Mishra's Factory

Mishra's Factory was originally released in the 1994 Antiquities expansion, designed to evoke the industrial, artifact-heavy lore of Magic: The Gathering's early narrative. The card allows a land to animate into a creature, a design choice that highlighted the theme of an active, mechanical workshop. When it was included in the 1997 Pro Tour Collector Set, the intention was to provide players with a curated selection of staples from the game's competitive history, housed in a boxed set that served as a commemorative archive rather than a standard booster release.

The artwork, created by Kaja and Phil Foglio, features their signature whimsical, illustrative style, which contrasts sharply with the stark, brooding aesthetic typical of the Antiquities set. By focusing on a bustling, cluttered mechanical space, the Foglios grounded the card in the lighthearted yet intricate personality of their broader artistic contributions to the game. At the time of its inclusion in the Collector Set, the card was already well-regarded by players for its tactical versatility, cementing its status as an iconic piece of utility in professional deck-building circles.