Charging Paladin

Charging Paladin was released in 1998 as part of the Exodus expansion, the third and final set in the Rath Cycle for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Developed by Wizards of the Coast, the set introduced mechanics like 'oath' and 'multikicker' while concluding the narrative arc involving the plane of Rath. As a common creature, the card was designed to provide white decks with a reliable, aggressive early-game presence that incentivized attacking due to its ability to gain protection from a chosen color, reflecting the classic high-fantasy archetype of a knight in service to a holy order.

The artwork was created by the renowned fantasy illustrator Ciruelo Cabral, widely known simply as Ciruelo. His distinctive style, characterized by intricate textures and a deep sense of mythological weight, brings the paladin to life with a sense of deliberate, armored movement. His contribution to the set was received positively by the player base at the time, as his aesthetic helped cement the visual identity of the Rath Cycle, distancing it from the grittier or more abstract art seen in earlier years of the game.