Dark Banishing

Dark Banishing was originally introduced during the Mirage set in 1996 as a core piece of black-aligned removal magic within the game. By the time it was reprinted in the Seventh Edition core set in 2001, it had established itself as a fundamental tool for controlling the board by destroying non-black creatures. This reprint featured updated white-bordered styling consistent with the design aesthetic of the era, which aimed to distinguish core set cards from the more complex expansions released periodically.

The art for this specific printing was created by Darrell Riche, who leaned into the dark, visceral fantasy themes characteristic of the game's early identity. Riche’s illustration depicts the sudden, shadowy obliteration of a victim, capturing the brutal efficiency of the spell. Upon its release in Seventh Edition, the card was well-received by players for its utility in limited formats and its reliability as a staple of the black color identity, cementing its status as an iconic common-rarity spell.