Dark Banishing

Dark Banishing was originally introduced to the Magic: The Gathering card game in the 1996 Mirage set. It was designed as a staple black removal spell, providing players with a consistent, cost-effective way to destroy non-black creatures. Its inclusion in the 2005 Ninth Edition core set served to maintain this legacy, ensuring that newer players had access to fundamental tactical mechanics that had defined the game's black-aligned strategy for nearly a decade.

The artwork for this specific printing was commissioned from Dermot Power, a concept artist noted for his contributions to major film productions. Power’s interpretation for the Ninth Edition release moves away from earlier, more literal depictions of the spell, favoring a stylized, atmospheric aesthetic. This version is widely regarded by collectors for its dark, painterly quality, which helped bridge the gap between the game's older, grit-focused visual identity and the more polished standards of modern card design.