Essence Vortex
Ice Age 287 • uncommon
- Set
- Ice Age
- Collector number
- 287
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Mana cost
- 1 generic mana blue mana black mana
- Type
- Instant
- Colors
- Black · Blue
- Artist
- Margaret Organ-Kean
- Market price
- $0.34
What it does
Destroy target creature unless its controller pays life equal to its toughness. A creature destroyed this way can't be regenerated.
Masters who sacrifice for servants will receive the gift of loyalty.
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerNot legal
- ModernNot legal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperNot legal
- BrawlNot legal
- HistoricNot legal
- TimelessNot legal
- Penny DreadfulNot legal
- OathbreakerLegal
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Essence Vortex was released in 1995 as part of the Ice Age expansion for Magic: The Gathering. Developed during a period when Wizards of the Coast was expanding the game's mechanics to include complex, continuous board effects, the set was designed to evoke a thematic landscape of permafrost and survival, distinguishing it from the high-fantasy tropes of previous releases.
The card features artwork by Amy Weber, a prolific illustrator for early Magic sets known for her distinct, painterly style. Essence Vortex was conceived to introduce a chaotic element to gameplay through its ability to return permanents to their owners' hands, a mechanic that challenged players to manage their resources carefully. Upon release, it was regarded as a niche utility card, valued primarily for its unique tactical disruption rather than immediate competitive dominance.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
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About Essence Vortex
Essence Vortex is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Ice Age 287 • uncommon. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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