Chandra, Heart of Fire

Chandra, Heart of Fire was released in 2020 as a mythic rare planeswalker within the Core Set 2021 expansion for Magic: The Gathering. This set was designed to be accessible to newer players while providing a cohesive narrative experience, focusing heavily on the history and personality of Chandra Nalaar. As the central figure of this iteration of the core set, the card was crafted to represent Chandra at the height of her pyromancy, emphasizing aggressive, red-aligned mechanics that favor burn spells and card advantage.

The card was illustrated by Josu Hernaiz, who utilized a bold, dynamic style to capture Chandra's volatile nature. Hernaiz focused on high-contrast lighting and fiery visual effects to convey the heat and intensity associated with the character. Upon its debut, the card was recognized for its utility in red-heavy decks, particularly for its ability to filter cards and deal direct damage, serving as a functional cornerstone for players aiming to capitalize on the rapid pacing of Standard format gameplay during that year.