Fallen Angel

Fallen Angel was originally introduced in the Legends expansion in 1994, with its appearance in the Seventh Edition core set marking its return to the game in 2002. As a classic black creature card, it embodied the high-risk, high-reward mechanics characteristic of early Magic: The Gathering, allowing players to sacrifice their own creatures to gain a temporary power boost. Its inclusion in Seventh Edition featured a modernized frame design, reflecting the game's shift toward a more standardized and accessible visual identity as it entered the new millennium.

The iconic illustration for this version was provided by artist Greg Staples. Moving away from the surreal, sometimes esoteric art styles found in the game's earliest sets, Staples rendered the angel with a grim, visceral aesthetic that leaned into the darker thematic elements of the black mana color identity. The artwork is widely regarded for its dramatic lighting and somber tone, successfully capturing the tragic and destructive nature of the character while fitting seamlessly into the revamped, cleaner layout of the Seventh Edition core set.