Benalish Hero

The Benalish Hero card from the 1994 Summer Magic set, internally referred to as Edgar, represents one of the most significant printing errors in the history of Magic: The Gathering. Following the limited production of the original Alpha and Beta sets, Wizards of the Coast sought to release a refined core set; however, the print run contained numerous layout issues, incorrect card art, and notorious misspellings. Because the company intended to destroy the entire stock due to these quality control failures, only a very small number of cards—estimated in the few thousands—were accidentally released into circulation, making them among the rarest specimens in the game.

The design of the Benalish Hero was part of the original core set's effort to establish the identity of the White color alignment, focusing on defensive mechanics like Banding. The illustration for the card was created by artist Dan Frazier, who utilized a distinct ink-and-wash aesthetic that defined the visual language of early Magic cards. While the original intent was to provide a standard small-creature threat, the Summer Magic version serves as a historical artifact of an era when production standards were still being codified, turning a common utility card into a highly sought-after curiosity for collectors.