Circle of Protection: Black

Circle of Protection: Black was originally released in the Limited Edition Beta set for Magic: The Gathering in 1993. As part of a cycle of cards representing the five colors of mana, this white enchantment was designed to offer players a defensive utility against black-aligned threats. The mechanic reflects the game's early color-pie philosophy, where white functioned as the primary defensive color, utilizing protective wards to mitigate specific types of incoming damage.

The card features artwork by Dan Frazier, whose contribution to the early sets helped define the visual identity of the game. Frazier’s illustration style focused on clear, symbolic imagery that aligned with the card's function, providing a direct visual metaphor for the protective barrier described in the rules. While the card is a fundamental piece of early Magic history, it was received at the time as a specialized sideboard tool meant to answer aggressive black decks.