Cuombajj Witches

Cuombajj Witches was released in 1993 as part of Arabian Nights, the first expansion set for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Developed by Richard Garfield and published by Wizards of the Coast, the set was inspired by the themes and folklore of the One Thousand and One Nights, marking a distinct shift from the generic high fantasy of the base game. The card itself was created to feature the 'Bands' mechanic, a complex system that allowed creatures to act as a cohesive unit during combat, reflecting the tactical depth the designers sought to integrate into early gameplay.

The artwork for the card was provided by Quinton Hoover, a prolific early contributor whose distinct, fluid style helped define the aesthetic identity of the game’s first year. Hoover’s illustration depicts the titular witches in a manner consistent with the set's Middle Eastern fantasy motif, focusing on character-driven composition over the more static imagery common in later sets. The card was well-received by players of the era for its utility in black-aligned control decks, earning a place in the history of the game as a staple of the 'Old School' format.