Pick Your Poison

Pick Your Poison was released as part of the Mystery Booster Playtest Cards, a unique set distributed during the 2019 Magic: The Gathering convention season. These cards were designed as part of a recurring internal exercise at Wizards of the Coast where developers create experimental, often humorous, or rule-bending designs that serve as a look into the design process. They are recognizable by their stark white frames and 'playtest' aesthetic, intended to simulate the raw look of a card before it undergoes final layout and art polish.

The card was designed to explore the concept of choice and disadvantage within the game's mechanics, featuring an unconventional 'poison' counter system that deviates from standard rule sets. Like the rest of the Mystery Booster playtest series, it was never intended for standard tournament play, serving instead as a novelty item for collectors and participants of the event's drafting experience. Its design emphasizes the minimalist, functional nature of playtest materials, stripping away the traditional card art and ornate borders to focus entirely on the text and internal testing identification.