Rare-B-Gone

Rare-B-Gone was released in 2004 as part of the Unhinged set, the second silver-bordered joke expansion created by Wizards of the Coast for Magic: The Gathering. Designed to operate outside the standard competitive rules, the set was conceived as a lighthearted creative playground where designers could experiment with game mechanics that would be impossible or too chaotic for traditional formats. This card specifically plays on the irony of trading card game rarity, poking fun at the player desire for elusive cards by allowing the caster to permanently remove a rare card from the game.

The card was illustrated by Matt Cavotta, a long-time contributor to the Magic: The Gathering art team who often infused his work with humor and personality. Cavotta’s illustration style for this set leaned into a whimsical, illustrative aesthetic that complemented the self-referential nature of the humor. Because it was part of an 'un-set,' Rare-B-Gone was never legal in sanctioned tournament play, and it was received primarily as a novelty card intended for casual kitchen-table games where players prioritized laughter over competitive strategy.