Conversion

Conversion was released in 1993 as part of Limited Edition Beta, the second printing of the Magic: The Gathering base set. Designed to address the scarcity of the initial Alpha and Beta releases, this set was produced by Wizards of the Coast to satisfy the rapidly growing interest in the game. The card itself reflects the early design philosophy of Richard Garfield, who prioritized flavor and mechanical complexity, often incorporating top-down design elements that mirrored the high-fantasy setting of the game's nascent lore.

The artwork for Conversion was created by Dameon Willich, one of the original illustrators commissioned for the core set. His contribution captured the theme of magical transformation through a stylized aesthetic that characterized the visual identity of early Magic cards. Upon its release, the card was notable for its distinct white-mana focus, which encouraged players to manipulate the battlefield's color alignment, a mechanic that has since become a hallmark of the game's color pie philosophy.