Ashnod's Altar

Ashnod's Altar first appeared in the 1994 Antiquities set, serving as a critical piece of mechanical utility within the game's early artifact-focused themes. The card depicts the sinister device belonging to Ashnod, an artificer serving the villainous Mishra during the Brother's War, reflecting the dark, industrial aesthetics that defined early Magic: The Gathering lore. Its design purpose remains a staple in deck construction, allowing players to sacrifice creatures for colorless mana, a mechanic that has maintained its competitive relevance for decades.

The specific version found in The List features artwork by Greg Staples, who reimagined the object with a more modern, visceral style compared to the original illustration. Staples utilized sharp contrasts and a muted color palette to emphasize the artifact's sacrificial nature, aligning with the darker tone of the Eternal Masters expansion where this particular frame first debuted. The card's inclusion in The List serves as a recurring nod to legacy gameplay, ensuring that this classic utility piece remains accessible to contemporary players.