Hickory Woodlot

Hickory Woodlot was released in 1999 as part of the Mercadian Masques expansion set for Magic: The Gathering. The set introduced the 'depletion land' mechanic, which allowed players to tap the land for two mana of a specific color, but forced them to remove a depletion counter each time. Once all counters were removed, the land was sacrificed, representing the rapid consumption of natural resources within the industrial-themed setting of the plane of Mercadia.

The card features artwork by Greg Staples, who contributed extensively to the visual identity of this era of the game. Staples utilized a dark, atmospheric palette to capture the lore of the Mercadian forests, where the mechanical and magical exploitation of the land defined the local economy. While the mechanic was viewed as a strategic trade-off at the time, the artwork remains a recognized example of the set's cohesive, gritty aesthetic.