Magic: The Gathering’s Limited Edition Alpha, released on August 5, 1993, marked the birth of the collectible card game (CCG) genre. Created by Richard Garfield and published by Wizards of the Coast, Alpha was the first Magic set, introducing players to a fantasy world filled with spells, creatures, and artifacts.
Key Facts About Alpha:
- Print Run: Only 2.6 million cards were produced, contributing to its rarity.
- Card Count: Alpha contained 295 unique cards. This included iconic staples like Black Lotus, Mox Pearl, and Ancestral Recall.
- Distinctive Features: Alpha cards are recognizable by their rounded corners, which differ slightly from later sets.
Below is a responsive table (4 columns on large screens, 2 on mobile) showcasing the entire Alpha set.
Air Elemental
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Ancestral Recall
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Animate Artifact
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Armageddon
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Aspect of Wolf
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G (Green)
Badlands
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: B,R
Balance
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Basalt Monolith
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Bayou
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: B,G
Benalish Hero
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Berserk
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: G (Green)
Black Knight
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Black Lotus
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: Colorless
Black Ward
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Black Vise
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Blue Elemental Blast
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Bog Wraith
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Braingeyser
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Brothers of Fire
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: R (Red)
Burrowing
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: R (Red)
Castle
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Channel
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: G (Green)
Chaos Orb
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: Colorless
Chaoslace
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R (Red)
Circle of Protection: Black
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Circle of Protection: Blue
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Circle of Protection: Green
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Circle of Protection: Red
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Circle of Protection: White
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Clay Statue
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Clockwork Beast
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: Colorless
Clone
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Cockatrice
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G (Green)
Consecrate Land
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Control Magic
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Conversion
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Copy Artifact
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Counterspell
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Craw Wurm
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Crusade
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Crystal Rod
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Dark Ritual
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
Deathgrip
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Deathlace
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: B (Black)
Demonic Hordes
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: B (Black)
Demonic Tutor
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Disenchant
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Disintegrate
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Dragon Whelp
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: R (Red)
Drudge Skeletons
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
Dwarven Demolition Team
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Dwarven Warriors
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Earth Elemental
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: R (Red)
Earthbind
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Elvish Archers
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G (Green)
Evil Presence
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
Farmstead
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Fastbond
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: G (Green)
Fear
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
Feedback
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Fire Breathing
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Fire Elemental
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: R (Red)
Fireball
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Flood
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Flight
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Fog
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Force of Nature
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G (Green)
Forcefield
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: Colorless
Fork
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R (Red)
Frozen Shade
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
Fungusaur
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G (Green)
Gaea’s Liege
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G (Green)
Gauntlet of Might
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: Colorless
Giant Growth
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Giant Spider
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Glasses of Urza
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Gloom
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Goblin Balloon Brigade
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: R (Red)
Goblin King
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R (Red)
Granite Gargoyle
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R (Red)
Gray Ogre
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Green Ward
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Grizzly Bears
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Guardian Angel
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Healing Salve
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Hill Giant
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Holy Armor
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Holy Strength
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Howl from Beyond
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
Hurloon Minotaur
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Hurricane
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: G (Green)
Hypnotic Specter
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Ice Storm
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: G (Green)
Icy Manipulator
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Illusionary Mask
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: Colorless
Invisibility
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Iron Star
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Ironroot Treefolk
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Jayemdae Tome
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: Colorless
Juggernaut
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Jump
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Karma
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Keldon Warlord
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R (Red)
Lance
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Lifelace
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G (Green)
Life Force
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: G (Green)
Life Tap
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Lightning Bolt
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Living Artifact
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G (Green)
Living Wall
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Llanowar Elves
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Lord of Atlantis
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Lord of the Pit
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: B (Black)
Lure
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: G (Green)
Magical Hack
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Mahamoti Djinn
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Mana Flare
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R (Red)
Mana Short
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Mana Vault
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: Colorless
Meekstone
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: Colorless
Mesa Pegasus
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Mind Twist
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: B (Black)
Mons’s Goblin Raiders
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Mountain
Rarity: Basic Land
Color Identity: R (Red)
Mox Emerald
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G (Green)
Mox Jet
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: B (Black)
Mox Pearl
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Mox Ruby
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R (Red)
Mox Sapphire
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Natural Selection
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G (Green)
Nettling Imp
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Nightmare
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: B (Black)
Northern Paladin
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Obsianus Golem
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Orcish Artillery
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: R (Red)
Orcish Oriflamme
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: R (Red)
Pearled Unicorn
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: W (White)
Personal Incarnation
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Pestilence
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
Phantasmal Forces
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Phantasmal Terrain
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Phantom Monster
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Pirate Ship
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Plague Rats
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
Plains
Rarity: Basic Land
Color Identity: W (White)
Plateau
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R,W
Power Leak
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Power Sink
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Power Surge
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R (Red)
Prodigal Sorcerer
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Psionic Blast
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Psychic Venom
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Purelace
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Raise Dead
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
Red Elemental Blast
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Red Ward
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Regeneration
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Resurrection
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Reverse Damage
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Reverse Polarity
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Righteousness
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Rock Hydra
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R (Red)
Rod of Ruin
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Royal Assassin
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: B (Black)
Savannah
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G,W
Scathe Zombies
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
Scavenging Ghoul
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Scrubland
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W,B
Scryb Sprites
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Sea Serpent
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Sengir Vampire
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Serra Angel
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Shanodin Dryads
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Shatter
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Shivan Dragon
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R (Red)
Simulacrum
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Sleight of Mind
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Smoke
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R (Red)
Sol Ring
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Soul Net
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Spell Blast
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Stasis
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Steal Artifact
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Stone Giant
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: R (Red)
Stone Rain
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Stream of Life
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Sunglasses of Urza
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Swamp
Rarity: Basic Land
Color Identity: B (Black)
Swords to Plowshares
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Taiga
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R,G
Terror
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
The Hive
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: Colorless
Thoughtlace
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Throne of Bone
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Time Vault
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: Colorless
Time Walk
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Timetwister
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Tranquility
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Tropical Island
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G,U
Tsunami
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Tundra
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W,U
Tunnel
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: R (Red)
Twiddle
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Underworld Dreams
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: B (Black)
Unholy Strength
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
Unsummon
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Uthden Troll
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: R (Red)
Verduran Enchantress
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: G (Green)
Vesuvan Doppelganger
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Veteran Bodyguard
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Volcanic Eruption
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Volcanic Island
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: U,R
Wall of Air
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Wall of Bone
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Wall of Brambles
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: G (Green)
Wall of Fire
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: R (Red)
Wall of Ice
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Wall of Stone
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: R (Red)
Wall of Swords
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Wall of Water
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Wall of Wood
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Wanderlust
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: G (Green)
War Mammoth
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Warp Artifact
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: B (Black)
Water Elemental
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: U (Blue)
Weakness
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: B (Black)
Web
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: G (Green)
Wheel of Fortune
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: R (Red)
White Knight
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
White Ward
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: W (White)
Wild Growth
Rarity: Common
Color Identity: G (Green)
Will-o’-the-Wisp
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Winter Orb
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: Colorless
Wooden Sphere
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: Colorless
Word of Command
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: B (Black)
Wrath of God
Rarity: Rare
Color Identity: W (White)
Zombie Master
Rarity: Uncommon
Color Identity: B (Black)
Legacy and Value:
Alpha cards are highly coveted by collectors today. The Power Nine – the nine most powerful cards from Alpha – can fetch thousands of dollars in mint condition.
Limited Edition Alpha laid the foundation for decades of Magic expansions, tournaments, and a thriving global community. It wasn’t just the first set – it shaped the future of trading card games.