List of Legend of the Five Rings sets explained
This is a list of the card sets for the Legend of the Five Rings collectible card game ("L5R") published by AEG. L5R is marketed through base sets and expansion sets. Base sets are typically composed primarily of reprinted cards from prior sets with a smaller number of new cards. Expansion sets (which are smaller than base sets) are composed entirely of new cards. Cards are sold in 60-90 card semi-randomized starter decks and booster packs which have a smaller number (typically 11 or 15) of random cards. Starters feature a particular faction, including new fixed rarity cards and a Stronghold card for that faction. They also include cards from previous sets and are intended to be fully playable decks.
In addition to starters and boosters, there is also the occasional "learn to play" set containing two fixed decks and an expanded rulebook for new players and a fixed "direct to player" set unavailable except directly from AEG.
For the purpose of tournament format/legality and the storyline, L5R's sets are divided into "arcs". From the beginning of the game's second arc with Jade Edition, cards have featured a "bug" (a kanji approximation of the edition's name) in a lower corner of the card's text box showing that card's legality. The only cards legal at most official tournaments are those printed with the current bug (or earlier printings of those cards). These bugs are shown next to each arc's title.
Originally, sets were differentiated by the color of their borders. From Gold Edition on, cards have an expansion code, card number, and rarity symbol listed on their lower edge. The rarity symbols are circle for common, diamond for uncommon, star for rare, triangle for promo, hollow diamond for "premium" (bonus cards found in Emperor Edition and later boosters), and star within a circle for fixed cards.
Clan Wars
| Set | Release date | Featured Factions | Size | Border | Notes |
|---|
| Pre-Imperial | 8/1995 | - | 84 | Red-Orange unbroken line | Cards made available at GenCon prior to commercial release. |
| Imperial Edition | 10/1995 | Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Unicorn | 309 | Yellow-Red broken line | First base set. Included "Ancestral Swords" for each clan. |
| Shadowlands | 5/1996 | Naga, Scorpion | 155 | Purple & Green swirls | |
| Forbidden Knowledge | 8/1996 | - | 150 | Rust-colored swirls | Introduced Region card type and Ritual spells. |
| Emerald Edition | 8/1996 | Same as Imperial Edition | 312 | Black marble | Second base set. Included "Ancestral Armors" for each clan. |
| Battle of Beiden Pass | 11/1996 | Crab, Dragon | 118 | Black | "Learn to Play" boxed set. |
| Anvil of Despair[1] | 12/1996 | Junzo's Horde, Toturi's Army | 152 | Blue swirls | Introduced Ancestor card type. |
| Crimson & Jade | 4/1997 | Brotherhood, Yoritomo's Alliance | 161 | Green | Introduced Kiho card type. |
| Obsidian Edition | 8/1997[2] | Same as Imperial Edition | 312 | Brown marble | Third base set. Included "Ancestral Standards" for each clan. Introduced actual cards for Strongholds, instead of using back of deck box. |
| Time of the Void | 9/1997 | Crab, Phoenix | 229 | Brown with white cracks | Included "story-backed" stronghold cards for the twelve factions at the uncommon rarity level. |
| Scorpion Clan Coup, Scroll 1 | 12/1997[3] | Scorpion | 53 | Black with red cracks | "Prequel" expansion, released in 3 monthly installments as part of the "Rolling Thunder" campaign. These did not have rares. |
| Scorpion Clan Coup, Scroll 2 | 1/1998 | - | 50 | " | |
| Scorpion Clan Coup, Scroll 3 | 2/1998 | Lion | 52 | " | |
| Promotional Cards | Various | - | 28 | Golden waves | | |
Hidden Emperor - "Jade"
With Jade Edition, L5R introduced the concept of "arc legality". Newly printed cards were now marked with a "Jade bug". This allowed tournament rules to limit the card base allowed to be used: either "Strict Jade" in which only cards with the bug were legal or "Extended Jade" in which all Actions, Followers, Items, Kihos, and Regions were legal but all other types were required to have the bug.
| Set | Release date | Featured Factions | Size | Border | Notes |
|---|
| Jade Edition | 5/1998[4] | Brotherhood, Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Naga, Phoenix, Scorpion, Shadowlands, Toturi's Army, Unicorn, Yoritomo's Alliance | 330 | Green waves | Fourth base set. Included "Clan Charters" for each clan. |
| The Hidden Emperor, Episode 1 | 6/1998 | Naga | 52 | Wood grain | The Hidden Emperor expansion was released in small monthly episodes as part of the "Rolling Thunder" campaign. These had two levels of uncommon rather than true rares. |
| The Hidden Emperor, Episode 2 | 7/1998 | Dragon | 52 | Wood grain | |
| The Hidden Emperor, Episode 3 | 8/1998 | Monk | 52 | Wood grain | |
| The Hidden Emperor, Episode 4 | 9/1998 | Unicorn | 52 | Wood grain | |
| The Hidden Emperor, Episode 5 | 10/1998 | Mantis | 52 | Wood grain | |
| The Hidden Emperor, Episode 6 | 11/1998 | Crane | 52 | Wood grain | |
| The Hidden Emperor: The Dark Journey Home | 2/1999 | Ninja, Phoenix, Toturi's Army | 154 | Wood grain | |
| Pearl Edition | 5/1999[5] | Same as Jade Edition | 364 | Purple ripples | Fifth base set. First to feature revised card design. Included "Clan Weapons" for each clan. |
| Siege of Sleeping Mountain | 5/1999 | Brotherhood & Dragon, Naga & Toturi's Army | 64 | Red-Green ovals | "Learn to Play" set including two pairs of decks. |
| Honor Bound | 6/1999 | Crab, Scorpion, Shadowlands | 173 | Red whorls | Introduced Sensei card type. Included "Clan War Saga" foils reprinting older cards. |
| Ambition's Debt | 11/1999 | Lion, Naga, Shadowlands | 180 | Dark blue whorls | Included "Clan War Saga" foils reprinting older cards. |
| Fire & Shadow | 3/2000 | Brotherhood, Dragon, Yoritomo's Alliance | 186 | Olive whorls | Included "Clan War Saga" foils reprinting older cards. |
| Top Deck Booster | 3/2000 | - | 20 | Black | Simplified cards included in demo booster for Top Deck Magazine. |
| Heroes of Rokugan | 5/2000 | - | 27 | Golden spheres | First direct to player set. Packaged in cloth covered box and binder. These cards also had the Gold bug. |
| Soul of the Empire | 6/2000 | Crane, Toturi's Army, Unicorn | 200 | Dark green whorls | Included token cards with red backs. Included "story-backed" stronghold cards for the thirteen legal factions at the uncommon rarity level. |
| Storms Over Matsu Palace | 6/2000 | Lion, Unicorn | 55 | Purple-red | "Learn to Play" set. |
| Spirit Wars | 11/2000 | Lion, Phoenix, Spirit | 197 | Thick red diagonal lines | Released as Spirit Wars but renamed due to copyright challenge. Some cards in this set also featured the Gold bug. First set to feature new card backs. |
| Promotional Cards | Various | - | 51 | Golden lines on black | | |
Four Winds - "Gold"
With the new Gold Edition, AEG reduced the number of factions in the game from 14 to 8 by removing the Brotherhood, Naga, Ninja, Spirit, Toturi's Army, and Yoritomo's Alliance factions. The Mantis and Ratling factions were then introduced in expansions later in the block, bringing the total to 10. All sets in this arc included random foil versions of rare cards.
| Set | Release date | Featured Factions | Size | Code | Notes |
|---|
| Gold Edition | 6/2001 | Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Scorpion, Shadowlands, Unicorn | 541 | GE | Sixth base set. Introduced Wind card type. Included "Celestial Swords" for each clan. |
| A Perfect Cut | 9/2001 | Crab, Crane, Scorpion | 155 | APC | |
| An Oni's Fury | 12/2001 | Dragon, Shadowlands, Unicorn | 156 | AOF | Reprints in this set are not marked with an expansion code. |
| Dark Allies | 4/2002 | Lion, Mantis, Phoenix | 161 | DA | Yoritomo's Alliance Officially Changed To Mantis Clan |
| The L5R Experience | 6/2002 | Crane, Scorpion | 62 | L5R EXP. | Free "Learn to Play" set. |
| Broken Blades | 8/2002 | Crab, Scorpion, Unicorn | 156 | BB | |
| 1,000 Years of Darkness | 9/2002 | - | 94 | KYD | Direct to player set. Included binder. Some cards also had Diamond bug. |
| The Fall of Otosan Uchi | 12/2002 | Crane, Dragon, Mantis | 156 | FOU | Cards also had Diamond bug. |
| Heaven & Earth | 4/2003 | Lion, Phoenix, Shadowlands | 157 | H&E | Cards also had Diamond bug. |
| Winds of Change | 8/2003 | Crab, Mantis, Ratling | 155 | WoC | Cards also had Diamond bug. |
| Promotional Cards | Various | - | 100 | Various | | |
Rain of Blood - "Diamond"
| Set | Release date | Featured Factions | Size | Code | Notes |
|---|
| Diamond Edition | 10/2003 | Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Mantis, Phoenix, Ratling, Scorpion, Shadowlands, Unicorn | 487 | DE | Seventh base set. Included "Celestial Swords" for each clan. |
| Training Grounds | 11/2003 | Lion, Shadowlands | 95 | TG | "Learn to play" set. |
| Reign of Blood | 12/2003 | Dragon, Phoenix, Unicorn | 157 | RoB | |
| The Hidden City | 4/2004 | Crab, Lion, Ratling | 156 | HC | |
| Wrath of the Emperor | 8/2004 | Crane, Scorpion, Shadowlands | 156 | WotE | |
| Dawn of the Empire | 11/2004 | - | 108 | DotE | Direct to player set. Included binder. Most cards also had Lotus bug. |
| Web of Lies | 12/2004 | Mantis, Phoenix, Unicorn | 156 | WoL | Cards also had Lotus bug. |
| Enemy of My Enemy | 4/2005 | Crab, Dragon, Ratling | 156 | EoME | Cards also had Lotus bug. |
| Code of Bushido | 8/2005 | Crane, Lion, Scorpion | 156 | CoB | Cards also had Lotus bug. |
| Promotional Cards | Various | - | 126 | Various | | |
Age of Enlightenment - "Lotus"
| Set | Release date | Featured Factions | Size | Code | Notes |
|---|
| Lotus Edition | 10/2005 | Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Mantis, Phoenix, Ratling, Scorpion, Shadowlands, Unicorn | 500 | LE | Eighth base set. Included "Clan Swords" for each clan. All cards in the Crane starter deck were initially released separately in an all-foil deck to commemorate 2005 GenCon victory. |
| Path of Hope | 1/2006 | Crab, Crane, Shadowlands | 156 | PoH | |
| Drums of War | 5/2006 | Dragon, Lion, Unicorn | 156 | DoW | |
| Training Grounds 2 | 7/2006 | Crane, Dragon | 112 | TG2 | "Learn to Play" set. |
| Test of Enlightenment | 7/2006 | - | 124 | ToE | Direct to player set. |
| Rise of the Shogun | 9/2006 | Mantis, Phoenix, Scorpion | 156 | RotS | |
| Khan's Defiance | 1/2007 | Crab, Crane, Ratling | 156 | KD | Cards also had Samurai bug. |
| Tomorrow | 3/2007 | Ratling | 56 | Tomorrow | Cards also had Samurai bug, All foil set including the 2006 World Championship deck and 21 new cards. |
| The Truest Test | 5/2007 | Dragon, Spider, Unicorn | 156 | TTT | Cards also had Samurai bug. |
| Promotional Cards | Various | - | 92 | Various | | |
Race for the Throne - "Samurai"
The Ratling faction was removed, and the Shadowlands faction became the Spider Clan, although not all Shadowlands cards transitioned. This brought the total faction count to 9, establishing the factions that have been in play since.
| Set | Release date | Featured Factions | Size | Code | Notes |
|---|
| Samurai Edition | 7/2007 | Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Mantis, Phoenix, Scorpion, Spider, Unicorn | 412 | Samurai | Ninth base set. Included unique armors for each clan. |
| Stronger than Steel | 10/2007 | Lion, Mantis, Phoenix | 157 | STS | |
| Test of the Emerald and Jade Championships | 12/2007 | - | 52 | E&JC | Direct to player set. |
| Honor's Veil | 2/2008 | Crane, Dragon, Scorpion | 156 | HV | |
| Words and Deeds | 5/2008 | Crab, Spider, Unicorn | 166 | W&D | |
| Samurai Edition Banzai | | Same as Samurai Edition | | | Tenth base set. Reprint of Samurai Edition with bonus rares from expansions. Cards had a 2008 copyright date instead of 2007; rares from other expansions included a star symbol but no set numbers. |
| The Heaven's Will | 10/2008 | Dragon, Lion, Mantis | 166 | THW | |
| Glory of the Empire | 1/2009 | Crab, Crane, Phoenix | 166 | GotE | Dual Bug (Samurai & Celestial). First to feature revised card design. |
| The Imperial Gift 1 | 1/2009 | - | 28 | Imperial Gift I | Free expansion, Dual Bug (Samural & Celestial)[6] |
| Death at Koten | 4/2009 | - | 84 | DaK | Direct to player set, Dual Bug (Samurai & Celestial) |
| Promotional Cards | Various | - | 257 | Various | | |
The Destroyer War - "Celestial"
| Set | Release date | Featured Factions | Size | Code | Notes |
|---|
| Celestial Edition | 6/2009 | Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Mantis, Phoenix, Scorpion, Spider, Unicorn | 395 | Celestial | Eleventh base set. Included heavenly weapons for each clan. |
| The Imperial Gift 2 | 8/2009 | - | 82 | IG 2 | Free expansion.[7] Packaged as two unaligned decks, with some cards reprinted from other Celestial-legal expansions, designed to be played against each other. |
| Path of the Destroyer | 8/2009 | Scorpion, Spider, Unicorn | 166 | PotD | Introduces Celestial card type. |
| The Harbinger | 1/2010 | Dragon, Mantis, Phoenix | 176 | TH | |
| Celestial Edition 15 | 3/2010 | Same as Celestial Edition | 154 | CE 15 | Twelfth base set. Reprint of Celestial Edition including bonus rares from earlier expansions, a non-legal "Flashback" reprint of an earlier card, and a "Celestial Mempo" for each clan. |
| The Plague War | 5/2010 | Crab, Crane, Lion | 176 | TPW | |
| The Imperial Gift 3 | 8/2010 | - | 44 | Imperial Gift 3 | Free expansion [8] |
| Battle of Kyuden Tonbo | 9/2010 | Dragon, Lion | 91 | BoKT | "Learn to Play" set |
| Empire at War | 9/2010 | Dragon, Scorpion, Unicorn | 176 | EaW | |
| The Dead of Winter | 1/2011 | Crane, Mantis, Spider | 164 | TDoW | |
| Before the Dawn | 5/2011 | Crab, Lion, Phoenix | 156 | BtD | Dual Bug (Celestial & Emperor) |
| Forgotten Legacy | 7/2011 | - | 90 | FL | Direct to player set, Dual Bug (Celestial & Emperor), 6 "Eternity" bug cards |
| Second City | 9/2011 | Dragon, Mantis, Scorpion | 156 | SC | Dual Bug (Celestial & Emperor) |
| Promotional Cards | Various | - | 142 | Various | | |
Age of Conquest - "Emperor"
| Set | Release date | Featured Factions | Size | Code | Notes |
|---|
| Emperor Edition | 2/2012 | Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Mantis, Phoenix, Scorpion, Spider, Unicorn | 428 | EE | Thirteenth base set. Included new family House Guards and a Celestial for each clan. |
| Embers of War | 5/2012 | Lion, Spider, Unicorn | 159 | EoW | |
| The Shadow's Embrace | 7/2012 | Crab, Crane, Phoenix | 159 | TSE | Factory Set |
| Seeds of Decay | 10/2012 | Dragon, Mantis, Scorpion | 159 | SoD | |
| Honor and Treachery | 12/2012 | Phoenix, Scorpion | 84 | HaT | "Learn to Play" set |
| Emperor Edition: Gempukku | 1/2013 | Same as Emperor Edition | 18 | EE Gempukku | Reprinted cards from BtD, SC, EE, EoW, SoD. Boosters contained rares only. Starter decks included an Experienced Personality for each clan, decided upon by a player vote from the Emperor Edition starters, as well as a card-draw Holding for each clan. |
| Torn Asunder | 2/2013 | - | 156 | TA | The first expansion not to include featured clan starter decks since Forbidden Knowledge. |
| Coils of Madness | 5/2013 | - | 147 | CoM | Dual Bug (Emperor & Ivory), switches to new Emperor bug. Factory set includes all cards (including Emperor-legal only) except nine Premium rarity Personalities. Booster packs include only Ivory-legal cards, including full-bleed art versions of non-Unique cards, and foil versions of Unique cards. |
| Gates of Chaos | 9/2013 | - | 150 | GoC | Dual Bug (Emperor & Ivory). First expansion to include foil rares since The Heaven's Will. |
| Aftermath | 12/2013 | - | 150 | AM | Dual Bug (Emperor & Ivory) |
| Promotional Cards | Various | - | 264 | Various | | |
A Brother's Destiny - "Ivory"
| Set | Release date | Featured Factions | Size | Code | Notes |
|---|
| A Matter of Honor | 12/18/2013 | Crab, Lion | 55 | AMoH | "Learn to Play" set |
| Ivory Edition | 03/24/2014 | Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Mantis, Phoenix, Scorpion, Spider, Unicorn | 372 | Ivory | Fourteenth base set. Reintroduced Sensei card type. Included experienced "Ancestral Armors" for each clan. Marks the switch from expansions using 11-card booster packs to 16-card booster packs, to foster L5R Draft tournament environment. |
| The Coming Storm | 06/09/2014 | - | 185 | TCS | |
| A Line in the Sand | 09/28/2014 | - | 156 | ALitS | |
| The New Order | 12/01/2014 | - | 156 | TNO | |
| The Currency of War | 01/05/2015 | Crane, Mantis | 57 | TCW | "Learn to Play" set |
| Twenty Festivals | 03/27/2015 | Same as Ivory Edition | 372 | 20F | Dual Bug (Ivory & Onyx). Fifteenth base set. |
| Thunderous Acclaim | 07/21/2015 | - | 156 | THA | Dual Bug (Ivory & Onyx). |
| Evil Portents | 11/09/2015 | - | 165 | EP | Dual Bug (Ivory & Onyx). |
| The Blackest Storm | Digital 2018 | - | 168 | TBS | Dual Bug (Ivory & Onyx). | |
Onyx Edition
| Set | Release date | Featured Factions | Size | Code | Notes |
|---|
| Hidden Forest War | Digital 2023 | Akasha, Spider | 82 | HFW | "Learn to Play" set |
| Onyx Edition | Digital 2023 | Akasha, Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Scorpion, Spider, Unicorn | 387 | Onyx | Sixteenth base set, Completed and released by "Onyx Lives!" Project by some of the original CCG Designers. Dual Bug (Onyx & Shattered Empire). |
| Rise of Jigoku | Digital 2023 | - | 166 | RoJ | Completed and released by "Onyx Lives!" Project by some of the original CCG Designers. Dual Bug (Onyx & Shattered Empire). |
| Road to Ruin | Digital 2023 | - | 157 | RtR | Completed and released by "Onyx Lives!" Project by some of the original CCG Designers. Dual Bug (Onyx & Shattered Empire). |
| Rise of Otosan Uchi | Digital 2023 | - | 166 | RoU | Completed and released by "Onyx Lives!" Project by some of the original CCG Designers. Dual Bug (Onyx & Shattered Empire). |
|
Shattered Empire
| Set | Release date | Featured Factions | Size | Code | Notes |
|---|
| Gathering Storms | Digital 2024 | Mantis | 53 | GS | Released by "Onyx Lives!" Project by some of the original CCG Designers. |
| Chaos Reigns 1 | Digital 2024 | - | 54 | CRI | Released by "Onyx Lives!" Project by some of the original CCG Designers. | |
Other
| Set | Release date | Featured Factions | Size | Code | Notes |
|---|
| War of Honor | 6/2011 | Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Scorpion | 127 | WoH | Self-contained multiplayer L5R variant. Some cards in this game had the Celestial and/or Emperor bugs. |
| Siege: Heart of Darkness | 9/2014 | Dark Naga, Mantis, Phoenix, Scorpion | 41 | S:HoD | Self-contained cooperative L5R variant, with multiple players opposing a challenge deck piloted by another player. The Dark Naga challenge deck includes new cards with no arc legality; the three pre-constructed decks include cards legal throughout the Ivory arc, from Coils of Madness through A Line in the Sand. Introduces Clock and Territory card types, which are only relevant to the Siege format.[9] |
| Siege: Clan War | 9/2015 | Yogo Junzo, Brotherhood of Shinsei, Toturi’s Army, Yoritomo’s Alliance | 77 | S:CW | Another Siege variant. Yogo Junzo deck includes new cards with no arc legality; the three pre-constructed decks include cards legal throughout the 20F Arc, from Ivory Edition through Evil Portents, 9 new cards and one reprinted card, Productive Mine, with Onyx legality only. Also contains Clock and Territory card types, which are only relevant to the Siege format.[10] | |
Notes and References
- In the arms of despair. Franzmann. Jeff. The Duelist. 17. Wizards of the Coast. 87-88. June 1997.
- Game news & updates. Varney. Allen. The Duelist. 18. Wizards of the Coast. 84. August 1997.
- Scorpion Clan Coup. Faulkes. Zen. 34. InQuest. Wizard Entertainment. 30. February 1998.
- The Hidden Emperor. Swan. Rick. Rick Swan. 34. InQuest. Wizard Entertainment. 36. February 1998.
- Legend of the Five Rings: Pearl Edition. Fannon. Sean Patrick. Sean Patrick Fannon. 49. InQuest. Wizard Entertainment. 34. May 1999.
- Web site: The Imperial Gift - Legend of the Five Rings . 2014-09-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140910215731/http://www.l5r.com/2008/10/17/the-imperial-gift/ . 2014-09-10 . dead .
- Web site: Imperial Gift 2 - Legend of the Five Rings . 2014-09-09 . https://archive.today/20140909223602/http://www.l5r.com/2009/03/27/imperial-gift-2/ . 2014-09-09 . dead .
- Web site: Imperial Gift 3 - Legend of the Five Rings . 2014-09-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140910215719/http://www.l5r.com/imperial-gift-3/ . 2014-09-10 . dead .
- Web site: Siege: Heart of Darkness - Legend of the Five Rings . 2014-09-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140910200036/http://www.l5r.com/siege-heart-of-darkness/ . 2014-09-10 . dead .
- Web site: Siege: Clan War - Legend of the Five Rings . 2015-11-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150921191055/http://www.l5r.com/ccg/siege-clan-war/ . 2015-09-21 . dead .
