Black Vise

Black Vise was originally printed in the 1994 Alpha expansion of Magic: The Gathering, designed by Richard Garfield to punish opponents holding large hands. As an artifact that dealt damage based on the number of cards in an opponent's hand, it quickly became a staple of early aggressive decks and earned a reputation as one of the most potent cards of the game's nascent era, eventually leading to its restriction in early tournament formats.

The From the Vault: Relics version, released in 2010, was designed as a foil-treated tribute to iconic artifacts throughout the game's history. This specific printing features updated, clean frame styling consistent with the release's aesthetic goal of presenting legendary items as museum-grade artifacts, serving as a nostalgic centerpiece for collectors who appreciated its historical impact on the game's competitive balance.