Deathmist Raptor

Deathmist Raptor was originally introduced in the Dragons of Tarkir expansion in 2015, featuring a design centered on the morph mechanic that allows players to play the card face-down as a colorless creature. The card was intended to provide a powerful, recurring threat for green-based aggressive or mid-range decks, leveraging the graveyard as a resource to return to the battlefield. Its inclusion in the Commander 2019 preconstructed decks repurposed this utility for the multiplayer format, where its ability to return from the graveyard provides consistent value against opponents.

The card's illustration was executed by artist Tyler Jacobson, who aimed to capture the raptor's predatory and mystical nature within the lore of the Tarkir plane. Jacobson employed a dynamic pose and earthy color palette to emphasize the creature's connection to the forest and the cycle of life and death represented by its recursion ability. Upon release, the card was well-received by players for its efficiency and its impact on combat math, eventually becoming a staple in various green-aligned strategies across multiple formats.