Caustic Tar

Caustic Tar was originally introduced in the Onslaught expansion set in 2002, designed to provide players with a persistent, incremental damage source in the black color identity. Its function reflects the classic Magic: The Gathering mechanical trope of 'pinging' opponents, representing the slow, agonizing depletion of life totals through magical decay. The card was selected for the Masters 25 set in 2018, which was curated to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the game by featuring iconic or illustrative cards from every major release throughout its history.

The artwork for the Masters 25 version, illustrated by Pete Venters, maintains the ominous and visceral aesthetic associated with the card's theme of corrosive, soul-eating magic. Venters, a prolific artist in the early years of the game, created a visual representation that emphasizes the physical discomfort and inescapable nature of the enchantment. Within the context of a reprint set, the inclusion of Caustic Tar served as a nod to the game's long-standing design philosophy of creating simple yet punishing global effects.