Pandora's Box is card number 11 from the 1997 Astral Cards expansion in Magic: The Gathering. This artifact card offers a chaotic effect that interacts with all players' decks through random selection and coin flips.
Pandora's Box
1997 • Magic: The Gathering • Astral Cards
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Description
Pandora's Box stands as a distinct artifact within the 1997 Astral Cards expansion of Magic: The Gathering. Identified as card number 11, this common rarity card introduces a chaotic element to the game that appeals to collectors interested in the early experimental designs of the franchise. The card requires five mana to cast and functions as a standalone artifact piece in the Astral Cards series, which was designed to explore unique gameplay mechanics separate from the main block structure. The strategic identity of Pandora's Box revolves around unpredictability. Its primary ability allows a player to pay three additional mana and tap the artifact to choose a random creature card from every player's deck. The effect then resolves through a series of coin flips for each player. If a flip results in heads, a token creature enters the battlefield that acts as an exact copy of the chosen card, effectively mimicking its play. This mechanic creates a high-variance interaction that can drastically shift the board state, making it a memorable piece for fans of the game's history. Collectors often seek out cards from the Astral Cards set due to their historical significance in the evolution of Magic: The Gathering. As a card that blends randomness with powerful potential outcomes, Pandora's Box represents a specific era of design philosophy where experimentation was prioritized. Whether you are building a thematic collection of artifacts or focusing on the complete Astral Cards set, this card offers a unique glimpse into the game's creative development. Understanding the mechanics and context of cards like Pandora's Box enhances the appreciation of Magic: The Gathering's rich legacy and the diverse strategies that have defined the game over the decades.
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Card Details
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Catalog Profile
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Featured Subject
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Featured
Pandora's Box
Game
Magic: The Gathering
TCG Attributes
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Common
Amy Weber
Card Stock
English
{5}
Artifact
Card Text
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{3}, {T}: Choose a random summon card from all players' decks. For each player, flip a coin. If the flip ends up heads, put a token creature into play and treat it as though an exact copy of the chosen summon card were just played.
