The 1993 Limited Edition Beta Death Ward card, a core white instant from the original Magic: The Gathering set designed for vintage TCG enthusiasts.
1993 • Magic: The Gathering • Limited Edition Beta
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| Condition | Value | Source | Trend | Price Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$5.16 | Guide Estimate | 0% | ||
Raw / Ungraded
TCGplayer Market (reference) · Guide Estimate evidence · captured Oct 29, 2026
The 1993 Limited Edition Beta release of Death Ward represents a cornerstone of early Magic: The Gathering history. As card number 18 in the set, this common white instant card was instrumental in establishing the game's strategic depth during its inaugural year. Designed by Mark Poole, the card features a mana cost of one white mana, making it an accessible and efficient tool for players managing their resources in the earliest formats of the game. Its primary function allows a player to regenerate a target creature, a mechanic that became fundamental to the game's defensive strategy and card advantage systems. Collectors value the Limited Edition Beta version for its historical significance as one of the first printings of the game. The black border design is distinct from the later Unlimited edition, helping enthusiasts identify early print runs. While Death Ward is a common card, its presence in the Beta set connects it to the very origins of the trading card game genre. Enthusiasts often seek this card to complete their sets or to appreciate the evolution of game mechanics over the decades. The card’s simplicity belies its importance in the early meta, serving as a reliable response to threats in casual and vintage play. For investors in TCG history, owning a piece of the 1993 Limited Edition Beta lineup offers a tangible link to the franchise's roots.
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The catalog profile below summarizes the card identity, featured subject, and notable collectible traits.
The core identity of the card within the set.
The subject, team, league, and sport context tied to this card.
Featured
Death Ward
Game
Magic: The Gathering
Rarity, print treatment, and game-specific stats for this card.
Common
Mark Poole
Card Stock
English
{W}
Instant
W
Abilities, attacks, oracle text, and flavor text printed on the card.
Regenerate target creature.
FAQ
Death Ward has a mana cost of one white mana. This low cost makes it an efficient instant that can be cast early in the game, allowing players to protect their creatures with minimal resource investment.
Regenerate prevents a creature from being destroyed during the next damage event that would destroy it. Instead, the creature is tapped, removed from combat, and moved to the bottom of its owner's library, effectively saving it from elimination.
The Limited Edition Beta set, released in 1993, is significant because it was the second printing of Magic: The Gathering and established the black border design that became the standard for the game. Collectors value it for its historical role in popularizing the trading card game genre.
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