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The Brothers' War, the first time
What this set is
Antiquities is Magic's second expansion and its first set with a story behind it: the war between the brothers Urza and Mishra on Dominaria, the same war The Brothers' War returned to in 2022. Its theme follows from that. 81 of its 85 different cards are artifacts or mention them, and the colored cards mostly destroy, protect or steal them.
Its lands are the reason it is still played. Urza's Mine, Urza's Power Plant and Urza's Tower produce seven mana together, the combination Modern players call Tron. Mishra's Factory is the first land that turns into a creature, Strip Mine destroys a land, and Mishra's Workshop makes three mana for artifact spells. Each of the five was printed with several arts, which is why the set has 102 cards.
18 cards are on the Reserved List, Mishra's Workshop and Candelabra of Tawnos among them. Ashnod's Altar, which turns a creature into two colorless mana, is the card Commander players run most.
Where You Can Play It
Format legality
Antiquities is one code. Its cards are eternal-format cards, and its ban list is short but includes two of its most famous lands.
Not Standard-legal, and not Modern-legal as a set: Modern starts at Eighth Edition (July 2003). A card from here that was reprinted in a later Modern-legal set is Modern-legal in this printing too, because legality follows the card, not the printing. Mishra's Workshop, Strip Mine and Candelabra of Tawnos are banned in Legacy. In Vintage, Workshop is legal without restriction and Strip Mine is restricted to one copy. Commander bans only the ante card Bronze Tablet, which every format bans. Commons from any set are Pauper-legal; that isn't listed per set here.
Boosters, precons and singles from Antiquities are on TCGplayer.
FAQ
Common questions
Where can I play Antiquities cards?
In Legacy, Vintage and Commander, minus the cards each format bans. Antiquities is too old for Standard, Pioneer or Modern as a set, though any card that was later reprinted in a Modern-legal set is Modern-legal in every printing.
Are the Tron lands from Antiquities?
Yes. Urza's Mine, Urza's Power Plant and Urza's Tower were first printed here. Together they make seven mana, and later reprints made them Modern-legal.
Is Mishra's Workshop legal?
In Vintage it is legal and not restricted, and it is legal in Commander. Legacy bans it.
What is the story of Antiquities?
The war between the brothers Urza and Mishra on Dominaria. The Brothers' War, released in 2022, went back to the same conflict.
All card names, art, and mechanics belong to Wizards of the Coast. Antiquities released on Mar 4, 1994; details reflect the set as published. Sources: Wizards of the Coast set pages and release notes, Draftsim, Untapped.gg.
Playing Antiquities in Commander?
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