MTG PRINTING GUIDE
Lotus Petal began as a Tempest common, not as a mythic rarity or a foil collectible. Its small burst of mana has since appeared in a premium boxed set, a mechanical Kaladesh reinterpretation and an etched anniversary edition. The right comparison separates those later surfaces from April Lee’s 1997 original.
QUICK ANSWER
Lotus Petal first appeared in Tempest (TMP), 14 October 1997. The original is TMP #294, at common, illustrated by April Lee. Available original finishes: Nonfoil only.
Printing records and official context reviewed . Use the shortlist for a physical-edition comparison and the explorer for current availability and format data.
Artwork could not load. The exact printing and source links remain available.
REPRESENTATIVE PRINTING
This static reference remains readable while live data loads. The interactive selected printing replaces it once verified data is available.
Check this exact catalogue record · View this printing on Scryfall · Search Cardmarket by card name
Live printing data loads separately.
RULES & FORMAT CONTEXT
Lotus Petal costs {0}, taps and sacrifices to add one mana of any colour. Unlike Mox Opal it does not remain as a repeatable mana source, and unlike Jeweled Lotus its mana is not restricted to casting a commander.
At this review the catalogue lists it as Commander-legal, Legacy-legal and Pauper-legal, while Wizards’ Vintage list restricts it. A premium mythic reprint does not remove the underlying card’s common-printing qualification for Pauper; use current legality, not the rarity of the physical copy in hand.
PRINTING HISTORY
Tempest #294 was released on 14 October 1997 at common. April Lee is the original artist and the printing is nonfoil-only. A Tempest Petal described as an original pack foil needs its edition checked; the original record does not support that description.
From the Vault: Exiled #7 arrived on 28 August 2009 at mythic rare, with Lee’s artwork and a foil-only surface. It is a later physical release, not evidence of Tempest foils. Rarity belongs to that edition rather than changing the original card’s common status.
Kaladesh Inventions #15 followed in September 2016. Slawomir Maniak’s art and the Invention frame reinterpret the artifact; this special-rarity record is foil-only. It offers a different picture as well as a premium presentation.
The anniversary P30M #2 record dates to 3 August 2023 and is etched-only. Mystery Booster 2 #226 follows in the catalogue in 2024 with Lee’s art and both nonfoil and foil records. Tempest Remastered is a Magic Online release: do not mistake it for an additional physical Tempest printing.
PRINTING SHORTLIST
Selected physical editions; not every language, digital entry or minor reprint.
| Release / set | Collector number | Rarity | Artwork / treatment | Artist | Available finishes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tempest (1997) | TMP #294 | common | Original illustration and frame | April Lee | Nonfoil only |
| From the Vault: Exiled (2009) | V09 #7 | mythic | Original illustration in premium boxed release | April Lee | Traditional foil only |
| Kaladesh Inventions (2016) | MPS #15 | special | New mechanical-petal illustration; Invention frame | Slawomir Maniak | Traditional foil only |
| 30th Anniversary Misc Promos (2023) | P30M #2 | mythic | Anniversary foil-etched edition | April Lee | Etched foil only |
| Mystery Booster 2 (2024) | MB2 #226 | common | Later reprint of the original image | April Lee | Nonfoil, traditional foil |
Finish labels belong to the individual source record. An etched or textured treatment is not an extra finish invented for every edition. A missing price is unknown, not zero.
ARTWORK & FRAME COMPARISON
Lee’s image connects the original, From the Vault and the anniversary comparison. To compare the surfaces honestly, keep the specific edition visible: original nonfoil, boxed-set foil and anniversary etched do not share a single finish menu.
The Invention is a new artwork by Maniak. Choosing it expresses a preference for Kaladesh’s visual language rather than simply wanting a shinier copy of the Tempest painting.
Later reprints with familiar art are still separate catalogue records. The set code, number and language matter when ordering, particularly for reprints bearing earlier-looking borders or symbols.
FOILS & SPECIAL TREATMENTS
The cleanest surface comparison is TMP #294 nonfoil versus V09 #7 foil versus P30M #2 etched. All credit Lee, but their frames and physical treatments differ. MPS #15 is a foil-only alternate-art option.
MB2 #226 has both finishes in the checked catalogue. Product distribution and individual availability should be checked separately from that finish matrix. A missing live price does not prove a finish never existed or that a card costs nothing.
MANASCOUT RECOMMENDATIONS
Original-frame binder: TMP #294 nonfoil is the historical anchor. It is the debut, regardless of what a later premium edition currently costs.
Original art with a reflective finish: compare the V09 foil and P30M etched surfaces. Ask for ordinary-light photographs instead of judging the real finish from the animation.
Alternate-art display: MPS #15 is our focused second comparison. Pair it with Mox Opal’s Invention if you collect Kaladesh treatments.
Gameplay copy: compare current offers for the ordinary nonfoils and confirm format restrictions. This shortlist is a collecting guide, not a fixed price ladder.
ALL PRINTINGS / LIVE EXPLORER
Use the shared set, language and finish filters to inspect an exact printing. Cardmarket links are independent third-party destinations. Catalogue prices are live reference fields where available, not fixed GBP offers. The digital foil animation is illustrative, not a photograph of a physical finish.
SCOUT MORE
Jeweled Lotus — compare the related card’s own printing history and collector choices.
Black Lotus — compare the related card’s own printing history and collector choices.
Mox Opal — compare the related card’s own printing history and collector choices.
Mana Vault — compare the related card’s own printing history and collector choices.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL REVIEW
Reviewed . The linked exact-edition catalogue records support dates, artists, rarity and finish availability; official sources support product treatment and format context where cited. The live explorer retrieves current Scryfall data separately. This is a dated editorial selection, not a guarantee of stock, price or unchanged future legality.