Test card

From MTG Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Test Card
Card
Introduced Mystery Booster
Last used Unknown Event
Scryfall Statistics

A test card, nominally a "playtest card", is a type of card designed for Limited play which has not undergone strict balancing or rules scrutiny. They are not true playtest cards, but are visually modeled after them.[1][2] Test cards feature various new mechanics: reflect, quadrupling, land tokens, etc. Some of these are similar to how Future Sight tested out new mechanics that later appeared in regular sets.[3][4] Test cards were first introduced in Mystery Booster set[1][2] and returned in 2023 as a staple component of the Unknown Event held at each MagicCon.[5][6]

Description

Test cards feature black and white rectangles that look like they have been stickered on cards with a regular card frame of the appropriate color, with a funny placeholder name and art. They aren't considered to be Acorn cards and don't necessarily follow Acorn rules.[7] Although they explore unused design space, they all work in the official Magic rules.[8] The test cards were mostly created to be entertaining to look at and play a match or two with. They have not been put through the rigor that normal Magic cards, including Acorn cards, are put through. Mark Rosewater considers them more as entertainment content than as game content[9], and has expressed concern with people taking them too seriously.[10][11][12][13] Gavin Verhey remarked that the test cards range from things they would never do on actual cards to things they are interested in doing and want feedback on.[14]

Test cards are not meant for Constructed play, but may be used in Chaos Draft. Many were designed with Cube and Commander in mind.[15]

Illustrations

Main article: Mystery Booster/Test cards

The test cards for Mystery Booster were illustrated by various R&D members.[16][17]

Test cards used for the Unknown Event at MagicCon Philadelphia and MagicCon Minneapolis lack any illustration. They often receive improvised illustrations after they are distributed.

Mystery Booster 2 cards have black-and-white illustrations by official artists.

Rules

From the Tournament Rules (March 31, 2025—Tarkir: Dragonstorm)

  • 3.3 Authorized Cards
    Players may use any Authorized Magic Game Cards from Magic: The Gathering expansions, core sets, special sets, supplements, and promotional printings. Authorized Game Cards must be regulation-sized, genuine Magic cards publicly released by Wizards of the Coast. Cards that are not Authorized Game Cards are prohibited in all sanctioned events.

    Cards that, unaltered, feature gold borders on their front or back, and cards from the “Heroes of the Realm” and Theros block “Challenge Deck” series (usually denoted by a different card back), are not Authorized Game Cards.

    Silver-bordered cards and cards with an acorn-shaped security stamp or acorn-shaped symbol may only be used in casual events and only when the format explicitly permits them.

    Cards labeled “Not for constructed play,” “Playtest”, or featuring a playtest sticker or picture of a playtest sticker on another Magic card may not be used in Constructed events.

Gallery

Unknown Event

Secret Lair Playtest

References

  1. ↑ a b David McCoy (November 7, 2019). "Magic’s Mystery Boosters Revealed". Hipsters of the Coast.
  2. ↑ a b Eli Shiffrin (November 11, 2019). "Mystery Booster Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 07, 2019). "Some of the play test cards are throw-forwards, like in Future Sight. Riiight?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  4. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 07, 2019). "What are the chances of some of these test cards getting tweaked and actually becoming cards?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  5. ↑ My 62 Secret Magic Playtest Cards! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (February 20, 2023).
  6. ↑ Emrakul & Chatterfang!? Koma & Toski!? 62 Unknown Magic Cards! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (May 10, 2023).
  7. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 07, 2019). "Does "Louvaq, the Aberrant" have protection from errata'd cards?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. ↑ Gavin Verhey (November 07, 2019). "I want to definitely clarify: these aren't un-cards.". Twitter.
  9. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 07, 2019). "Are the Test Cards you sneaking more silver border content into the world?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  10. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 12, 2019). "It seems that wizards might have mixed up their audiences.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  11. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 13, 2019). "If the playtest cards didn’t have Magic backs, would that have helped them feel less real?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  12. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 13, 2019). "I understand the playtest cards can't be considered real cards for many reasons.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  13. ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 20, 2019). "With hindsight, do you think the Playtest cards were a mistake in terms?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  14. ↑ Gavin Verhey (November 07, 2019). "The playtest cards range from things we'd never do to things we're interested in doing and want feedback on.". Twitter.
  15. ↑ Gavin Verhey (November 07, 2019). "But one more Mystery Booster thing.". Twitter.
  16. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 07, 2019). "How was the artist chosen for each Mystery Booster playtest card?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  17. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (November 11, 2019). "Mystery Booster Playtest Card Artists". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
Retrieved from "https://mtg.wiki/index.php?title=Test_card&oldid=527473"