Tropical Island

Tropical Island was released in 1993 as part of the Limited Edition Beta set for Magic: The Gathering, the world's first trading card game. Developed by Richard Garfield and published by Wizards of the Coast, the game was designed to be a portable, customizable experience that drew from strategy and fantasy role-playing roots. As one of the original 'dual lands,' Tropical Island was mechanically groundbreaking, allowing players to tap it for either green or blue mana, a versatility that quickly made it a cornerstone of competitive play.

The artwork was created by Jesper Myrfors, who served as the game's original art director. Myrfors brought a distinct, painterly aesthetic to the early set, opting for a lush, evocative depiction of a tropical shoreline that defined the visual identity of the game's early years. At the time of release, the Beta set was produced in limited quantities, and because these dual lands were highly sought after for their utility in deck-building, they became iconic symbols of the game's early history and lasting rarity.