Selfie Preservation

Selfie Preservation was released in December 2017 as part of Unstable, the third 'un-set' expansion for Magic: The Gathering. Designed by Mark Rosewater and his team at Wizards of the Coast, the set was intended to push the boundaries of traditional gameplay mechanics through a humorous lens. This particular card was created to reflect the growing ubiquity of social media and smartphone culture, introducing a whimsical mechanic that allows the player to incorporate physical elements of their surroundings into the game state.

The artwork for the card was illustrated by Johannes Voss, a long-standing contributor to the game. Voss utilized a vibrant, polished digital style that leans into the self-referential humor of the card's function. Upon its release, the card was received as a lighthearted commentary on modern technology, fitting seamlessly into the satirical tone of the Unstable set, which prioritized fun and innovative player interactions over the rigorous competitive constraints of standard tournament play.