Diabolic Intent

Diabolic Intent was originally released in the 2001 expansion Planeshift, designed as a powerful utility card that balanced a potent effect with a mandatory sacrifice cost. The card reflects the grim, high-stakes philosophy of the Phyrexians, embodying the theme of gaining great power through devastating loss. The Brothers' War Promo version, designated with collector number 89p, was distributed years later as part of a specialized promotional run associated with the 2022 expansion, which revisited the foundational lore of the Magic: The Gathering multiverse.

The artwork for this particular printing was illustrated by Dan Murayama Scott, who leaned into the dark, mechanical aesthetic central to the Phyrexians and the conflict depicted in The Brothers' War. Scott’s interpretation emphasizes the visceral, sacrificial nature of the sorcery, aiming to capture the tension between ambition and ruin. Upon its release in the promo series, the card was well-received by players and collectors alike, who valued both its functional utility in competitive formats and the striking, updated visual representation of a classic spell.