Mega cycle

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A mega cycle is a cycle with its member cards distributed across separate sets. When these sets are spread across multiple blocks, this is sometimes referred to as a mega-mega cycle.

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 rare legendary Equipment are constituents 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 a number of 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.[1]
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 helps 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 have an activated ability requiring a color.

Guild mega cycles

Main articles: Ravnica block#Mega cycles, Return to Ravnica block#Mega cycles, and Guilds of Ravnica block#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)[2] is a cycle with its member cards distributed across separate sets; unlike a mega cycle, however, these sets are not all within a single block but are from multiple blocks.[3]

Two-card mega-mega cycles

Mirrored pair Description
Platinum Angel (Mirrodin) Abyssal Persecutor (Worldwake) An angel that makes impossible for you to lose the game and your opponents to win and a demon that do the opposite.
Chief Engineer (Magic 2015) Inspiring Statuary (Aether Revolt) A creature that grants Convoke to artifacts and an artifact that grants Improvise to nonartifacts .
Druid of the Anima (Shards of Alara) Urborg Elf (Apocalypse) Two 1/1 green Elf Druids with mana cost {1}{G}. One taps 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 taps 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).
Rattleclaw Mystic (Khans of Tarkir) Two 2/1 green creatures with mana cost {1}{G} and Morph. One taps for {G}, {U} or {R} (Temur) and the other for {G}, {W} or {B} (Abzan).

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 further descent into madness of a single unknown researcher. The type line, power, and toughness of each card's front face is 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.

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 an added 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} {2} {3} {4}
Walking batteries Myr Moonvessel (Darksteel) Cathodion (Urza's Saga) Su-chi (Antiquities)
Each of these X/X artifact creatures with X mana cost produces X colorless mana when they die.

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.[2] 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 tap for colorless and feature 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 colour 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 are 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[4] 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.[5]
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[6] 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 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 have a converted mana cost and activated ability reminiscent of a powerful and iconic sorcery from Magic's past.[7]
"Cones" Incremental Blight (Shadowmoor)
Gruesome Menagerie (Guilds of Ravnica) 		Cone of Flame (Weatherlight) Incremental Growth (Lorwyn)
Bestial Menace (Worldwake)
Each of these sorceries have a converted mana cost of 3MM and a repeated effect that does one, two, and three of an action.[8]
Innistrad angels Avacyn, Angel of Hope (Avacyn Restored) Bruna, Light of Alabaster (Avacyn Restored) Liesa, Shroud of Dusk (Commander Legends) Gisela, Blade of Goldnight (Avacyn Restored) Sigarda, Host of Herons (Avacyn Restored)
Innistrad Legendary Angels, 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 class.
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)
The Kodamas are a group of 5 legendary {G} Spirits from Kamigawa. This cycle will be completed in future sets.[2]
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'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.[2]

Six-card mega-mega cycles

Cycle name {1} or less {2} {3} {4} {5} {6} or greater
Mages[2] 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 specific converted mana cost. This cycle will be completed in future sets.[2][9]
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:[10][11]
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 sixth with release of Modern Horizons 2.

Double mega-mega cycles

Many land cycles are double mega-mega cycles which 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}
{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 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.
Mirran swords Sword of Truth and Justice (Modern Horizons) Sword of Sinew and Steel (Modern Horizons) 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.[12] This cycle will be completed not before October 6, 2024.[2] Sword of Dungeons & Dragons (Unstable) from 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.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May, 2002). "Ask Wizards - May 2002". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g The Secret Supercycles of Magic (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (June 18, 2021).
  3. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 1, 2002). "Mega-Mega Cycle". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Monty Ashley (September 22, 2010). "The Fifth Tower". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 3, 2011). "That's Going to Leave Scars, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Gavin Verhey (May 28, 2019). "Magic's Past, Present, and Future". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Gavin Verhey (August 17, 2017). "Tales from Designing Commander (2017 Edition)". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 8, 2018). "Even More Stories from the City". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 27, 2020). "On the Double". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ Magic Arcana (August 13, 2007). "Spellshaped into Tenth". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 10, 2020). "Back to the Future Sight, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. ↑ Monty Ashley (January 24, 2011). "A History of Swords". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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