Exclusion Ritual

Exclusion Ritual was released in May 2011 as part of the New Phyrexia set for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. The set depicted the final victory of the Phyrexians, a race of biomechanical horrors, over the plane of Mirrodin. Designed as an uncommon white spell, the card mechanically represents the systematic erasure and containment typical of Phyrexian doctrine, serving as a removal tool that prevents players from casting further copies of a targeted nonland permanent.

The card features art by Igor Kieryluk, who illustrated several cards throughout the New Phyrexia block. Kieryluk focused on the set's signature aesthetic of porcelain, oil, and metallic integration, portraying a ritualistic scene of containment that aligns with the set's narrative of transformation and subjugation. Upon its release, the card was received as a functional, if situational, utility piece in Limited formats, noted for its ability to address problematic permanents while providing information about an opponent's deck.