Armageddon

Armageddon was released in 1997 as part of the Portal introductory set for Magic: The Gathering. Developed by Wizards of the Coast, the set was specifically designed to serve as an entry point for new players, featuring simplified rules and streamlined gameplay mechanics that excluded complex stack interactions. The card itself, a reprint of a classic white sorcery, was intended to teach players about the powerful, game-altering effects that could be achieved through white mana during the game's early years.

The artwork for this particular version was created by Ian Miller, a renowned fantasy illustrator known for his gothic and highly detailed style. Miller’s depiction of a crumbling landscape reflected the card’s function, which forces all players to destroy their lands, effectively resetting the resource board. Upon its release in Portal, the card was received as a functional tool for teaching resource management, though its aggressive design remained a subject of discussion among veteran players who were accustomed to the more intricate strategic layers of the base game.