Melting

Melting was released in 1995 as part of the Ice Age expansion for Magic: The Gathering, the second major set released by Wizards of the Coast. Developed during a period of rapid experimentation for the game, the set introduced mechanics revolving around snow-covered lands and cold-themed environmental effects. As a common card in this early era, it reflected the game's shift toward creating more specialized utility cards that interacted directly with the evolving board states of mid-nineties play.

The artwork for Melting was illustrated by Daniel Gelon, a prolific contributor to the game's earliest sets whose style helped define the gritty, high-fantasy aesthetic of the mid-1990s. Gelon focused on a literal depiction of the card's function, capturing the chaotic transition of phase-shifting ice. While the card is often cited by collectors as a niche piece of Ice Age history, its reception among players has historically been muted due to its highly conditional utility, making it more of a nostalgic relic of early set design than a staple of competitive decks.