30th Anniversary Edition

*Not to be confused with 30th Anniversary Promos or Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown Kit.*

The ***30th Anniversary Edition*** of *Beta* is a commemorative, collectible, non-tournament-legal card set celebrating thirty years of *Magic*. The set was released on November 28, 2022 and sold through 30thEdition.wizards.com. The sale was "concluded" after 40 minutes.

## Description

Inspired by *Limited Edition Beta*, *30th Anniversary Edition* aims to let collectors experience elements of *Magic's* early years. Each display of *30th Anniversary Edition* contains four booster packs with random content for $ 999.-. This makes it the most expensive official *Magic* product to date. These collectible cards have a different card back and are therefore not legal in any sanctioned *Magic* event. The set has a limited print run.

Each booster pack contains 15 cards, 13 cards in the modern frame — 1 rare, 3 uncommons, 7 commons, and 2 basic lands — plus one basic land in the retro frame, one additional retro frame card, and a token. Approximately three out of every ten packs will contain a rare retro frame card. Each card uses a special Black Lotus inspired card back rather than the standard Deckmaster back. The set is numbered #-1-594 (297 modern frame, 297 retro frame).

Nearly every card included matches the rarity of its counterpart in *Beta*. There are no mythic rares, and almost all rarities have stayed the same. These cards do, however, have modern wording and modern corners, and some of the art is touched up. The retro frame is the same frame used in *Time Spiral Remastered*. Returning features are the original white mana symbol, the original basic land template, and the classic art.

This set doesn't violate the Reserved List, because it uses different card backs, and therefore isn't tournament legal.

## Cards

### Excluded

Six cards from *Beta* are excluded:

* Contract from Below, Darkpact, and Demonic Attorney (use of ante)
* Crusade (culturally offensive)
* Earthbind (sexual imagery)
* Weakness (ableist imagery) This must have been a late decision because the cards numbered #131 and #428 are replaced with an extra Sol Ring.

### Notable differences with *Beta*

* Sol Ring is the only card with a shifted rarity (uncommon to common). It appears twice in the list and one version has cropped art.
* Each dual land appears twice as frequently as any other non-dual land rare.
* The following cards have their flavor text removed:
	+ Dragon Whelp (real-world quotation)
	+ Ironclaw Orcs (referred to eugenics)
	+ Orcish Artillery (referred to self-destructive behavior)
	+ Two-Headed Giant of Foriys (referred to Siamese twins and schizophrenia)
	+ Wall of Bone (referenced Norse mythology)
	+ Wall of Brambles (real-world quotation)

## Tokens

The set comes with 16 tokens, which use art from the set. Only one of these is created by a card in the set (The Hive).

1. 1/1 Human Creature (Swords to Plowshares)
2. 1/1 Human Warrior Creature (Holy Armor)
3. 1/1 Soldier Creature (Righteousness)
4. 1/1 Bird Creature with Flying (Purelace)
5. 1/1 Human Wizard Creature (Fastbond)
6. 5/5 Demon Creature with Flying (Howl from Beyond)
7. 1/1 Skeleton Creature (Raise Dead)
8. 3/3 Beast Creature (Burrowing)
9. 2/2 Wolf Creature (Aspect of Wolf)
10. 1/1 Human Cleric Creature (Consecrate Land)
11. Clue Artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card." (Jayemdae Tome)
12. Clue Artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card." (Copper Tablet)
13. Treasure Artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color." (Disrupting Scepter)
14. Treasure Artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color." (Sunglasses of Urza)
15. Treasure Artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color." (Rod of Ruin)
16. 1/1 Insect Artifact Creature with Flying called Wasp (The Hive)

## Controversies

Players were upset about the release. Complaints were uttered about the price range, the targeting of high-spending players instead of the common player base, the random packaging, the perceived violation of the Reserved List, and Wizards' hypocritical sale of proxies.

On November 14, 2022, a Bank of America analyst called out the *30th Anniversary Edition* as particularly egregious, though their assessment and motivations were contrary to community criticisms.

Meanwhile, Quinton Hoover's estate alleged that Wizards of the Coast was using his art without permission and that they did not have the rights to do so. Jesper Myrfors complained that his name was unjustly removed of the copyright notice from the card.

## References

1. ↑ Information below the text box
2. ↑ Blake Rasmussen (October 4, 2022). "Kicking Off *Magic's* 30th Anniversary". *magicthegathering.com*. Wizards of the Coast.
3. ↑ ***a*** ***b*** ***c*** Blake Rasmussen (October 4, 2022). "Celebrate 30 Years of *Magic: The Gathering* with 30th Anniversary Edition". *magicthegathering.com*. Wizards of the Coast.
4. ↑ Magic: The Gathering (November 28, 2022). "The 30th Anniversary Edition sale has concluded, and the product is currently unavailable for purchase.". Twitter.
5. ↑ WotC Take The L on 30th Anniversary Edition? (Video). *PleasantKenobi*. YouTube (November 29, 2022).
6. ↑ Ryan Dinsdale (October 7, 2022). "Magic: The Gathering Players are Up in Arms Over $999 Anniversary Set". IGN.com.
7. ↑ Magic The Gathering's 30th Anniversary Edition Is Not For You (Video). *Tolarian Community College*. YouTube (October 4, 2022).
8. ↑ Tom Marks (December 9, 2022). "What It’s Like to Open Magic: The Gathering’s $1000 Anniversary Box". IGN.com.
9. ↑ Senad Karaahmetovic (November 14, 2022). "'Magic: The Gathering' analysis prompts BofA to double downgrade Hasbro". Coolstuffinc.com.
10. ↑ Charlie Hall (November 14, 2022). "Hasbro’s squeezing Magic: The Gathering players for too much money, big bank warns". Polygon.com.
11. ↑ Vorthos Mike (October 4, 2022). "Over at the Quinton Hoover page run by his sons.". Twitter.