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Vanguard Cards
Index | Series 1 1997 | Series 2 1998 | Series 3 1998-1999 | Series 4 1999
 Oversized cards sizes measurements comparator: * 12 x 18 Posters. * 9 x 12 Display Card. * 6 x 9 Card. * 3.5 x 5: Archenemy, Commander, Helvault, Planechase, Prerelease Pack, Vanguard. * Regular MTG card. Vanguard cards are oversized character cards, measuring about 3.5" × 5" (9 x 12,5 cm) which are set aside at the beginning of the game. They modify the maximum hand size and the starting life point total and grant additional abilities throughout the game. Vanguard cards were given out in sets of eight cards to every participant as additional game accessory during specific Arena League seasons. For these seasons, the format required players to choose and play with one Vanguard card of their choice from the appropriate set. The first Vanguard set was broken into two subsets, and each player received only one randomly chosen subset. Subsequent sets were handed out completely. Two cards from the fourth Vanguard set, Ashnod and Tawnos, were given out in preceding Arena League seasons as a participation bonus. The first series of Vanguard cards was also available in a special Vanguard Gift Box released in December 1997. It contains: * 1 set of Vanguard cards series 1, consisting of 2 sealed packs of 4 cards (Made in the U.S.A) * 1 standard Italian Mirage starter pack - 60 cards - (Made in Belgium) * 1 standard Japanese Visions booster pack - 15 cards - (Made in Belgium) or 1 standard Traditional Chinese Visions booster pack - 15 cards - (Made in the U.S.A) * 1 standard Korean Weatherlight booster pack - 15 cards - (Made in the U.S.A) * 1 Vanguard rules sheet * WOC06025 * ISBN: 1-575306696-7 * GTIN: 7 42818 06025 7 * MSRP: $19.99 The display box holds approximately 840 cards in standard-size sleeves or twelve 60-card decks. Contents by order of appearance in the sealed boosters. Sealed Vanguard Series 1 booster comes with 4 cards: Gerrard, Mirri, Tahngarth, Squee. Sealed Vanguard Series 1 booster comes with 4 cards: Maraxus, Karn, Sisay, Ertai. Sealed Vanguard Series 2 booster comes with 4 cards: Hanna, Greven il-Vec, Selenia, Barrin. Sealed Vanguard Series 2 booster comes with 4 cards: Volrath, Starke, Crovax, Orim. Sealed Vanguard Series 3 booster comes with 8 cards: Eladamri, Oracle, Lyna, Sliver Queen, Brood Mother, Takara, Multani, Sidar Kondo. Sealed Vanguard Series 4 booster comes with 8 cards: Ashnod, Gix, Mishra, Serra, Tawnos, Titania, Urza, Xantcha. Missing the precised order of appearance: ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ? Single Vanguard cards were additionally distributed in magazines: Ertai Series 1: Scrye #4.4 magazine. Gerrard Series 1: The Duelist #19 magazine. Tahngarth Series 1: InQuest #29 magazine. Multani Series 3: The Duelist #33 magazine. Takara Series 3: InQuest #44 magazine. Mishra Series 4: InQuest #47 magazine. Illustrations on the sleeve box are: Sleeve illustrations: Top: Tahngarth (Character) by Pete Venters. Front: Maraxus (Character) by Matthew Wilson. Ertai (Character) by Randy Gallegos. Karn (Character) by Anthony S. Waters. Back: Squee (Character) by Daniel Gelon. Gerrard (Character) by Douglas Shuler. Sisay (Character) by Kaja Foglio. Illustrations on the inside box are: Top: The Wretched from Legends by Christopher Rush and Dance of the Dead from Ice Age by Randy Gallegos. Front: Guardian Beast from Arabian Nights by Ken Meyer, Jr. and Minion of Tevesh Szat from Ice Age by Julie Baroh. Back: Juzám Djinn from Arabian Nights by Mark Tedin. Sides: Nether Shadow from Alpha by Christopher Rush and Lich from Alpha by Daniel Gelon. The concept of Vanguard had not been forgotten and was reintroduced six years later in May 2005 on Magic: The Gathering Online. ERRORS, MISPRINTS AND TYPOS: Tawnos: Wrong artist Donato Giancola instead of Stephen Daniele. TRIVIA: Supposedly Series 1 and 2 uncut sheets were given out as awards either to Players or to store owners for meeting promotional goals. The Vanguard card stock is much thicker, so the sheets don't roll well. One of the sources for Vanguard Series 1 sheet was a prize given to the winning store in a UK National promotion (in early 99, for most active players and formal competitions). The Vanguard Series 1 sheet has all 49 spots filled with cards, and a weird distribution (4 to 7 of each card). At least 10 are known to exist. The Vanguard Series 2 has 6 of each card and one blank filler, which is completely white on the front, except for the word "blank". At least 2 are known to exist. One of the sources for Vanguard Series 2 sheet was a prize given to the winner of a local store tournament in Arizona sometime in 2002. The store owner placed it up as a prize to entice players into playing booster draft. No Series 3 or Series 4 sheets pics or info are available in the internet for the last 20 years.   Vanguard Gift Box front and back.  Vanguard Gift Box info back.    Italian Mirage starter - Traditional Chinese Visions booster - Korean Weatherlight booster.       InQuest #29 magazine (Tahngarth) - InQuest #47 magazine (Mishra) - Scrye 4.4 (Ertai) - The Duelist #19 magazine (Gerrard) - The Duelist #33 magazine (Multani) - The Duelist #37 magazine (Urza).  Vanguard Booster Magic: The Gathering Online. VANGUARD SERIES 1 UNCUT SHEET   Vanguard Series 1, Variant 1, 7 x 7 original uncut sheet front and back.   Vanguard Series 1, Variant 2, 7 x 7 original uncut sheet close up of the bottom left corner mentioning Printed in Canada. Front and Back.  Vanguard Series 1, 7 x 7 scan of the front of the original uncut sheet. VANGUARD SERIES 2 UNCUT SHEET  Vanguard Series 2, 7 x 7 Original uncut sheet Version 1 front with White "Big font" Blank oversized filler card Version 1.   Vanguard Series 2, 7 x 7 Original uncut sheet Version 1 front and back with White "Small font" Blank oversized filler card Version 2.  Vanguard Series 2, 7 x 7 recreated uncut sheet with White "Big font" Blank oversized filler card Version 1.  Vanguard Series 2, 7 x 7 recreated uncut sheet with White "Small font" Blank oversized filler card Version 2. VANGUARD ADVERTISEMENT  Vanguard Arena League advertisement. VANGUARD SERIES 1 ART  Ertai full art by Randy Gallegos.  MISSING: Gerrard full art by Douglas Shuler.   Karn full art by Anthony S. Waters - MISSING: Maraxus full art by Matthew Wilson.  Mirri original art by Richard Kane Ferguson - MISSING: Sisay full art by Kaja Foglio.   Squee original art by Daniel Gelon - Tahngarth original art by Pete Venters. VANGUARD SERIES 2 ART   Barrin Original art by Christopher Rush - MISSING: Crovax full art by Ron Spencer.   MISSING: Greven il-Vec full art by Mark Tedin - Hanna full art by Liz Danforth.   Orim Original art by Rebecca Guay - Selenia full art by Quinton Hoover.  Starke full art by Donato Giancola - Volrath Original art by Anson Maddocks. VANGUARD SERIES 3 ART MISSING: Eladamri full art by Mark Zug - Lyna full art by Adam Rex. MISSING: Multani full art by Brom - Oracle full art by Dan Frazier. MISSING: Rofellos full art by Daren Bader - Sidar Kondo full art by Kev Walker. MISSING: Sliver Queen, Brood Mother full art by rk post - Takara full art by DiTerlizzi. VANGUARD SERIES 4 ART  Ashnod Original art by Ron Spencer.NEED UPGRADE  Gix full art by Pete Venters.  Mishra full art by Anson Maddocks.  Serra full art by Matthew Wilson.   MISSING: Tawnos full art by Donato Giancola - Titania full art by Rebecca Guay.  Urza full art by Mark Tedin - MISSING: Xantcha full art by Heather Hudson. EXTERNAL LINKS Vanguard Product Info Vanguard Series 1; Magic Arcana Broken Link Vanguard Series 1; Magic Arcana - September 23, 2002 - Wayback Machine Vanguard Series 2; Magic Arcana Broken Link Vanguard Series 2; Magic Arcana - October 9, 2002 - Wayback Machine Vanguard Playtest Cards; Magic Arcana - February 13, 2003 - Wayback Machine Weather(light) Report; Making Magic- December 3, 2007 - Wayback Machine Vanguard; Feature Article - August 14, 2008 - Wayback Machine Vanguard Portraits; Magic Arcana Broken Link Vanguard Portraits; Magic Arcana - October 14, 2008 - Wayback Machine Thank You Sir, May I Have Another; Feature Article Broken Link Thank You Sir, May I Have Another; Feature Article - August 30, 2010 - Wayback Machine The Duelist #19 (October 1997); Internet Archive The Duelist #33 (January 1999); Internet Archive The Duelist #37 (May 1999); Internet Archive INTERNAL LINKS Arena League Promos (English) Magic: The Gathering Online Cards 6 x 9 Cards Filler Cards Uncut Vanguard sheet; Topic on the forum Uncut Vanguard (Series 2) sheet; Topic on the forum |
| SET | NUM | CARDNAME | ARTIST | SOURCE | DATE | INFO | ||
| 001 |  | Ertai | Randy Gallegos | Arena League Summer 97 season participation bonus set 1 Scrye #4.4 magazine addition Vanguard Gift Box addition | 1997-07-18 1997-11 1997-12 | |||
| 002 | | Gerrard | Douglas Shuler | Arena League Summer 97 season participation bonus set 2 The Duelist #19 magazine addition Vanguard Gift Box addition | 1997-07-18 1997-10 1997-12 | |||
| 003 | | Karn | Anthony S. Waters | Arena League Summer 97 season participation bonus set 1 Vanguard Gift Box addition | 1997-07-18 1997-12 | |||
| 004 | | Maraxus | Matthew Wilson | Arena League Summer 97 season participation bonus set 1 Vanguard Gift Box addition | 1997-07-18 1997-12 | |||
| 005 | | Mirri | Richard Kane Ferguson | Arena League Summer 97 season participation bonus set 2 Vanguard Gift Box addition | 1997-07-18 1997-12 | |||
| 006 | | Sisay | Kaja Foglio | Arena League Summer 97 season participation bonus set 1 Vanguard Gift Box addition | 1997-07-18 1997-12 | |||
| 007 | | Squee | Daniel Gelon | Arena League Summer 97 season participation bonus set 2 Vanguard Gift Box addition | 1997-07-18 1997-12 | |||
| 008 | | Tahngarth | Pete Venters | Arena League Summer 97 season participation bonus set 2 InQuest #29 magazine addition Vanguard Gift Box addition | 1997-07-18 1997-09 1997-12 | |||
| SET | NUM | CARDNAME | ARTIST | SOURCE | DATE | INFO | ||
| 001 |  | Barrin | Christopher Rush | Arena League Winter 98 season participation bonus | 1998-01-02 | |||
| 002 | | Crovax | Ron Spencer | Arena League Winter 98 season participation bonus | 1998-01-02 | |||
| 003 | | Greven il-Vec | Mark Tedin | Arena League Winter 98 season participation bonus | 1998-01-02 | |||
| 004 | | Hanna | Liz Danforth | Arena League Winter 98 season participation bonus | 1998-01-02 | |||
| 005 | | Orim | Rebecca Guay | Arena League Winter 98 season participation bonus | 1998-01-02 | |||
| 006 | | Selenia | Quinton Hoover | Arena League Winter 98 season participation bonus | 1998-01-02 | |||
| 007 | | Starke | Donato Giancola | Arena League Winter 98 season participation bonus | 1998-01-02 | |||
| 008 | | Volrath | Anson Maddocks | Arena League Winter 98 season participation bonus | 1998-01-02 | |||
| SET | NUM | CARDNAME | ARTIST | SOURCE | DATE | INFO | ||
| 001 |  | Eladamri | Mark Zug | Arena League Autumn 98 season participation bonus | 1998-10-23 | |||
| 002 | | Lyna | Adam Rex | Arena League Autumn 98 season participation bonus | 1998-10-23 | |||
| 003 | | Multani | Brom | Arena League Autumn 98 season participation bonus The Duelist #33 magazine addition | 1998-10-23 1999-01 | |||
| 004 | | Oracle | Dan Frazier | Arena League Autumn 98 season participation bonus | 1998-10-23 | |||
| 005 | | Rofellos | Daren Bader | Arena League Autumn 98 season participation bonus | 1998-10-23 | |||
| 006 | | Sidar Kondo | Kev Walker | Arena League Autumn 98 season participation bonus | 1998-10-23 | |||
| 007 | | Sliver Queen, Brood Mother | rk post | Arena League Autumn 98 season participation bonus | 1998-10-23 | |||
| 008 | | Takara | DiTerlizzi | Arena League Autumn 98 season participation bonus InQuest #44 magazine addition | 1998-10-23 1998-12 | |||
| SET | NUM | CARDNAME | ARTIST | SOURCE | DATE | INFO | ||
| 001 |  | Ashnod | Ron Spencer | Arena League Winter 99 season participation bonus Arena League Spring 99 season participation bonus | 1999-01-01 1999-04-02 | |||
| 002 | | Gix | Pete Venters | Arena League Spring 99 season participation bonus | 1999-04-02 | |||
| 003 | | Mishra | Anson Maddocks | InQuest #47 magazine addition Arena League Spring 99 season participation bonus | 1999-03 1999-04-02 | |||
| 004 | | Serra | Matthew Wilson | Arena League Spring 99 season participation bonus | 1999-04-02 | |||
| 005 | | Tawnos | Donato Giancola | Arena League Tempest 99 season participation bonus Arena League Spring 99 season participation bonus | 1999-02-11 1999-04-02 | YES | ||
| 006 | | Titania | Rebecca Guay | Arena League Spring 99 season participation bonus | 1999-04-02 | |||
| 007 | | Urza | Mark Tedin | The Duelist #37 magazine addition Arena League Spring 99 season participation bonus | 1999-03 1999-04-02 | |||
| 008 | | Xantcha | Heather Hudson | Arena League Spring 99 season participation bonus | 1999-04-02 | |||