Arlinn Kord // Arlinn, Embraced by the Moon

Arlinn Kord was first introduced in the 2016 Magic: The Gathering set Shadows over Innistrad, representing a shift in the game's mechanics regarding double-faced planeswalker cards. Designed by the team at Wizards of the Coast, Arlinn was envisioned as a werewolf planeswalker who embodies the dual nature of the game's Innistrad setting, which draws heavily from gothic horror tropes and lycanthropic folklore. The artwork for this card was provided by Winona Nelson, whose interpretation sought to capture the visceral transformation between human protector and lupine predator.

The version from 'The List' is a reprint curation feature introduced in later sets to bring older, thematic cards back into the ecosystem of current booster packs. While it retains the original mechanics and the iconic transformation design of the Shadows over Innistrad release, its inclusion in 'The List' signifies its enduring relevance to the lore of the Multiverse and the enduring popularity of the Innistrad plane. It remains a notable example of mechanical design that balances two distinct sets of abilities on a single card face, a concept that continues to influence modern card development.