Filigree Familiar

Filigree Familiar was released in 2020 as part of the Commander Legends set, a collection specifically designed for the multiplayer Commander format of Magic: The Gathering. The card represents an artifact creature, a staple archetype in the game's lore, reflecting the 'filigree' aesthetic common to the plane of Alara, where artificial life is often constructed from intricate metallic lattices. Its design, which provides both life gain upon entry and card draw upon death, was crafted to offer a versatile, low-cost utility piece that provides incremental value to players in longer, social games.

The artwork for this card was provided by Josu Hernaiz, who emphasized the delicate, construct-like nature of the familiar. By blending metallic textures with a small, creature-like silhouette, the design captures the essence of a clockwork companion. Upon its release, the card was well-received by the player base, particularly among those who value 'value engines'—cards that offer multiple beneficial effects—cementing its place as a reliable inclusion in many artifact-themed decks across various formats.