Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited laid the foundations for Magic the Gathering’s 30-year history. These editions of Magic, the cards, cycles, and mechanics set the tone for what follows, and tapping into those elements can channel that magic flavor onto your table.
The first editions of Magic did not have a specific storyline, although the cards had a lot of flavor built into them based on the premise that players took on the role of a planeswalker who summoned creatures and cast spells in a duel against another planeswalker. Additionally, flavor text on the cards described the character of many people and places of Dominaria and elsewhere, and names established in Alpha were expanded upon in future stories and expansions, most notably Urza and Mishra.
Themes and mechanics
The first editions of Magic introduced many mechanics and themes. Keyword abilities introduced in this set include banding, first strike, flying, landwalk, protection, regeneration, and trample. The defender, fear, indestructible, reach, and vigilance mechanics were also introduced but were not keyworded until later. Cards with these mechanics have since received retroactive errata. Many other game mechanics were also introduced in this set but are too numerous to be listed here.
Creature types
Creature types
The first sets in magic utilized classic fantasy roleplaying tropes to populate the battlefields for player planeswalkers.
Humanoid Creatures
Unlimited Ancestries
Dwarf - Dwarves in first few editions of Magic: the Gathering are red alligned people and are represented by two Representative cards; Dwarven Demolitions Team, and Dwarven Warriors.
Unlimited Denizens
Bodyguard
Cycles
Alpha has eight horizontal cycles, a double cycle, and one vertical cycle.
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