Elephant Ambush

Released in the 2001 Odyssey expansion for Magic: The Gathering, Elephant Ambush is a common instant card that captures the set's graveyard-centric theme. Odyssey was designed by Wizards of the Coast to encourage players to interact with their discarded cards, introducing mechanics that gave value to cards resting in the bin. This specific card reflects the set's green-aligned focus on nature and creature-based combat tricks, offering a sudden boost to a player's board state during the heat of a game.

The artwork was commissioned from illustrator Anthony S. Waters, a prolific contributor to the game during this era. Waters sought to depict the sudden, visceral arrival of a beast appearing from the brush, aligning with the mechanical intent of an instant-speed surprise. The piece is well-regarded for its dramatic lighting and movement, effectively conveying the urgency implied by the card's name within the context of Odyssey's high-action gameplay.