The rare Aura enchantment Living Artifact from Magic: The Gathering's iconic 1997 Fifth Edition release, featuring unique vitality counter mechanics.
Living Artifact
1997 • Magic: The Gathering • Fifth Edition
No Listings Available
No listings available right now.
Price History
Description
Released in 1997, the Fifth Edition set remains a cornerstone for Magic: The Gathering collectors, offering a definitive look at the game’s early design philosophy. Within this massive release, Living Artifact stands out as a distinct Rare card, identified by the number 311 and the set code 5ED. Created by artist Anson Maddocks, this single-green mana Enchantment — Aura introduces a dynamic gameplay loop that diverges from the static effects common in earlier sets. The card allows players to attach it to any artifact, transforming it into a resource generator through vitality counters. Whenever the controller takes damage, the Aura accumulates counters, which can then be removed during upkeep to gain life, creating a strategic interaction between defense and recovery. For investors and hobbyists focusing on vintage TCG cards, this piece represents a tangible slice of gaming history. Its enduring appeal lies in its clever mechanics and its status as a staple of the base set. Collectors often seek out specific copies of Fifth Edition cards to complete their libraries or to appreciate the evolution of card design., enthusiasts can explore a diverse selection of Magic: The Gathering trading card game cards, ensuring they find the exact pieces needed for their collections. Whether you are building a themed deck or preserving a piece of 1990s pop culture, this card offers both nostalgic value and mechanical interest.
Have one of these to sell?
We'll pre-fill the product details from this catalog entry, so your listing lands on this exact page. Just add photos of your copy, pick its condition, and set your price.
Card Details
The catalog profile below summarizes the card identity, featured subject, and notable collectible traits.
Catalog Profile
The core identity of the card within the set.
Featured Subject
The subject, team, league, and sport context tied to this card.
Featured
Living Artifact
Game
Magic: The Gathering
TCG Attributes
Rarity, print treatment, and game-specific stats for this card.
Rare
Anson Maddocks
Card Stock
English
{G}
Enchantment — Aura
G
Card Text
Abilities, attacks, oracle text, and flavor text printed on the card.
Enchant artifact Whenever you're dealt damage, put that many vitality counters on this Aura. At the beginning of your upkeep, you may remove a vitality counter from this Aura. If you do, you gain 1 life.
