Complicate

Complicate was originally printed as an uncommon card in the 2002 Onslaught expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Set on the plane of Otaria, the expansion focused on the themes of tribal synergy and the chaotic power of the Mirari artifact. The card was designed as a blue instant that allowed players to counter a spell unless its controller paid additional mana, reflecting the color's thematic control over the flow of magic.

The illustration for this iteration was created by artist Heather Hudson. Her design sought to capture the disorienting, disruptive nature of a counterspell through abstract, swirling motifs typical of the aesthetic direction during the early 2000s. While it remains a functional piece of Magic history, it was later featured in The List—a curated selection of cards from the game's past included in modern booster packs—to introduce long-time favorites to newer players.