Orcish Artillery

Orcish Artillery was first introduced in the Alpha set of Magic: The Gathering in 1993, representing the aggressive red color identity typical of early card design. As part of the Revised Edition, or Third Edition, released in 1994, this card was printed with the distinctive white-bordered aesthetic intended to distinguish reprints from the limited-run base sets. It served as a functional piece of red burn-utility, allowing players to deal damage to both creatures and players at the cost of self-inflicted damage, which solidified its reputation as a high-risk, high-reward tactical choice.

The original illustration for the card was created by Anson Maddocks, one of the foundational artists for the game. His style, characterized by a gritty, hand-drawn look, helped define the dark fantasy atmosphere of the early Magic sets. The art depicts a crude, chaotic scene of orcs operating a primitive catapult, perfectly capturing the reckless nature of the creature type. While it was never considered a centerpiece of competitive play, the art remains a classic example of the game's early visual identity and its transition into the more standardized formatting of the mid-1990s.