The MTG Reserved List Explained

Reprints are an important aspect of any trading card game. They keep the cost of staples low while giving new players access to older cards. However, Wizards of the Coast have a “reserved list” of MTG cards that they have promised to never reprint.

The reserved list contains every card that WOTC will never reprint, and it’s one of the most controversial topics in MTG. On one hand, the reserved list ensures the collectability of certain cards. Since reserved cards won’t ever receive more copies, they retain more value as a unique piece of Magic’s history. However, this lack of reprints makes it far more difficult to acquire some of these cards. Staples for eternal formats, such as the original dual lands, can cost hundreds of dollars as a result.

Still, you might be wondering more about how the reserved list works in MTG. There are also plenty of good cards on the reserved list, so is it worth picking any of them up? While we won’t be diving too deep into the pros and cons of the reserved list, we’ll answer all your questions on what it is and how it might affect your purchasing decisions.

Table of Contents:

1. What Is the MTG Reserved List?
   1. How Many Cards Are on the MTG Reserved List?
   2. Was There a Lawsuit over the MTG Reserved List?
2. Does the MTG Reserved List Ever Change?
3. What Are MTG Reserved List Cards Worth?
4. Should I Buy MTG Reserved List Cards?
5. What Cards Are on the MTG Reserved List?
6. End Step

What Is the MTG Reserved List?

In short, the reserved list contains all of the cards that WOTC will never reprint. A card that isn’t on this list may still never see a reprint, but that’s just circumstantial. If a card is on the reserved list, WOTC has promised that no new versions of it will be released.

The reserved list also covers functionally identical cards. For example, WOTC won’t make a card called “White Lotus” that has the exact same rules text as Black Lotus. Because those two cards would have the exact same function in gameplay, they would be “functionally identical.”

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WOTC also won’t print cards that have only small tweaks from their reserved list counterpart. Reverberate and Fork, for instance, have the same mana cost, the same card type, and have very similar rules text. Even though they aren’t literally identical, the only difference between them is incredibly minor. Nowadays, WOTC wouldn’t release a card like Reverberate because it’s just too similar to a reserved card.

However, this policy only applies to tournament legal cards. WOTC could still print an oversized version of Black Lotus, for example, as a promotional item. What WOTC cannot do, though, is print a foil, promo card that is tournament legal.

How Many Cards Are on the MTG Reserved List?

There are 572 cards on the reserved list. These cards can be found across 18 sets, ranging from Limited Edition to Urza’s Destiny. At the end of this article, you can find a complete list of these cards.

Was There a Lawsuit over the MTG Reserved List?

No, but the fear of a lawsuit is one of the biggest arguments for keeping the reserved list around.

Although WOTC hasn’t entered into any contracts involving the reserved list, there’s a legal concept called “promissory estoppel.” Promissory estoppel essentially means that breaking a promise to the detriment of others can have legal consequences. The reserved list could potentially be seen as such a promise, and WOTC breaking that promise could devalue countless collections.

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To be transparent: I’m not a lawyer, and people have mixed opinions about how a lawsuit over the reserved list would go. Some people believe WOTC would lose a lawsuit based on promissory estoppel, while others believe they would win. Others still believe that the legal fees of such a lawsuit are enough to prevent WOTC from dropping the reserved list, regardless of the outcome.

No matter what the result would be, WOTC has made it clear that they have no intention of changing the reserved list.

You can see WOTC’s official reprint policy, including the reserved list, here.

Does the MTG Reserved List Ever Change?

No, the reserved list doesn’t change. However, this wasn’t always the case.

In March 2010, there was an important change to the reserved list. WOTC announced that no cards from Mercadian Masques or any set afterwards would be on the list. While this announcement changed the reserved list (there were 22 cards that were removed as a result), it also means that the list won’t change in the future. Unless WOTC ever gets rid of the reserved list, it’s safe to say there won’t be any changes going forward.

What Are MTG Reserved List Cards Worth?

Players often think of the most expensive cards in MTG when they think of the reserved list. While it’s true that plenty of reserved cards have a steep price, there are just as many cards that are only worth a couple dollars.

On the expensive side, we have Black Lotus. This is the most iconic Magic card ever pritned, and it fetches a higher price than anything else. There’s no exact price, but one sold for $511,100 during an eBay auction in January 2021. That card was a PSA 10, and it was signed by the card’s artist, Christopher Rush.

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However, there are also plenty of inexpensive cards on the reserved list. Cards like Vodalian War Machine or Fungus Elemental aren’t exactly staples, and their price tag reflects that. Even though these cards won’t have any reprints, the demand is so low that they still have a reasonable price.

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In between these two extremes, there are plenty of cards worth $100 or more. The demand for these cards is much higher, so the small supply really has a big impact on the price.

Should I Buy MTG Reserved List Cards?

It depends on your motivation. I’m not a financial advisor, so I won’t go too deeply into investing in these cards. It’s worth noting that many of these cards are worth hundreds or thousands of dollars, so buying them is a significant financial decision.

First, you might be interested in the collectibility of reserved list cards. After all, WOTC originally made the reserved list to ensure that these cards remained unique. In this sense, the reserved list is a success.

Some of Magic’s most iconic cards are on this list, and there won’t be any more copies of them made in the future. Owning these cards is owning a piece of Magic’s history, and it’s up to you to decide how much value they have as a result.

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There are also plenty of reserved list cards you might want to play with. For Vintage and Legacy, the dual lands are staples that most decks rely on. If you want to build a high-powered cube, you’ll likely want to get your hands on the power nine.

If you’re playing casually, though, you can always use proxies. However, not all players enjoy proxies, and they aren’t allowed in competitive events. Again, you’ll have to decide if playing with the real versions of these cards holds enough value for you to buy them.

RELATED: MTG Proxies: The Ultimate Guide

What Cards Are on the MTG Reserved List?

Now that we’ve discussed how the reserved list works and why you might want to buy reserved cards, you might be asking: what cards are even on the list? Below, all 572 cards on the reserved list are organized by set.

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Whether or not you agree with the reserved list, it looks like it’s here to stay. I hope this article taught you something new about one of Magic’s touchiest subjects, or helped you decide whether or not you want these iconic cards for yourself!