Crumbling Necropolis

Crumbling Necropolis was originally introduced in the Shards of Alara expansion, designed to support the Grixis faction by providing access to blue, black, and red mana. The card belongs to a cycle of 'tri-lands' that served as the mechanical bedrock for the block, allowing players to bridge the gap between distinct mana identities. It was reprinted in the Explorers of Ixalan standalone board game set, which utilized pre-constructed decks to offer a new way to experience the mechanics of the plane of Ixalan.

The artwork for this specific printing was created by Volkan Baǵa, a veteran illustrator known for his atmospheric and detailed depictions of landscapes in the Magic: The Gathering multiverse. Baǵa focused on capturing the decaying, ominous aesthetic of the Grixis shard, utilizing dark, desaturated tones to convey a sense of ancient, crumbling ruin. The piece was well-received for its ability to communicate the identity of the land through visual storytelling, fitting seamlessly into the grim and gothic themes associated with the Grixis color identity.