Dark Ritual

Dark Ritual was originally released as a common instant in the Alpha set of Magic: The Gathering in 1993, with the Unlimited Edition printing serving as a white-bordered, print-on-demand follow-up to the core game. Designed by Richard Garfield to provide black decks with a significant tempo advantage, the card allows a player to sacrifice efficiency for immediate mana acceleration. Its presence in early sets was foundational to the identity of black mana, establishing the color's thematic reliance on short-term gains at the cost of long-term sustainability.

The artwork for this version was provided by Sandra Everingham, who illustrated several iconic early Magic cards. Her design features a ritualistic, atmospheric aesthetic that leans into the gothic horror influences of the game's formative years. The card was received by early players as a highly potent tool, eventually becoming a staple in competitive formats that permitted fast mana, and it remains a defining representation of the game's early visual and mechanical design philosophy.