Blight

Blight was released in 1997 as part of the Magic: The Gathering Fifth Edition base set. As a reprint of a card originally appearing in the Fallen Empires expansion, it reflects the early design philosophy of the game, where black-aligned cards often focused on parasitic effects and resource attrition. The illustration by Anson Maddocks captures the grim, gothic fantasy aesthetic that defined the visual language of the game's first few years, utilizing his signature style of distorted figures and heavy atmospheric shadows to convey the card's function of decaying land.

The card functions as a targeted enchantment designed to disrupt an opponent's mana development by applying pressure to their lands. During the mid-1990s, the inclusion of such cards in a core set was intended to provide players with accessible tools for land destruction and tactical disruption. While it never became a staple of high-level competitive play, it remains a recognized example of the early expansion-to-core-set pipeline that allowed Wizards of the Coast to curate a consistent mechanical experience for new players entering the hobby.