Phoenix Heart (Original Sketch)

Phoenix Heart is a 1996 Special Wedding Promo card, that was never released to the public – saying “Koni and Richard continue the game and play all games as partners forever”. It’s a one-of-a-kind personal wedding gift from Wizards employees Richard Garfield and Koni Kimoto. The card was never intended for gameplay and was printed only once for the wedding ceremony. Only a very small number of copies exist (likely under 20, possibly under 10). The text was designed to symbolically bind the couple as “partners forever”, it’s a literalization of marriage vows in Magic card language. The mana cost of RRRR symbolizes “four hearts”, and the effect creates a “permanent team-up” in all future games, showing eternal companionship. The templating matches early custom cards made internally for personal events. It is part of a small tradition of handmade or microprinted cards created for events connected to early Wizards employees – like weddings, births, anniversaries. Phoenix Heart is part of the same tradition as Proposal, Splendid Genesis, and Fraternal Exaltation – but Phoenix Heart is even more obscure because it was never officially acknowledged as part of the “Celebration Promo” trio.