Edric, Spymaster of Trest

Edric, Spymaster of Trest was first released as part of the Commander 2011 set, the inaugural series of products designed specifically for the Commander format in Magic: The Gathering. The card was featured as a promotional foil during the launch party events, distinguishing it from the standard version found in the boxed preconstructed decks. This release marked a significant moment for the game, as Wizards of the Coast officially embraced the player-created variant, shifting design philosophy to accommodate multiplayer-specific mechanics like the monarch-lite 'political' abilities seen on Edric.

The card was illustrated by Johannes Voss, a prominent artist whose ethereal and narrative-driven style became highly regarded within the game's community. Voss sought to capture the character's manipulative and opportunistic nature, depicting Edric as a sleek, calculating figure immersed in the intrigue of his namesake city, Trest. The design was received favorably for its high-impact, low-cost ability that encourages aggressive play, making it a staple of the format and one of the most recognizable faces of the 2011 launch era.