Codename

Throughout Magic's history, expansion sets have been given codenames when under design, well before a set's theme, identity, and lore have been solidified. This allows expansion developers and designers to work ahead further than any other section in the company, and still have terminology to refer to the set as a whole.
==History==
This practice was put into place starting with the Alliances expansion set; codenames for previous sets were simply the name of the set. Codenames are chosen by the head designer, Mark Rosewater. The codenames are designed to not have any connection to the mechanics of the set they refer to. They are selected before the designers even know what the set will be about.
The Masques block was the first instance of all the codenames of the sets in a block being connected; the Onslaught block was the first to have the codenames be assigned in a order, typically referencing something in popular culture. When it was announced there would be a change in the number of sets per block from three to two starting with "Blood", the codenames that had already been released for the unannounced sets became decoupled from their previous block.
 
To make things easier internally, a new codename naming system was introduced in 2017. It follows a single theme (currently sports) alphabetically. That way everyone at Wizards of the Coast will know what comes before and after what.
===Codenames for expansions===
	Expansion 	Codename 	Notes
	Alliances 	"Quack" 	Reference to a Macintosh sound file.
	Mirage 	"Sosumi" 	Reference to a Macintosh sound file of the same name. Initial codename was "Menagerie".
	Visions 	"Mirage Jr." 	Thought of as Mirage's offspring. Real name was established very close to the start of development.
	Weatherlight 	"Mochalatte" 	A favorite type of coffee of a friend of the designers.
	Tempest 	"Bogavhati" 	A "gross misspelling" of Bhogavati, a place in Indian mythology said to be inhabited by poisonous snakes, about the set's poison theme that would later be dropped from the set in development. This codename would be used as the namesake of Vhati il-Dal.
	Stronghold 	"Rachimulot" 	Reference to the card "Richemulot" in the Dungeons & Dragons Spellfire CCG.
	Exodus 	"Gorgonzola" 	Favorite cheese of Bill Rose.
	Urza's Saga 	"Armadillo" 	
	Urza's Legacy 	"Guacamole" 	
	Urza's Destiny 	"Chimichanga"	
	Mercadian Masques 	"Archimedes" 	All three codenames were mostly chosen for their difficulty in spelling. They are all Ancient Greek scientists.
	Nemesis 	"Euripides" 	All three codenames were mostly chosen for their difficulty in spelling. They are all Ancient Greek scientists.
	Prophecy 	"Dionysius" 	All three codenames were mostly chosen for their difficulty in spelling. They are all Ancient Greek scientists.
	Invasion 	"Beijing" 	Chinese cities.
	Planeshift 	"Hong Kong" 	Chinese cities.
	Apocalypse 	"Shanghai" 	Chinese cities.
	Odyssey 	"Argon" 	Chemical elements. Codenames chosen for the ABC order and ease of spelling in contrast to previous codenames.
	Torment 	"Boron" 	Chemical elements. Codenames chosen for the ABC order and ease of spelling in contrast to previous codenames.
	Judgment 	"Carbon" 	Chemical elements. Codenames chosen for the ABC order and ease of spelling in contrast to previous codenames.
	Onslaught 	"Manny" 	First set of codenames to use a known pre-set order, these being the names of the Pep Boys mascots.
	Legions 	"Moe" 	First set of codenames to use a known pre-set order, these being the names of the Pep Boys mascots.
	Scourge 	"Jack" 	First set of codenames to use a known pre-set order, these being the names of the Pep Boys mascots.
	Mirrodin 	"Bacon" 	Key ingredients in the BLT sandwich. Selected due to the widespread knowledge of the order.
	Darksteel 	"Lettuce" 	Key ingredients in the BLT sandwich. Selected due to the widespread knowledge of the order.
	Fifth Dawn 	"Tomato" 	Key ingredients in the BLT sandwich. Selected due to the widespread knowledge of the order.
	Champions of Kamigawa 	"Earth" 	American band Earth, Wind & Fire.
	Betrayers of Kamigawa 	"Wind" 	American band Earth, Wind & Fire.
	Saviors of Kamigawa 	"Fire" 	American band Earth, Wind & Fire.
	Ravnica: City of Guilds	"Control" 	Keystroke combination used in Microsoft Windows operating systems.
	Guildpact 	"Alt" 	Keystroke combination used in Microsoft Windows operating systems.
	Dissension 	"Delete" 	Keystroke combination used in Microsoft Windows operating systems.
	Coldsnap 	"Splat" 	
	Time Spiral 	"Snap" 	Rice Krispies cereal mascots and slogan from advertising.
	Planar Chaos 	"Crackle" 	Rice Krispies cereal mascots and slogan from advertising.
	Future Sight 	"Pop" 	Rice Krispies cereal mascots and slogan from advertising.
	Lorwyn 	"Peanut" 	Reflecting the nature of the two mini-blocks, so too did the codenames overlap in a before and after style.
	Morningtide 	"Butter" 	Reflecting the nature of the two mini-blocks, so too did the codenames overlap in a before and after style.
	Shadowmoor 	"Jelly" 	Reflecting the nature of the two mini-blocks, so too did the codenames overlap in a before and after style.
	Eventide 	"Doughnut" 	Reflecting the nature of the two mini-blocks, so too did the codenames overlap in a before and after style.
	Shards of Alara 	"Rock" 	Classic hand game of the same name.
	Conflux 	"Paper" 	Classic hand game of the same name.
	Alara Reborn 	"Scissors" 	Classic hand game of the same name.
	Zendikar 	"Live" 	Phrase that normally accompanies the Vulcan salute in the Star Trek franchise.
	Worldwake 	"Long" 	Phrase that normally accompanies the Vulcan salute in the Star Trek franchise.
	Rise of the Eldrazi 	"Prosper" 	Phrase that normally accompanies the Vulcan salute in the Star Trek franchise.
	Scars of Mirrodin 	"Lights" 	Traditional cue to a film crew at the beginning of a take during a television or movie production.
	Mirrodin Besieged 	"Camera" 	Traditional cue to a film crew at the beginning of a take during a television or movie production.
	New Phyrexia 	"Action" 	Traditional cue to a film crew at the beginning of a take during a television or movie production.
	Innistrad 	"Shake" 	Popular phrase derived from the 1954 rhythm and blues song.
	Dark Ascension 	"Rattle" 	Popular phrase derived from the 1954 rhythm and blues song.
	Avacyn Restored 	"Roll" 	Popular phrase derived from the 1954 rhythm and blues song.
	Return to Ravnica 	"Hook" 	Popular phrase derived from the three crucial pieces of fishing tackle.
	Gatecrash 	"Line" 	Popular phrase derived from the three crucial pieces of fishing tackle.
	Dragon's Maze 	"Sinker" 	Popular phrase derived from the three crucial pieces of fishing tackle.
	Theros 	"Friends" 	Oft-quoted excerpt from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.
	Born of the Gods 	"Romans" 	Oft-quoted excerpt from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.
	Journey into Nyx 	"Countrymen" 	Oft-quoted excerpt from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.
	Khans of Tarkir 	"Huey" 	Popular Disney characters of the same name. Considered to be a bad choice by Wizards employees in retrospect because the right order of these names turned out too difficult to remember.
	Fate Reforged 	"Dewey" 	Popular Disney characters of the same name. Considered to be a bad choice by Wizards employees in retrospect because the right order of these names turned out too difficult to remember.
	Dragons of Tarkir 	"Louie" 	Popular Disney characters of the same name. Considered to be a bad choice by Wizards employees in retrospect because the right order of these names turned out too difficult to remember.
	Battle for Zendikar 	"Blood" 	Popular phrase and 1960s American jazz band.Codenames were released before the change from three sets per block to two was announced, after which the codenames were decoupled from their respective blocks.
	Oath of the Gatewatch 	"Sweat" 	Popular phrase and 1960s American jazz band.Codenames were released before the change from three sets per block to two was announced, after which the codenames were decoupled from their respective blocks.
	Shadows over Innistrad 	"Tears" 	Popular phrase and 1960s American jazz band.Codenames were released before the change from three sets per block to two was announced, after which the codenames were decoupled from their respective blocks.
	Eldritch Moon 	"Fears" 	With the "Tears" overlap, a reference to the English new wave band of the same name.
	Kaladesh 	"Lock" 	The sets per block change also disrupted this trio of previously announced codenames, a common figure of speech.
	Aether Revolt 	"Stock" 	The sets per block change also disrupted this trio of previously announced codenames, a common figure of speech.
	Amonkhet 	"Barrel" 	The sets per block change also disrupted this trio of previously announced codenames, a common figure of speech.
	Hour of Devastation 	"Laughs" 	This used to be "Monkeys", with the "Barrel" overlapping a reference to the "barrel of monkeys" idiom.It was changed for an internal reason. Now referencing a "barrel of laughs", something or someone very funny.
	Ixalan 	"Ham" 	A hearty breakfast. The food theme for the following sets used the order of meals, so people would know the order of the blocks as well.
	Rivals of Ixalan 	"Eggs" 	A hearty breakfast. The food theme for the following sets used the order of meals, so people would know the order of the blocks as well.
	Dominaria 	"Soup" 	A light lunch. Codenames released before the change to the Three-and-One Model. Later Dominaria became its entity. The second set was replaced by Core Set 2019.
	Cancelled 	"Salad" 	A light lunch. Codenames released before the change to the Three-and-One Model. Later Dominaria became its entity. The second set was replaced by Core Set 2019.
	Guilds of Ravnica 	"Spaghetti" 	An Italian-American dinner.
	Ravnica Allegiance 	"Meatballs" 	An Italian-American dinner.
	War of the Spark 	"Milk" 	A midnight snack. After the introduction of Three-and-One Model, "Cookies" was replaced by Core Set 2020.
	Cancelled 	"Cookies" 	A midnight snack. After the introduction of Three-and-One Model, "Cookies" was replaced by Core Set 2020.
====Sports====
From Throne of Eldraine forward alphabetical themes are used, currently sports. Although Mark Rosewater initially said he had a list of A through Z. He later stated that sports V through Z were too difficult to name, and probably would change to another list after U; Later, however, it was decided to just skip X rather than stopping after U.
	Expansion 	Codename 	Notes
	Throne of Eldraine 	"Archery" 	
	Theros Beyond Death 	"Baseball" 	Originally planned to be the second set in the Eldraine block.It also used to be codenamed "Cricket", but it got moved up a slot and consequently became "Baseball".
	Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths 	"Cricket" 	
	Zendikar Rising 	"Diving" 	
	Kaldheim 	"Equestrian" 	
	Strixhaven: School of Mages	"Fencing" 	
	Innistrad: Midnight Hunt 	"Golf" 	Forming a pair with Innistrad: Crimson Vow ("Clubs") which deviates from the normal alphabetical sports naming convention,because it was conceived after the following codenames were already established.
	Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty 	"Hockey" 	Originally planned to be "Handball".
	Streets of New Capenna 	"Ice Skating"	Originally planned to be "Ice Hockey".
	Dominaria United 	"Judo" 	
	The Brothers' War 	"Kayaking" 	
	Phyrexia: All Will Be One 	"Lacrosse" 	
	March of the Machine 	"Marathon" 	Followed by "Marathon: Epilogue" (The Aftermath)
	Wilds of Eldraine 	"Netball" 	
	The Lost Caverns of Ixalan 	"Offroading" 	
	Murders at Karlov Manor 	"Polo" 	
	Outlaws of Thunder Junction	"Quilting" 	Originally planned to be "Quoits". Originally to be followed by "Quilting: Epilogue" (The Big Score).
	Bloomburrow 	"Rugby" 	
	Duskmourn: House of Horror 	"Swimming" 	
	Aetherdrift 	"Tennis" 	
	Tarkir: Dragonstorm 	"Ultimate" 	
	Edge of Eternities 	"Volleyball" 	
	Untitled Winter 2026 Set 	"Wrestling" 	Return to Lorwyn.
	Untitled 2026 Set 	"Yachting" 	Return to Arcavios.
	Untitled 2026 Set 	"Ziplining" 	The cap stone finale set in the Metronome story arc.
====Cities====
With the completion of the sports naming convention, set codenames will restart at "A" using a new theme based on cities around the world.
	Expansion 	Codename 	Notes
	Untitled 2027 Set	"Amsterdam"	
	Untitled 2027 Set	"Berlin" 	
	Untitled 2027 Set	"Cairo" 	
	Untitled 2028 Set	"Dublin" 	
===Codenames for other sets===
Some Core Sets, Starter level sets, Supplemental sets, and extra expansions also had codenames.
	Set 	Codename 	Notes
	Summer Magic 	"Edgar" 	A never released edition of Revised. It used the letter E, becauseit was originally planned to be the fifth set (after Alpha, Beta, Unlimited and Revised).
	Fourth Edition 	"Francesca" 	Also shortened as "Franny". It used the letter F because it came after E(dgar).
	Vanguard 	"Commando" 	Alluding to the concept of heroes joining the battle (the idea for the set at the time).Mark Rosewater, Top 10 Expansion Codenames, The Duelist #23 (March, 1998)
	Portal 	"Harvey" 	Because nobody knew it existed, it was named after an invisible rabbit in a famous play and movie.
	Planechase 	"Hopscotch" 	A children's game in which each child by turn hops into and over squares marked on the ground.
	Commander 	"Bedlam" 	A scene of uproar and confusion.
	Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia 	"Mac 'n' Cheese" 	A dish of cooked macaroni pasta and a cheese sauce.
	Modern Masters 	"Picasso" 	A Spanish painter and sculptor. Literally a Modern Master.
	Conspiracy 	"Hydra" 	A fictional terrorist organization appearing in American comic books.
	Eternal Masters 	"Jitterbug" 	An old-fashioned dance.
	Unstable 	"Quicksilver" 	Unfortunately, this codename gave away what the set was, so it was never publicly used.
	Battlebond 	"Slingshot" 	The effect of the gravitational pull of a celestial object in accelerating and changing the course of another object.
	Modern Horizons 	"Contemporary" 	A synonym for Modern.
	Mystery Booster 	"Whirlpool" 	A quickly rotating mass of water.
	Secret Lair Drop Series 	"Raindrop" 	A single drop of rain.
	Unsanctioned 	"Parachute" 	A ready to go set, that could be employed when needed.
	Commander Legends 	"Chevron" 	A V-shaped line or stripe, especially one on the sleeve of a uniform indicating rank or length of service.
	Time Spiral Remastered 	"Project Cupcake" 	A small cake with a decadent amount of frosting on top.
	Modern Horizons 2 	"Decadent" 	Luxuriously self-indulgent.
	Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms	"Zebra" 	An animal with a skin of contrasting black and white stripes (i.e. 2 IP's merging). Replaced Core Set 2022.
	Innistrad: Crimson Vow 	"Clubs" 	Forming a pair with Innistrad: Midnight Hunt ("Golf")
	Unfinity 	"Umbrella" 	A collapsible shade for protection.
	Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate 	"Pentagon" 	A fortified structure.
	March of the Machine: The Aftermath 	"Marathon Epilogue"	A new product tied to the March of the Machine premier set.
	The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth 	"Anvil" 	A heavy iron block, on which metal can be hammered and shaped. The plan for Universes Beyond was to use an alphabet codename system, tools A to Z, but this idea was later abandoned.
	Commander Masters 	"Actuary" 	A person who compiles and analyses statistics and uses them to calculate insurance risks and premiums.
	Magic: The Gathering Foundations 	"Farmer" 	A person who plants seeds and cares for their growth.
As of August 2023, Universes Beyond sets are given codenames that are fruits or vegetables.
===Miscellaneous===
*The Plane of Zendikar was codenamed "Endrakar".
*Power Lunch, an 1995 product concept by Bill Rose that would have contained cards of a universally high power level, on par with <c>Ancestral Recall</c>, to enable epic battles between two players, or one player with a Power Lunch deck to take on multiple players.
*Handlebar was used to refer to the "Bolas Arc" of the story, running through ten sets from Kaladesh through War of the Spark. This codename refers both to the handlebar mustache worn by stereotypical pulp movie serial villains, and to the shape of Bolas's horns.
*Parallax was used to refer to the Phyrexian Arc, running from Throne of Eldraine through March of the Machine.
*Metronome is a three-year story arc, containing the Omenpath Arc, the Dragonstorm Arc and one other story arc. It will run through twelve sets from Wilds of Eldraine through Ziplining.
==References==
Category:Magic setsCategory:Wizards of the Coast
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