X of Swords Reading Order: Jonathan Hickman's X-Men 2020 crossover

Coming from writers Jonathan Hickman and Tini Howard and artist Pepe Laraz, X of Swords is the X-Men crossover event of 2020 that marked the end of the Dawn of X era.

The story of X of Swords is about the X-Men as they must go to battle against the ancient, long-lost mutant champions of Arakko (the sister island of Krakoa). In order to save their home and country, the mutant nation must send ten of the X-Men’s best fighters to confront their enemy with ten special blades, each with their own unique properties. A war began.

What to read before X of Swords?

X of Swords (aka Ten of Swords) being the first major crossover event of Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men era, beginning with House of X/Power of X is a good start. After that, you can read all of the Dawn of X era (everything preceding the event). It’s massive and not necessary. You can read X of Swords Handbook, a magazine containing character profiles and other important information in order to understand X of Swords. Captain Britain: Marvel Tales is a reprint of stories from the past to introduce Captain Britain to the X of Swords readers. Also, there’s “Path to X of Swords.”

Path to X of Swords

Before the official beginning of the X of Swords event, some comics were labeled “Path to X of Swords,” easing to the main event:

Marauders #11
Excalibur #11
Cable #3
X-Men #11
Cable #4
X-Force #12
Marauders #12