Cycle

For the mechanic "cycling", first introduced in Urza's Saga, see Cycling.

A cycle is a collection of cards that have one or more relationships with one another, or share a common theme (such as creature type or a particular game mechanic). A cycle can be made of any number of cards; the most common cycles are consist of five cards, one for each color or combination of two or three enemy or allied colors, or three, of different rarities. Cycles are a widely applicable and easy to use design tool, and are very prevalent in practically every set.

Simple and complex cycles

Simple cycles consist of cards in the same set. Complex cycles consist of cards which don't belong to a single set. Complex cycles include mega cycles (cards in a single block) and mega-mega cycles (cards in different blocks). Ravnica block cycles, most, if not all, based around Ravnica's guild theme, are typical examples of mega-cycles while Mirrodin blocks' "swords cycle" is an example of a mega-mega-cycle.

Types of cycles

Here we list the different type of cycles you can find in Magic: the Gathering.

Horizontal cycles

The "Command" horizontal cycle.

What characterizes "horizontal cycles" is that the cards range among the different colors of Magic. A horizontal cycle can be made of:

• one card of each of the five colors (such as the "command cycle" in Lorwyn or the "titan cycle" in Magic 2011);
• one card of each of the five two-color allied pairs (such as the "XCD uncommon cycle" in Mirage or the "two-color bears" in Invasion);
• one card of each of the five two-color enemy pairs (such as the two-colored legendary creatures from Magic: the Gathering - Commander);
• one card of each of the ten two-color pairs (such as the rare split cards from Dissension);
• one card of each of the five three-color enemy (wedge) sets (such as the legendary dragons from Planar Chaos);
• one card of each of the five three-color allied (arc) sets (such as the "Elder Dragon Legend cycle" in Legends);
• one card of each of the ten three-color sets (there are no current examples);
• one card of each of the five four-color sets (such as the "Nephilim cycle" in Guildpact).

Most horizontal cycles consist of cards which are very similar (same rarity, mana cost, types, abilities and eventual power and toughness), but it is not necessary. For example, the "boon cycle" from Alpha is made of four common and a rare and the "familiar cycle" in Planeshift consists of creatures with different creature types, power and toughness.

The "Bloodfire" vertical cycle.

Vertical cycles

A "vertical cycle" ranges among rarities instead of colors. The cards of a vertical cycle usually belong to the same color. Examples of such a type of cycle include Apocalypses "Flagbearer" (in white), "Whirlpool" (in blue), "Bloodfire" (in red), "Phyrexian", and "Penumbra" cycles.

Unlike the horizontal cycles, which are made of one card per color (combination), a vertical cycle can have several cards in the sale rarity. A typical example is the "ramosian cycle" in Mercadian Masques.

Since the fourth rarity level has been introduced, there are vertical cycles made of three cards, with one of the rarities (usually uncommon or rare) missing, such as the "planeswalker signature spells" cycles in Magic 2011 and Magic 2012, in which for each color there is a mythic rare planeswalker with two related spells.

Other cycles

There are several kinds of cycles which do not belong necessarily to one of the previous categories. Typical examples are the following.

• Other color-based cycles, which refer to the five colors but do not consist of one card per color; for example the "ward cycle" in Beta, the land cycles on colors or the "lucky charm" cycle (for each color, though they themselves are colorless artifacts).
• Tribal cycles, such as the "harbingers" in Lorwyn (for creature/tribal types).
• Four-card cycles based on the interaction of a single color with each of the other; for example the "tainted lands" from Torment, or the "counterspell mega-cycle" in the Invasion Block.
• Four-card cycles which are incomplete because one color is isolated for flavor reasons; examples can be found in Avacyn Restored.

Trivia

• White is the only color with color-based cycles within its color. Its cycles include the Circles of Protection and Wards both Beta, Scarabs from Ice Age, Runes from Urza's Saga, and the Spheres from Odyssey.
• The most reprinted cycle in magic is the basic land cycle of Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain and Forest.
• The second-most reprinted cycle saw print in Beta, Unlimited, Revised, 4th Edition, Ice Age, 5th Edition, Tempest, 6th Edition, 7th Edition and 8th Edition — Circle of Protection: Black, Circle of Protection: Blue, Circle of Protection: Green, Circle of Protection: Red and Circle of Protection: White.
• The Elder Dragon Legends from Legends were the first gold-colored cycle and the first creature cycle — Chromium, Arcades Sabboth, Palladia-Mors, Nicol Bolas and Vaevictis Asmadi.
• The first Legendary Land cycle was from Legends — Karakas, Tolaria, Urborg, Hammerheim, Pendelhaven.

External links

• Sets of Five "Uncommon Knowledge" column, Ben Bleiweiss, Wednesday, December 25, 2002
• Zen and the Art of Cycle Maintenance "Making Magic" column, Mark Rosewater, Monday, July 08, 2002