Cloudcrest Lake

Cloudcrest Lake was released in 2004 as part of the Champions of Kamigawa expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. The set was inspired by Japanese mythology and folklore, shifting the game's aesthetic toward traditional Eastern themes. This specific land card belongs to a cycle of 'karoo' lands, which were designed to provide mana fixing for two colors at the cost of returning a land to the player's hand, a mechanic intended to create tactical tension during the mid-game.

The artwork for the card was created by artist Heather Hudson. She utilized a serene, painterly style that emphasizes the mystical, misty atmosphere associated with the Kamigawa setting. The design was well-received by players for its thematic consistency and its practical application in deck building, serving as a staple utility card during the era of the set's standard rotation and remaining a recognizable piece of the game's expansive landscape art history.