Forest

The Forest card from the Shards of Alara set, released by Wizards of the Coast in 2008, represents the plane of Naya, one of the five distinct 'shards' that make up the world of Alara. The set was designed to explore the concept of a fractured world where each section evolved in isolation, leading to specialized mana environments. This particular land card reflects Naya's lush, gargantuan ecosystem, emphasizing the scale of the plane through towering flora and a vibrant, untamed color palette.

The artwork for this card was created by Aleksi Briclot, a prolific fantasy illustrator known for his atmospheric and immersive landscapes. In this design, Briclot aimed to capture the overwhelming density and verticality characteristic of Naya, moving away from more traditional, open forest depictions to create a sense of deep, impenetrable wilderness. Upon its release, the Shards of Alara basic land cycle was well-received by players for its cohesive world-building and high-quality artistic direction, which helped ground the complex lore of the block in a tangible visual identity.