Combat Medic

Combat Medic was released in 1994 as part of Fallen Empires, the fourth expansion set for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Developed by Wizards of the Coast, the set was designed to explore a darker, war-torn storyline centered on the struggle for resources between the factions of the continent of Sarpadia. As a common card, it served as a functional piece of the White mana color pie, focusing on damage prevention mechanics that were characteristic of early iterations of the game.

The artwork was provided by Anson Maddocks, one of the original illustrators for the game whose gothic and textured style helped define the visual language of early Magic sets. Maddocks was tasked with depicting a battlefield healer, and he utilized his signature draft-heavy approach to emphasize the somber, desperate tone of the Fallen Empires narrative. Upon release, the card was widely distributed, becoming a staple of the set's mechanical identity, though it was generally regarded by players as a niche utility card rather than a competitive powerhouse.