Prerelease card

Prerelease cards are cards given away for paying to play at prerelease tournaments. 
==History==
They were first introduced at the Tempest prerelease in October, 1997. They are stamped or otherwise marked to identify them as the prerelease card. The design has changed over the years. Prerelease cards could have a mix of several of these qualities: foiled, the inclusion of a foiled shooting star symbol, alternate art from that which appears in the set, or a foiled watermark in the text box. Prerelease cards are often creatures that highlight some new aspect of the set. Since the creation of Prerelease Packs, many modern sets have had more than one possible prerelease card per set.
Beginning with Khans of Tarkir, prerelease cards had gone from being an advertised selling point to being mostly hidden information prior to the prerelease tournament. The number of possible prerelease cards per set also increased drastically. This was done for playability reasons, as the prerelease cards are now playable in one's card pool at prerelease tournaments. From Battle for Zendikar on, this was further increased to a stamped version of any rare or mythic rare card from the set. This was done because the earlier prerelease cards were skewing the availability of a single cards, and R&D wants all cards of the same rarity to be very close in number.
==List==
The following table is a list of prerelease cards:
Card 	Set 	Date 	Comment
 	Tempest 	October 1997 	The card was not foil; it was a normal version of the card with the word "Prerelease" and the Magic "M" stamped in gold leaf on the type line.
 	Stronghold 	February 1998 	Non-foil. "Prerelease 2/98" stamped in gold leaf on the type line.
 	Exodus 	June 1998 	Non-foil. "Prerelease 6/98" stamped in gold leaf on the type line.
 	Urza's Saga 	September 26, 1998 	The first foil card generally available. "Prerelease M" stamped in gold leaf on the type line. First prerelease card with a shooting star. Highlighted echo
 	Urza's Legacy 	February 6, 1999 	"Feb. 6, 1999" stamped in gold leaf on the type line.
 	Portal Three Kingdoms 	April 29, 1999 	Non-foil. "April 29, 1999" stamped in gold leaf on the type line. Prerelease card for Japan. Highlighted horsemanship
 	Urza's Destiny 	May 29, 1999 	"May 29, 1999" stamped in gold leaf on the type line.
 	Portal Three Kingdoms 	July 4, 1999 	Non-foil. "July 4, 1999" stamped in gold leaf on the type line. Prerelease card for Australia and Singapore. Highlighted horsemanship.
 	Mercadian Masques 	September 25, 1999 	Highlighted spellshapers. Like the subsequent cards has the date stamped in gold leaf on the type line.
 	Nemesis 	Jan 29, 2000 	Highlighted mercenaries
 	Prophecy 	May 27, 2000 	Highlighted avatar cycle
(Raging Kavu) 	Invasion 	September 23, 2000 	Printed with Latin text. "23 Sept. 00" stamped in gold leaf on the type line.
(Questing Phelddagrif) 	Planeshift 	January 27, 2001 	Printed with classical Greek text.
(Fungal Shambler) 	Apocalypse 	May 26, 2001 	Printed with Sanskrit text.
(Stone-Tongue Basilisk)	Odyssey 	September 22, 2001 	Prerelease card printed with Arabic text. Highlighted threshold
(Laquatus's Champion) 	Torment 	Jan 26 2002 	Prerelease card printed with Russian text. Highlighted nightmares
(Glory) 	Judgment 	May 18, 2002 	Printed with Hebrew text. Last prerelease with a shooting star. Highlighted incarnations
 	Onslaught 	September 28, 2002 	First prerelease with the expansion symbol watermark. Highlighted morph
 	Legions 	January 25, 2003 	Highlighted amplify
 	Scourge 	May 17, 2003 	Highlighted morph
 	Mirrodin 	September 20, 2003 	First prerelease card to feature alternate art and the first that isn't a creature. Highlighted equipment.All subsequent prerelease cards feature alternate artwork and the gold date stamp printed above the type line.
 	Darksteel 	January 24, 2004 	First prerelease card to mention a card that had yet to be printed. Highlighted indestructible. Second non-creature
 	Fifth Dawn 	May 22, 2004 	Third non-creature
 	Champions of Kamigawa 	September 18, 2004 	Card from the legendary dragon cycle
 	Betrayers of Kamigawa 	January 22, 2005 	Highlighted ninjutsu
 	Saviors of Kamigawa 	May 21, 2005 	Highlighted wisdom theme
 	Ravnica: City of Guilds	September 24, 2005 	Highlighted hybrid mana
 	Guildpact 	January 21, 2006 	Highlighted replicate
 	Dissension 	April 22, 2006 	Highlighted hybrid mana
 	Coldsnap 	July 8, 2006 	Highlighted super pitch cards
 	Time Spiral 	September 23, 2006 	Highlighted suspend, fourth non-creature
 	Planar Chaos 	January 20, 2007 	Card from legendary dragon cycle
 	Future Sight 	April 21, 2007 	Highlighted grandeur and futureshifted frame
 	Lorwyn 	September 29, 2007 	Highlighted champion and deathtouch
 	Morningtide 	January 19, 2008 	Emphasizes creature types, fifth non-creature
 	Shadowmoor 	April 19, 2008 	Re-emphasizes hybrid mana first introduced in Ravnica
 	Eventide 	July 12, 2008 	Another card from the "Demigod" mega cycle
 	Shards of Alara 	October 3, 2008 	First prerelease mythic rare, first planeswalker and sixth non-creature. Also used as release card. Available in six languages. Highlighted Naya.
 	Conflux 	January 31, 2009 	Highlighted Grixis.
 	Alara Reborn 	April 25, 2009 	Highlighted Jund.
 	Magic 2010 	July 11, 2009 	Highlights injection of vampires back into the Core Set.
&<c>Celestine Reef</c> 	Zendikar 	September 26, 2009 	First time two promos are given out, the second being the first plane as well as the seventh non-creature. Highlights Landfall.
 	Worldwake 	January 30, 2010 	Highlights Multikicker. Eighth non-creature.
 	Rise of the Eldrazi 	April 17, 2010 	Foil: Highlights colorless Eldrazi creatures
 	Magic 2011 	July 10, 2010 	Foil: Highlights cycle of titans. It has the date 10th of July 2010 in gold at the bottom right of the image
 	Scars of Mirrodin 	September 25, 2010 	Foil: Highlights artifacts.
& 	Mirrodin Besieged 	January 29–30, 2011 	Two prerelease cards, highlighting the Phyrexian and Mirran factions. The later also highlights the Battle cry mechanic.
 	New Phyrexia 	May 7–8, 2011 	Highlights cycle of Praetors
 	Magic 2012 	July 9–10, 2011 	Highlights Bloodthirst. Lacks the gold-stamped prerelease date.
/ 	Innistrad 	September 24–25, 2011	Highlights Transform
/ 	Dark Ascension 	January 28–29, 2012 	Highlights Transform
 	Avacyn Restored 	April 28–29, 2012 	Ninth non-creature. Highlights Angels
 	Magic 2013 	July 7–8, 2012 	
 	Return to Ravnica 	September 29–30, 2012	Azorius guild promo, highlights Detain
 	Return to Ravnica 	September 29–30, 2012	Izzet guild promo
 	Return to Ravnica 	September 29–30, 2012	Rakdos guild promo, highlights Unleash
 	Return to Ravnica 	September 29–30, 2012	Golgari guild promo
 	Return to Ravnica 	September 29–30, 2012	Selesnya guild promo
 	Gatecrash 	January 26–27, 2013 	Orzhov guild promo, highlights Extort
 	Gatecrash 	January 26–27, 2013 	Dimir guild promo
 	Gatecrash 	January 26–27, 2013 	Gruul guild promo, highlights Bloodrush
 	Gatecrash 	January 26–27, 2013 	Boros guild promo
 	Gatecrash 	January 26–27, 2013 	Simic guild promo, highlights Evolve
& 	Dragon's Maze 	April 27–28, 2013 	Highlights the Implicit Maze.
 	Magic 2014 	July 13–14, 2013 	
 	Theros 	September 27–28, 2013	White promo, highlights Bestow
 	Theros 	September 27–28, 2013	Blue promo, highlights Monstrosity
 	Theros 	September 27–28, 2013	Black promo, highlights Devotion
 	Theros 	September 27–28, 2013	Red promo, highlights Monstrosity
 	Theros 	September 27–28, 2013	Green promo, highlights Heroic
 	Born of the Gods 	February 1–2, 2014 	White promo
 	Born of the Gods 	February 1–2, 2014 	Blue promo, highlights Inspired
 	Born of the Gods 	February 1–2, 2014 	Black promo
 	Born of the Gods 	February 1–2, 2014 	Red promo
 	Born of the Gods 	February 1–2, 2014 	Green promo, highlights Tribute
 	Journey into Nyx 	April 26–27, 2014 	White promo, highlights Heroic
 	Journey into Nyx 	April 26–27, 2014 	Blue promo
 	Journey into Nyx 	April 26–27, 2014 	Black promo, highlights Constellation
 	Journey into Nyx 	April 26–27, 2014 	Red promo
 	Journey into Nyx 	April 26–27, 2014 	Green promo
 	Magic 2015 	July 12–13, 2014 	White promo
 	Magic 2015 	July 12–13, 2014 	Blue promo
 	Magic 2015 	July 12–13, 2014 	Black promo
 	Magic 2015 	July 12–13, 2014 	Red promo
 	Magic 2015 	July 12–13, 2014 	Green promo
==Change to random prerelease cards==
===Khans of Tarkir===
Players at the prerelease chose one of the five clans featured in Khans of Tarkir. Within their Prerelease Pack, players randomly received one of eight possible prerelease cards associated with that clan, stamped with the dates "20-21 September 2014". The forty possible prerelease cards were:
===Fate Reforged===
Players at the Fate Reforged prerelease chose one of the five featured clans featured. Within their Prerelease Pack, players randomly received one of six possible prerelease cards associated with that clan, stamped with the dates "17-18 January 2015". The thirty possible prerelease cards were:
===Dragons of Tarkir===
Players at the prerelease chose one of the five dragon broods featured in Dragons of Tarkir. Within their Prerelease Pack, players randomly received one of eight possible prerelease cards associated with that brood, stamped with the dates "21-22 March 2015". The forty possible prerelease cards were:
===Magic Origins===
Players at the Magic Origins prerelease chose one of the five featured planeswalkers. Within their Prerelease Pack, players randomly received one of eight possible prerelease cards associated with the color of that planeswalker, stamped with the dates "11-12 July 2015". The forty possible prerelease cards were:
===Battle for Zendikar onwards===
Starting with Battle for Zendikar, players at the prerelease received one stamped version of any rare or mythic rare card from the set as their promo card. Sometimes there are exceptions or additions.
*Dominaria Players also received a stamped card from a selection of all legendary cards (other than two legendary enchantments).
*Battlebond Players received a partnered pair of stamped cards.
*Guilds of Ravnica and Ravnica Allegiance Players received a stamped version card from a selection of all rare / mythic rare cards relevant to that player's choice of guild.
*War of the Spark Players also received a stamped planeswalker card from the set. For Japanese version's prerelease, the additional planeswalker cards had the alternate artwork.
*Modern Horizons Players received a specific prerelease participation promo card again: 
*Double Masters and .
*Commander Legends 
*Innistrad: Double Feature 
===Strixhaven: School of Mages onwards===
Starting with Strixhaven: School of Mages the specific golden date stamp on the prerelease cards was replaced with a golden stamp indicating the Players Tour season. In the stamp, located in lower left corner of the art box, the relevant years are separated by the shooting star.
==Prerelease promo cards==
Starting with March of the Machine prerelease, players could find a second promo in their prerelease packs alongside their usual year-stamped foil promo card: one of three mechanically unique promo cards. These Prerelease promos are not Standard-legal, as they were intended to be played in Commander instead. This practice was soon abandoned again
Prerelease	Set 	Code	Promos	Notes
2023-04 	March of the Machine 	MOC 	
*
*
*	Highlight legendary creature pairs. Available in nonfoil or foil, with the regular border or the appropriate Multiverse showcase card treatment per card.
2024-02 	Murders at Karlov Manor	MKM 	
*
*
*	These cards having the set code MKM made it difficult to understandthat they were not playable in Limited. The ARG inside the prerelease packs hinted at alternate graphic variants of the cards, but it was a red herring and only one version of each exists.
==See also==
*Release card
*Buy-a-Box
==References==
==External links==
* List of Prerelease cards on Scryfall
* Prerelease events promos at Magic Librarities
Category:Promotional cards