Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Borderless and Showcase: a look at how art and framing shape our MTG experience
When you crack open a pack today, you’re likely to encounter more than just a card. You’re stepping into a conversation about art, layout, and the way a single frame can alter your strategic view of a familiar spell. The evolution of borderless and showcase variants isn’t merely a cosmetic detour; it’s a reflection of how the hobby has grown from print runs and rare versions into a celebration of collector culture and player immersion. In the spotlight is Undercity Eliminator, a Gorgon Assassin who arrives with a classic black mana sheen and a powerfully practical ability, and whose frame sits at the crossroads of tradition and experimentation. 🧙♂️🔥
Undercity Eliminator exists as a card from the set Murders at Karlov Manor (MKΜ), boasting a traditional layout and a striking black border that signals its uncommon status. Its mana cost of {3}{B}{B} and its 3/3 body give you a solid midrange threat in any Golgari-leaning deck. The enter-the-battlefield trigger—sacrifice an artifact or creature to exile a targeted opponent’s creature—fits neatly into a world where sacrifice is not a liability but a resource. This is the heart of the Golgari ethos: transform what others discard into leverage. The card’s flavor text reinforces that guild identity by painting a picture of scorn turned into a sharpened blade against rivals. And yes, the artwork by Quintin Gleim adds that extra layer of mood, with the Golgari rogues’ shadowed world coming alive in ink and motion. 🎨
“With their guild shunned for opening the doors to Phyrexia, some among the Golgari embraced their status as pariahs and took out their bitterness on all who crossed their paths.”
Undercity Eliminator: Mechanics, flavor, and frame choices
- Type: Creature — Gorgon Assassin
- Mana Cost: 3BB
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Power/Toughness: 3/3
- Key Ability: When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice an artifact or creature. If you do, exile target creature an opponent controls.
- Set: Murders at Karlov Manor (MKΜ) — an expansion that leans into darker, eventful storytelling
From a design perspective, the card sits comfortably at the intersection of utility and tempo. The sacrifice mechanic is not a one-note effect; it invites you to plan ahead. You might trigger the exile to remove a bigger threat later in combat or tempo your opponent by hitting a utility creature, all while developing your own board state with artifacts or sacrificed creatures. In multiplayer formats, that flexibility feels especially satisfying, giving you a way to trade down a problematic creature while maintaining pressure. This kind of design philosophy—where the frame supports both a creature’s presence and a moment-to-moment decision—has long driven the appeal of borderless and showcase variants when they appear. 🧙♂️⚔️
Showcase and borderless variants stories are about more than just bigger art or flashier borders. They signal a moment in Magic’s ongoing conversation with collectors and players about who gets to hold the spotlight. Borderless frames typically push art to the edges, sometimes altering the feeling of space and color. Showcase frames, used in several sets to highlight special visual storytelling, can make a single card feel like a mini poster in your deck. Undercity Eliminator itself is rooted in a classic frame, but discussing it alongside borderless and showcase variants lets us appreciate how MTG’s art and typography have evolved without ever losing the tactile thrill of seeing a favorite card in print, foil, or alt treatment. 🔥💎
Playing with variants: strategy, synergy, and when to pull the trigger
In decks that lean into sacrifice, Undercity Eliminator shines as a recurring engine. You can pair it with other sacrifice outlets—artifact or creature—so that the exile effect becomes a tool for removing threatening creatures while your board state also grows with what you sacrificed. In Golgari midrange or Golgari reanimator shells, this creature adds a compact, efficient threat that doesn’t require a heavy mana investment to start pressuring opponents. And because the ability triggers “when this enters,” it rewards a well-timed play that can swing tempo in a single swing. The card’s alignment with black’s graveyard mastery and removal options makes it a natural fit for commander tables where graveyard-based and attrition strategies flourish. 🧠🎲
For collectors, this card’s rarity and print history matter. While Murders at Karlov Manor is not primarily known for a flurry of borderless or showcase reprints, the broader MTG landscape shows that rare variant versions can shift prices and interest dramatically. The market data on Scryfall hints at modest contemporary pricing and foil availability, with a foil version indicating extra desirability for players and collectors who chase a premium look. Even at modest price points, Undercity Eliminator serves as a reminder that a well-designed black card—combined with strong lore and evocative art—can endure as a favorite in your binders and decks. 💎🧙♂️
If you’re decorating your battle station or your home game area with a touch of guild-flavored style, you might enjoy a different kind of premium surface—like this Neon Desk Mouse Pad. It’s a practical nod to the glow of MTG lore, and it pairs well with long nights of planning and play. Check out the product page below and consider how a little neon can light up your table as boldly as a neon signature card’s border does in a display case. ⚔️🎨
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