City of Brass

City of Brass was originally introduced in the Arabian Nights expansion of 1993, designed to evoke the flavor of legendary desert cities. This particular version originated from the 2002 World Championship Decks, a series of preconstructed products designed to replicate the exact card lists used by the top eight finalists at the 2002 Magic: The Gathering World Championship. These decks were intended to give players a chance to play with tournament-caliber strategies, featuring gold-bordered backs and distinct signatures that distinguish them from standard game cards.

The artwork for this printing was provided by Ron Walotsky, whose illustrative style often favored high-fantasy imagery and atmospheric landscapes. His depiction of the City of Brass captures the shimmering, ethereal quality associated with the card's lore, emphasizing the volatile nature of a land that requires a life sacrifice for its mana. Because these cards were produced for a specialized competitive product rather than a standard booster set, they have become a distinct niche for collectors who appreciate the historical snapshot of the 2002 professional tournament environment.