Wurm's Tooth

Wurm's Tooth was originally introduced during the early years of Magic: The Gathering, specifically appearing in the Alpha set of 1993 as part of a cycle of artifacts known as the tooth cycle. These cards were designed to reward players for committing to specific color identities by providing minor life-gain triggers whenever a spell of the corresponding color was cast. The Ninth Edition version, released in 2005, marked the return of this classic card to the core set, reflecting Wizards of the Coast's effort to provide consistent, accessible artifacts for newer players navigating the game's evolving mechanics.

The artwork for this particular printing was commissioned from Alan Pollack, a prolific illustrator whose work defined much of the visual aesthetic of Magic during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Pollack’s design emphasizes the raw, primal nature of the object, portraying the relic as a jagged, mystical artifact imbued with the essence of a wurm. By the time of the Ninth Edition release, the card was received as a straightforward utility piece, valued more for its ability to stabilize a board in limited play formats than for competitive deck-building potential.