Glasses of Urza

Glasses of Urza was first introduced in the Antiquities expansion in 1994, designed to reflect the lore of Urza, a central figure in the Magic: The Gathering multiverse. The card allowed players to look at an opponent's hand, a mechanic that leaned into the theme of the character's intellectual and magical superiority. The artwork, originally by Quinton Hoover, utilized a distinctive, intricate style that became iconic for the early era of the game.

The Fourth Edition printing, released in 1995, brought the card to a broader audience as part of the game's first core set. By this time, the illustration remained faithful to the original, maintaining the visual language established during the game's formative years. While the card is often viewed as a utility piece rather than a centerpiece, it remains a notable example of early card design that focused on information warfare and thematic representation.