Chain Stasis

Chain Stasis was released in October 1995 as part of Homelands, the tenth expansion set for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Developed by Wizards of the Coast, the set was intended to expand the lore of the game's multiverse by focusing on the plane of Ulgrotha, a world defined by its dark, gothic atmosphere and stories of ancient creatures and rival spellcasters. The set is often noted by historians for its experimental mechanics and a narrative-heavy approach that prioritized thematic world-building over tournament-level competitive viability.

The artwork for Chain Stasis was produced by illustrator Anson Maddocks, who was a foundational artist during the early years of the game. Maddocks utilized a distinct, moody aesthetic that helped define the visual language of the game’s first few years, opting for intricate, often surreal compositions that emphasized the magical and sometimes unsettling nature of the spells being cast. Upon release, Homelands received mixed feedback from the player community, who found the set's power level lower than previous expansions, though the unique stylistic direction provided by artists like Maddocks remains a point of interest for long-term collectors of the game’s history.