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Alpha Misprints
In August 1993 Wizards of the Coast released the 1st wave of its initial print run, which came to be known as "Alpha". This first printing contained 295 unique cards, and was a very small order of just 2.6 million cards total.
The easiest way to distinguish these cards from the 2nd printing known as "Beta", is the extra rounded corners on Alpha cards.
However there were numerous changes made between print runs, and as a result many Beta cards were changed before they were printed.
This is a visual guide to these changes, showing the 23 cards which have noticeable template changes between Alpha and Beta.
Basalt Monolith
Channel
Circle of Protection Red
Demonic Hordes
Elvish Archer
Icy Manipulator
Karma
Orcish Artillery
Phantasmal Forces
Rock Hydra
Tropical Island
Birds of Paradise
Cyclopean Tomb
Death Ward
Drain Life
Force of Nature
Island Sanctuary
Mana Short
Orcish Oriflamme
Red Elemental Blast
Sedge Troll
Twiddle
Unsummon