Simulacrum

Simulacrum was first released in the Limited Edition Alpha set in 1993, followed shortly by the Unlimited Edition in 1994, which marked the transition to a wider white-bordered print run for the growing Magic: The Gathering player base. Designed by Richard Garfield, the card functions as an artifact that allows players to trade life for mana, embodying the high-risk, high-reward philosophy inherent in the early days of the game's black-aligned mechanics.

The iconic illustration was created by artist Jesper Myrfors, who served as the original art director for the game. His design sought to capture a sense of macabre transformation, leaning into the visceral and unsettling aesthetic that defined many of the early artifacts. While the card is often viewed through a historical lens today due to its specific power level and limitations, it remains a notable example of the dark, gothic fantasy art style that established the identity of the game's formative years.