Onslaught set symbol
The Onslaught expansion symbol (ONS, 2002) sits on the right of the type line on modern frames — match that glyph to the icon on this page, not a later reprint of the same characters.
Set code
ons
Released
Oct 2002
Cards
351
Type
Expansion
Lookalikes & traps
Binder piles mix Onslaught with adjacent Standard sets. Silhouette first, then ONS, before you trust a lot listing title. Also watch foil vs nonfoil: sheen does not change which set Onslaught is.
Confirm after the icon
Bottom information line should show collector number + set code ONS (and usually a C/U/R/M rarity letter). On Onslaught / Polluted Delta, mismatch between listing title and ONS is the usual bait-and-switch.
How to identify Onslaught cards
- 1
Start with the Onslaught glyph silhouette; art style alone will not separate this expansion product from guests and remasters.
- 2
Read black / silver / gold on the Onslaught symbol for common / uncommon / rare — mythic orange is not in this era.
- 3
Confirm set code ONS and the collector number on the information line under the text box.
- 4
Finish with a Tappr scan when Onslaught / Polluted Delta appears under multiple set codes in the same lot.
Rarity by symbol color
Exodus-through-pre-mythic rules: black common, silver uncommon, gold rare on the Onslaught symbol. Mythic orange does not apply yet (Shards of Alara, 2008). Purple timeshifted is a Time Spiral-family exception, not a generic ONS 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 Onslaught set symbol look like?
The Onslaught expansion symbol (ONS, 2002) sits on the right of the type line on modern frames — match that glyph to the icon on this page, not a later reprint of the same characters. Reprints of Onslaught / Polluted Delta under other codes keep different glyphs — match the icon, then ONS.
What is the Onslaught set code?
The set code is ONS. It appears with the collector number on modern cards. If you see a different code, you are not holding the Onslaught printing even when the name matches.
How do I read rarity on a Onslaught card?
Exodus-through-pre-mythic rules: black common, silver uncommon, gold rare on the Onslaught symbol. Mythic orange does not apply yet (Shards of Alara, 2008). Purple timeshifted is a Time Spiral-family exception, not a generic ONS rule.
How do I confirm a Onslaught card quickly?
Icon match → rarity reading for this era → ONS + collector number. Binder piles mix Onslaught with adjacent Standard sets. Silhouette first, then ONS, before you trust a lot listing title.. Tappr can finish the printing match when the listing is ambiguous.
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