Consulate Skygate

Consulate Skygate was released in 2018 as part of Battlebond, a Magic: The Gathering expansion specifically designed for Two-Headed Giant, a team-based multiplayer format. The set was created to foster a social, collaborative play experience, shifting the focus from individual dueling to cooperative strategy. As a common creature, the Skygate was intended to serve as a functional defensive utility card, providing players with a reliable blocker to stabilize the board during the often hectic pacing of team matches.

The card features artwork by the renowned landscape painter John Avon, whose work is celebrated for its ethereal lighting and epic sense of scale. Tasked with depicting a gateway within the setting of Kaladesh—an inventive, resource-rich plane inspired by art deco and steampunk aesthetics—Avon utilized his signature vibrant color palette to evoke a sense of architectural grandeur and magical protection. The illustration was received as a classic example of Avon’s ability to imbue even a common utility card with a deep, atmospheric sense of place.