Invasion set symbol
To spot Invasion, start with the expansion glyph (code INV) rather than the artwork. Reprints keep famous art under new symbols.
Set code
inv
Released
Oct 2000
Cards
352
Type
Expansion
Lookalikes & traps
Borderless and showcase frames of Invasion / Phyrexian Altar still need the INV line; a fancy frame is not a different set by itself. Also watch foil vs nonfoil: sheen does not change which set Invasion is.
Confirm after the icon
Bottom information line should show collector number + set code INV (and usually a C/U/R/M rarity letter). On Invasion / Phyrexian Altar, mismatch between listing title and INV is the usual bait-and-switch.
How to identify Invasion cards
- 1
Locate the Invasion set mark (INV) before you trust the card name — reprints reuse names across products.
- 2
Read black / silver / gold on the Invasion symbol for common / uncommon / rare — mythic orange is not in this era.
- 3
Verify INV on the bottom line; listings that only show the card name are where Invasion get mixed with siblings.
- 4
If icon and INV 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 Invasion symbol. Mythic orange does not apply yet (Shards of Alara, 2008). Purple timeshifted is a Time Spiral-family exception, not a generic INV 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 Invasion set symbol look like?
To spot Invasion, start with the expansion glyph (code INV) rather than the artwork. Reprints keep famous art under new symbols. Reprints of Invasion / Phyrexian Altar under other codes keep different glyphs — match the icon, then INV.
What is the Invasion set code?
The set code is INV. It appears with the collector number on modern cards. If you see a different code, you are not holding the Invasion printing even when the name matches.
How do I read rarity on a Invasion card?
Exodus-through-pre-mythic rules: black common, silver uncommon, gold rare on the Invasion symbol. Mythic orange does not apply yet (Shards of Alara, 2008). Purple timeshifted is a Time Spiral-family exception, not a generic INV rule.
How do I confirm a Invasion card quickly?
Icon match → rarity reading for this era → INV + collector number. Borderless and showcase frames of Invasion / Phyrexian Altar still need the INV line; a fancy frame is not a different set by itself.. Tappr can finish the printing match when the listing is ambiguous.
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