Jump to Celestial Edition legal cards, starting with The Imperial Gift, Part 1
Summary: 7,732 distinct cards (includes "Soul of..." Personalities as new cards), 148 strongholds, as of release of Death at Koten on 15 April 2009. (This is a slight underestimate, as I am behind on recent promos.)These checklists come in two versions: plain text and web friendly HTML. The plain text versions (tab delimited) are not pretty to look at in a web browser, but are ideal for saving to your local disk drive so that you can easily import them into your favourite spreadsheet, database, or word processor. The text versions are the "masters" that the web versions are derived from, so they are more likely to be more recently updated and have fewer errors.
These generally don't list reprints, nor minor printing variations.
| Set | Checklists | Release date | Set code | New cards | New strongholds | Starter decks | Booster packs |
|
"Pre-Imperial" promos |
Text | Web | Preview cards from GenCon (August) 1995 | Marbled black border with largely red ribbon | 0 | 0 | ||
|
Imperial Edition |
Text | Web | October 1995 | Marbled black border with a red and gold ribbon | 303 | 6 | Six 60 card starter decks (Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Unicorn) | 15 card boosters. |
|
Shadowlands |
Text | Web | May 1996 | Purple and green borders (supposedly rust) | 153 | 2 | Two 60 card starter decks (Naga, Scorpion) | 15 card boosters |
|
Emerald Edition |
Text | Web | August 1996 | Marbled black border | 7 | 0 | Six 60 card starter decks (Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Unicorn) | 15 card boosters |
|
Forbidden Knowledge |
Text | Web | August 1996 (GenCon) | Rusty red-brown borders ("a swirling mist") | 150 | 0 | 11 card boosters | |
| Battle of Beiden Pass | Text | Web | November 1996 | Jet black borders | 2 | 0 | Fixed "Learn to play" set, featuring Crab and Dragon | |
| Anvil of Despair | Text | Web | December 1996 | Steely blue borders | 150 | 2 | Two 60 card starter decks (Shadowlands, Toturi's Army) | 11 card boosters |
| Crimson & Jade | Text | Web | April 1997 | Jade borders | 159 | 2 | Two 60 card starter decks (Mantis, Monk) | 11 card boosters |
| Obsidian Edition | Text | Web | August 1997 (GenCon) | Black borders with fine brown lines | 6 | 0 | Six 60 card starter decks (Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Phoenix, Unicorn) | 15 card boosters |
| Time of the Void | Text | Web | September 1997 (some cards at GenCon) | Black borders with small brown accents | 215 | 2 | Two 60 card starter decks (Crab, Phoenix) | 11 card boosters |
| Promos (Clan Wars era) | Text | Web | 15 | 0 | ||||
| Scorpion Clan Coup, Scroll 1 | Text | Web | December 1997 | Black borders with red cracks | 52 | 1 | 60 card starter deck (Scorpion) | 11 card boosters |
| Scorpion Clan Coup, Scroll 2 | Text | Web | January 1998 | Black borders with red cracks | 49 | 0 | 11 card boosters | |
| Scorpion Clan Coup, Scroll 3 | Text | Web | February 1998 | Black borders with red cracks | 50 | 1 | 60 card starter deck (Lion) | 11 card boosters |
| Jade Edition | Text | Web | May 1998 | Black borders with jade swirls | 12 | 0 | Twelve 60 card starter decks | 15 card boosters |
| The Hidden Emperor, Episode 1 | Text | Web | June 1998 | Dark borders with vertical wood grain | 51 | 1 | One 60 card starter deck (Naga) | 8 card boosters |
| The Hidden Emperor, Episode 2 | Text | Web | July 1998 | Dark borders with vertical wood grain | 51 | 1 | One 60 card starter deck (Dragon) | 8 card boosters |
| The Hidden Emperor, Episode 3 | Text | Web | August 1998 | Dark borders with vertical wood grain | 51 | 1 | One 60 card starter deck (Monk) | 8 card boosters |
| The Hidden Emperor, Episode 4 | Text | Web | September 1998 | Dark borders with vertical wood grain | 51 | 1 | One 60 card starter deck (Unicorn) | 8 card boosters |
| The Hidden Emperor, Episode 5 | Text | Web | October 1998 | Dark borders with vertical wood grain | 51 | 1 | One 60 card starter deck (Mantis) | 8 card boosters |
| The Hidden Emperor, Episode 6 | Text | Web | November 1998 | Dark borders with vertical wood grain | 51 | 1 | One 60 card starter deck (Crane) | 8 card boosters |
| The Hidden Emperor: The Dark Journey Home | Text | Web | February 1999 | Dark borders with vertical wood grain | 151 | 3 | Three 60 card starter decks (Phoenix, Ninja, Toturi's Army) | 11 card boosters |
| Pearl Edition | Text | Web | May 1999 | Black borders with dark purple whorls | 12 | 0 | Twelve 81 card starter decks | 15 card boosters |
| Siege of Sleeping Mountain | Text | Web | May 1999 | Small letter (N, B, D, or T) and number in lower left corner | 2 | 1 | Fixed "Learn to play" set, with two boxes: one with Naga and Toturi's Army, one with Dragon and the Brotherhood of Shinsei | |
| Honor Bound | Text | Web | June 1999 | Black borders with dark red whorls | 170 | 3 | Three 60 card starter decks (Crab, Scorpion, Shadowlands) | 11 card boosters |
| Ambition's Debt | Text | Web | November 1999 | Dark, almost black borders with barely visible whorls if you look at the cards in real bright light | 177 | 3 | Three 60 card starter decks (Lion, Naga, Shadowlands) | 11 card boosters |
| Fire & Shadow | Text | Web | March 2000 | Black borders with dark olive whorls | 183 | 3 | Three 60 card starter decks (Monk, Dragon, Mantis) | 11 card boosters |
| Heroes of Rokugan | Text | Web | May 2000 | Black borders with orange spheroids | 26 | 1 | Fixed factory set | |
| Storms Over Matsu Palace | Web | July 2000 | Purple and red borders, and small letter (U or L) and number in lower left corner | 0 | 0 | Fixed "Learn to play" set, featuring Lion and Unicorn | |
| Soul of the Empire | Text | Web | July 2000 | Black borders with green whorls that are very slightly lighter than those on Fire & Shadow cards | 180 | 3 | Three 60 card starter decks | 11 card boosters |
| The Spirit Wars | Text | Web | November 2000 | Black with diagonal red ovals; artist credit on bottom | 195 | 3 | Three 60 card starter decks (Lion, Phoenix, Spirit) with sleeves | 15 card boosters |
| Promos (The Hidden Emperor era) | Text | Web | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Gold Edition | Text | Web | July 2001 | GE | 63 | 0 | Eight 84 card starter decks | 15 card boosters |
| A Perfect Cut | Text | Web | September 2001 | APC | 151 | 4 | Three 84 card starter decks (Crab, Crane, Scorpion) | 11 card boosters |
| An Oni's Fury | Text | Web | December 2001 | AOF | 153 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Dragon, Shadowlands, Unicorn) | 11 card boosters |
| Dark Allies | Text | Web | April 2002 | DA | 158 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Lion, Mantis, Phoenix) | 11 card boosters |
| The L5R Experience | Text | Web | July 2002 | 0 | 0 | Two fixed "Learn to play" decks (Scorpion and Crane) | ||
| Broken Blades | Text | Web | August 2002 | BB | 152 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Crab, Scorpion, Unicorn) | 11 card boosters |
| 1,000 Years of Darkness | Text | Web | September 2002 | KYD | 93 | 1 | Fixed factory set, with non-Unique, non-Event cards in triplicate | |
| The Fall of Otosan Uchi | Text | Web | 9 December 2002 | FOU | 153 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Crane, Dragon, Mantis | 11 card boosters |
| Heaven & Earth | Text | Web | 21 April 2003 | HE | 154 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Lion, Phoenix, Shadowlands) | 11 card boosters |
| Winds of Change | Text | Web | 4 August 2003 | WOC | 152 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Crab, Mantis, Ratling) | 11 card boosters |
| Promos (Gold kanji) | Text | Web | 34 | 0 | ||||
| Promos (Gold and Diamond kanji) | Text | Web | 21 | 0 | ||||
| Diamond Edition | Text | Web | 27 October 2003 | DE | 71 | 1 | Ten starter decks (Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Mantis, Phoenix, Ratling, Shadowlands, Scorpion, and Unicorn) | 11 card boosters |
| The Training Grounds | Text | Web | 10-17 November 2003 | TG | 4 | 0 | Fixed "learn to play" set, featuring Lion and Shadowlands | |
| Reign of Blood | Text | Web | Reprints | 8 December 2003 | RoB | 154 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Dragon, Phoenix, Unicorn) | 11 card boosters |
| The Hidden City | Text | Web | Reprints | 26 April 2004 | HC | 153 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Crab, Lion, Ratling) | 11 card boosters |
| Wrath of the Emperor | Text | Web | Reprints | 23 August 2004 | WoE | 153 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Crane, Scorpion, Shadowlands) | 11 card boosters |
| Dawn of the Empire | Text | Web | 1 November 2004 | DotE | 108 | 0 | Fixed factory set, with non-Unique cards in triplicate | |
| Web of Lies | Text | Web | Reprints | 7 December 2004 | WoL | 153 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Mantis, Unicorn, and Phoenix) | 11 card boosters |
| Enemy of my Enemy | Text | Web | Reprints | 18 April 2005 | EoME | 153 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Crab, Dragon, Ratling) | 11 card boosters |
| Code of Bushido | Text | Web | Reprints | August 2005 | CoB | 152 | 4 | Three starter decks (Crane, Lion, Scorpion) | 11 card boosters |
| Promos (Diamond kanji) | Text | Web | 45 | 0 | ||||
| Promos (Diamond amd Lotus kanji) | Text | Web | 39 | 0 | ||||
| Lotus Edition | Text | Web | 31 October 2005 | LE | 134 | 11 | Nine 84 card starter decks, one 100 foil card Crane starter deck | 15 card boosters |
| Path of Hope | Text | Web | Reprints | 23 January 2006 | PoH | 153 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Crab, Crane, and Shadowlands) | 11 card boosters |
| Drums of War | Text | Web | Reprints | 22 May 2006 | DoW | 153 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks | 11 card boosters |
| The Training Grounds II | Text | Web | 10 July 2006 | TG2 | 3 | 0 | Fixed "Learn to Play" set with two 90 card decks featuring Crane and Dragon | |
| Test of Enlightenment | Text | Web | July 2006 | ToE | 111 | 0 | Fixed factory set | |
| Rise of the Shogun | Text | Web | Reprints | September 2006 | RotS | 152 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks (Mantis, Phoenix, and Scorpion) | 11 card boosters |
| Khan's Defiance | Text | Web | Starters | 22 January 2007 | KD | 153 | 3 | Three 84 card starter decks | 11 card boosters |
| Tomorrow | Text | Web | 12 March 2007 | Tomorrow | 20 | 1 | 110 card fixed set in foil with entire winning deck from 2006 World Championship | |
| The Truest Test | Text | Web | Starters | 21 May 2007 | TTT | 152 | 4 | Three 84 card starter decks (Dragon, Spider, Unicorn) | 11 card boosters |
| Promos (Diamond and Lotus kanji) | Text | Web | 39 | 0 | ||||
| Promos (Lotus kanji) | Text | 38 | 1 | ||||
| Promos (Lotus and Samurai kanji) | Text | 18 | 0 | ||||
| Samurai Edition | Text | Web | 25 July 2007 | Samurai | 393 | 19 | Nine 83 card starter decks (Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Mantis, Phoenix, Scorpion, Spider, Unicorn). | 15 card boosters |
| Stronger Than Steel | Text | Web | 24 September 2007 | STS | 153 | 3 | Three 83 card starter decks (Lion, Mantis, Phoenix). | 11 card boosters |
| The Emerald and Jade Champions | Text | Web | 13 December 2007 | E&JC | 52 | 0 | Fixed factory set | |
| Honor's Veil | Text | Web | Starters | 28 January 2008 | HV | 153 | 3 | Three 83 starter decks (Crane, Dragon, Scorpion). | 11 card boosters |
| Samurai Edition: Banzai | Text | April 2008 | 0 | 0 | Nine 83 card starter decks (Crab, Crane, Dragon, Lion, Mantis, Phoenix, Scorpion, Spider, Unicorn). | 15 card boosters | |
| Ultimate Clan Pack: Scorpion | Text | Web | April 2008 | CotM | 9 | 0 | Fixed factory set | |
| Ultimate Clan Pack: Crab | Text | Web | April 2008 | CotM | 9 | 0 | Fixed factory set | |
| Ultimate Clan Pack: Mantis | Text | Web | April 2008 | CotM | 9 | 0 | Fixed factory set | |
| Ultimate Clan Pack: Spider | Text | Web | May 2008 | CotM | 9 | 0 | Fixed factory set | |
| Ultimate Clan Pack: Phoenix | Text | Web | May 2008 | CotM | 9 | 0 | Fixed factory set | |
| Words and Deeds | Text | Web | Starters | 27 May 2008 | W&D | 163 | 3 | Three 85 starter decks (Crab, Spider, Unicorn). | 11 card boosters |
| Ultimate Clan Pack: Crane | Text | Web | June 2008 | CotM | 9 | 0 | Fixed factory set | |
| Ultimate Clan Pack: Dragon | Text | Web | July 2008 | CotM | 9 | 0 | Fixed factory set | |
| Ultimate Clan Pack: Unicorn | Text | Web | July 2008 | CotM | 9 | 0 | Fixed factory set | |
| Ultimate Clan Pack: Lion | Text | Web | July 2008 | CotM | 9 | 0 | Fixed factory set | |
| The Heaven's Will | Text | Web | Starters | September 2008 | THW | 166 | 3 | Three 85 card starter decks (Dragon, Lion, and Mantis). | 11 card boosters |
| Promos (Samurai kanji) | Text | 9 | |||||
| The Imperial Gift, Part 1 | Text | Web | 7 November 2008 | Imperial Gift | 28 | 0 | Fixed free to players set, with non-unique cards in triplicate | |
| Glory of the Empire | Text | Web | 20 January 2009 | GOTE | 163 | 3 | Three starter decks (Crab, Crane, and Phoenix). | 11 card boosters |
| Death at Koten | Text | Web | 15 April 2009 | DaK | 84 | 0 | Fixed factory set. | |
| Celestial Edition | 22 June 2009 | ||||||
| The Imperial Gift, Part 2 | 5 June 2009 | ||||||
| Promos (Samurai and Celestial kanji) | Text | 1 |