{"product_id":"unstable-mutation","title":"Unstable Mutation (Original Art)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eUnstable Mutation\u003c\/em\u003e is a one-mana blue Enchant creature (Enchantment-Aura) first printed in \u003cem\u003eArabian Nights\u003c\/em\u003e (1993). It gives the enchanted creature +3\/+3, but at the beginning of its controller’s upkeep, you must put a -1\/-1 counter on that creature. It reflects the era’s experimental and flavorful mechanics. The concept is simple yet clever: a temporary surge of unnatural growth that fades over time. It’s one of the earliest examples of a “temporary buff with decay” – giving a creature a massive short-term power boost, but at a long-term cost. Mechanically, it’s very blue in flavor, a magical transformation that eventually becomes unstable and collapses. \u003cem\u003eUnstable Mutation\u003c\/em\u003e has an incredible rate for just one mana, since a +3\/+3 boost is one of the best early combat buffs ever printed, even if temporary. It creates a huge tempo advantage in aggressive decks, pushing through enough early damage to win before it fades. There also exists a great synergy with bounce effects like \u003cem\u003eBoomerang\u003c\/em\u003e to reset the aura or the creature. In Magic’s earliest competitive scene (1994-1996), this was a core card in “Blue Weenie” decks, often paired with cards like \u003cem\u003eFlying Men, Serendib Efreet\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003ePsionic Blast\u003c\/em\u003e. In Old School (93\/94), it remains a very popular card in Mono Blue Aggro decks. This deck uses cheap evasive creatures like \u003cem\u003eFlying Men\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSerendib Efreet\u003c\/em\u003e in combination with \u003cem\u003eUnstable Mutation\u003c\/em\u003e to deliver quick, high-damage swings. The classic combo would be T1 Island play \u003cem\u003eFlying Men\u003c\/em\u003e, into T2 \u003cem\u003eUnstable Mutation\u003c\/em\u003e swing for four. In the \u003cem\u003ePauper\u003c\/em\u003e format it’s still being played in Mono Blue Aggro and Infect decks. \u003cem\u003eUnstable Mutation\u003c\/em\u003e is not on the Reserved List, it has been reprinted a few times (\u003cem\u003eTime Spiral, Ultimate Masters\u003c\/em\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"artwhirled","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44762012614701,"sku":null,"price":0.01,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/8000\/6957\/files\/Unstable_Mutation_Original_Art_front_a_white.jpg?v=1775126524","url":"https:\/\/artwhirled.com\/products\/unstable-mutation","provider":"Art Whirled","version":"1.0","type":"link"}