Dirty Rat

Dirty Rat was released in December 2017 as part of the Magic: The Gathering expansion set Unstable. This set was the third in a series of silver-bordered parody sets designed by Wizards of the Coast, intended to explore unconventional gameplay mechanics and humor that would not fit within the traditional black-bordered competitive game environment. The card was specifically designed to utilize the set's host and augment mechanics, allowing players to combine different creature components to create synergistic, often absurd, battlefield effects.

The card’s illustration was created by artist Nils Hamm, who has been a frequent contributor to Magic: The Gathering for many years. Hamm’s artistic approach for the Unstable set aimed to balance the whimsical, chaotic nature of the expansion with a slightly gritty, underground aesthetic that complemented the Rat’s creature type. Upon its release, Dirty Rat was well-received by the casual community for its utility in draft environments and its ability to enable complex, humorous board states that are characteristic of the silver-bordered design philosophy.