Released in 1997, Tempest is one of the most iconic expansions in the history of Magic: The Gathering. It introduced players to the dangerous plane of Rath and started a famous storyline involving the character Gerrard Capashen and the crew of the Weatherlight airship. For collectors and players, this set changed the game forever by introducing highly powerful mechanics like Buyback and Shadow.
Unlike later Magic expansions, Tempest was only printed in Traditional Chinese, making these specific Asian-language cards highly unique and incredibly rare for modern collectors to find.
– Tempest
| Set code | TMP |
| Release date | October 1997 |
| Border | Black |
Chinese printing details
| Traditional Chinese set size | 350 |
| Simplified Chinese set size | – |
| Product types | Booster pack box (36 packs) – Booster pack (15 cards), Starter deck box (12 starters) – Starter decks (60 cards) |
| Language-exclusive artworks | – |
| Known misprints | 2 cards |
| Printing differences | – |
Special features of the Traditional Chinese printing
The Traditional Chinese Tempest set does not have a large group of exclusive alternate illustrations. Its main interest comes from its language, its age, and its limited availability.
There are also at least two known printing differences in the Traditional Chinese version:
- Master Decoy
- Mounted Archers
On these two cards, the gray circle behind the activation cost is incorrect. This small graphical difference is easy to miss, but it is interesting for collectors of Chinese misprints and printing variations.
The translations are also part of the history of early Chinese Magic. Some terms used on older Traditional Chinese cards are different from the vocabulary used on modern cards. This makes the set useful for collectors who study the evolution of Chinese Magic translations.
Why a complete set is difficult to assemble
The Reserved List: Several of the best cards in Tempest belong to the “Reserved List.” This is a guarantee from Wizards of the Coast that they will never reprint these specific cards. Because the supply is permanently locked, high-value cards are rarely put up for sale.
Age and Condition: The set is nearly thirty years old. Many cards were heavily played in tournaments without card sleeves, meaning that finding cards in “Near Mint” condition is very uncommon.
Language Scarcity: Because the foreign print runs (especially Traditional Chinese) were so small, finding the final few rare cards to complete a foreign-language set can take years of searching online markets and global auctions.
Top 5 cards to look for
If you are opening packs or looking to buy singles from Tempest, these are the five most important and valuable cards to look for:
- Ancient Tomb: This is a legendary land card that produces two colorless mana at the cost of two life points. It is a mandatory card in competitive formats like Legacy, Vintage, and Commander.
- Intuition: A powerful blue instant card that lets you search your library for three cards. Your opponent chooses one to put into your hand, and the others go to the graveyard. It is part of the Reserved List and highly sought after for combo decks.
- Earthcraft: An enchantment card that allows you to tap a creature to untap a basic land. It creates instant win conditions when combined with cards like Squirrel Nest. It is also protected by the Reserved List.
- Aluren: This enchantment allows players to cast creatures with a mana cost of three or less for free, and they can play them at any time they could play an instant. It is a core piece of famous combo decks and belongs to the Reserved List.
- Humility: A white enchantment that removes all abilities from every creature on the battlefield and sets their power and toughness to 1/1. It completely changes how the game is played and is a famous collector’s item.
A special focus on Lotus Petal
Lotus Petal is one of the most famous common cards ever printed in Magic: The Gathering.
The card costs zero mana. It can be sacrificed to produce one mana of any color. This simple effect makes Lotus Petal very useful in fast decks. It helps players cast important spells earlier than normal. Lotus Petal was originally printed as a common in Tempest. However, it is much more desirable than most common cards from the set. It has been used for many years in combo decks and other strategies that need fast mana.
The original Tempest version is especially popular because it is the first printing of the card. The artwork by April Lee is also closely associated with the card. Traditional Chinese copies are harder to find than English copies. Many were used in decks, so copies in excellent condition can be difficult to locate. Even though Lotus Petal is only a common, it is often one of the most important and expensive cards needed to complete a Traditional Chinese Tempest Set.
Rarity level
Chinese Traditional – Tempest
Completing a Traditional Chinese Tempest Set is possible, but it can take a long time. The first difficulty is the size of the expansion. A complete set contains 350 cards. This includes 110 different rares, so many booster boxes would have been necessary to open one complete set. The second difficulty is distribution. Traditional Chinese cards were mainly sold in a smaller regional market than English cards. Exact official print numbers are not publicly available, so it is better not to claim a precise production figure. However, surviving supply is clearly much lower than for the English version.