Black Ward

The International Collectors' Edition, often abbreviated as ICE, was released by Wizards of the Coast in 1998 as a non-tournament-legal product. It was designed to provide players with access to cards from the original Limited Edition Alpha and Beta sets, which had become prohibitively expensive and scarce by the late 1990s. The cards are distinguished by their gold-bordered backs and square corners, making them easily identifiable as distinct from standard gameplay cards.

Black Ward is a direct reprint of the card originally illustrated by Dan Frazier for the 1993 Alpha set. Frazier’s artwork, which features a thematic representation of protection magic, helped define the early aesthetic of the game. While the original cards were intended for competitive play, the Collectors' Edition versions were marketed primarily as a commemorative or instructional set, allowing enthusiasts to own iconic pieces of the game's history without participating in the tournament economy.