• Urza's Chalice (Original Art)
  • Urza's Chalice (Original Art)

    Urza's Chalice (Original Art)

    Artist
    Jeff Menges
    Year
    1993
    Set/Console Name
    Antiquities
    Console/Game
    Magic the Gathering
    C.O.A.
    no
    Painted A.P.
    yes
    Substrate Material
    Illustration Board
    Substrate Dimensions
    7 1/2"W x 9 1/8"W
    Image Area Dimensions
    5 7/8"H x 7 3/8"W
    Frame Dimensions
    Unframed
    Handmade Protective Case
    YES
    Reserved List
    No

    Urza’s Chalice is one of the many iconic artifacts from Antiquities (1994), a set entirely focused on the Brothers’ War – the epic struggle between Urza and Mishra. The design represents Urza’s brilliance and artifice channeled into a construct that rewards artifact mastery. It’s literally a chalice that draws power (life) from magical creations. It was one of early Magic’s first “triggered lifegain” artifacts, rewarding players for playing artifacts, by giving them the option to pay one extra mana to gain 1 life. This created a slow, grindy gameplay pattern typical of early artifact decks. It triggers off any player’s artifact spells, giving some consistent, low-risk lifegain over time. In early Magic (1994-1996), it was occasionally used in homebrew artifact decks to offset burn damage or slow life loss in mirror matches. It’s remembered more for its flavorful design and nostalgic feel than its efficiency. Urza’s Chalice is not on the Reserved List.
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