Werebear

The Werebear card was originally released in the 2001 Odyssey expansion for Magic: The Gathering, designed by the Magic R&D team to introduce the 'threshold' mechanic. The card features artwork by Christopher Rush, a legendary figure in the game's early aesthetic, who captured the transformation from a human to a bear with a focus on primal, forest-bound imagery. The design intended to reward players for managing their graveyard as a resource, creating a powerful early-game creature that scaled effectively as the match progressed.

The specific version from the World Championship Decks 2002 represents a unique snapshot of competitive history. These decks were non-randomized replicas of the exact 60-card lists used by top-placing players at the 2002 World Championship. These cards are distinguished by gold-bordered backs and the player's signature on the face, marking them as commemorative artifacts rather than standard tournament-legal cards. They were produced to allow casual players to experience the high-level deck builds that defined the competitive meta of the era.