Vanguard

Vanguard is a supplement and a card type for Magic: The Gathering that debuted in Arena’s Summer Season of 1997 and are used in the format of the same name.

The oversized Vanguard cards aren’t played like regular cards. Instead, each player chooses one of the character cards before the match begins and plays under the conditions set by that card.

A Vanguard card modifies your starting (and maximum) hand size, as well as your starting life total. It also contains one or more abilities. Sometimes they’re abilities that you can play; sometimes they’re abilities that just change aspects of the game. Any abilities printed on a Vanguard card work exactly like those of an in-play Magic card. Note, however, that Vanguard cards are colourless, aren’t permanents, aren’t in play, and aren’t even really cards, so they can’t be affected by spells or abilities.

The cards were released in four 8-card sets, the first two were designed together. Series 1 could also be obtained in the Vanguard Gift Box. The intent was to use the Arena League as a test market for the concept of supplemental products. As it turned out, Vanguard was a huge success. Nearly 5,000 joined Arena during the first season, the biggest increase in league history, yet. From there, the decision to release the second group of eight cards in early 1998 (Winter Season) was simple. The third set appeared in late 1998 (Autumn Season), and the fourth in the Spring Season of 1999.