Ali Baba

Ali Baba was originally introduced in the Arabian Nights expansion for the Magic: The Gathering card game in 1993, designed by Richard Garfield. The set drew thematic inspiration from the collection of Middle Eastern folk tales known as One Thousand and One Nights, marking the game's first thematic expansion. The artwork for the original release was provided by Jesper Myrfors, the game's first art director, who aimed to evoke a sense of high-fantasy folklore consistent with the set's setting.

The Fourth Edition version, released in 1995, served as the game's first core set reprint edition. It featured white borders and updated rules text to clarify the card's ability, which allows the player to untap walls. While the card is often cited for its historical significance within early Magic sets, it was received with mixed utility by competitive players due to its narrow situational use, eventually becoming a notable piece of memorabilia for collectors interested in the evolution of the game's earliest design eras.