Borrowing 100,000 Arrows

Borrowing 100,000 Arrows was originally released in the Portal Three Kingdoms set in 1999, designed to introduce Magic: The Gathering to the Asian market by grounding gameplay mechanics in the narrative of the historical Chinese epic, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The card depicts the famous ruse by Zhuge Liang, who used straw-covered boats to trick an enemy force into firing arrows at his fleet, thereby replenishing his own supplies. This specific version appeared in the 2017 Commander Anthology, a curated collection intended to reprint popular and hard-to-find cards from previous multiplayer-focused releases.

The card’s design, illustrated by Zhang Peng, reflects the set's unique focus on legendary historical figures and tactical warfare themes. As a powerful tool for blue decks in the Commander format, the card allows players to draw cards equal to the number of creatures their opponents control, mirroring the strategic accumulation of resources from an adversary's actions. It remains a notable example of how Magic: The Gathering adapts classical literature into functional game mechanics, maintaining a niche but consistent demand among players who appreciate both the tactical depth of the game and its historical thematic roots.