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See also: Cycle.

A vertical cycle is a cycle of cards which ranges among the different raritites. It is usually made of three cards in a single set that share the same color or colors. Generally vertical cycles and composed of a rare, an uncommon and a common. With the advent of mythic rare, vertical cycles remained three card cycles but with which one of the rarities missing — normally uncommon or rare. Vertical cycles are much less common than horizontal cycles because they take away design space from sets.[1] Unlike horizontal cycles, which are made of one card per color (or combination of colors), more than one card per rarity is allowed in a vertical cycle (see the "Ramosian cycle" in Mercadian Masques as an example).

These cycles are usually creatures that usually share an ability that can become more powerful with rarity. Power and toughness also usually increase with rarity, as does the mana value. Early vertical cycles, such as those found in Alpha, usually are creatures that are simply better with rarity, often with the same mana cost and/or power/toughness.

Examples of Vertical Cycles[ | ]

Bloodfirecycle

The "Bloodfire" cycle.

References[ | ]

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