Underground Sea

Underground Sea was released in 1993 as part of the Alpha set for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game, designed by Richard Garfield to facilitate a resource system based on colored mana. As one of the original 'dual lands,' it allowed players to tap for either blue or black mana without penalty, a powerful utility that quickly established it as a foundational card in competitive play. The artwork was illustrated by Christopher Rush, who utilized a distinct fantasy aesthetic to evoke the mystical, subterranean nature of the location.

The International Collectors' Edition version was released in 1993 as a non-tournament legal set meant for display and collecting purposes. These cards are easily identified by their gold-bordered backs and square corners, which distinguished them from standard playable cards. While they were not permitted in sanctioned events, they have become highly sought after by collectors for their historical connection to the early days of Wizards of the Coast and their role in preserving the art and design of the game's initial expansion cycles.