Dark Ritual

Dark Ritual has been a foundational element of the Magic: The Gathering card pool since its debut in the game's original Alpha set in 1993, representing the core philosophy of black mana: gaining a temporary, explosive advantage at a personal cost. Over the decades, it has evolved from a simple common to a cornerstone of eternal formats, frequently reprinted to provide players with the fast mana necessary to accelerate their game plans.

This specific iteration, released in the 2022 Warhammer 40,000 Commander deck series, features new thematic artwork by Wonchun Choi. The illustration captures the grim, gothic aesthetic of the 41st millennium, recontextualizing the classic spell to fit the dark, industrial piety of the Warhammer universe. The design seeks to bridge the gap between Magic's mechanical identity and the lore-heavy, bleak tone of Games Workshop’s intellectual property.