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Masters 25
A25 logo
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description 25 superimposed on the planeswalker symbol
Design Adam Prosak (lead)
Ethan Fleischer
Matthew Danner
Melissa DeTora
Pete Ingram
Yoni Skolnik
Development Yoni Skolnik (lead)
Ethan Fleischer
Melissa DeTora
Art direction Mark Winters
Release date March 16, 2018
Plane Multiverse
Themes and mechanics Enchantment creatures, Flickering, Tapping and Untapping
Keywords/​ability words Cycling and Landcycling, Morph and Megamorph
Set size 249 cards
(101 commons, 80 uncommons, 53 rares, 15 mythic rares)
Expansion code A25[1]
Physical Masters series
Iconic Masters Masters 25 Ultimate Masters
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Rivals of Ixalan Masters 25 Duel Decks: Elves vs. Inventors

Masters 25 is a booster-based compilation set that was released on March 16, 2018.[2][3] It is designed to be drafted and celebrates twenty-five years of Magic: The Gathering.[4][5]

Set details[ | ]

Magic 25
Masters 25

Masters 25 packaging

“  25 Years in the Making!  ”

Masters 25 contains 249 cards (101 commons, 80 uncommons, 53 rares, 15 mythic rares) and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards. The product contains cards from across Magic 's entire history, a concept earlier seen in Eighth Edition. Cards from un-sets and the Reserved List are excluded.[6][7] The expansion symbol for this set is the planeswalker symbol with a 25 in front of it, slightly different from the symbol used for the 25th anniversary. Nearly every card in Masters 25 features a watermark, representing its original expansion symbol. This treatment is even used for cards first printed in Limited Edition (Alpha), using a Magic M as the watermark. Un-watermarkable cards like planeswalkers are excluded from this treatment.[8] The set features over 30 pieces of new Magic art and many pieces of new flavor text.[9][10]

Marketing[ | ]

Like Iconic Masters, the release of this set forms part of the celebration of Magic's 25th anniversary. Like for earlier Masters series sets, the MSRP of one booster was set to $9.99. Unlike Modern Masters or Eternal Masters, this product is not geared to any specific format.[11] Every booster box of Masters 25 contains 24 booster packs — each with fifteen randomly inserted game cards, including one premium card in every pack. The 16-card boosters (the sixteenth card is a marketing card) feature artwork from Jace, the Mind Sculptor, Azusa, Lost but Seeking and Sundering Titan.

Magic Online[ | ]

Masters 25 became available on Magic Online starting December 7 for $6.99 per pack. It was not redeemable.

Themes and mechanics[ | ]

Masters 25 covered all of Magic's 25 years, with at least one card from all black bordered releases in those 25 years. Rather than focusing on mechanics or archetypes as most Masters series products do, the set was focused on famous combos and iconic cards from the past to make the gameplay as high on nostalgia as possible.[12][13]

Reprints[ | ]

The table below organizes every card from Masters 25 according to the black border set in which they were originally printed. While each set got at least one reprint, some sets (and blocks) were clearly prioritized over others in card selection due to a variety of factors (limited concerns, raising availability for non-rotating formats, overall financial value).

The most represented sets/block are Onslaught block (with 20 reprints), Time Spiral block (with 14 reprints), then Alpha (with 12 reprints). Check the "N° of cards" column for the full detail.

Set Watermark N° of cards Reprints
Alpha 12 Armageddon - Disenchant - Savannah Lions - Swords to Plowshares - Blue Elemental Blast - Counterspell - Dark Ritual - Will-o'-the-Wisp - Lightning Bolt - Red Elemental Blast - Giant Growth - Regrowth
Arabian Nights 1 Erg Raiders
Antiquities 2 Primal Clay - Mishra's Factory
Legends 5 Fallen Angel - Hell's Caretaker - Nicol Bolas - Stangg - Pendelhaven
The Dark 3 Ghost Ship - Ball Lightning - Blood Moon
Fallen Empires 1 Goblin War Drums
Ice Age 2 Brainstorm - Pyroclasm
Homelands 1 Ihsan's Shade
Alliances 3 Arcane Denial - Balduvian Horde - Pillage
Mirage 2 Pacifism - Flash
Visions 2 Man-o'-War - Quicksand
Portal 1 Path of Peace
Weatherlight 1 Doomsday
Tempest 4 Diabolic Edict - Living Death - Jackal Pup - Kindle
Stronghold 3 Sift - Mogg Flunkies - Ensnaring Bridge
Exodus 2 Curiosity - Merfolk Looter
Portal Second Age 1 Ancient Craving
Urza's Saga 5 Angelic Page - Congregate - Horseshoe Crab - Phyrexian Ghoul - Lull
Urza's Legacy 2 Unearth - Rancor
Urza's Destiny 2 Trumpet Blast - Elvish Piper
Portal Three Kingdoms 3 Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon" - Borrowing 100,000 Arrows - Imperial Recruiter
Starter 1999 2 Loyal Sentry - Cinder Storm
Mercadian Masques 2 Invigorate - Rishadan Port
Nemesis 2 Accumulated Knowledge - Stampede Driver
Prophecy 1 Plague Wind
Invasion 4 Exclude - Kavu Climber - Hanna, Ship's Navigator
Planeshift 1 Eladamri's Call
Apocalypse 4 Mystic Snake - Pernicious Deed - Quicksilver Dagger - Vindicate
Odyssey 4 Auramancer - Caustic Tar - Zombify - Shadowmage Infiltrator
Torment 2 Laquatus's Champion - Mesmeric Fiend
Judgment 2 Browbeat - Living Wish
Onslaught 9 Akroma's Vengeance - Renewed Faith - Choking Tethers - Dirge of Dread - Undead Gladiator - Skirk Commando - Broodhatch Nantuko - Krosan Colossus - Krosan Tusker
Legions 2 Akroma, Angel of Wrath - Willbender
Scourge 9 Decree of Justice - Karona's Zealot - Noble Templar - Shoreline Ranger - Death's-Head Buzzard - Twisted Abomination - Chartooth Cougar - Elvish Aberration - Fierce Empath
Mirrodin 2 Spikeshot Goblin - Chalice of the Void
Darksteel 2 Echoing Courage - Sundering Titan
Fifth Dawn 1 Relentless Rats
Champions of Kamigawa 2 Nezumi Cutthroat - Azusa, Lost but Seeking
Betrayers of Kamigawa 3 Genju of the Falls - Genju of the Spires - Iwamori of the Open Fist
Saviors of Kamigawa 3 Promise of Bunrei - Freed from the Real - Mikokoro, Center of the Sea
Ravnica: City of Guilds 2 Frenzied Goblin - Watchwolf
Guildpact 2 Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind - Pillory of the Sleepless
Dissension 4 Court Hussar - Ratcatcher - Protean Hulk - Utopia Sprawl
Coldsnap 1 Darien, King of Kjeldor
Time Spiral 5 Brine Elemental - Fathom Seer - Vesuvan Shapeshifter - Fortune Thief - Assembly-Worker
Planar Chaos 4 Whitemane Lion - Akroma, Angel of Fury - Simian Spirit Guide - Kavu Predator
Future Sight 5 Pact of Negation - Street Wraith - Summoner's Pact - Coalition Relic - Zoetic Cavern
Lorwyn 2 Soulbright Flamekin - Brion Stoutarm
Morningtide 2 Vendilion Clique - Ambassador Oak
Shadowmoor 2 Cursecatcher - Presence of Gond
Eventide 6 Nettle Sentinel - Cascade Bluffs - Fetid Heath - Flooded Grove - Rugged Prairie - Twilight Mire
Shards of Alara 3 Knight of the Skyward Eye - Skeletonize - Blightning
Conflux 2 Ember Weaver - Conflux
Alara Reborn 1 Lorescale Coatl
Magic 2010 2 Act of Treason - Master of the Wild Hunt
Zendikar 3 Luminarch Ascension - Disfigure - Vampire Lacerator
Worldwake 3 Kor Firewalker - Jace, the Mind Sculptor - Arbor Elf
Rise of the Eldrazi 3 Ancient Stirrings - Wildheart Invoker - Prophetic Prism
Magic 2011 4 Squadron Hawk - Chandra's Outrage - Cultivate - Plummet
Scars of Mirrodin 4 Twisted Image - Heavy Arbalest - Nihil Spellbomb - Perilous Myr
Mirrodin Besieged 1 Blue Sun's Zenith
New Phyrexia 1 Phyrexian Obliterator
Commander 1 Animar, Soul of Elements
Magic 2012 3 Phantasmal Bear - Crimson Mage - Swiftfoot Boots
Innistrad 3 Fiend Hunter - Murder of Crows - Tree of Redemption
Dark Ascension 2 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben - Haunted Fengraf
Avacyn Restored 2 Cloudshift - Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Planechase 2012 1 Sai of the Shinobi
Magic 2013 4 Griffin Protector - Bloodhunter Bat - Murder - Timberpack Wolf
Return to Ravnica 2 Fencing Ace - Rest in Peace
Gatecrash 3 Urbis Protector - Totally Lost - Boros Charm
Dragon's Maze 2 Notion Thief - Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
Magic 2014 1 Strionic Resonator
Theros 4 Gods Willing - Ordeal of Heliod - Bident of Thassa - Returned Phalanx
Commander 2013 1 Prossh, Skyraider of Kher
Born of the Gods 2 Retraction Helix - Courser of Kruphix
Journey into Nyx 2 Nyx-Fleece Ram - Eidolon of the Great Revel
Conspiracy 1 Grenzo, Dungeon Warden
Magic 2015 2 Geist of the Moors - Jalira, Master Polymorphist
Khans of Tarkir 5 Dragon's Eye Savants - Mystic of the Hidden Way - Ruthless Ripper - Hordeling Outburst - Woolly Loxodon
Commander 2014 2 Reef Worm - Myriad Landscape
Fate Reforged 1 Humble Defector
Dragons of Tarkir 3 Ire Shaman - Ainok Survivalist - Epic Confrontation
Magic Origins 2 Valor in Akros - Enthralling Victor
Battle for Zendikar 3 Coralhelm Guide - Zulaport Cutthroat - Zada, Hedron Grinder
Commander 2015 1 Magus of the Wheel
Oath of the Gatewatch 1 Baloth Null
Shadows over Innistrad 5 Dauntless Cathar - Triskaidekaphobia - Pyre Hound - Uncaged Fury - Vessel of Nascency
Eldritch Moon 1 Lunarch Mantle
Conspiracy: Take the Crown 1 Deadly Designs
Kaladesh 2 Cloudblazer - Self-Assembler
Commander 2016 1 Ash Barrens
Aether Revolt 1 Treasure Keeper
Amonkhet 3 Horror of the Broken Lands - Supernatural Stamina - Thresher Lizard
Hour of Devastation 1 Act of Heroism
Commander 2017 1 Izzet Chemister
Ixalan 1 Colossal Dreadmaw
Rivals of Ixalan 2 Dusk Legion Zealot - Ravenous Chupacabra

Changes in rarity[ | ]

Common to Uncommon[ | ]

Uncommon to Common[ | ]

Uncommon to Rare[ | ]

Uncommon to Mythic Rare[ | ]

Rare to Common[ | ]

Rare to Uncommon[ | ]

Rare to Mythic Rare[ | ]

Mythic Rare to Rare[ | ]

Cycles[ | ]

Masters 25 has five horizontal cycles.

Cycle name Description and notes {W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Uncommon legendary creatures A cycle of legendary monocolor creatures printed at uncommon. All but one were originally printed at rare. While not part of the cycle, Stangg was also downshifted to uncommon. Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon Jalira, Master Polymorphist Ihsan's Shade Zada, Hedron Grinder Iwamori of the Open Fist
Basic landcyclers Originally printed in Scourge, each of these common creatures cost {5}M, and has basic landcycling {2} for a corresponding land type. Noble Templar Shoreline Ranger Twisted Abomination Chartooth Cougar Elvish Aberration
Off-color commons A loose cycle of common creatures or spells that grow more effective when played alongside an allied color. Knight of the Skyward Eye Court Hussar Returned Phalanx Skeletonize Ember Weaver
Better in multiples" commons A loose cycle of common creatures or spells that grow more effective when played in multiples. Squadron Hawk Accumulated Knowledge Relentless Rats Kindle Timberpack Wolf
Cycle name Description and notes {W}{B} {U}{R} {B}{G} {R}{W} {G}{U}
Enemy filter lands Originally printed in Eventide, each of these rare lands can be tapped for mana. They also have the ability "M/N, {T}: Add MM, MN, or NN." where M and N are two different colors. Fetid Heath Cascade Bluffs Twilight Mire Rugged Prairie Flooded Grove

Pairs[ | ]

Masters 25 has one mirrored pair.

Mirrored Pairs Description
Blue Elemental Blast
({U})
Red Elemental Blast
({R})
Originally printed in Alpha, these common modal instants (formerly interrupts), one blue and one red, both have a casting cost of M and can be cast to either destroy a permanent of the other's color or counter a spell of the other's color.

Token cards[ | ]

Morph Overlay card 2

Masters 25 morph overlay card

The set comes with fourteen tokens and one overlay card.[14]

  1. {C} 1/1 Spirit for Promise of Bunrei
  2. {W} 4/4 Angel with Flying for Luminarch Ascension and Decree of Justice
  3. {W} 1/1 Soldier for Decree of Justice and Darien. King of Kjeldor
  4. {W} 1/1 Spirit with Flying for Dauntless Cathar
  5. {U} 3/3 Fish for Reef Worm [15]
  6. {U} 9/9 Kraken for Reef Worm
  7. {U} 6/6 Whale for Reef Worm
  8. {B} 1/1 Skeleton with "{B}: Regenerate this creature." for Skeletonize
  9. {R} 1/1 Goblin for Hordeling Outburst
  10. {R} 0/1 Kobold named Kobolds of Kher Keep for Prossh, Skyraider of Kher
  11. {G} 1/1 Elf Warrior for Presence of Gond
  12. {G} 1/1 Insect for Broodhatch Nantuko
  13. {G} 2/2 Wolf for Master of the Wild Hunt
  14. {R/G} 3/4 Human Warrior named Stangg Twin for Stangg
  15. Morph overlay card

Notable cards[ | ]

Cards with new art[ | ]

Cards with new flavor text[ | ]

Cards with centered rules text[ | ]

Reception[ | ]

After the disappointed reactions to Iconic Masters, Gavin Verhey had promised that Masters 25 would be Masters set that people had been waiting for.[18] But again, people were disappointed about the lack of several much needed, high profile, reprints. Verhey later acknowledged that some mistakes had been made in design.[19]

References[ | ]

  1. Product Information
  2. Wizards of the Coast (June 14, 2017). "25th Anniversary Announcement Day". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Wizards of the Coast (March 8, 2018). "Masters 25 Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. Gavin Verhey (March 8, 2018). "Three Things to Know About Masters 25 Limited". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Kenji Egashira (March 6, 2018). "How To Draft Masters 25". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Mark Rosewater (June 22, 2017). "Are you allowed to tell us which sets are excluded?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  7. Mark Rosewater (June 22, 2017). "All of us players are going to go wild speculating about Reserved List cards being in Masters 25". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. Blake Rasmussen (February 2, 2018). "Masters 25 Packaging". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. a b c d e f Blake Rasmussen (March 13, 2018). "The Art of Masters 25". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. a b c d e f g h i j Chas Andres (March 14, 2018). "The Dominarian Roots of Masters 25". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. Gavin Verhey (February 22, 2018). "The Future of Masters". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. Mark Rosewater (February 26, 2018). "Every Card Has a Story". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. Melissa DeTora (March 16, 2018). "Designing Masters 25". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. Wizards of the Coast (March 2, 2018). "The Tokens of Masters 25". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  15. Adam Styborski (February 28, 2018). "Token Resonance". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. Ian Duke (February 12, 2018). "February 12, 2018 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  17. SaffronOlive (March 05, 2018). "Not All Reprints Are Created Equal", Mtggoldfish.com
  18. Zach Barash (August 21, 2018), "The Future of Masters". Hipsters of the Coast
  19. Gavin Verhey (2019-02-05). "State of Product Design 2018". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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