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Arabian Nights (Magic: The Gathering)
Encyclopedia
Arabian Nights was the fourth Magic: The Gathering
set
and the first expansion set. The set is composed entirely of new cards. The setting of Arabian Nights is inspired by the themes and characters of the Thousand and One Arabian Nights with some of the characters and places coming directly from these tales. Arabian Nights is the only regular Magic expansion based on real-world fiction. All other sets with the exception of the Portal Three Kingdoms
introductory set are based on fiction created exclusively for the game. The expansion symbol of Arabian Nights is a scimitar
.
, Magic creator, acted as the sole designer for the set, and developed it in parallel with other teams working on what would become Ice Age
and Mirage
. The Ice Age design team, composed of Jim Lin, Chris Page, Dave Pettey, and Skaff Elias, was called upon to become the development team for Arabian Nights as well, but instead of playtesting the set they managed only to submit some comments because their schedule was so tight. At that point in Magics development, the role of expansions was relatively undefined, and Garfield intended for Arabian Nights cards to bear a purple and gold back that would allow players to exclude Arabian Nights from their games. In his article, "The Making of Arabian Nights", Garfield cites this as his inspiration to "be more adventurous in creating mechanics and themes".
Player response against the proposed new back caused Wizards of the Coast
to stay with the original backs, allowing cards from various sets to be mixed freely in gameplay. To replace the new card back, a symbolic scimitar was added between the card artwork and card text, making the first expansion symbol; every expansion set since has displayed a unique one.
As with preceding sets, interesting errors were revealed when the set was released. One of them was the so-called "Arabian Mountain". When the decision was made to have the expansion sets fully playable with the basic set, Wizards of the Coast decided that there was no need to include basic lands in the print run, so they were removed. However, one Mountain basic land card accidentally remained on the print sheet as a common. Due to this oversight, the Mountain is now the most common Magic card. Another error, this time in printing, caused two different styles of generic mana symbols to be printed on some cards. Some copies of these cards feature a regular sized generic mana symbol, other copies have one that is smaller and darker.
. With 63%, Arabian Nights is second in fraction of cards reprinted in an expansion set only to Antiquities
. 22 of the 29 cards that have not been reprinted are on the Reserved List, meaning that Wizards of the Coast
has decided never to reprint these, for concern of alienating collectors. On the other hand the Mountain, accidentally not removed from Arabian Nights is the only card of the set that had been printed before. It is thus the first reprint in Magic outside a base set.
detailed amongst others the following innovations or expansions on Alpha
mechanics:
considered several mythoi
to build Magics first expansion around, but eventually decided to use a real-world mythos. Personally fascinated with the One Thousand and One Nights mythos he decided that it fit the game well and chose to employ it for Magic. Aside from using the original tale as an inspiration for the cards of Arabian Nights and putting short quotes from the book on the cards as flavor text the set originally had no own background story. In 1995–96 two comicbooks (A Time to Gather and And Then There Was One) were produced by Armada to give the set its own storyline, taking place on the plane
of Rabiah. Arabian Nights is the only set to use an earthbound mythos for its background story although several other sets are inspired by other earthbound myths as well.
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
set
Magic: The Gathering sets
These are tables of Magic: The Gathering card sets. A trading card game published by Wizards of the Coast, Magic is primarily marketed in base/core sets and in expansion sets...
and the first expansion set. The set is composed entirely of new cards. The setting of Arabian Nights is inspired by the themes and characters of the Thousand and One Arabian Nights with some of the characters and places coming directly from these tales. Arabian Nights is the only regular Magic expansion based on real-world fiction. All other sets with the exception of the Portal Three Kingdoms
Portal Three Kingdoms
Portal Three Kingdoms is the third Magic: The Gathering expansion of the Portal block, and the third starter level set. Like the other expansions in the Portal block, Portal: Three Kingdoms is designed for beginners to Magic. The setting is heavily based on the Chinese historical novel Romance of...
introductory set are based on fiction created exclusively for the game. The expansion symbol of Arabian Nights is a scimitar
Scimitar
A scimitar is a backsword or sabre with a curved blade, originating in Southwest Asia .The Arabic term saif translates to "sword" in general, but is normally taken to refer to the scimitar type of curved backsword in particular.The curved sword or "scimitar" was widespread throughout the Muslim...
.
Set history
Richard GarfieldRichard Garfield
Richard Channing Garfield is a mathematics professor and game designer who created the card games Magic: The Gathering, Netrunner, BattleTech CCG, Vampire: The Eternal Struggle , The Great Dalmuti, Star Wars Trading Card Game, and the board game RoboRally...
, Magic creator, acted as the sole designer for the set, and developed it in parallel with other teams working on what would become Ice Age
Ice Age (Magic: The Gathering)
Ice Age is the eleventh Magic: The Gathering set and the sixth expansion set, released in June 1995. Set in the years from 450 to 2934 AR, the set describes a world set in perpetual winter due to the events in Antiquities...
and Mirage
Mirage (Magic: The Gathering)
Mirage was the fifteenth Magic: The Gathering set and ninth expert level set, released in October 1996. This expansion began the first official block set with one large expansion being followed by two smaller expansions all tied together through card mechanics and setting. This expansion also...
. The Ice Age design team, composed of Jim Lin, Chris Page, Dave Pettey, and Skaff Elias, was called upon to become the development team for Arabian Nights as well, but instead of playtesting the set they managed only to submit some comments because their schedule was so tight. At that point in Magics development, the role of expansions was relatively undefined, and Garfield intended for Arabian Nights cards to bear a purple and gold back that would allow players to exclude Arabian Nights from their games. In his article, "The Making of Arabian Nights", Garfield cites this as his inspiration to "be more adventurous in creating mechanics and themes".
Player response against the proposed new back caused Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
to stay with the original backs, allowing cards from various sets to be mixed freely in gameplay. To replace the new card back, a symbolic scimitar was added between the card artwork and card text, making the first expansion symbol; every expansion set since has displayed a unique one.
As with preceding sets, interesting errors were revealed when the set was released. One of them was the so-called "Arabian Mountain". When the decision was made to have the expansion sets fully playable with the basic set, Wizards of the Coast decided that there was no need to include basic lands in the print run, so they were removed. However, one Mountain basic land card accidentally remained on the print sheet as a common. Due to this oversight, the Mountain is now the most common Magic card. Another error, this time in printing, caused two different styles of generic mana symbols to be printed on some cards. Some copies of these cards feature a regular sized generic mana symbol, other copies have one that is smaller and darker.
Rarity breakdown
The 78 Arabian Nights cards come in two rarities, common and uncommon. Of the 51 uncommons in the set 19 are U3, meaning that they appear three times on the uncommon sheet. The remaining 32 uncommons are U2, usually dubbed the rares of the set, although U2 cards are only 33% less common than U3 cards. Of the commons 9 are C5 and 16 are C4. Additionally the Arabian Nights Mountain is C1 and Desert is C11. When counting the commons with smaller, darker mana symbols as separate cards Arabian Nights is a set of 92 cards. The smaller darker numbers in the casting cost are referred to as series (a) and the lighter and larger numbers are referred to as series (b).Reprints
Of the 78 cards 49 have been reprinted at some time. The most recent card to be reprinted for the first time was in Time SpiralTime Spiral
Time Spiral is a Magic: The Gathering expansion set, released October 6, 2006. The set is laden with references to previous Magic: the Gathering sets and is the first to take place in Dominaria since the May 2003 set Scourge...
. With 63%, Arabian Nights is second in fraction of cards reprinted in an expansion set only to Antiquities
Antiquities (Magic: The Gathering)
Antiquities was the fifth Magic: The Gathering set and the second expansion set. It was the first set to have an original backstory that explores the mythos of the Magic universe . The story is primarily about the brothers Urza and Mishra who are inseparable at first, but become sworn enemies over...
. 22 of the 29 cards that have not been reprinted are on the Reserved List, meaning that Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
has decided never to reprint these, for concern of alienating collectors. On the other hand the Mountain, accidentally not removed from Arabian Nights is the only card of the set that had been printed before. It is thus the first reprint in Magic outside a base set.
Design
Even when separated from its place as Magics first expansion, Arabian Nights was a groundbreaking set in terms of its impact on the game. In his article "It Happened One Nights", Mark RosewaterMark Rosewater
Mark Rosewater is a Magic: The Gathering card designer. He is currently Magics head designer.-Biography:Rosewater grew up in Pepper Pike, Ohio, where he attended the Orange High School. Rosewater has a Jewish background. Rosewater has described himself in his youth as a "social outcast", who did...
detailed amongst others the following innovations or expansions on Alpha
Alpha (Magic: The Gathering)
The name Alpha refers to the first print run of the original Magic: The Gathering Limited Edition, the first Magic: The Gathering card set. It premiered in a limited release at Origins Game Fair in 1993, with a general release that August. Its print run of 2.6 million cards sold out very quickly...
mechanics:
- Stealing opponent's cards — Alpha enabled players to gain control of their opponent's permanents, but Arabian Nights explored this theme further.
- Opponent activated abilities — has an ability that each player can activate. This theme was further explored with the Mongers in Mercadian MasquesMercadian MasquesMercadian Masques is the nineteenth Magic: The Gathering expansion and was released in October 1999 as the first set in the Masques block. It is notable for being the first set not protected by Wizards of the Coast's "Reprint Policy"...
- Lands with abilities — Arabian Nights was the first set with Lands that had abilities other than mana abilities.
- Coin flips — Arabian Nights was the first set that made use of coin flips to introduce additional randomness to the game.
- Cumulative upkeep & Cantrips (cards that draw a new card when played) — Both concepts were more formally introduced in Ice AgeIce Age (Magic: The Gathering)Ice Age is the eleventh Magic: The Gathering set and the sixth expansion set, released in June 1995. Set in the years from 450 to 2934 AR, the set describes a world set in perpetual winter due to the events in Antiquities...
, but Arabian Nights made use of these on and respectively. - Lifelink — The concept of the ability that would become Lifelink was first introduced on Arabian Nights .
- Exile zone as a Limbo — was the first card to use what would eventually come to be called the Exile zone as a holding zone for cards temporarily out of play.
Storyline
GarfieldRichard Garfield
Richard Channing Garfield is a mathematics professor and game designer who created the card games Magic: The Gathering, Netrunner, BattleTech CCG, Vampire: The Eternal Struggle , The Great Dalmuti, Star Wars Trading Card Game, and the board game RoboRally...
considered several mythoi
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
to build Magics first expansion around, but eventually decided to use a real-world mythos. Personally fascinated with the One Thousand and One Nights mythos he decided that it fit the game well and chose to employ it for Magic. Aside from using the original tale as an inspiration for the cards of Arabian Nights and putting short quotes from the book on the cards as flavor text the set originally had no own background story. In 1995–96 two comicbooks (A Time to Gather and And Then There Was One) were produced by Armada to give the set its own storyline, taking place on the plane
Plane (Magic: The Gathering)
In Magic: The Gathering, planes are parallel universes in the Multiverse Planes are often confused with planets by Magic players, because most planes are named after their primary planets...
of Rabiah. Arabian Nights is the only set to use an earthbound mythos for its background story although several other sets are inspired by other earthbound myths as well.
Notable cards
- — The effect to create subgames is unique in Magic and eventually led to the banning of this card from all tournament formats as it was perceived to cause problems in tournaments. In his article "The Making of Arabian Nights" Richard GarfieldRichard GarfieldRichard Channing Garfield is a mathematics professor and game designer who created the card games Magic: The Gathering, Netrunner, BattleTech CCG, Vampire: The Eternal Struggle , The Great Dalmuti, Star Wars Trading Card Game, and the board game RoboRally...
called Shahrazad his favorite card from Arabian Nights also due to its unique effect. - — This card was long considered to be the best creature in Magic, but has gradually lost its appeal. When the almost identical appeared in Time SpiralTime SpiralTime Spiral is a Magic: The Gathering expansion set, released October 6, 2006. The set is laden with references to previous Magic: the Gathering sets and is the first to take place in Dominaria since the May 2003 set Scourge...
thirteen years later it barely saw any play in Constructed Magic formats. The art of Juzám Djinn is also widely considered to be one of the most iconic of the early Magic game. Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
even decided to use it as a cover piece for their first Magic encyclopedia (along with Black LotusBlack LotusBlack lotus may refer to:* Black Lotus, a member of the Marvel Universe group the Femizons* Black Lotus, an affiliate of the Wu-Tang Clan hip hop group* Black Lotus, the most valuable Magic card ever to be released, one of the Power Nine...
and Balduvian Horde). - — Drawing two cards only to discard three appears not to be a powerful effect at the first glance in a game where card advantageCard advantageCard advantage is a term used in collectible card game strategy to indicate one player having access to more cards than another player. The concept was first discovered early in the history of Magic: The Gathering strategy...
is a well established principle, but in Vintage there are several ways to make use of cards discarded. In modern Vintage the Bazaar is a cornerstone of the metagame in general and specifically the Dredge-deck, a deck that strives to exploit the Dredge mechanic to maximum effect. - — The Library has been a staple of Vintage decks for years, but has gradually seen less play in recent years. For some time Vintage players even referred to the Power NinePower NineThe term Power Nine refers to a set of nine specific cards in the game of Magic: The Gathering. These cards were only printed early in the game's history and consist of Black Lotus, Ancestral Recall, Time Walk, Mox Sapphire, Mox Jet, Mox Ruby, Mox Emerald, Mox Pearl, and Timetwister.The Power Nine...
as Power Ten to include the card. Library of Alexandria is restricted in Vintage and not legal to play in any other format. - — Kird Ape is one of the most undercosted creatures of the game's early life. When played along side , it was a 2/3 for one mana, which lead to it being on the first list of banned cards for the Extended format. For this reason, it was reprinted in From the Vault: ExiledFrom the Vault: ExiledFrom the Vault: Exiled is a Magic: The Gathering limited edition boxed set released on August 28, 2009. It contains fifteen cards, eight with new alternate art, all of which had previously been banned or restricted.-Card List:...
. Kird Ape has also been reprinted in the Revised Edition and 9th Edition9th Edition (Magic: The Gathering)Ninth Edition or Core Set is the fourth latest base set for the collectible trading card game, Magic: The Gathering.-Set attributes:Ninth Edition features many cards from older base sets and expansions...
.