Guru set symbol
To spot Guru, start with the expansion glyph (code PGRU) rather than the artwork. Reprints keep famous art under new symbols.
Set code
pgru
Released
Jul 1999
Cards
5
Type
Promo
Lookalikes & traps
Promo stamps and prerelease marks sit beside Guru art. Confirm the promo set code rather than assuming booster-pack PGRU. Also watch foil vs nonfoil: sheen does not change which set Guru is.
Confirm after the icon
Bottom information line should show collector number + set code PGRU (and usually a C/U/R/M rarity letter). On Guru / Island, mismatch between listing title and PGRU is the usual bait-and-switch.
How to identify Guru cards
- 1
Locate the Guru set mark (PGRU) before you trust the card name — reprints reuse names across products.
- 2
Read black / silver / gold on the Guru symbol for common / uncommon / rare — mythic orange is not in this era.
- 3
Verify PGRU on the bottom line; listings that only show the card name are where Guru get mixed with siblings.
- 4
If icon and PGRU still disagree with a marketplace title, scan with Tappr rather than guessing from art.
Rarity by symbol color
Exodus-through-pre-mythic rules: black common, silver uncommon, gold rare on the Guru symbol. Mythic orange does not apply yet (Shards of Alara, 2008). Purple timeshifted is a Time Spiral-family exception, not a generic PGRU rule.
Legend shows the modern post-Exodus palette. Pre-Exodus sets and special rarities (for example Time Spiral purple timeshifted) follow the rarity reading above — not this swatch row alone.
FAQ
What does the Guru set symbol look like?
To spot Guru, start with the expansion glyph (code PGRU) rather than the artwork. Reprints keep famous art under new symbols. Reprints of Guru / Island under other codes keep different glyphs — match the icon, then PGRU.
What is the Guru set code?
The set code is PGRU. It appears with the collector number on modern cards. If you see a different code, you are not holding the Guru printing even when the name matches.
How do I read rarity on a Guru card?
Exodus-through-pre-mythic rules: black common, silver uncommon, gold rare on the Guru symbol. Mythic orange does not apply yet (Shards of Alara, 2008). Purple timeshifted is a Time Spiral-family exception, not a generic PGRU rule.
How do I confirm a Guru card quickly?
Icon match → rarity reading for this era → PGRU + collector number. Promo stamps and prerelease marks sit beside Guru art. Confirm the promo set code rather than assuming booster-pack PGRU.. Tappr can finish the printing match when the listing is ambiguous.
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