Bereavement

Bereavement first appeared in the Stronghold expansion in 1998, but the version featuring art by Marc Fishman arrived as part of the Seventh Edition core set, released in 2001. This set was a milestone for the game, as it marked the first time the card frame was updated to a modern, cleaner aesthetic, intended to provide greater consistency and readability for a global player base. The design of the card, an enchantment that forces players to discard a card whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from play, was intended to punish strategies focused on mass creature destruction or aggressive board states, serving as a tactical disruption tool for black-aligned decks.

The illustration by Marc Fishman captures a grim, atmospheric tone consistent with the card's mechanical function, depicting a spectral, sorrowful figure that embodies the theme of loss. Within the context of Seventh Edition, which sought to balance the game's competitive environment by selecting staples from past sets, the inclusion of Bereavement provided a specific defensive utility against swarming decks. While not considered a high-priority card in competitive tournament play, it remains a notable example of the aesthetic transition during the game’s early 2000s design evolution.