Test card

A test card is nominally a "playtest card" but is actually a separate kind of card that was first featured in the Mystery Booster set. It is intended for play in limited formats. Test cards feature various new mechanics: reflect, quadrupling, land tokens, etc. Some of these are similar to how Future Sight tested out new mechanics that later appeared in regular sets. They returned in 2023 as a staple component of the Unknown Event held at each MagicCon. 
==Description==
Test cards feature black and white rectangles that look like they have been stickered on cards with a regular card frame of the appropriate color, with a funny placeholder name and art. They aren't considered to be Acorn cards and don't necessarily follow Acorn rules. Although they explore unused design space, they all work in the official Magic rules. The test cards were mostly created to be entertaining to look at and play a match or two with. They have not been put through the rigor that normal Magic cards, including Acorn cards, are put through. Mark Rosewater considers them more as entertainment content than as game content, and has expressed concern with people taking them too seriously. Gavin Verhey remarked that the test cards range from things they would never do on actual cards to things they are interested in doing and want feedback on. 
Test cards are not meant for Constructed play, but may be used in Chaos Draft. Many were designed with Cube and Commander in mind.
===Illustrations===
The test cards for Mystery Booster were illustrated by various R&D members.
Test cards used for the Unknown Event at MagicCon Philadelphia and MagicCon Minneapolis lack any illustration. They often receive improvised illustrations after they are distributed.
Mystery Booster 2 cards have black-and-white illustrations by official artists.
==Gallery==
===Unknown Event===
File:
Unknown Event Philadelphia 2023.png|Playtest card used at the MagicCon Philadelphia Unknown Event.
Unknown Event Minneapolis 2023.png|MagicCon Minneapolis card.
===Secret Lair Playtest===
File:
Secret Lair Playtest Counterspell.jpg|Secret Lair Playtest card printed using Wizards of the Coast's internal playtest printer.
==References==
Category:Test cards