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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

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.

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.

Rain of Blood - "Diamond"

Age of Enlightenment - "Lotus"

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.

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. 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
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"

A Brother's Destiny - "Ivory"

Onyx Edition

Shattered Empire

Other

References

1. Franzmann, Jeff (June 1997). "In the arms of despair". The Duelist. No. 17. Wizards of the Coast. pp. 87–88.
2. Varney, Allen (August 1997). "Game news & updates". The Duelist. No. 18. Wizards of the Coast. p. 84.
3. ^ Faulkes, Zen (February 1998). "Scorpion Clan Coup". InQuest. No. 34. Wizard Entertainment. p. 30.
4. Swan, Rick (February 1998). "The Hidden Emperor". InQuest. No. 34. Wizard Entertainment. p. 36.
5. Fannon, Sean Patrick (May 1999). "Legend of the Five Rings: Pearl Edition". InQuest. No. 49. Wizard Entertainment. p. 34.
6. "The Imperial Gift - Legend of the Five Rings". Archived from the original on 2014-09-10. Retrieved 2014-09-09.
7. "Imperial Gift 2 - Legend of the Five Rings". Archived from the original on 2014-09-09. Retrieved 2014-09-09.
8. "Imperial Gift 3 - Legend of the Five Rings". Archived from the original on 2014-09-10. Retrieved 2014-09-09.
9. "Siege: Heart of Darkness - Legend of the Five Rings". Archived from the original on 2014-09-10. Retrieved 2014-09-09.
10. "Siege: Clan War - Legend of the Five Rings". Archived from the original on 2015-09-21. Retrieved 2015-11-04.

• Legend of the Five Rings