Forbidden Alchemy

Forbidden Alchemy was originally introduced in the 2011 Innistrad set, designed to evoke the gothic horror themes of alchemy and grave-tinkering central to that plane. As an instant-speed card that allows players to look at the top four cards of their library, put one into their hand, and the rest into their graveyard, it became a staple utility card for graveyard-based strategies. Its design emphasizes the trade-off between immediate card selection and the long-term benefit of filling the graveyard for mechanics like flashback.

The Modern Masters 2017 version features artwork by David Rapoza, who was commissioned to reimagine the card within the visual language of the set. Rapoza's interpretation leans into a gritty, visceral aesthetic, focusing on the dark transformation and volatile materials associated with the card's function. The inclusion of this card in Modern Masters 2017 served to provide players with accessible access to a functional tool that supports complex deck-building archetypes across the Modern format.