Falling Timber

Falling Timber was released in February 2001 as part of the Planeshift expansion for Magic: The Gathering. As the middle set of the Invasion block, Planeshift focused on the ongoing conflict between the forces of the phyrexian invasion and the coalition of heroes defending the plane of Dominaria. The card was designed to represent the volatile, destructive nature of the environment during this cataclysmic war, serving as a sorcery that allows a player to damage an opponent's creatures based on the number of lands they sacrifice.

The card’s illustration was created by artist Daren Bader, whose work appeared frequently throughout the Invasion block. Bader sought to capture a sense of immediate, natural devastation, depicting large logs crashing down to reflect the card's mechanical effect. Upon its release, the card was generally viewed as a niche tactical tool, primarily utilized in limited formats where controlling the board state through land sacrifice was a viable strategy, rather than a staple in competitive constructed decks.