Blood Lust

Blood Lust was originally released as a common red enchantment in the 1995 Fourth Edition core set of Magic: The Gathering. As the first core set to feature expanded white-bordered card printing, Fourth Edition was designed to consolidate the game's early growth and provide a standardized entry point for players following the initial limited print runs of the early 1990s. The card's design focus centers on the classic red color philosophy of temporary, high-risk power at the cost of long-term stability.

The artwork for this iteration was illustrated by Anson Maddocks, one of the original artists commissioned by Wizards of the Coast during the game's inception. Maddocks' style, characterized by a gritty, hand-drawn aesthetic, was instrumental in establishing the early visual language of the game. Blood Lust was received by the community as a functional niche tool for aggressive strategies, valued primarily for its low mana cost and its ability to drastically swing a combat encounter in the favor of the attacker.