Ornithopter

The Ornithopter, numbered 42 in the Kaladesh Inventions set, was released in 2016 as part of a series of special Masterpiece Series cards for the Magic: The Gathering expansion, Kaladesh. These cards were designed as premium, foil-etched versions of iconic artifacts, re-imagined with art styles that reflected the vibrant, steampunk-inspired aesthetic of the Kaladesh plane. The design process focused on translating the low-cost, high-utility nature of the original Ornithopter into a piece of art that showcased the intricate, golden clockwork machinery central to the setting.

The illustration for this specific iteration was provided by Aleksi Briclot, who sought to emphasize the delicate, insectoid flight mechanics of the construct. Upon its release, the card was widely received by the collector community as a high-water mark for premium card design due to its distinctive frame, which departed significantly from the standard card templates of the time. Its inclusion in the set was intended to bridge the gap between competitive efficiency and high-end collectible appeal, solidifying its status as a sought-after rarity within the modern history of the game.