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The core set for the new rules
What this set is
Classic Sixth Edition is the sixth core set, and the word Classic is there because it released with the Sixth Edition rules, a major update to how the game works. Those rules introduced the stack and the modern way spells and abilities resolve, which is why this set is a dividing line in Magic's history even though its cards changed less than its rules did.
It is smaller than Fifth Edition: 335 different cards, 351 with basic land arts. It cut 266 of Fifth Edition's cards, including Brainstorm, Necropotence, Dark Ritual and Lightning Bolt, and added 167, mostly from the Mirage block (118 of them).
That brought the Mirage tutors, Rampant Growth and Vampiric Tutor into the core set, alongside Birds of Paradise, City of Brass and Counterspell. None of its cards is on the Reserved List.
Where You Can Play It
Format legality
Sixth Edition is a single code. Its legality follows each card, and several tutors from it are banned in Legacy.
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. Legacy bans Vampiric Tutor, Mystical Tutor, Flash, Goblin Recruiter, Crusade and Pradesh Gypsies. Commander bans Flash, Crusade and Pradesh Gypsies. It is also legal in Premodern, the community format built on Fourth Edition through Scourge. Commons from any set are Pauper-legal; that isn't listed per set here.
Boosters, precons and singles from Sixth Edition are on TCGplayer.
FAQ
Common questions
Where can I play Sixth Edition cards?
In Legacy, Vintage and Commander, minus the cards each format bans. Sixth Edition 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. It is also legal in Premodern, a community format built on Fourth Edition through Scourge.
Why is it called Classic Sixth Edition?
It released together with the Sixth Edition rules update, which introduced the stack, so the set and the rules shared a name.
Is Lightning Bolt in Sixth Edition?
No. Sixth Edition cut Lightning Bolt, Dark Ritual, Brainstorm and Necropotence from Fifth Edition's list.
All card names, art, and mechanics belong to Wizards of the Coast. Classic Sixth Edition released on Apr 21, 1999; details reflect the set as published. Sources: Wizards of the Coast set pages and release notes, Draftsim, Untapped.gg.
Playing Sixth Edition in Commander?
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