Living Lands

Living Lands was originally printed as part of the Collectors' Edition, a non-tournament-legal boxed set released by Wizards of the Coast in 1993. This set was designed to allow players to experience the cards from the initial Beta print run, which had already become prohibitively expensive and scarce for the average player. The cards are distinguished by their square corners and gold-foil backing, clearly marking them as distinct from standard game pieces.

The card’s illustration was created by artist Jesper Myrfors, the original art director for the game, who employed a surreal, organic style to capture the shifting, predatory nature of the landscape depicted. Mechanically, the card reflects the early philosophy of the game, where land cards could be temporarily transformed into creatures, introducing a layer of risk and utility that became a hallmark of early green-aligned magic in the set.