What are these "A-" cards with no picture?

[monilenyan]

I tend to get some in Quest or Planar Conquest. I've realized the same cards exist without the A- and with pictures. But they're considered different? Wish I could replace the A-'s with the "normal" cards.
Also, can they be filtered out somehow, assuming they don't bring anything special?

[Fizanko]

This puzzled me for a bit as it had been a long time i had not followed MTG development, but with some googling around, apparently those are cards in "alchemy" format

Alchemy is our MTG Arena format based on the Standard format that incorporates new-to-digital Magic cards alongside rebalanced Standard cards to create a fast, ever-evolving experience for our players

– New-to-Digital Cards
Alchemy features mechanics designed specifically for digital play, and players can expect more new cards alongside every Standard set release.

– Rebalanced Magic Cards
Alchemy features rebalanced versions of existing Standard cards to shake up the meta for digital play. Players can expect these regular changes to the format to create a dynamic play experience between Standard set releases.

Basically those "A-" cards are a mix of cards that were on the digital game, and rehashes of old cards with a value or two changed so they can resell those cards again.

[monilenyan]

I started suspecting this since I tried Magic Arena in the meantime, thanks! So the question becomes: why no pictures for these? That said, they're not that numerous so I'll check if I can add their pictures manually (I know how, I just need to find them).

[Fizanko]

I assume that there is no picture yet because none actually made those for Forge yet.
You may find those A- cards here within the sets that feature them :
https://scryfall.com/sets

By example for the set HBG (Alchemy Horizon: Baldure Gate) that features a bunch of them, scroll down (or use the Jump To on the top of the screen)
https://scryfall.com/sets/hbg
And you'll see the category Arena Rebalanced and Other that contains the pictures

After that all that matters is to name them correctly (as they're not named for Forge compatibility on scryfall) for Forge to recognize the picture. From the edition.txt it looks like they all must have their name starting with A-

[BlueTemplar]

Basically those "A-" cards are a mix of cards that were on the digital game, and rehashes of old cards with a value or two changed so they can resell those cards again.

No, rebalanced only, the other Arena-only cards just use their names.

Forge is also currently slightly out of sync with Arena on these :

1 A-Cauldron Familiar exists also in JMP

1 A-Dawnbringer Cleric exists also in AFR
1 A-You Come to a River exists also in AFR
1 A-Manticore exists also in AFR
1 A-Eyes of the Beholder exists also in AFR
1 A-Baleful Beholder exists also in AFR
1 A-Krydle of Baldur's Gate exists also in AFR

(Not sure what is the best way to deal with these ??)
EDIT : IIRC that's what Archived/Extended Formats are for ??
1 A-Luminarch Aspirant doesn't exist any more
1 A-Divide by Zero doesn't exist any more
1 A-Goldspan Dragon doesn't exist any more
1 A-Esika's Chariot doesn't exist any more
1 A-Faceless Haven doesn't exist any more

P.S.: Forge correctly(EDIT : or not ?) shows the two different Soulhunter Rakshasa from ANA and ANB ! (The ANB one being the one remaining in Arena, though searching there s:ana shows the same one.)

P.P.S.: Some other early Arena erratas, in Forge :
1 Davriel's Withering is missing its original version, and the picture is wrong.
1 Davriel, Soul Broker is missing its original version, and the picture is wrong.
1 Faceless Agent is missing its original version
1 Sarkhan, Wanderer to Shiv is missing its original version
1 Subversive Acolyte is missing its original version

[BlueTemplar]

As for the missing arts, I have my suspiscions :

Is this a coincidence ?

[BlueTemplar]

Just to be clear about what I mean by "exists also in SET" :
Arena :

Forge :

[mariahcarey]

The "A-" designation might indicate that these cards are incomplete or have some other distinguishing factor within the software you're using. However, in the actual game of Magic: The Gathering, there is no card with an "A-" designation.

[Snoops2]

The "A-" designation might indicate that these cards are incomplete or have some other distinguishing factor within the software you're using. However, in the actual game of Magic: The Gathering, there is no card with an "A-" designation.

This is false. MtG does indeed have cards with the "A-" designation: https://scryfall.com/search?q=%22A-%22+ ... order=name
They are Wizards' attempts at rebalancing cards within Arena and all have an A- added to the name. That's what these cards are inside Forge.
The image issue has since been fixed since this thread was active.