Dragon Fodder

Dragon Fodder was originally printed in the Shards of Alara set in 2008, but the version from Dragons of Tarkir, released in 2015, serves as a quintessential example of the aggressive, red-aligned token generation strategies common in the Magic: The Gathering card game. As part of the Tarkir block, which focused heavily on the culture and mythology of dragons, this card depicts the relationship between the powerful dragon overlords and the expendable foot soldiers used to appease them. Mechanically, it functions as a sorcery that creates two 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens, emphasizing the sheer numerical superiority often associated with Goblins.

The artwork for this specific printing was created by Wayne Reynolds, a prolific illustrator well-known for his dynamic, action-oriented style within the fantasy tabletop gaming industry. Reynolds sought to capture the frantic and chaotic nature of these creatures, often depicted as eager or subservient in the face of draconic power. The illustration was received positively by the player community, reinforcing the flavor of the Mardu Horde faction within the set, which valued speed, ruthlessness, and the willingness to sacrifice one's own units for a greater tactical advantage.