Chicken à la King

Chicken à la King was released in 1998 as part of the Unglued set, the first official 'silver-bordered' expansion for Magic: The Gathering. Designed by Wizards of the Coast to lean into humor and experimental mechanics that broke standard rules, the set was intended as a lighthearted departure from the game's established lore. The card specifically parodies the culinary kitsch of the mid-20th century while integrating the theme of 'chickens' into the game's mechanics, a motif that would become a recurring joke within the franchise.

The card was illustrated by Mike Raabe, who leaned into the absurd aesthetic characteristic of the Unglued set by depicting a poultry-themed monarch. The design process focused on mechanical punning and whimsical flavor text rather than tournament viability, as silver-bordered cards were strictly intended for casual, non-sanctioned play. Upon release, the set was received as a polarizing but refreshing experiment that proved players were receptive to a more irreverent side of the game’s identity.