Masters 25

Masters 25 is a booster-based compilation set that was released on March 16, 2018. It is designed to be drafted and celebrates twenty-five years of Magic: The Gathering.
==Set details==
Masters 25 contains 249 cards and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards. The product contains cards from across Magic 's entire history, a concept earlier seen in Eighth Edition. Cards from un-sets and the Reserved List are excluded. The expansion symbol for this set is the planeswalker symbol with a 25 in front of it, slightly different from the symbol used for the 25th anniversary. Nearly every card in Masters 25 features a watermark, representing its original expansion symbol. This treatment is even used for cards first printed in Limited Edition (Alpha), using a Magic M as the watermark. Un-watermarkable cards like planeswalkers are excluded from this treatment. The set features over 30 pieces of new Magic art and many pieces of new flavor text.
===Marketing===
Like Iconic Masters, the release of this set forms part of the celebration of Magic's 25th anniversary. Like for earlier Masters series sets, the MSRP of one booster was set to $9.99. Unlike Modern Masters or Eternal Masters, this product is not geared to any specific format. Every booster box of Masters 25 contains 24 booster packs — each with fifteen randomly inserted game cards, including one premium card in every pack. The 16-card boosters (the sixteenth card is a marketing card) feature artwork from <c>Jace, the Mind Sculptor</c>, <c>Azusa, Lost but Seeking</c> and <c>Sundering Titan</c>.
===Magic Online===
Masters 25 became available on Magic Online starting December 7 for $6.99 per pack. It was not redeemable.
==Themes and mechanics==
Masters 25 covered all of Magic's 25 years, with at least one card from all black bordered releases in those 25 years. Rather than focusing on mechanics or archetypes as most Masters series products do, the set was focused on famous combos and iconic cards from the past to make the gameplay as high on nostalgia as possible.
==Reprints==
The table below organizes every card from Masters 25 according to the black border set in which they were originally printed. While each set got at least one reprint, some sets (and blocks) were prioritized over others in card selection due to a variety of factors (limited concerns, raising availability for non-rotating formats, and overall financial value).
The most represented sets/block are Onslaught block (with 20 reprints), Time Spiral block (with 14 reprints), then Alpha (with 12 reprints). Check the "N° of cards" column for the full details.
Set 	Watermark	N° of cards	Reprints
Alpha 	 	12 	<c>Armageddon</c> - <c>Disenchant</c> - <c>Savannah Lions</c> - <c>Swords to Plowshares</c> - <c>Blue Elemental Blast</c> - <c>Counterspell</c> - <c>Dark Ritual</c> - <c>Will-o'-the-Wisp</c> - <c>Lightning Bolt</c> - <c>Red Elemental Blast</c> - <c>Giant Growth</c> - <c>Regrowth</c>
Arabian Nights 	 	1 	<c>Erg Raiders</c>
Antiquities 	 	2 	<c>Primal Clay</c> - <c>Mishra's Factory</c>
Legends 	 	5 	<c>Fallen Angel</c> - <c>Hell's Caretaker</c> - <c>Nicol Bolas</c> - <c>Stangg</c> - <c>Pendelhaven</c>
The Dark 	 	3 	<c>Ghost Ship</c> - <c>Ball Lightning</c> - <c>Blood Moon</c>
Fallen Empires 	 	1 	<c>Goblin War Drums</c>
Ice Age 	 	2 	<c>Brainstorm</c> - <c>Pyroclasm</c>
Homelands 	 	1 	<c>Ihsan's Shade</c>
Alliances 	 	3 	<c>Arcane Denial</c> - <c>Balduvian Horde</c> - <c>Pillage</c>
Mirage 	 	2 	<c>Pacifism</c> - <c>Flash</c>
Visions 	 	2 	<c>Man-o'-War</c> - <c>Quicksand</c>
Portal 	 	1 	<c>Path of Peace</c>
Weatherlight 	 	1 	<c>Doomsday</c>
Tempest 	 	4 	<c>Diabolic Edict</c> - <c>Living Death</c> - <c>Jackal Pup</c> - <c>Kindle</c>
Stronghold 	 	3 	<c>Sift</c> - <c>Mogg Flunkies</c> - <c>Ensnaring Bridge</c>
Exodus 	 	2 	<c>Curiosity</c> - <c>Merfolk Looter</c>
Portal Second Age 	 	1 	<c>Ancient Craving</c>
Urza's Saga 	 	5 	<c>Angelic Page</c> - <c>Congregate</c> - <c>Horseshoe Crab</c> - <c>Phyrexian Ghoul</c> - <c>Lull</c>
Urza's Legacy 	 	2 	<c>Unearth</c> - <c>Rancor</c>
Urza's Destiny 	 	2 	<c>Trumpet Blast</c> - <c>Elvish Piper</c>
Portal Three Kingdoms 	 	3 	<c>Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon"</c> - <c>Borrowing 100,000 Arrows</c> - <c>Imperial Recruiter</c>
Starter 1999 	 	2 	<c>Loyal Sentry</c> - <c>Cinder Storm</c>
Mercadian Masques 	 	2 	<c>Invigorate</c> - <c>Rishadan Port</c>
Nemesis 	 	2 	<c>Accumulated Knowledge</c> - <c>Stampede Driver</c>
Prophecy 	 	1 	<c>Plague Wind</c>
Invasion 	 	4 	<c>Exclude</c> - <c>Kavu Climber</c> - <c>Hanna, Ship's Navigator</c>
Planeshift 	 	1 	<c>Eladamri's Call</c>
Apocalypse 	 	4 	<c>Mystic Snake</c> - <c>Pernicious Deed</c> - <c>Quicksilver Dagger</c> - <c>Vindicate</c>
Odyssey 	 	4 	<c>Auramancer</c> - <c>Caustic Tar</c> - <c>Zombify</c> - <c>Shadowmage Infiltrator</c>
Torment 	 	2 	<c>Laquatus's Champion</c> - <c>Mesmeric Fiend</c>
Judgment 	 	2 	<c>Browbeat</c> - <c>Living Wish</c>
Onslaught 	 	9 	<c>Akroma's Vengeance</c> - <c>Renewed Faith</c> - <c>Choking Tethers</c> - <c>Dirge of Dread</c> - <c>Undead Gladiator</c> - <c>Skirk Commando</c> - <c>Broodhatch Nantuko</c> - <c>Krosan Colossus</c> - <c>Krosan Tusker</c>
Legions 	 	2 	<c>Akroma, Angel of Wrath</c> - <c>Willbender</c>
Scourge 	 	9 	<c>Decree of Justice</c> - <c>Karona's Zealot</c> - <c>Noble Templar</c> - <c>Shoreline Ranger</c> - <c>Death's-Head Buzzard</c> - <c>Twisted Abomination</c> - <c>Chartooth Cougar</c> - <c>Elvish Aberration</c> - <c>Fierce Empath</c>
Mirrodin 	 	2 	<c>Spikeshot Goblin</c> - <c>Chalice of the Void</c>
Darksteel 	 	2 	<c>Echoing Courage</c> - <c>Sundering Titan</c>
Fifth Dawn 	 	1 	<c>Relentless Rats</c>
Champions of Kamigawa 	 	2 	<c>Nezumi Cutthroat</c> - <c>Azusa, Lost but Seeking</c>
Betrayers of Kamigawa 	 	3 	<c>Genju of the Falls</c> - <c>Genju of the Spires</c> - <c>Iwamori of the Open Fist</c>
Saviors of Kamigawa 	 	3 	<c>Promise of Bunrei</c> - <c>Freed from the Real</c> - <c>Mikokoro, Center of the Sea</c>
Ravnica: City of Guilds 	 	2 	<c>Frenzied Goblin</c> - <c>Watchwolf</c>
Guildpact 	 	2 	<c>Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind</c> - <c>Pillory of the Sleepless</c>
Dissension 	 	4 	<c>Court Hussar</c> - <c>Ratcatcher</c> - <c>Protean Hulk</c> - <c>Utopia Sprawl</c>
Coldsnap 	 	1 	<c>Darien, King of Kjeldor</c>
Time Spiral 	 	5 	<c>Brine Elemental</c> - <c>Fathom Seer</c> - <c>Vesuvan Shapeshifter</c> - <c>Fortune Thief</c> - <c>Assembly-Worker</c>
Planar Chaos 	 	4 	<c>Whitemane Lion</c> - <c>Akroma, Angel of Fury</c> - <c>Simian Spirit Guide</c> - <c>Kavu Predator</c>
Future Sight 	 	5 	<c>Pact of Negation</c> - <c>Street Wraith</c> - <c>Summoner's Pact</c> - <c>Coalition Relic</c> - <c>Zoetic Cavern</c>
Lorwyn 	 	2 	<c>Soulbright Flamekin</c> - <c>Brion Stoutarm</c>
Morningtide 	 	2 	<c>Vendilion Clique</c> - <c>Ambassador Oak</c>
Shadowmoor 	 	2 	<c>Cursecatcher</c> - <c>Presence of Gond</c>
Eventide 	 	6 	<c>Nettle Sentinel</c> - <c>Cascade Bluffs</c> - <c>Fetid Heath</c> - <c>Flooded Grove</c> - <c>Rugged Prairie</c> - <c>Twilight Mire</c>
Shards of Alara 	 	3 	<c>Knight of the Skyward Eye</c> - <c>Skeletonize</c> - <c>Blightning</c>
Conflux 	 	2 	<c>Ember Weaver</c> - <c>Conflux</c>
Alara Reborn 	 	1 	<c>Lorescale Coatl</c>
Magic 2010 	 	2 	<c>Act of Treason</c> - <c>Master of the Wild Hunt</c>
Zendikar 	 	3 	<c>Luminarch Ascension</c> - <c>Disfigure</c> - <c>Vampire Lacerator</c>
Worldwake 	 	3 	<c>Kor Firewalker</c> - <c>Jace, the Mind Sculptor</c> - <c>Arbor Elf</c>
Rise of the Eldrazi 	 	3 	<c>Ancient Stirrings</c> - <c>Wildheart Invoker</c> - <c>Prophetic Prism</c>
Magic 2011 	 	4 	<c>Squadron Hawk</c> - <c>Chandra's Outrage</c> - <c>Cultivate</c> - <c>Plummet</c>
Scars of Mirrodin 	 	4 	<c>Twisted Image</c> - <c>Heavy Arbalest</c> - <c>Nihil Spellbomb</c> - <c>Perilous Myr</c>
Mirrodin Besieged 	 	1 	<c>Blue Sun's Zenith</c>
New Phyrexia 	 	1 	<c>Phyrexian Obliterator</c>
Commander 	 	1 	<c>Animar, Soul of Elements</c>
Magic 2012 	 	3 	<c>Phantasmal Bear</c> - <c>Crimson Mage</c> - <c>Swiftfoot Boots</c>
Innistrad 	 	3 	<c>Fiend Hunter</c> - <c>Murder of Crows</c> - <c>Tree of Redemption</c>
Dark Ascension 	 	2 	<c>Thalia, Guardian of Thraben</c> - <c>Haunted Fengraf</c>
Avacyn Restored 	 	2 	<c>Cloudshift</c> - <c>Gisela, Blade of Goldnight</c>
Planechase 2012'' 	 	1 	<c>Sai of the Shinobi</c>
Magic 2013 	 	4 	<c>Griffin Protector</c> - <c>Bloodhunter Bat</c> - <c>Murder</c> - <c>Timberpack Wolf</c>
Return to Ravnica 	 	2 	<c>Fencing Ace</c> - <c>Rest in Peace</c>
Gatecrash 	 	3 	<c>Urbis Protector</c> - <c>Totally Lost</c> - <c>Boros Charm</c>
Dragon's Maze 	 	2 	<c>Notion Thief</c> - <c>Ruric Thar, the Unbowed</c>
Magic 2014 	 	1 	<c>Strionic Resonator</c>
Theros 	 	4 	<c>Gods Willing</c> - <c>Ordeal of Heliod</c> - <c>Bident of Thassa</c> - <c>Returned Phalanx</c>
Commander 2013 	 	1 	<c>Prossh, Skyraider of Kher</c>
Born of the Gods 	 	2 	<c>Retraction Helix</c> - <c>Courser of Kruphix</c>
Journey into Nyx 	 	2 	<c>Nyx-Fleece Ram</c> - <c>Eidolon of the Great Revel</c>
Conspiracy 	 	1 	<c>Grenzo, Dungeon Warden</c>
Magic 2015 	 	2 	<c>Geist of the Moors</c> - <c>Jalira, Master Polymorphist</c>
Khans of Tarkir 	 	5 	<c>Dragon's Eye Savants</c> - <c>Mystic of the Hidden Way</c> - <c>Ruthless Ripper</c> - <c>Hordeling Outburst</c> - <c>Woolly Loxodon</c>
Commander 2014 	 	2 	<c>Reef Worm</c> - <c>Myriad Landscape</c>
Fate Reforged 	 	1 	<c>Humble Defector</c>
Dragons of Tarkir 	 	3 	<c>Ire Shaman</c> - <c>Ainok Survivalist</c> - <c>Epic Confrontation</c>
Magic Origins 	 	2 	<c>Valor in Akros</c> - <c>Enthralling Victor</c>
Battle for Zendikar 	 	3 	<c>Coralhelm Guide</c> - <c>Zulaport Cutthroat</c> - <c>Zada, Hedron Grinder</c>
Commander 2015 	 	1 	<c>Magus of the Wheel</c>
Oath of the Gatewatch 	 	1 	<c>Baloth Null</c>
Shadows over Innistrad 	 	5 	<c>Dauntless Cathar</c> - <c>Triskaidekaphobia</c> - <c>Pyre Hound</c> - <c>Uncaged Fury</c> - <c>Vessel of Nascency</c>
Eldritch Moon 	 	1 	<c>Lunarch Mantle</c>
Conspiracy: Take the Crown	 	1 	<c>Deadly Designs</c>
Kaladesh 	 	2 	<c>Cloudblazer</c> - <c>Self-Assembler</c>
Commander 2016 	 	1 	<c>Ash Barrens</c>
Aether Revolt 	 	1 	<c>Treasure Keeper</c>
Amonkhet 	 	3 	<c>Horror of the Broken Lands</c> - <c>Supernatural Stamina</c> - <c>Thresher Lizard</c>
Hour of Devastation 	 	1 	<c>Act of Heroism</c>
Commander 2017 	 	1 	<c>Izzet Chemister</c>
Ixalan 	 	1 	<c>Colossal Dreadmaw</c>
Rivals of Ixalan 	 	2 	<c>Dusk Legion Zealot</c> - <c>Ravenous Chupacabra</c>
==Changes in rarity==
===Common to Uncommon===
===Uncommon to Common===
===Uncommon to Rare===
*<c>Pendelhaven</c>
===Uncommon to Mythic Rare===
*<c>Imperial Recruiter</c>
===Rare to Common===
*<c>Loyal Sentry</c>
*<c>Savannah Lions</c>
*<c>Balduvian Horde</c>
===Rare to Uncommon===
===Rare to Mythic Rare===
*<c>Armageddon</c>
*<c>Akroma, Angel of Wrath</c>
*<c>Akroma, Angel of Fury</c>
*<c>Chalice of the Void</c>
*<c>Ensnaring Bridge</c>
===Mythic Rare to Rare===
*<c>Conflux</c>
*<c>Pernicious Deed</c>
==Cycles==
Masters 25 has five horizontal cycles.
Cycle name 	Description and notes 					
Uncommon legendary creatures	A cycle of legendary monocolored creatures printed at uncommon. All but one were originally printed at Rare. While not part of the cycle, was also downshifted to uncommon. 					
Basic landcyclers 	Originally printed in Scourge, each of these common creatures cost M, and has basic landcycling for a corresponding land type. 					
Off-color commons 	A loose cycle of common creatures or spells that grow more effective when played alongside an allied color. 					
Better in multiples" commons	A loose cycle of common creatures or spells that grow more effective when played in multiples. 					
Cycle name 	Description and notes 					
Enemy filter lands 	Originally printed in Eventide, each of these rare lands can be tapped for mana. They also have the ability "M/N, : Add MM, MN, or NN." where M and N are two different colors.					
===Pairs=== 
Masters 25 has one mirrored pair.
Mirrored Pairs	Mirrored Pairs	Description
 	 	Originally printed in Alpha, these common modal instants (formerly interrupts), one blue and one red, both have a casting cost of M and can be cast to either destroy a permanent of the other's color or counter a spell of the other's color.
==Token cards==
The set comes with fourteen tokens and one overlay card. 
# 1/1 Spirit for <c>Promise of Bunrei</c>
# 4/4 Angel with Flying for <c>Luminarch Ascension</c> and <c>Decree of Justice</c>
# 1/1 Soldier for <c>Decree of Justice</c> and <c>Darien. King of Kjeldor</c>
# 1/1 Spirit with Flying for <c>Dauntless Cathar</c>
# 3/3 Fish for <c>Reef Worm</c> 
# 9/9 Kraken for <c>Reef Worm</c>
# 6/6 Whale for <c>Reef Worm</c>
# 1/1 Skeleton with ": Regenerate this creature." for <c>Skeletonize</c>
# 1/1 Goblin for <c>Hordeling Outburst</c>
# 0/1 Kobold named for <c>Prossh, Skyraider of Kher</c>
# 1/1 Elf Warrior for <c>Presence of Gond</c>
# 1/1 Insect for <c>Broodhatch Nantuko</c>
# 2/2 Wolf for <c>Master of the Wild Hunt</c>
# 3/4 Human Warrior named <c>Stangg Twin</c> for <c>Stangg</c>
# overlay card
==Notable cards==
*<c>Jace, the Mind Sculptor</c> Considered to be the best planeswalker ever printed. Unbanned in the Modern format right before release of the set.
*<c>Azusa, Lost but Seeking</c> While not highly prized during Kamigawa block itself, her popularity soared alongside that of the Commander format, where she fueled powerful mana-ramping strategies (art from Judge Gift card)
*<c>Imperial Recruiter</c> from Portal Three Kingdoms, highly valued on the secondary market due to its scarcity.SaffronOlive (March 05, 2018). "Not All Reprints Are Created Equal", Mtggoldfish.com
===Cards with new art===
===Cards with new flavor text===
===Cards with centered rules text===
==Reception==
After the disappointed reactions to Iconic Masters, Gavin Verhey had promised that Masters 25 would be Masters set that people had been waiting for.Zach Barash (August 21, 2018), "The Future of Masters". Hipsters of the Coast But again, people were disappointed about the lack of several much-needed, high profile, reprints. Verhey later acknowledged that some mistakes had been made in design.
==References==