Animate Dead

Animate Dead first appeared in the original Magic: The Gathering Alpha set in 1993, representing the quintessential black-aligned enchantment used to return creatures from a graveyard to play. As an Unlimited Edition card, this version was released later that same year as part of the game's second print run, maintaining the aesthetic of the original Wizards of the Coast design while transitioning to the white-bordered style that distinguished later sets from the initial limited printings.

The card's iconic illustration was created by Anson Maddocks, who provided much of the early, dark, and visceral imagery that defined the game's gothic fantasy roots. The artwork depicts a macabre scene of resurrection, capturing the unsettling nature of necromancy that remains a core mechanical pillar of the game. Upon its release, the card quickly became a staple in competitive play for its efficiency, solidifying its place in Magic history as one of the most recognizable and frequently reprinted enchantments in the game's long tenure.