Awakened Amalgam

Awakened Amalgam was introduced in the 2018 Magic: The Gathering expansion Rivals of Ixalan. As a rare creature, it fits within the set's thematic exploration of the plane of Ixalan, a world defined by its rich meso-american inspired aesthetic and the intense competition between four distinct factions vying for control over the city of Orazca. Mechanically, the card was designed to reward players for diversifying their deck across the set's tribal themes, specifically acting as a colorless payoff for controlling artifacts or permanents with different names.

The artwork was executed by Zack Stella, a long-time contributor to the game known for his atmospheric and detail-oriented approach to fantasy illustration. Stella focused on the concept of a patchwork entity, blending remnants of Ixalan's diverse cultural influences into a single, cohesive form. The design intended to convey a sense of ancient, magical construction, emphasizing the disparate parts that compose the creature's anatomy. It received moderate attention from the community as a niche build-around card for Commander players interested in artifacts and tribal variance.