Fear

Fear was originally released in the Limited Edition Alpha and Beta sets of Magic: The Gathering in 1993, with the Unlimited Edition printing following shortly after as a white-bordered reprint. As a fundamental card in the base set, it was designed to introduce the concept of evasion to the black color pie, granting a creature the ability to bypass defenders that were not themselves black. The card serves as a quintessential example of the game's early top-down design philosophy, where the mechanics were intended to mirror the flavor of dark magic and terror.

The original illustration was created by Dan Frazier, one of the foundational artists for the game. Frazier's work for the early sets was characterized by a distinct, somewhat minimalist style that helped define the visual identity of Magic's inaugural year. The artwork for Fear depicts a haunting, spectral figure, capturing the atmospheric and gothic tone that Richard Garfield and the Wizards of the Coast team sought to establish during the game's inception. It was well-received by early players for its simplicity and effective utility in aggressive black decks.