The years 2010 to 2019 were a time of big changes for Magic: The Gathering. The game moved from being a hobby for fans to a massive worldwide success.
The start of the decade (2010–2012)
At the beginning of this period, Magic was still produced in moderate amounts. This era is often called the “Silver Age.”
- The return of languages: Even though the Magic 2011 set brought back Traditional Chinese, the number of cards printed stayed under control until the release of Return to Ravnica.
- Cards from this time are often highly prized by collectors because they were produced in smaller quantities than they are today.
The 2012 turning point: the printing boom
Everything changed with the release of Return to Ravnica at the end of 2012. From that moment on, the game became incredibly popular (or incredibly printed?).
The goal was simple: to meet the demand of millions of new players. The game shifted from a niche market to massive industrial production.
More cards for everyone: Even editions in Traditional Chinese were affected by the massive increase in printing volumes.
A time of incredible creativity
Despite the increase in production, the quality of the stories and the worlds created stayed very high. This “faste” (successful) period saw the birth of new universes that have left a mark on Magic’s history:
- Innistrad (2011): A world of vampires and lobos-garous (werewolves).
- Theros (2013): Inspired by Greek mythology.
- Khans of Tarkir (2014): The world of dragons and warrior clans.
- Ixalan (2017): A universe of pirates and dinosaurs.
scryfall set list that covers the project :
In short, this decade transformed Magic. The game became easier to find thanks to massive printing, but above all, it succeeded in creating fantastic worlds that players still love today.