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Snow, and the first painlands
What this set is
Ice Age is a large, standalone expansion set on Dominaria during a global ice age, and it began the Ice Age block that Alliances continued in 1996 and Coldsnap returned to in 2006. With 373 different cards it was the biggest expansion yet.
Its two signature ideas are snow and cumulative upkeep. Ice Age printed the five snow-covered basic lands, and 33 of its cards are snow permanents or care about snow. Cumulative upkeep, on 27 cards, makes a permanent cost more to keep every turn until you stop paying. It also printed the first five painlands, Adarkar Wastes, Underground River, Sulfurous Springs, Karplusan Forest and Brushland, which are still common in Commander mana bases.
Several of its cards changed how the game is played. Brainstorm is one of the most played blue cards in Legacy, Necropotence is strong enough that Legacy bans it, and Mystic Remora and Nature's Lore are Commander staples. 50 cards are on the Reserved List.
Themes
Every mechanic in Ice Age
Cumulative upkeep
At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on the permanent, then pay its upkeep cost once for each age counter or sacrifice it. It starts cheap and grows every turn, so these cards are strong early and expensive to keep.
Snow
A supertype, introduced on the five snow-covered basic lands. Snow-covered lands tap for mana like any basic land, and Ice Age's other snow cards check for them, rewarding a player who runs them or punishing an opponent who does.
Where You Can Play It
Format legality
Ice Age is a single code. Its cards are eternal-format cards, and it sits in the Premodern pool.
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 Necropotence and Demonic Consultation, and Vintage restricts both along with Brainstorm. Commander bans only the ante card Amulet of Quoz, which every format bans. Every set from Fourth Edition to Scourge is also legal in Premodern, the community format built on that window. Commons from any set are Pauper-legal; that isn't listed per set here.
Commanders
The most played commanders from Ice Age
The legends this set is best known for. Tap one for its printings and what it costs.
Boosters, precons and singles from Ice Age are on TCGplayer.
FAQ
Common questions
Where can I play Ice Age cards?
In Legacy, Vintage and Commander, minus the cards each format bans. Ice Age 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.
Did snow lands start in Ice Age?
Yes. Ice Age printed the five snow-covered basic lands and the first cards that care about snow. Coldsnap returned to the idea in 2006, and later sets such as Kaldheim brought it back again.
Are painlands from Ice Age?
The first five are: Adarkar Wastes, Underground River, Sulfurous Springs, Karplusan Forest and Brushland. Apocalypse added the enemy-color five in 2001.
Is Necropotence banned?
In Legacy, yes. It is restricted in Vintage and legal in Commander.
All card names, art, and mechanics belong to Wizards of the Coast. Ice Age released on Jun 3, 1995; details reflect the set as published. Sources: Wizards of the Coast set pages and release notes, Draftsim, Untapped.gg.
Playing Ice Age in Commander?
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