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Morph, tribes and the fetchlands
What this set is
Onslaught begins a block on Otaria built around creature types. Elves, Goblins, Clerics, Soldiers, Wizards, Zombies and Beasts each have cards that reward playing many of them, which made it the set tribal decks still borrow from.
Its new mechanic is morph: you may cast a creature face down as a 2/2 for {3} and turn it face up later for its morph cost. 46 cards have it, and it has returned in Khans of Tarkir and later sets as manifest, disguise and cloak. Cycling is back too, on 31 cards.
For most players the set's lasting value is the five allied-color fetchlands: Polluted Delta, Flooded Strand, Bloodstained Mire, Windswept Heath and Wooded Foothills, which sacrifice to find a land of either of two basic types. Arcanis the Omnipotent and Kamahl, Fist of Krosa are its best-known legends.
Themes
Every mechanic in Onslaught
Morph
You may cast the card face down as a 2/2 creature with no name for {3}. Any time you could pay a cost, pay its morph cost to turn it face up. Opponents have to guess what each face-down creature is.
Cycling
Back from the Urza block on 31 cards. Pay the cost and discard the card to draw another.
Where You Can Play It
Format legality
Onslaught is a single code with one Commander ban.
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. Commander bans Trade Secrets. Nothing else is banned in Legacy, Vintage or Commander. The fetchlands are Modern-legal through later reprints. 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.
Commanders
The most played commanders from Onslaught
The legends this set is best known for. Tap one for its printings and what it costs.
Boosters, precons and singles from Onslaught are on TCGplayer.
FAQ
Common questions
Where can I play Onslaught cards?
In Legacy, Vintage and Commander, minus the cards each format bans. Onslaught 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.
Are the fetchlands from Onslaught?
The allied five are: Polluted Delta, Flooded Strand, Bloodstained Mire, Windswept Heath and Wooded Foothills. Zendikar printed the enemy five in 2009.
What does morph do?
You may cast the card face down as a 2/2 for {3}, then turn it face up any time by paying its morph cost.
Is Trade Secrets banned in Commander?
Yes, it is the one Onslaught card Commander bans.
All card names, art, and mechanics belong to Wizards of the Coast. Onslaught released on Oct 7, 2002; details reflect the set as published. Sources: Wizards of the Coast set pages and release notes, Draftsim, Untapped.gg.
Playing Onslaught in Commander?
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