MTG Hobbit Book Art Cards: Tyler Jacobson and Ted Nasmith Treatments

Tyler Jacobson

One of the most recognized illustrators in modern fantasy art, Jacobson has painted covers and interiors for official Tolkien editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. His painterly style — dramatic lighting, rich color, expressive figures — translates directly to the card format. He illustrates three book-art cards in The Hobbit set: Gollum, The Arkenstone, and The Lonely Mountain.

Ted Nasmith

Ted Nasmith has been painting Tolkien’s world since the 1980s. His work has appeared in official Tolkien calendars, illustrated editions of The Silmarillion, and countless licensed products. His illustrations are considered among the most accurate and atmospheric renditions of Middle-earth ever produced. He contributes two book-art cards: Smaug the Magnificent and Thorin Oakenshield.

As Gollum enters you choose odd or even. Whenever an opponent casts a spell with a mana value of the chosen quality, you pick one of three escalating effects that haven’t been chosen yet: a +1/+1 counter on Gollum, drain 2 life from an opponent, or draw a card. Once all three trigger the ability resets. Jacobson’s illustration depicts the classic riddle-in-the-dark cave scene that defines the character.

The Arkenstone gives all your creatures +1/+1 and draws you a card at the beginning of each end step — permanent card advantage that compounds every turn. The Adventure side (Seek the Heart) tutors any legendary creature from your library directly to your hand. Jacobson’s version captures the Arkenstone’s legendary glow: beautiful, cold, and dangerous.

Produces red mana and carries a Dwarf-synergy ability. As a Land — Mountain it counts toward any card that searches for or cares about Mountains. Jacobson’s treatment is panoramic — the isolated peak looming over a vast grey landscape, exactly as Tolkien described it. One of the most striking land variants ever printed in a Magic set.

Flying and haste. When Smaug attacks he deals damage equal to the number of Treasures you control to any target. At the beginning of your upkeep he creates a Treasure for each creature that attacked you last turn — turning your opponents’ aggression into fuel for his own damage. Nasmith’s Smaug carries the same warm, golden light palette he has used in Tolkien calendars for decades.

Trample and the new Storified keyword: if you control three or more artifacts, legendaries, and/or Sagas, you gain an enduring story for the rest of the game. While you have an enduring story, all your artifacts and creatures gain ward {1} — a whole-board protection effect that turns any artifact-heavy deck into a significantly harder-to-interact-with engine. Nasmith’s Thorin stands in full armour against a mountain backdrop.