Ivory Cup

The Ivory Cup was released in 1995 as part of the Fifth Edition of Magic: The Gathering, which served as a core set designed to consolidate and reprint cards from the game's earliest expansions. Like the other four members of its cycle, the Ivory Cup was originally introduced during the Alpha release in 1993, representing the white mana color’s ability to gain life when specific spells are cast. Its existence is rooted in the early game design philosophy of Richard Garfield, who implemented these artifacts to provide color-specific sustainability benefits.

The card’s illustration was created by artist Anson Maddocks, who was one of the original illustrators for the game's inaugural set. Maddocks utilized a distinct, surreal, and slightly organic style that characterized many of the early artifacts in the series. While these cups were staples in the casual play environments of the mid-1990s, they were generally viewed by the competitive community as underpowered compared to more efficient spells, leading to their status today as nostalgic relics of the game’s formative years.