Brackish Trudge

Brackish Trudge was released in 2021 as part of the Strixhaven: School of Mages expansion for Magic: The Gathering. The card represents a common creature belonging to the Witherbloom college, one of the five magical disciplines at the titular university, which focuses on the essence of life and death. The thematic context of the set leans heavily into academic tropes, presenting the Trudge as a manifestation of the swampy, life-draining ecology surrounding the Witherbloom campus.

The artwork was illustrated by Dave Kendall, a long-time contributor to the game known for his atmospheric and often macabre style. Kendall’s design captures the grotesque, organic nature of the creature, emphasizing the damp, decaying aesthetic intrinsic to the Witherbloom faction. Upon its release, the card was primarily utilized in Limited formats, where its ability to return from the graveyard provided players with a resilient, recurring threat during the draft and sealed play environments.