Exodus is the third and final expansion of the Tempest block. It was released on June 15, 1998, after Tempest and Stronghold. The official set code is EXO. The set contains 143 black-bordered cards.
The expansion symbol represents a bridge. The story follows the final part of the Weatherlight crew’s escape from the artificial plane of Rath.
Exodus was officially printed in Traditional Chinese. There was no complete Simplified Chinese version of the set.
– Exodus
| Set code | EXO |
| Release date | June 1998 |
| Border | Black |
Chinese printing details
| Traditional Chinese set size | 143 |
| Simplified Chinese set size | – |
| Product types | Booster pack box (36 packs) – Booster pack (15 cards) |
| Language-exclusive artworks | – |
| Known misprints | 6 cards |
| Printing differences | – |
The Chinese version of Exodus
Exodus was officially printed in Traditional Chinese. It was not released as a complete regular set in Simplified Chinese.
Traditional Chinese Magic cards were mainly distributed in Taiwan and Hong Kong. The Traditional Chinese version was released during the first important period of Chinese Magic. Other early expansions printed in Traditional Chinese included Visions, Weatherlight, Tempest Set, and Stronghold.
Traditional Chinese Exodus cards have:
- black borders;
- Traditional Chinese names and rules text;
- the original 1997 Magic card frame;
- the same illustrations as the other international versions;
- the portcullis expansion symbol;
- no foil cards.
The first set with coloured rarity symbols
Exodus introduced an important change to Magic cards.
It was the first Magic expansion to use different colours for the expansion symbol:
silver for uncommon cards;
gold for rare cards.
Before Exodus, the expansion symbol had the same colour on every card. Players could not identify the rarity only by looking at the symbol.
Exodus was also the first Magic set to print collector numbers on the cards. Each card has a number between 1 and 143. This made it much easier for collectors to organise and complete a set. These changes also appear on the Traditional Chinese cards. For this reason, Chinese Exodus represents an important moment in the visual history of Magic.
Printing differences in the Traditional Chinese version
The Traditional Chinese edition contains several small printing differences.
Five white cards have an unusual yellow circle behind the colourless part of their mana cost:
- Allay
- Charging Paladin
- Soltari Visionary
- Standing Troops
- Wall of Nets
There is also a printing difference on Pygmy Troll. The power and toughness numbers do not use the same ink appearance.
These details do not change how the cards work. However, they make the Traditional Chinese printing more interesting for collectors of misprints and regional variations.
Top 5 cards to look for
1. Survival of the Fittest
Survival of the Fittest is one of the most famous cards in Exodus.
It is a green enchantment that allows a player to discard a creature card and search their library for another creature card. This ability makes it possible to find the correct creature for each situation. The card has been used in many competitive and casual strategies. It is also on the Reserved List, so it cannot receive a normal, functionally identical reprint.
2. City of Traitors
City of Traitors is a rare land that can produce two colourless mana.
Its drawback requires its controller to sacrifice it after playing another land. Despite this restriction, it provides very fast mana and has been used in many powerful decks.
City of Traitors is also on the Reserved List. Its combination of competitive use, limited supply and first-printing status makes it one of the most valuable cards in Exodus.
3. Recurring Nightmare
Recurring Nightmare is a black enchantment.
It allows a player to sacrifice a creature and return another creature from the graveyard to the battlefield. The enchantment then returns to its owner’s hand. This ability can be repeated and can create very powerful combinations. Recurring Nightmare is one of the best-known cards from the set and is also on the Reserved List.
4. Oath of Druids
Oath of Druids is a green enchantment from the famous cycle of five Oath cards in Exodus.
It can place a creature directly onto the battlefield when an opponent controls more creatures. The card became the centre of several powerful tournament decks. Unlike some of the other important cards in the set, Oath of Druids is not on the Reserved List. However, its original Exodus printing remains highly collectible.
5. Mind Over Matter
Mind Over Matter is a powerful blue enchantment.
It allows its controller to discard a card to tap or untap an artifact, creature or land. This effect can be combined with other cards to create large amounts of mana, draw many cards or produce infinite combinations.
Mind Over Matter is on the Reserved List. The original Exodus copy is therefore the only normal tournament-legal paper printing of the card.
Rarity level
Chinese Traditional – Exodus
The full set contains only 143 cards, but it is not easy to complete. The main difficulties are the limited supply, the important Reserved List rares and the condition of surviving cards.
Several Exodus cards were used in tournament and casual decks. Survival of the Fittest, City of Traitors, Oath of Druids, Recurring Nightmare and Price of Progress were often shuffled and played. Finding the cards is one challenge. Finding all 143 cards in near-mint condition is much harder.