1996 199 cards

Alliances

199 cards · expansion set · released June 10, 1996

all
Difficulty
3/5 to complete
Avg Card Value
$58.88
Market average
Top Card
Lake of the Dead
$123.23
Rarity Tier
Rare

Overview

Alliances is a Magic: The Gathering expansion set in the Ice Age block, released June 10, 1996 with 199 cards. Use the checklist below to track which cards you own, and scan any Alliances card with Tappr to read a Scryfall market estimate synced about every 24 hours.

Best for

  • collectors who already know edition premiums
  • people completing or pricing Alliances (199 cards, code all)
  • singles buyers focused on Alliances / Lake

Skip if

  • you will not check edition/treatment and still want “NM mythic” prices
  • you expect every rare in the set to hold similar resale

Common mistakes

On Alliances, the usual miss is pricing by card name alone without edition (Alpha/Beta/Unlimited/Revised). Money still clusters around Alliances / Lake; treating the whole list like one price tier is how people overpay bulk. Also: Alliances (1996, early Magic) gets mixed into lots that are not the same product — match set code all before the art.

What to check first

First: edition line, authenticity, then condition. On Alliances / Lake, do condition under light before grade talk. Then use the Alliances checklist for gaps — sealed is not a plan for the expensive row.

Top of the chart

Most valuable cards

The most valuable card in Alliances in the latest synced snapshot is Lake of the Dead, with a Scryfall market estimate around $123.23. Other standout cards include Force of Will and Dystopia.

  1. 1 #140
    Lake of the Dead

    Lake of the Dead

    rare

  2. 2 #28
    Force of Will

    Force of Will

    uncommon

  3. 3 #47
    Dystopia

    Dystopia

    rare

  4. 4 #125
    Phyrexian Devourer

    Phyrexian Devourer

    rare

  5. 5 #144
    Thawing Glaciers

    Thawing Glaciers

    rare

  6. 6 #121
    Helm of Obedience

    Helm of Obedience

    rare

Tips to finish the set

To complete Alliances you'll need all 199 cards. Start with the commons and uncommons — they're cheap and fill most of the checklist — then chase the rares and mythics. Scanning as you sort lets Tappr flag the Alliances cards still missing from your collection.

Step by step

How to Complete This Set

  1. 01

    Scan your Alliances cards with Tappr to identify every printing

  2. 02

    Read the 24-hour market estimate for each card, including foils

  3. 03

    Prioritize chase cards like Lake of the Dead

  4. 04

    Save scanned cards to your Alliances checklist to see what's missing

Scan with the app

Point Tappr at any Alliances card and it identifies the exact printing and collector number, then shows a Scryfall market estimate synced about every 24 hours — not a live listing, and not a price guide you have to type into. Every scan can be saved straight into your digital Alliances binder.

FAQ

Common questions

01 How many cards are in Alliances?

Alliances contains 199 cards. It was released June 10, 1996.

02 What is the most valuable card in Alliances?

Lake of the Dead is currently the most valuable Alliances card, trading around $123.23 in near-mint condition. Prices move constantly — scan your copy with Tappr for a Scryfall market estimate synced about every 24 hours.

03 When was Alliances released?

Alliances was released June 10, 1996 (1996) as a Magic: The Gathering expansion set.

04 How do I check Alliances card prices?

Open Tappr, scan the card, and it recognizes the exact Alliances printing and shows a Scryfall market estimate synced about every 24 hours. You can also browse this page's card list for a full Alliances price overview.

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