Block

A block is a group of Magic: The Gathering expansion sets that are centered or focused on a common storyline cycle, or arc.

One of the most important parts to designing and developing sets today is to create cross-block synergies so the sets within Standard play well with each other, but also so that there is enough of a change when Standard rotates to create a healthy metagame.

History

Modern block design commenced in 1997, with Mirage block.

Typically, from Mirage onwards the first set in a block was a large expansion, and was followed by two small expansions; but, this trend was subverted a number of times (e.g., with the Lorwyn and Shadowmoor mini-blocks, which comprised two expansions each; Return to Ravnica block, which comprises two large expansions and one small expansion).

Ice Age and Alliances were grouped together with Homelands as a block retroactively. As Homelands is thematically and mechanically unrelated to Ice Age and Alliances, as well as being of a different storyline arc, it was later removed from the Ice Age block and replaced with Coldsnap in 2006.

Two-Block Paradigm

The redesign of the block structure from three to two sets (the so-called Two Block-Paradigm; i.e. two blocks each year) was announced by Mark Rosewater on August 25, 2014, and took effect October 2, 2015 with the release of Battle for Zendikar.

Each block will have one large set that introduces the world and one small set that builds upon it (this is the default and WotC reserves the right to have sets of different sizes if it serves the block). Blocks will no longer have a third set. There will be a large fall expansion and small winter expansion set in World #1. Then there will be a large spring expansion and a small summer expansion, usually set in World #2. The first two sets will be part of one block and the second two sets will usually be part of a second.

To facilitate the accompanying new draft structure (4 boosters of the second set / 2 of the first set) the average size for a small expansion went up to around 184.

List of blocks

The following list details all of the blocks in Magic: The Gathering in chronological order.

The year given in parentheses is the year in which the first set in the block was released. Typically, with a notable exception being Lorwyn and Shadowmoor blocks, Wizards of the Coast has released the first set in October of the year in parentheses and subsequent sets in the block in February and April of the following year.

• Ice Age block (1995)
  • Ice Age (Template:Set)
  • Alliances (Template:Set)
  • Coldsnap (Template:Set)
    • Coldsnap replaced Homelands (Template:Set)

• Mirage block (1996)
  • Mirage (Template:Set)
  • Visions (Template:Set)
  • Weatherlight (Template:Set)

• Tempest block (1997)
  • Tempest (Template:Set)
  • Stronghold (Template:Set)
  • Exodus (Template:Set)

• Urza's block (1998)
  • Urza's Saga (Template:Set)
  • Urza's Legacy (Template:Set)
  • Urza's Destiny (Template:Set)

• Masques block (1999)
  • Mercadian Masques (Template:Set)
  • Nemesis (Template:Set)
  • Prophecy (Template:Set)

• Invasion block (2000)
  • Invasion (Template:Set)
  • Planeshift (Template:Set)
  • Apocalypse (Template:Set)

• Odyssey block (2001)
  • Odyssey (Template:Set)
  • Torment (Template:Set)
  • Judgment (Template:Set)

• Onslaught block (2002)
  • Onslaught (Template:Set)
  • Legions (Template:Set)
  • Scourge (Template:Set)

• Mirrodin block (2003)
  • Mirrodin (Template:Set)
  • Darksteel (Template:Set)
  • Fifth Dawn (Template:Set)

• Kamigawa block (2004)
  • Champions of Kamigawa (Template:Set)
  • Betrayers of Kamigawa (Template:Set)
  • Saviors of Kamigawa (Template:Set)

• Ravnica block (2005)
  • Ravnica: City of Guilds (Template:Set)
  • Guildpact (Template:Set)
  • Dissension (Template:Set)

• Time Spiral block (2006)
  • Time Spiral (Template:Set)
  • Planar Chaos (Template:Set)
  • Future Sight (Template:Set)

• Lorwyn–Shadowmoor block
  • Lorwyn (2007)
    • Lorwyn (Template:Set)
    • Morningtide (Template:Set)
  • Shadowmoor (2008)
    • Shadowmoor (Template:Set)
    • Eventide (Template:Set)

• Alara block (2008)
  • Shards of Alara (Template:Set)
  • Conflux (Template:Set)
  • Alara Reborn (Template:Set)

• Zendikar block (2009)
  • Zendikar (Template:Set)
  • Worldwake (Template:Set)
  • Rise of the Eldrazi (Template:Set)

• Scars of Mirrodin block (2010)
  • Scars of Mirrodin (Template:Set)
  • Mirrodin Besieged (Template:Set)
  • New Phyrexia (Template:Set)

• Innistrad block (2011)
  • Innistrad (Template:Set)
  • Dark Ascension (Template:Set)
  • Avacyn Restored (Template:Set)

• Return to Ravnica block (2012)
  • Return to Ravnica (Template:Set)
  • Gatecrash (Template:Set)
  • Dragon's Maze (Template:Set)

• Theros block (2013)
  • Theros (Template:Set)
  • Born of the Gods (Template:Set)
  • Journey into Nyx (Template:Set)

• Khans of Tarkir block (2014)
  • Khans of Tarkir (Template:Set)
  • Fate Reforged (Template:Set)
  • Dragons of Tarkir (Template:Set)

• Battle for Zendikar block (2015)
  • Battle for Zendikar (Template:Set)
  • Oath of the Gatewatch (Template:Set)

• Shadows over Innistrad block (2016)
  • Shadows over Innistrad (Template:Set)
  • Eldritch Moon