Adverse Conditions

Adverse Conditions was released in 2015 as part of the Battle for Zendikar expansion for Magic: The Gathering. This set marked a return to the plane of Zendikar, a world defined by its volatile landscapes and the encroaching threat of the Eldrazi, ancient cosmic entities. Mechanically, the card was designed to capture the flavor of the land turning against those traversing it, utilizing the 'surge' mechanic introduced in the set to reward players for casting multiple spells in a single turn.

The artwork for the card was created by artist Mathias Kollros, who sought to depict the chaotic, gravity-defying nature of Zendikar’s terrain. His illustration focuses on the sudden, violent emergence of stone hedrons and turbulent currents, reflecting the card's function of tapping creatures and preventing them from untapping. Upon release, the card was primarily utilized in Limited formats, where its ability to disrupt an opponent's board state while providing a creature token made it a versatile tool for tempo-oriented strategies.