Test Prints

Index | Oath of Lieges 1 | Oath of Lieges 2 | Mana Breach 1 | Mana Breach 2 | Plaguebearer 1 | Plaguebearer 2 | Fightning Chance 1 | Fightning Chance 2Survival of the Fittest 1 | Survival of the Fittest 2 | Pygmy Hippo 1 | Pygmy Hippo 2 | Memory Crystal 1 | Memory Crystal 2 | City of Traitors 1 | City of Traitors 2 | Other


Test prints are cards created to test new printing processes. They are not meant to be released into the public, but occasionally some of them find their way.

Back in 1998, Wizards of the Coast was experimenting on a way to increase the attractiveness of Magic cards by applying a foil layer on their front side. For this reason, one card from each color template was selected from the latest Magic set, Exodus, and a series of test prints were issued. Due to the absence of multicolored cards in Exodus, one additional card, Pygmy Hippo, was added from another set, Visions. The test prints feature different grades of intensity of the foil layer and vary set symbols and the shoorting star symbol to cover the whole spectrum of possible templates.

Aside from the foil project cards, few other test prints have been leaked into the public. There is a Beta Lightning Bolt which features a metallic plaque professionally embedded into the backside of the card. Furthermore, there is a high quality copy of a Fork made entirely of brass. Both cards are believed to be unofficial, and maybe unique, third-party items created as samples to offer Wizards of the Coast alternate card creation techniques in hope of engaging in business. A better view of the brass Fork can be gained in a video created by of Marc Gembinski (MPG format).

The Japanese Tempest Horned Turtle card has been given a holographic treatment, appearing as a pattern of crystalline triangles on top of the card surface. This card has existed in other languages, including English, but most copies have been destroyed. It is possibly another experimental foil card, preceding the Exodus foil project. An even earlier attempt to use the hologram technology for Magic cards has been made on a single Dragon Whelp card, where the original artwork had been replaced by a separate hologram  embedded into the cardstock. This method had supposedly been rejected because of its high production costs.

The textless foil Lighting Bolt and Serra Avatar are one of few test cards which had been added to Japanese Urza's Destiny print sheets. While most of them were destroyed, a handful of them survived and were erroneously distributed in Japanese Urza's Destiny boosters. More miscellaneous test prints are known to exist.

 Internal Links  External Links
Metal Fork video

OATH OF LIEGES TEST PRINT CARDS
   

SET

 

CARD NAME

 

ARTIST

 

SOURCE

 

DATE

001 Oath of Lieges
(very dark)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
002 Oath of Lieges
(dark)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
003 Oath of Lieges
(slightly dark)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
004 Oath of Lieges
(dark shade)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
005 Oath of Lieges
(balanced)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
006 Oath of Lieges
(light shade)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
007 Oath of Lieges
(slightly light)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
008 Oath of Lieges
(light)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
009 Oath of Lieges
(very light)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
010 Oath of Lieges
(-1, no shooting star)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
011 Oath of Lieges
(1, no shooting star)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
012 Oath of Lieges
(+1, no shooting star)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
013 Oath of Lieges
(-1, shooting star)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
014 Oath of Lieges
(1, shooting star)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
015 Oath of Lieges
(+1, shooting star)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
016 Oath of Lieges
(+1, shooting star)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
017 Oath of Lieges
(1, shooting star)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
018 Oath of Lieges
(+1, shooting star)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27
019 Oath of Lieges
(+3, shooting star)
Mark Zug ??? 1998-07-27

MANA BREACH TEST PRINT CARDS
   

SET

 

CARD NAME

 

ARTIST

 

SOURCE

 

DATE

001 Mana Breach
(very dark)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
002 Mana Breach
(dark)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
003 Mana Breach
(slightly dark)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
004 Mana Breach
(dark shade)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
005 Mana Breach
(balanced)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
006 Mana Breach
(light shade)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
007 Mana Breach
(slightly light)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
008 Mana Breach
(light)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
009 Mana Breach
(very light)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
010 Mana Breach
(-1, no shooting star)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
011 Mana Breach
(1, no shooting star)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
012 Mana Breach
(+1, no shooting star)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
013 Mana Breach
(-1, shooting star)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
014 Mana Breach
(1, shooting star)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
015 Mana Breach
(+1, shooting star)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
016 Mana Breach
(+1, shooting star)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
017 Mana Breach
(1, shooting star)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
018 Mana Breach
(+1, shooting star)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27
019 Mana Breach
(+3, shooting star)
Rebecca Guay ??? 1998-07-27

PLAGUEBEARER TEST PRINT CARDS
   

SET

 

CARD NAME

 

ARTIST

 

SOURCE

 

DATE

001 Plaguebearer
(very dark)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
002 Plaguebearer
(dark)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
003 Plaguebearer
(slightly dark)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
004 Plaguebearer
(dark shade)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
005 Plaguebearer
(balanced)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
006 Plaguebearer
(light shade)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
007 Plaguebearer
(slightly light)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
008 Plaguebearer
(light)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
009 Plaguebearer
(very light)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
010 Plaguebearer
(-1, no shooting star)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
011 Plaguebearer
(1, no shooting star)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
012 Plaguebearer
(+1, no shooting star)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
013 Plaguebearer
(-1, shooting star)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
014 Plaguebearer
(1, shooting star)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
015 Plaguebearer
(+1, shooting star)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
016 Plaguebearer
(+1, shooting star)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
017 Plaguebearer
(1, shooting star)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
018 Plaguebearer
(+1, shooting star)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27
019 Plaguebearer
(+3, shooting star)
Ron Spencer ??? 1998-07-27

FIGHTING CHANCE TEST PRINT CARDS
   

SET

 

CARD NAME

 

ARTIST

 

SOURCE

 

DATE

001 Fighting Chance
(very dark)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
002 Fighting Chance
(dark)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
003 Fighting Chance
(slightly dark)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
004 Fighting Chance
(dark shade)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
005 Fighting Chance
(balanced)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
006 Fighting Chance
(light shade)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
007 Fighting Chance
(slightly light)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
008 Fighting Chance
(light)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
009 Fighting Chance
(very light)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
010 Fighting Chance
(-1, no shooting star)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
011 Fighting Chance
(1, no shooting star)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
012 Fighting Chance
(+1, no shooting star)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
013 Fighting Chance
(-1, shooting star)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
014 Fighting Chance
(1, shooting star)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
015 Fighting Chance
(+1, shooting star)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
016 Fighting Chance
(+1, shooting star)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
017 Fighting Chance
(1, shooting star)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
018 Fighting Chance
(+1, shooting star)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27
019 Fighting Chance
(+3, shooting star)
Mike Raabe ??? 1998-07-27

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST TEST PRINT CARDS
   

SET

 

CARD NAME

 

ARTIST

 

SOURCE

 

DATE

001 Survival of the Fittest
(very dark)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
002 Survival of the Fittest
(dark)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
003 Survival of the Fittest
(slightly dark)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
004 Survival of the Fittest
(dark shade)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
005 Survival of the Fittest
(balanced)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
006 Survival of the Fittest
(light shade)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
007 Survival of the Fittest
(slightly light)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
008 Survival of the Fittest
(light)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
009 Survival of the Fittest
(very light)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
010 Survival of the Fittest
(-1, no shooting star)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
011 Survival of the Fittest
(1, no shooting star)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
012 Survival of the Fittest
(+1, no shooting star)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
013 Survival of the Fittest
(-1, shooting star)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
014 Survival of the Fittest
(1, shooting star)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
015 Survival of the Fittest
(+1, shooting star)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
016 Survival of the Fittest
(+1, shooting star)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
017 Survival of the Fittest
(1, shooting star)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
018 Survival of the Fittest
(+1, shooting star)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27
019 Survival of the Fittest
(+3, shooting star)
Pete Venters ??? 1998-07-27

PYGMY HIPPO TEST PRINT CARDS
   

SET

 

CARD NAME

 

ARTIST

 

SOURCE

 

DATE

001 Pygmy Hippo
(very dark)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
002 Pygmy Hippo
(dark)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
003 Pygmy Hippo
(slightly dark)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
004 Pygmy Hippo
(dark shade)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
005 Pygmy Hippo
(balanced)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
006 Pygmy Hippo
(light shade)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
007 Pygmy Hippo
(slightly light)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
008 Pygmy Hippo
(light)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
009 Pygmy Hippo
(very light)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
010 Pygmy Hippo
(-1, no shooting star)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
011 Pygmy Hippo
(1, no shooting star)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
012 Pygmy Hippo
(+1, no shooting star)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
013 Pygmy Hippo
(-1, shooting star)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
014 Pygmy Hippo
(1, shooting star)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
015 Pygmy Hippo
(+1, shooting star)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
016 Pygmy Hippo
(+1, shooting star)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
017 Pygmy Hippo
(1, shooting star)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
018 Pygmy Hippo
(+1, shooting star)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27
019 Pygmy Hippo
(+3, shooting star)
Steve White ??? 1998-07-27

MEMORY CRYSTAL TEST PRINT CARDS
   

SET

 

CARD NAME

 

ARTIST

 

SOURCE

 

DATE

001 Memory Crystal
(very dark)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
002 Memory Crystal
(dark)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
003 Memory Crystal
(slightly dark)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
004 Memory Crystal
(dark shade)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
005 Memory Crystal
(balanced)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
006 Memory Crystal
(light shade)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
007 Memory Crystal
(slightly light)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
008 Memory Crystal
(light)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
009 Memory Crystal
(very light)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
010 Memory Crystal
(-1, no shooting star)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
011 Memory Crystal
(1, no shooting star)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
012 Memory Crystal
(+1, no shooting star)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
013 Memory Crystal
(-1, shooting star)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
014 Memory Crystal
(1, shooting star)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
015 Memory Crystal
(+1, shooting star)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
016 Memory Crystal
(+1, shooting star)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
017 Memory Crystal
(1, shooting star)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
018 Memory Crystal
(+1, shooting star)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27
019 Memory Crystal
(+3, shooting star)
Michael Sutfin ??? 1998-07-27

CITY OF TRAITORS TEST PRINT CARDS
   

SET

 

CARD NAME

 

ARTIST

 

SOURCE

 

DATE

001 City of Traitors
(very dark)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
002 City of Traitors
(dark)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
003 City of Traitors
(slightly dark)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
004 City of Traitors
(dark shade)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
005 City of Traitors
(balanced)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
006 City of Traitors
(light shade)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
007 City of Traitors
(slightly light)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
008 City of Traitors
(light)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
009 City of Traitors
(very light)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
010 City of Traitors
(-1, no shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
011 City of Traitors
(1, no shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
012 City of Traitors
(+1, no shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
013 City of Traitors
(-1, shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
014 City of Traitors
(1, shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
015 City of Traitors
(+1, shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
016 City of Traitors
(+1, shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
017 City of Traitors
(1, shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
018 City of Traitors
(+1, shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
019 City of Traitors
(+3 black text box, shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
020 City of Traitors
(+3 blue text box, shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
021 City of Traitors
(+ 3 gold text box, shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
022 City of Traitors
(+3 green text box, shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
023 City of Traitors
(+3 red text box, shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27
024 City of Traitors
(+3, white text box, shooting star)
Kev Walker ??? 1998-07-27

OTHER TEST PRINT CARDS
   

SET

 

CARD NAME

 

ARTIST

 

SOURCE

 

DATE

001 Dragon Whelp
(holographic)
Amy Weber ??? ????-??-??
002 Fork
(metal)
Amy Weber ??? ????-??-??
003 角海亀 (holographic)
(Horned Turtle)
DiTerlizzi ??? ????-??-??
004 Lightning Bolt (modified backside) Christopher Rush ??? ????-??-??
005 Lightning Bolt (textless) Christopher Rush Japanese Urza's Destiny boosters 1999-06
006 Serra Avatar
(textless)
Dermot Power Japanese Urza's Destiny boosters 1999-06