Ancient Craving

Ancient Craving was originally released in the Torment expansion set for Magic: The Gathering in 2002. Designed as part of the black color identity, the card reflects the set's mechanical focus on graveyard interactions and self-sacrifice, embodied by its ability to draw cards at the cost of life. The card is illustrated by Adam Rex, whose work during this era often leaned into high-fantasy, sometimes unsettling imagery to match the grim themes of the Odyssy block.

The card was later included in 'The List', a rotating selection of reprints featured in Set Boosters starting in 2020. This initiative was designed by Wizards of the Coast to bring older, out-of-print cards back into the hands of modern players, allowing iconic or flavorful cards from the game's long history to appear in contemporary product lines. Its inclusion in this list marks its transition from a niche Torment common into a recurring element of the modern Magic: The Gathering ecosystem.