Crusade

Crusade first appeared in the original Alpha set of Magic: The Gathering in 1993, representing the early foundational design philosophy of the game. It was included in the Fourth Edition release in 1995, which served as a comprehensive core set meant to provide a standard pool of cards for players during the game's initial period of rapid growth. As an enchantment, it functions as a global buff, granting all white creatures a power and toughness bonus, reflecting the classic white mana themes of unity and military coordination.

The artwork was created by Mark Poole, a prolific early contributor to the game whose distinct, illustrative style defined the visual identity of Magic's first few years. Poole’s design for Crusade features a traditional, high-fantasy aesthetic that emphasizes a sense of rallying energy. While the card became a staple of white-aligned aggressive decks for many years, it was eventually retired from core sets and later moved to the Reserved List, ensuring it would not be reprinted and cementing its status as a piece of trading card history.