Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I was in the store the other day and I was wondering if there was any difference between Ravenica and Core Set 2014

 Alienoid wrote:
I was in the store the other day and I was wondering if there was any difference between Ravenica and Core Set 2014

Core Set 2014 (aka M14) is the "base" set where many of the more vanilla and core cards of the game are printed. Many of the cards are all-purpose and about half of the set is reprints from older sets. It's best for new players, but that doesn't necessarily mean the set is low in power level.

"Return to Ravnica" is one of the standalone 'expansions' to the main set. You can still play Magic with only RTR (Return to Ravnica) cards, but the mechanics will be less general and more specific to the set and other sets associated with it. The mechanics will be more advanced than a core set, but that doesn't neccessarily mean the cards are stronger. The theme is just that much more focused.

Magic is often released in cycles of CoreSet, ExpansionSet, ExpansionSet, ExpansionSet, CoreSet, ExpansionSet...etc
The three expansion sets are standalone as always and are part of a "block" which thematically and mechanically ties together. Return to Ranvnica block consists of "Return to Ravnica", "Gatecrash", and "Dragon's Maze" all which collectively have similar mechanics or overall form a complete theme of a world consisting of one city with different guilds competing for dominance. The Core Set is independent from Ravnica in both theme and mechanics and is meant to be just that... a "core".

All that being said, the most recent standalone 'expansion' is "Theros", a Greek-themed set. The second set in the block, "Born of the Gods" is being released next month.