Compost

Compost was originally introduced in the Mercadian Masques expansion of Magic: The Gathering, released in late 1999. It was designed as a reactive enchantment specifically tailored to counter black-aligned decks by providing a repeatable source of card advantage whenever an opponent played a black card. The design intent was to offer green players a specialized tool for sideboard utility, reflecting the game's focus on color-coded strategies and hosing mechanics during that era of development.

The card features artwork by Douglas Shuler, one of the original illustrators for the game's core set. Shuler’s illustration depicts the macabre, earthy decay suggested by the card's name, leaning into the darker aesthetic common in the set's setting. While it was not a staple of tournament play upon release, it remains a recognized example of the game's 'hate cards'—mechanics explicitly built to punish specific archetypes—and was later included in 'The List,' a curated collection of reprints used to support older cards in modern play environments.