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While coding a personal MTG inventory framework I decided to use Gatherer for mouse over image lookups, which seems like standard practice for small scale MTG projects. However I wanted my card image tooltip to be as specific as possible, which of course requires set information. Here’s a quick breakdown of what I learned and how to use the SET query parameter.

Basic info

Looking up MTG images on Gatherer is done via Gatherer’s Image.ashx handler.

http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?size=small&type=card&name=Giant+Growth

Just populate the name parameter with your card’s name.
Notes on proper name parameter formatting
- Basically URLEncode your lookups
- Replace white space with + signs. (Giant Growth -> Giant+Growth)
- Replace ‘ with %27
- Gatherer bug: For the set Innistrad the character ’ should be used to lookup images instead of %27 (‘) like in other sets.
- For split card lookups like Fire/Ice, use the following formatting:
  Fire // Ice which should be encoded as name=Fire+%2F%2F+Ice
- For double faced card lookups, find each face separately.
  name=Delver+of+Secrets and name=Insectile+Aberration
Set/Edition specific image lookup

Add the set parameter and populate it with the proper 2 or 3 character set code.

http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?size=small&type=card&name=Giant+Growth&set=1E

Rather basic however, I assume for backward compatibility, Gatherer uses two types of set codes.
- Sets before Judgment require a 2 character set code.
- Sets after Judgement (including Judgement) require a 3 character set code.
Note: Promo cards aren’t listed on Gatherer. (FNM, Gateway, Judge Rewards, …)

List of Set codes up to DKA

List of sets and related codes up to and including Dark Ascension. Sets which don’t require a 2 Character code for lookup have a NULL in the 2C Set column.

Download as CSV: Gatherer sets (CSV)

2C Set	3C Set	Set Name
NULL	ARB	Alara Reborn
AL	ALL	Alliances
NULL	LND	Alternate Art Lands
NULL	ATH	Anthologies
AQ	ATQ	Antiquities
AP	APC	Apocalypse
AN	ARN	Arabian Nights
NULL	ARC	Archenemy
NULL	ARE	Arena
BR	BRB	Battle Royale
BD	BTD	Beatdown
NULL	BOK	Betrayers of Kamigawa
NULL	BIN	Book Inserts
NULL	CHK	Champions of Kamigawa
NULL	WLD	Championship Prizes
NULL	CHP	Champs Promos
CH	CHR	Chronicles
6E	6ED	Classic (Sixth Edition)
NULL	CSP	Coldsnap
NULL	CST	Coldsnap Theme Decks
NULL	CIN	Comic Inserts
NULL	CMD	Commander
NULL	CFX	Conflux
NULL	CVP	Convention Promos
NULL	8ED	Core Set - Eighth Edition
NULL	9ED	Core Set - Ninth Edition
NULL	10E	Core Set - Tenth Edition
NULL	DKA	Dark Ascension
NULL	DST	Darksteel
NULL	DLM	DCI Legend Membership
NULL	DKM	Deckmasters: Garfield vs. Finkel
NULL	DIS	Dissension
NULL	DDH	Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas
NULL	DDC	Duel Decks: Divine vs. Demonic
NULL	DDF	Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Tezzeret
NULL	EVG	Duel Decks: Elves vs. Goblins
NULL	DDD	Duel Decks: Garruk vs. Liliana
NULL	DD2	Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra
NULL	DDG	Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons
NULL	DDE	Duel Decks: Phyrexia vs. The Coalition
NULL	DPA	Duels of the Planeswalkers (decks)
NULL	EVE	Eventide
EX	EXO	Exodus
FE	FEM	Fallen Empires
NULL	5DN	Fifth Dawn
5E	5ED	Fifth Edition
NULL	FNM	FNM Promo
4E	4ED	Fourth Edition
NULL	DRB	From the Vault: Dragons
NULL	V09	From the Vault: Exiled
NULL	V11	From the Vault: Legends
NULL	V10	From the Vault: Relics
NULL	FBP	Full Box Promotion
NULL	FUT	Future Sight
NULL	GTW	Gateway & WPN Promos
NULL	GPX	Grand Prix Promos
NULL	GPT	Guildpact
NULL	HHL	Happy Holiday Promos
HM	HML	Homelands
IA	ICE	Ice Age
NULL	ISD	Innistrad
NULL	I2P	Introductory Two-Player
IN	INV	Invasion
NULL	JGC	Judge Gift Cards
NULL	JUD	Judgment
NULL	JUN	Junior Series Promos
LE	LEG	Legends
NULL	LGN	Legions
1E	LEA	Limited Edition Alpha
2E	LEB	Limited Edition Beta
NULL	LRW	Lorwyn
NULL	MIN	Magazine Inserts
NULL	M10	Magic 2010
NULL	M11	Magic 2011
NULL	M12	Magic 2012
NULL	MGD	Magic Game Day
NULL	MPR	Magic Play Rewards
MM	MMQ	Mercadian Masques
MI	MIR	Mirage
NULL	MRD	Mirrodin
NULL	MBS	Mirrodin Besieged
NULL	MOR	Morningtide
NE	NMS	Nemesis
NULL	NPH	New Phyrexia
OD	ODY	Odyssey
NULL	ONS	Onslaught
NULL	PLC	Planar Chaos
NULL	HOP	Planechase
PS	PLS	Planeshift
PO	POR	Portal
P2	P02	Portal Second Age
PK	PTK	Portal Three Kingdoms
NULL	PD2	Premium Deck Series: Fire & Lightning
NULL	PD3	Premium Deck Series: Graveborn
NULL	H09	Premium Deck Series: Slivers
NULL	PRE	Prerelease Promos
NULL	PTR	Pro Tour Promos
PR	PCY	Prophecy
NULL	RAV	Ravnica: City of Guilds
NULL	REL	Release & Launch Parties
3E	3ED	Revised Edition
NULL	ROE	Rise of the Eldrazi
NULL	SOK	Saviors of Kamigawa
NULL	SOM	Scars of Mirrodin
NULL	SCG	Scourge
7E	7ED	Seventh Edition
NULL	SHM	Shadowmoor
NULL	ALA	Shards of Alara
P3	S99	Starter 1999
P4	S00	Starter 2000
NULL	STO	Store Promos
ST	STH	Stronghold
NULL	SUM	Summer of Magic Promos
TE	TMP	Tempest
DK	DRK	The Dark
NULL	TSP	Time Spiral
NULL	TSB	Timeshifted
NULL	TOR	Torment
NULL	THG	Two-Headed Giant Promos
NULL	URC	Ultra Rare Cards
UG	UGL	Unglued
NULL	UNH	Unhinged
2U	2ED	Unlimited
CG	UDS	Urza's Destiny
GU	ULG	Urza's Legacy
UZ	USG	Urza's Saga
NULL	GAM	Video Game Promos
VI	VIS	Visions
WL	WTH	Weatherlight
NULL	WWK	Worldwake
NULL	ZEN	Zendikar