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Combo winter
What this set is
Urza's Saga is the first set of the Urza block, which tells the story of Urza after the Brothers' War and his preparations against Phyrexia. It has 335 different cards, 357 with the basic land arts.
It is remembered for its power level. Cheap mana and cheap card draw, Tolarian Academy, Windfall, Time Spiral and Yawgmoth's Will among them, made combo decks dominant, and several cards from the block were banned in Standard within months. Players call the period Combo Winter. Today Legacy bans Tolarian Academy, Windfall and Yawgmoth's Will.
It also introduced cycling and echo, both of which have returned many times. For Commander it supplies Gaea's Cradle, Phyrexian Tower, Exploration, Gamble and Victimize, and 18 of its cards are on the Reserved List, the two legendary lands included.
Themes
Every mechanic in Urza's Saga
Cycling
Pay the cycling cost and discard the card to draw a card. It makes situational cards safe to play, since a card you can't use becomes a new one. 34 Urza's Saga cards have it.
Echo
At the beginning of your upkeep after the permanent comes under your control, pay its echo cost again or sacrifice it. A cheap first turn, then a second payment to keep it.
Where You Can Play It
Format legality
Urza's Saga is a single code. Its bans are mostly the cards that made its reputation.
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 Tolarian Academy, Windfall and Yawgmoth's Will, and Vintage restricts the same three. Commander bans Tolarian Academy. 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 Urza's Saga
The legends this set is best known for. Tap one for its printings and what it costs.
Boosters, precons and singles from Urza's Saga are on TCGplayer.
FAQ
Common questions
Where can I play Urza's Saga cards?
In Legacy, Vintage and Commander, minus the cards each format bans. Urza's Saga 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.
Is Gaea's Cradle legal in Commander?
Yes. Gaea's Cradle is legal in Commander, Legacy and Vintage. It is on the Reserved List, so it has had no tournament-legal reprint.
Did cycling start in Urza's Saga?
Yes. Urza's Saga introduced cycling on 34 cards, and the mechanic has returned many times since.
Which Urza's Saga cards are banned?
Legacy bans Tolarian Academy, Windfall and Yawgmoth's Will, which Vintage restricts. Commander bans Tolarian Academy.
All card names, art, and mechanics belong to Wizards of the Coast. Urza's Saga released on Oct 12, 1998; details reflect the set as published. Sources: Wizards of the Coast set pages and release notes, Draftsim, Untapped.gg.
Playing Urza's Saga in Commander?
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