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Mirrored Lotus Test card

Test card

A test card is nominally a "playtest card" but is actually first featured in the Mystery Booster set and intended for play in limited formats.[1][2] Test cards feature various new mechanics: reflect, quadrupling, land tokens, etc. Some of these are similar to how Future Sight tested out new mechanics that later appeared in regular sets.[3][4] They returned in 2023 as a staple component of the Unknown Event held at each MagicCon.[5][6]

Description[ | ]

Test cards feature black and white rectangles that look like they have been stickered on cards with a regular card frame of the appropriate color, with a funny placeholder name and art. They aren't considered to be Acorn cards and don't necessarily follow Acorn rules.[7] Although they explore unused design space, they all work in the official Magic rules.[8] The test cards were mostly created to be entertaining to look at and play a match or two with. They have not been put through the rigor that normal Magic cards, including Acorn cards, are put through. Mark Rosewater considers them more as entertainment content than as game content[9], and has expressed concern with people taking them too seriously.[10][11][12][13] Gavin Verhey remarked that the test cards range from things they would never do on actual cards to things they are interested in doing and want feedback on.[14]

Test cards are not meant for Constructed play, but may be used in Chaos Draft. Many were designed with Cube and Commander in mind.[15]

Illustrations[ | ]

The test cards are illustrated by various R&D members.[16][17]

Test cards used for the Unknown Event at MagicCon Philadelphia and MagicCon Minneapolis lack any illustration.

Gallery[ | ]

Unknown Event[ | ]

Secret Lair Playtest[ | ]

References[ | ]

  1. David McCoy (November 7, 2019). "Magic’s Mystery Boosters Revealed". Hipsters of the Coast.
  2. Eli Shiffrin (November 11, 2019). "Mystery Booster Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Mark Rosewater (November 07, 2019). "Some of the play test cards are throw-forwards, like in Future Sight. Riiight?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  4. Mark Rosewater (November 07, 2019). "What are the chances of some of these test cards getting tweaked and actually becoming cards?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  5. My 62 Secret Magic Playtest Cards! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (February 20, 2023).
  6. Emrakul & Chatterfang!? Koma & Toski!? 62 Unknown Magic Cards! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (May 10, 2023).
  7. Mark Rosewater (November 07, 2019). "Does "Louvaq, the Aberrant" have protection from errata'd cards?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. Gavin Verhey (November 07, 2019). "I want to definitely clarify: these aren't un-cards.". Twitter.
  9. Mark Rosewater (November 07, 2019). "Are the Test Cards you sneaking more silver border content into the world?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  10. Mark Rosewater (November 12, 2019). "It seems that wizards might have mixed up their audiences.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  11. Mark Rosewater (November 13, 2019). "If the playtest cards didn’t have Magic backs, would that have helped them feel less real?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  12. Mark Rosewater (November 13, 2019). "I understand the playtest cards can't be considered real cards for many reasons.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  13. Mark Rosewater (July 20, 2019). "With hindsight, do you think the Playtest cards were a mistake in terms?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  14. Gavin Verhey (November 07, 2019). "The playtest cards range from things we'd never do to things we're interested in doing and want feedback on.". Twitter.
  15. Gavin Verhey (November 07, 2019). "But one more Mystery Booster thing.". Twitter.
  16. Mark Rosewater (November 07, 2019). "How was the artist chosen for each Mystery Booster playtest card?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  17. Wizards of the Coast (November 11, 2019). "Mystery Booster Playtest Card Artists". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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