's Stronghold (Stronghold) Kher Keep (Time Spiral)
A revision of the "original" Mega-Mega cycle for aesthetic reasons.[3] Each of these rare legendary lands taps for {C} and has a 1M activated ability.
Topdeck lands Hall of Heliod's Generosity (Modern Horizons) Academy Ruins (Time Spiral) Volrath's Stronghold (Stronghold)
Each of these legendary lands taps for colorless and features a colored ability to place a certain type of card in your graveyard on top of your library.
Atogs Auratog (Tempest) Chronatog (Visions) Necratog (Weatherlight) Atog (Antiquities) Foratog (Mirage)
Each of these 1/2 Atog creatures, all but Atog itself being inspired by Atog, "ate" a resource to "grow"; each Atog has an activated ability costing a resource or commodity for an increase in its power and toughness until end of turn. Also includes the five color Atogatog (Odyssey), which eats other Atogs.
+1/+1 Lords Soldiers Merfolks Zombies Goblins Elves
Field Marshal (Coldsnap)
Captain of the Watch (Magic 2010)
Lord of Atlantis (Alpha)
Merfolk Sovereign (Magic 2010)
Lord of the Undead (Planeshift)
Death Baron (Shards of Alara)
Cemetery Reaper (Magic 2010)
Goblin King (Alpha)
Goblin Chieftain (Magic 2010)
Elvish Champion (Invasion)
Elvish Archdruid (Magic 2010)
Each of these rare confers other creatures of a characteristic creature subtype associated with that card's color and relevant to its name +1/+1 and, more often than not, an additional ability. The original three from Limited Edition Alpha, Lord of Atlantis, Zombie Master (not listed, gives no stat bonus), and Goblin King were printed with the Lord creature subtype, but this creature subtype was removed following the Grand Creature Type Update. Following a shift in focus on, and the success of, "creature subtypes matter", or "tribal", various iterations of Lords have been printed.
Protection angels Voice of Truth (Nemesis) Voice of Reason (Urza's Destiny) Voice of Grace (Urza's Saga) Voice of Law (Urza's Saga) Voice of Duty (Urza's Destiny)
Each of these uncommon 2/2 white Angel creatures costing {3}{W} with flying and protection from a specific color. The flavor text of each of these cards is from the "Song of All", a fictitious sacred text from the Serra religion. Voice of All, an uncommon Angel costing {2}{W}{W} with flying and protection from a color chosen as it enters the battlefield, was released in Planeshift, as an homage to the mega-mega cycle.
Tutors Enlightened Tutor (Mirage) Mystical Tutor (Mirage) Vampiric Tutor (Visions) Gamble (Urza's Saga) Worldly Tutor (Mirage)
Each of these rares allows its controller to search his or her library for a card, albeit with certain conditions. The joke card Goblin Tutor from Unglued pays homage to this mega-mega cycle.
Towers[5] Tower of Eons (Mirrodin) Tower of Fortunes (Mirrodin) Tower of Murmurs (Mirrodin) Tower of Calamities (Scars of Mirrodin) Tower of Champions (Mirrodin)
Each of these rare noncreature artifacts costing {4} has an activated ability costing {8} and {T}. Tower of Calamities was introduced in Scars of Mirrodin after Design and Development realized that players associated or might associate, the released four Towers' effects with a color each, and its amount of damage was decided by extrapolating the established pattern of an effect increasing by two.[6]
Elementary forces Celestial Force (Commander) Tidal Force (Commander 2013) Baleful Force (Commander 2013) Magmatic Force (Commander) Verdant Force (Tempest)
Each of these rare Elemental creatures has a mana cost of 5MMM, a power/toughness of 7/7 and an ability that triggers each upkeep.
Oaths of the Gatewatch Oath of Gideon (Oath of the Gatewatch) Oath of Jace (Oath of the Gatewatch) Oath of Liliana (Eldritch Moon) Oath of Chandra (Oath of the Gatewatch) Oath of Nissa (Oath of the Gatewatch)
Each of these rare legendary enchantments has an enter the battlefield effect and second effect with some kind of Planeswalker interaction.
Morphlings[7] Brightling (Battlebond) Morphling (Urza's Saga) Endling (Modern Horizons) Torchling (Planar Chaos) Thornling (Conflux)
Creatures that have three colored activated abilities as well as the ability "{1}: ~ gets +1/-1 or -1/+1 until end of turn." Each one has a mana cost of MM and some amount of generic mana. (Aetherling is not considered part of the cycle and only has 2 colored abilities.)
Sorcery magi Magus of the Balance (Commander 2018) Magus of the Mind (Commander 2017) Magus of the Will (Commander 2016) Magus of the Wheel (Commander 2015) Magus of the Order (Commander Legends)
Each of these rare wizards has a converted mana cost and activated ability reminiscent of powerful and iconic sorcery from Magic's past.[8]
"Cones" Incremental Blight (Shadowmoor)
Gruesome Menagerie (Guilds of Ravnica)
Cone of Flame (Weatherlight) Incremental Growth (Lorwyn)
Bestial Menace (Worldwake)
Each of these sorceries has a converted mana cost of 3MM and a repeated effect that does one, two, and three of a certain action.[9]
Innistrad angels Avacyn, Angel of Hope (Avacyn Restored)
Avacyn, Guardian Angel
Bruna, Light of Alabaster (Avacyn Restored) Liesa, Shroud of Dusk (Commander Legends)
Liesa, Forgotten Archangel (Innistrad: Midnight Hunt)
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight (Avacyn Restored) Sigarda, Host of Herons (Avacyn Restored)
Sigarda, Champion of Light (Innistrad: Midnight Hunt)
The Archangels of Innistrad, Avacyn and her sisters. Each of them has {W}{W} plus one mana of another color in their mana cost.
Young spellcasters Young Necromancer (Modern Horizons 2) Young Pyromancer (Magic 2014)
Each of these uncommon young Spellcasters is imitating a famous planeswalker of same race and same creature class.
Phyrexian Preators in the Phyrexian Arc Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines (Phyrexia: All Will Be One) Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant (Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty) Sheoldred, the Apocalypse (Dominaria United) Urabrask, Heretic Praetor (Streets of New Capenna) Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider (Kaldheim)
Five mythic rare legendary Phyrexian Praetor creatures depicting the rulers of the Phyrexians, who were introduced in New Phyrexia. They appear individually within sets across multiple planes in the Phyrexian Arc. Similar to their original versions, they give a positive effect to the player controlling them, and a mirrored effect that hurts the opponent.
Charm creatures Charming Prince (Throne of Eldraine) Aether Channeler (Dominaria United) Callous Bloodmage (Strixhaven: School of Mages) Kargan Intimidator (Zendikar Rising)
Charming Scoundrel (Wilds of Eldraine)
Gala Greeters (Streets of New Capenna)
Five rare creatures that have an ability with three modes.
Commander suspend spells Inspiring Refrain (Commander 2021) Charnel Serenade (Murders at Karlov Manor Commander) Rousing Refrain (Commander 2021) Venture Forth (Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate)
Five spells that are rather overcosted, but have a significantly cheaper suspend cost. In addition, once they resolve, they exile themselves with time counters, allowing them to be reused. So far, each has been printed in a preconstructed Commander deck and synergizes specifically with the face commander.
Phyrexian Monsters Phyrexian Vindicator (Phyrexia: All Will Be One) Phyrexian Obliterator (New Phyrexia) Phyrexian Harvester(Alchemy: Phyrexia)
5/5 Phyrexian Horrors with a mana cost of four colored pips, with an evergreen ability and an ability that does something powerful when they are damaged. Each one's flavor text is that color's associated Phyrexian praetor detailing a quality of the monster. Phyrexian Harvester is the first and currently only member of a mega cycle to be designed for digital.
Un-Set

Player Types

Johnny, Combo Player (Unsanctioned) Spike, Tournament Grinder (Unstable) Vorthos, Steward of Myth (Unfinity) Timmy, Power Gamer (Unglued)
Legendary Human Gamer creatures representing the Player Types. They are Acorn cards that were introduced in different Un-Sets. In particular, the psychographic profiles (Timmy/Tammy, Johnny/Jenny, and Spike) are 1/1 creatures that cost 2MM with an activated ability that has a mana value of 4.[10]
Common Relentless cards Persistent Petitioners Shadowborn Apostle Dragon's Approach Slime Against Humanity
Five common cards with a relentless ability that allows a deck to have any number of cards with the same name, which is based on Relentless Rats.[11]
Subgame Sorceries Shahrazad (Arabian Nights) Enter the Dungeon (Unhinged) The Countdown Is At One (Unstable) Tug of War (Unfinity)
Rare or higher sorceries that generate a subgame. Shahrazard is renowned as one of the strangest cards due to introducing the subgame, and due to the subgame being identical to a normal game, it resulted in extremely long games and was banned anywhere it would be legal because of it. As such, the others are Acorn cards that were introduced in subsequent Un-Sets, each with a provision to accelerate the subgame. To complete the cycle, Rosewater believes the next subgame card is likely to be blue.[12]
Arch-Charms Archmage's Charm (Modern Horizons) Archdruid's Charm (Murders at Karlov Manor)
Charms that cost MMM but have powerful effects to balance out their pip requirements.[13]
Tripled Common Creatures Healer's Flock (Modern Horizons 2) (Healer's Hawk) Mogg Mob (Modern Horizons 3) (Mogg Fanatic) Llanowar Tribe (Modern Horizons) (Llanowar Elves)
Creatures that are essentially "tripled" versions of iconic common single-mana creatures from Magic's history, with their mana cost, power, toughness, and abilities all increased by a factor of three. To date, one member of the cycle has been printed in each Modern Horizons set at uncommon.
Cycle name East North Center South West
Kodamas Kodama of the East Tree (Commander Legends) Kodama of the North Tree (Champions of Kamigawa) Kodama of the Center Tree (Betrayers of Kamigawa) Kodama of the South Tree (Champions of Kamigawa) Kodama of the West Tree (Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty)
The Kodamas are a group of 5 legendary {G} Spirits from Kamigawa.
Cycle name {G} {R}{G} {G}{U}{R} {R}{G}{W}{U} {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}
Omnath Omnath, Locus of Mana (Worldwake) Omnath, Locus of Rage (Battle for Zendikar) Omnath, Locus of the Roil (Core Set 2020) Omnath, Locus of Creation (Zendikar Rising) Omnath, Locus of All (March of the Machine)
Omnath's Evolution. There is a possibility of a {C}{W}{U}{B}{R}{G} version to be included.[3]

Six-card mega-mega cycles

Cycle name {1} or less {2} {3} {4} {5} {6} or greater
Mages[3] Trinket Mage (Fifth Dawn) Tribute Mage (Modern Horizons) Trophy Mage (Aether Revolt) Treasure Mage (Mirrodin Besieged)
Each of these mages is a 2/2 blue Human wizard and has {2}{U} as casting cost. When any of them enters the battlefield, its controller can search in their library for an artifact card with a specific converted mana cost. This cycle will be completed in future sets.[3][14]
Cycle name {W} {U} {B} {R} {G} {C}
Spellshaped Goldmeadow Harrier (Lorwyn) Cloud Sprite (Mercadian Masques) Festering Goblin (Onslaught) Spark Elemental (Fifth Dawn) Llanowar Elves (Alpha) Metallic Sliver (Tempest)
Creatures created by the spellshapers of Future Sight:[15][16]
Goldmeadow Lookout Cloudseeder Skirk Ridge Exhumer Sparkspitter Llanowar Mentor Sliversmith
Cycle name {G}{W}{U} {B}{U}{W} {U}{B}{R} {B}{R}{G} {W}{G}{R} {R}{W}{B}
Elder Dragons Arcades Sabboth Chromium Nicol Bolas Vaevictis Asmadi Palladia-Mors Piru, the Volatile
Six rare three colored Elder Dragons. Each of these legendary Dragons has a mana cost of {2}MMNNOO, flying, an upkeep cost of MNO, and power/toughness of 7/7. This cycle started with the shard colors in legends and introduced a sixth with the release of Modern Horizons 2.

Double mega-mega cycles

Many land cycles are double mega-mega cycles that started in one set and were completed in another.

Cycle name {W}{U} {U}{B} {B}{R} {R}{G} {G}{W} {W}{B} {U}{R} {B}{G} {R}{W} {G}{U}
Pain lands Adarkar Wastes Underground River Sulfurous Springs Karplusan Forest Brushland Caves of Koilos Shivan Reef Llanowar Wastes Battlefield Forge Yavimaya Coast
Ten rare dual lands that add either one of two colors, dealing 1 damage to its user in the process, and can also add colorless mana without any drawback. The allied pain lands were printed originally in Ice Age and the enemy ones were originally printed in Apocalypse. They have been reprinted many times since.
Talismans Talisman of Progress Talisman of Dominance Talisman of Indulgence Talisman of Impulse Talisman of Unity Talisman of Hierarchy Talisman of Creativity Talisman of Resilience Talisman of Conviction Talisman of Curiosity
Ten uncommon artifacts that resemble the pain lands mentioned above, having the same text box as them, except they are artifacts that cost 2 generic to cast. The cycle started in Mirrodin with the allied colors and was completed in Modern Horizons with the enemy colors, almost 19 years later. The artwork of Pristine Talisman refers to the original cycle and is the functional opposite of the talismans themselves, producing no colored mana but gaining life instead of costing life.
Check lands Glacial Fortress Drowned Catacomb Dragonskull Summit Rootbound Crag Sunpetal Grove Isolated Chapel Sulfur Falls Woodland Cemetery Clifftop Retreat Hinterland Harbor
Ten rare dual lands that enter the battlefield tapped unless the player controls a land with a basic land type that corresponds with either color the land can produce. The allied colors were originally printed in Magic 2010 and the enemy colors were originally printed two years later in Innistrad. They have been reprinted many times since.
Restless Lands Restless Anchorage Restless Reef Restless Vents Restless Ridgeline Restless Prairie Restless Fortress Restless Spire Restless Cottage Restless Bivouac Restless Vinestalk
Ten rare taplands that can be animated and have an attack trigger. The cycle started in Wilds of Eldraine with the allied colors and was completed in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan with the enemy colors, the next set.
{X} Spells Sphinx's Revelation (Return to Ravnica) Reap Intellect (Dragon's Maze) Rakdos's Return (Return to Ravnica) Clan Defiance (Gatecrash) March of the Multitudes (Guilds of Ravnica) Immortal Servitude (Gatecrash) Epic Experiment (Return to Ravnica)
Invoke the Firemind (Guildpact)
Gaze of Granite (Dragon's Maze) Aurelia's Fury (Gatecrash)
Brightflame (Ravnica: City of Guilds)
Biomass Mutation (Gatecrash)
Each of these multicolored rare or mythic rare spells from the Ravnica blocks has {X} in their cost.
Dual colored elder dragons Dragonlord Ojutai Dragonlord Silumgar Dragonlord Kolaghan Dragonlord Atarka Dragonlord Dromoka Shadrix Silverquill Galazeth Prismari Beledros Witherbloom Velomachus Lorehold Tanazir Quandrix
Ten elder dragons representing a color pair each. Each dragon is the founder and/or leader of their groups named after themselves respectively.
Dual colored commands Ojutai's Command Silumgar's Command Kolaghan's Command Atarka's Command Dromoka's Command Silverquill Command Prismari Command Witherbloom Command Lorehold Command Quandrix Command
Ten rare two-colored modal spells, each has four modes and allows you to choose two of them. This cycle started with the allied colors in Dragons of Tarkir and completed with the enemy colors in Strixhaven. Each one is named after an Elder Dragon.
Bond lands Sea of Clouds Morphic Pool Luxury Suite Spire Garden Bountiful Promenade Vault of Champions Training Center Undergrowth Stadium Spectator Seating Rejuvenating Springs
Ten rare lands that produce two colors of mana and enter the battlefield tapped unless you have two or more opponents. This cycle started with the allied colors in Battlebond and completed with the enemy colors in Commander Legends.
Dual Manlands Celestial Colonnade Creeping Tar Pit Lavaclaw Reaches Raging Ravine Stirring Wildwood Shambling Vent Wandering Fumarole Hissing Quagmire Needle Spires Lumbering Falls
Ten rare lands that produce two colors of mana, enter the battlefield tapped and can become Elemental creatures. This cycle started with the allied colors in Worldwake and completed with the enemy colors in Battle for Zendikar and Oath of the Gatewatch.
Pathways Hengegate Pathway
Mistgate Pathway
Clearwater Pathway
Murkwater Pathway
Blightstep Pathway
Searstep Pathway
Cragcrown Pathway
Timbercrown Pathway
Branchloft Pathway
Boulderloft Pathway
Brightclimb Pathway
Grimclimb Pathway
Riverglide Pathway
Lavaglide Pathway
Darkbore Pathway
Slitherbore Pathway
Needleverge Pathway
Pillarverge Pathway
Barkchannel Pathway
Tidechannel Pathway
Ten rare dual lands that are modal double-faced cards, which allow you to choose which of the two faces you want to play, with each face adding one mana of each color. Six of them were printed in Zendikar Rising and the other four in the next set, Kaldheim.
Jumpstart hybrid legends Inniaz, the Gale Force ({U}) Kels, Fight Fixer ({B}) Sethron, Hurloon General ({R}) Neyith of the Dire Hunt ({G}) Emiel the Blessed ({W}) Rodolf Duskbringer ({B}) Mizzix, Replica Rider ({R}) Zask, Skittering Swarmlord ({G}) Agrus Kos, Eternal Soldier ({W}) Kenessos, Priest of Thassa ({U})
Ten rare (mythic rare in Emiel's case) monocolored legendary creatures seen in the physical Jumpstart sets, each of which has an ability requiring hybrid mana. Their colors are the second color of each pair.
Mirran swords Sword of Truth and Justice (Modern Horizons) Sword of Once and Future (March of the Machine) Sword of Sinew and Steel (Modern Horizons) Sword of Forge and Frontier (Phyrexia: All Will Be One) Sword of Hearth and Home (Modern Horizons 2) Sword of Light and Shadow (Darksteel) Sword of Fire and Ice (Darksteel) Sword of Feast and Famine (Mirrodin Besieged) Sword of War and Peace (New Phyrexia) Sword of Body and Mind (Scars of Mirrodin)
Each of these rare/mythic rare Equipment costing {3} has an equip cost of {2} and "Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has protection from [color 1] and from [color 2].", and an ability with two effects, one associated with each color, that is triggered whenever the equipped creature deals combat damage to a player. The colors associated with the Swords are nominally and visually alluded to.[17] Sword of Dungeons & Dragons (Unstable) is a parody of this cycle.
Cycle name {G}{W}{U} {W}{U}{B} {U}{B}{R} {B}{R}{G} {R}{G}{W} {R}{W}{B} {G}{U}{R} {W}{B}{G} {U}{R}{W} {B}{G}{U}
Ultimatums Clarion Ultimatum Brilliant Ultimatum Cruel Ultimatum Violent Ultimatum Titanic Ultimatum Ruinous Ultimatum Genesis Ultimatum Eerie Ultimatum Inspired Ultimatum Emergent Ultimatum
Ten rare three-colored sorceries with powerful effects and mana costs in the format MMNNNOO. This cycle started with the shard colors in Shards of Alara and completed with the wedge colors in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.
Triple Taplands Seaside Citadel Arcane Sanctum Crumbling Necropolis Savage Lands Jungle Shrine Nomad Outpost Frontier Bivouac Sandsteppe Citadel Mystic Monastery Opulent Palace
Ten uncommon lands that come into play tapped and can be tapped for one of three colors of mana. This cycle started with the shard colors in Shards of Alara and completed with the wedge colors in Khans of Tarkir.
Primeval Dragons Treva, the Renewer Dromar, the Banisher Crosis, the Purger Darigaaz, the Igniter Rith, the Awakener Oros, the Avenger Intet, the Dreamer Teneb, the Harvester Numot, the Devastator Vorosh, the Hunter
Ten rare three colored Dragons. Each of these legendary Dragons has a mana cost of {3}MNO (where M is the center color and NO are either it allied or enemy colors), flying, a triggered ability with a cost of {2}M that triggers on dealing combat damage to a player, and power/toughness of 6/6. This cycle started with the shard colors in Invasion and completed with the wedge colors in Planar Chaos.
Ascendancies Brokers Ascendancy Obscura Ascendancy Maestros Ascendancy Riveteers Ascendancy Cabaretti Ascendancy Mardu Ascendancy Temur Ascendancy Abzan Ascendancy Jeskai Ascendancy Sultai Ascendancy
Ten rare three-colored Enchantments with powerful effects and mana costs in the format MNO. This cycle started with the wedge colors in Khans of Tarkir and completed with the shard colors in Streets of New Capenna.
Triple Tricycles Spara's Headquarters Raffine's Tower Xander's Lounge Ziatora's Proving Ground Jetmir's Garden Savai Triome Ketria Triome Indatha Triome Raugrin Triome Zagoth Triome
Ten rare lands that come into play tapped and can be tapped for one of three colors of mana or cycled for {3}. This cycle started with the wedge colors in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths and completed with the shard colors in Streets of New Capenna. Coincidentally, both sets debuted the second planes with a set of five tri-colored factions.

See also

References

  1. Mark Rosewater (January 29, 2024). "Only Murders That We'e Building, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. Wizards of the Coast (May, 2002). "Ask Wizards - May 2002". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. a b c d e The Secret Supercycles of Magic (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (June 18, 2021).
  4. Wizards of the Coast (March 1, 2002). "Mega-Mega Cycle". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Monty Ashley (September 22, 2010). "The Fifth Tower". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Mark Rosewater (January 3, 2011). "That's Going to Leave Scars, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. Gavin Verhey (May 28, 2019). "Magic's Past, Present, and Future". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. Gavin Verhey (August 17, 2017). "Tales from Designing Commander (2017 Edition)". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. Mark Rosewater (October 8, 2018). "Even More Stories from the City". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/696337224955035649/hello-mark-i-love-vorthos-but-why-is-she-a-13
  11. Mark Rosewater (March 1, 2024). "I would like to request a White card with the Relentless ability.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  12. Mark Rosewater (October 24, 2022). "ODDS & ENDS: UNFINITY". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. Mark Rosewater (January 29, 2024). "Only Murders That We're Building, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. Mark Rosewater (July 27, 2020). "On the Double". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  15. Magic Arcana (August 13, 2007). "Spellshaped into Tenth". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. Mark Rosewater (August 10, 2020). "Back to the Future Sight, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  17. Monty Ashley (January 24, 2011). "A History of Swords". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.