Cadaverous Knight

Cadaverous Knight was released in 1996 as part of the Mirage expansion for Magic: The Gathering. As a set, Mirage was notable for introducing several mechanics and a distinct tropical, desert-themed aesthetic that shifted away from the medieval European motifs of earlier sets. The card reflects the set's focus on resource management, requiring players to discard black cards to regenerate the creature, which thematicizes the concept of sacrifice in necromancy.

The card's haunting illustration was created by artist Christopher Rush, a legendary figure in the early history of the game. Rush utilized a dark, visceral style to capture the undead nature of the creature. Upon its release, the card was received as a solid utility creature for black-aligned decks, recognized for its ability to persist on the battlefield despite the heavy cost of discarding cards from the player's hand.