Mishra's Factory

Mishra's Factory was originally introduced in the 1994 Antiquities expansion, designed to evoke the lore of the Brothers' War. As a land card that could transform into an assembly-worker creature, it was a mechanical innovation that offered players versatile utility, serving both as a mana source and a combatant. Its inclusion in the 1997 Pro Tour Collector Set marked a commemorative effort to celebrate the competitive metagames of early Magic: The Gathering history by reissuing staples from previous sets with unique gold-bordered backs.

The artwork for this specific version was provided by Kaja and Phil Foglio, whose whimsical, storytelling-driven aesthetic defined much of the game's early visual identity. Their interpretation of the factory leaned into the steampunk-adjacent visuals of the Urza and Mishra conflict, utilizing bold lines and a distinctively chaotic, busy composition. While critics of the time occasionally noted their style contrasted with the more somber fantasy art prevalent in the game, the Foglios' work became iconic, cementing this card as a recognizable piece of Magic's foundational design era.