Clone

Clone was originally printed in the Alpha set of Magic: The Gathering in 1993, designed by Richard Garfield as a foundational blue creature card. Its core mechanic, which allows it to enter the battlefield as a copy of any other creature, was intended to provide blue with a versatile and reactive threat that scales in power based on the opponent's board state. The card has been a recurring presence throughout the game's history, frequently reprinted in core sets to ensure that newer players understand the fundamental rules of copying objects within the game's ecosystem.

The version from the Magic 2011 core set features artwork by Kev Walker, a longtime illustrator for the franchise known for his moody, high-contrast style. Walker's depiction focuses on the amorphous and shifting nature of the creature, emphasizing its lack of a fixed physical form. Upon its release in 2011, this iteration was well-received by the player base for its clean, modern frame and the striking aesthetic choice to portray the Clone as a ghostly, translucent entity, which solidified the card's visual identity for a new generation of collectors.