Flanking Licid

Flanking Licid was originally introduced in the 1998 Magic: The Gathering expansion Exodus, a set designed to conclude the Rath Cycle. The Licid creature type was a mechanical experiment, functioning as both an enchantment and a creature through a unique activated ability that allowed it to shift between roles, reflecting the parasitic and transformative nature of the Phyrexians who engineered them within the game's lore.

The card was illustrated by Melissa A. Benson, a prominent artist during the game's early years known for her distinct, painterly approach to fantasy creatures. Her design for the Flanking Licid emphasizes its biological, otherworldly anatomy, aligning with the eerie aesthetic established for the set. While the Licid mechanic was complex and often challenging for players to track, the cards remain a notable example of the experimental design space explored by Wizards of the Coast during the late nineties, and this specific version was included in the 2024 Mystery Booster 2 release to highlight cards from the game's history.