Magic: The Gathering

Trial and Error

Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 68 • rare

Set: Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021
Collector number: 68
Rarity: Rare
Mana cost: red mana red mana
Type: Instant
Colors: Red
Artist: Chris Clay
Market price: $0.21

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$0.21est. via TCGplayer

104,743cards tracked

1other printing of this card

Market

What it's worth

$0.21market price via TCGplayer · Oct 7, 2026$0.17 – $0.22 over the tracked period

Estimate for a typical copy of Trial and Error; condition, printing, and grading move the real number.

Lore

Why it matters

This rare card from the playtest collection offers a unique glimpse into the iterative development process of game design. By featuring mechanics intended for experimental use, it serves as a fascinating artifact of the creative choices that shape the final experience.

Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI

Card face

What it does

Whenever Trial and Error is countered or fizzles, you may copy it and choose new targets for the copy.

Trial and Error deals 3 damage to any target.

Formats

Where you can play it

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernNot legal
LegacyNot legal
VintageNot legal
CommanderNot legal
PauperNot legal
BrawlNot legal
HistoricNot legal
TimelessNot legal
Penny DreadfulNot legal
OathbreakerNot legal

Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.

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Where to find one

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Provenance

Where it came from

Trial and Error was released as part of the Mystery Booster: Convention Edition 2021 playtest card set. These cards were designed to mimic the aesthetic of early Magic: The Gathering playtest materials, often featuring rougher card stock, hand-drawn art, and experimental mechanics that had not yet been finalized for official release. The set served as a humorous and nostalgic meta-commentary on the game's development process.

The card's design plays on the 'split card' mechanic, forcing a choice between two distinct magical effects. Like other cards in this experimental series, it was intended to provoke discussion among players regarding balance and game design theory. It was distributed randomly in booster packs sold exclusively at gaming conventions, making it a unique curiosity for collectors interested in the internal iteration phases of Wizards of the Coast.

Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI

Other printings

Every version of this card

The same card, printed again — different sets, treatments, and prices.

Trial and ErrorMystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 · #68 · rare · 2019$0.25

Collectors

Who's collecting this

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About

About Trial and Error

Trial and Error is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 68 • rare. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.

How many collectors track Trial and Error on collecto.rs?

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Where does the Trial and Error catalog entry come from?

The catalog entry for Trial and Error is sourced from Scryfall. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.