Staying Power

Staying Power is a card from the Unsanctioned set, released by Wizards of the Coast in 2020 as a standalone boxed experience for Magic: The Gathering. Designed as a silver-bordered product, it intentionally subverts standard rules to prioritize humor and chaotic play, serving as a spiritual successor to previous 'Un-' sets. The card itself builds upon the precedent of the original Unhinged set, focusing on the mechanical theme of permanence and lingering status effects.

The art and design of the card reflect the eccentric, self-referential tone characteristic of the silver-bordered series. By allowing players to keep effects that would normally vanish at the end of a turn, the design team sought to create a specific kind of 'sticky' board state that challenges players to track memory in a comedic way. It was received by the community as a nostalgic callback to the early 2000s design philosophy that prioritized memorable, if impractical, gameplay moments over competitive balance.