Epicure of Blood

Epicure of Blood was released in 2018 as part of the Core Set 2019 expansion for the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering. Designed by Wizards of the Coast, this set was intended to provide a foundational entry point for new players while introducing cards that integrated with the complex narratives of the Multiverse. The card serves as a creature representing the vampire tradition of the plane of Innistrad, emphasizing a mechanical synergy where the creature benefits directly from the player gaining life.

The card’s illustration was crafted by artist Igor Kieryluk, who utilized a dark, gothic aesthetic to capture the creature's predatory nature. Kieryluk sought to visualize the intersection of aristocratic elegance and vampiric hunger, resulting in an image that fits the established visual language of Magic: The Gathering’s undead archetypes. Upon release, the card was received as a functional staple for casual tribal decks and limited play environments, valued primarily for its repeatable damage-dealing effect.