Wheel of Fortune

Wheel of Fortune was originally printed in the Alpha set of Magic: The Gathering in 1993, designed by Richard Garfield as part of a set of rare cards intended to provide powerful, game-altering effects. Its inclusion in the Revised Edition, released in 1994, marked its transition into the broader accessible pool for players during the game's early growth. The card's mechanics reflect the high-variance design philosophy of early Magic, where players could drastically reshape the state of the game through sudden, symmetrical card draw.

The card’s illustration was created by artist Daniel Gelon, who provided much of the visual identity for the game’s first year. His design for Wheel of Fortune features an abstract, rotating symbolic representation of fate and cosmic cycles, rendered in a style consistent with the early, slightly surreal aesthetic of the game. It was received by players as one of the most potent cards in the set, eventually leading to its permanent restriction or ban in many competitive tournament formats due to its ability to accelerate play beyond intended game-design limits.