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, share a common theme, and consists of one card for each color or color combination and/or for each element, for example, creature type. Cycles are a widely applicable and easy to use design tool, and are very prevalent in practically every set.
Simple cycles
Horizontal cycles
A simple cycle, usually just called a cycle, often consisting of five cards — one in each color — in the same set. Such cycles are also referred to as "horizontal cycles". Examples of such a type of cycle are the "lucky charm" cycle (for each color, though they themselves are colorless artifacts); the "harbingers" in Lorwyn (for creature/tribal types); and the "commands" of Lorwyn (for colors).
Vertical cycles
A cycle that appears at common, uncommon, and rare rarities only is referred to as a "vertical cycle". Examples of such a type of cycle include Apocalypses "Flagbearer" (in white), "Whirlpool" (in blue), "Bloodfire" (in red), "Phyrexian", and "Penumbra" cycles.
Examples of simple cycles
The simplest cycle has five cards, one for each individual color, each with a similar card type, function, and sometimes mana cost, name, and art.
- "Perpetual" enchantments: When these common enchantments, each with a converted mana cost of
, go to the graveyard, they are returned to their owner's hand — Brilliant Halo, Launch, Despondency, Fiery Mantle, and Fortitude.
Trivia
- White is the only color with horizontal 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. Other cycles that are not five color are land cycles and artifact cycles.
- 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.
Complex cycles
More complex cycles include mega cycles, mega-mega cycles and Ravnica block cycles, most, if not all, based around Ravnica's guild theme.