Diabolic Servitude

Diabolic Servitude was originally printed in the Urza's Saga expansion in 1998, a set heavily focused on the artifact-themed mechanics of the Urza block. The card serves as a thematic continuation of black magic's recurring interest in death and resurrection, offering a recurring enchantment that brings a creature back from the graveyard at the cost of exiling it when the enchantment leaves the battlefield. It represents the darker, transactional nature of necromancy within the game's color pie.

The Commander 2015 version of this card features the original illustration by Mark Tedin, whose work defined much of the early visual identity of Magic: The Gathering. Tedin’s art often emphasizes the visceral and slightly grotesque aspects of the game's lore, and his depiction of the ritualistic servitude here reflects the grim nature of the spell. By the time of its inclusion in the Commander 2015 preconstructed decks, the card had become a staple for casual formats, valued for its utility in graveyard-focused strategies.