Living Artifact

Living Artifact was originally printed as part of the Antiquities expansion in 1994, a set designed to explore the flavor of the brothers' war between Urza and Mishra. The card was illustrated by Quinton Hoover, a foundational artist in the early days of Magic: The Gathering whose ornate, emotive style became synonymous with the game's aesthetic identity during its first few years. The card functions as an enchantment that animates an artifact, reflecting the set's central theme of bringing dormant mechanical relics to life.

The version from Fifth Edition, released in 1997, serves as a white-bordered core set reprint of the original Antiquities design. Fifth Edition was significant for being the largest base set produced by Wizards of the Coast at the time, functioning as a comprehensive compilation of cards from various expansion sets. While the art by Hoover remained unchanged, the card took on the standardized, clean frame aesthetic characteristic of late-nineties core set releases, making it a reliable staple for players looking to incorporate utility artifacts into their decks.