Ghosts of the Innocent

Ghosts of the Innocent was released in 2005 as part of the Ravnica: City of Guilds expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Set within the sprawling, ecumenopolis plane of Ravnica, the card reflects the distinct gothic and urban aesthetic of the Orzhov Syndicate, a guild characterized by its blend of religious ritual and oppressive bureaucratic debt collection. This set was designed to explore a world dominated by cityscapes rather than wilderness, shifting the game's traditional visual language toward dense stone architecture and spectral themes.

The card's artwork was illustrated by Jim Nelson, a frequent contributor to the game during this era, who aimed to capture the haunting, ethereal nature of the spirits bound to the Orzhov hierarchy. The design emphasizes the guild's signature mechanic, haunt, which allows creatures to persist beyond their initial defeat to affect the game board from the graveyard. Upon its release, the card was noted by players for its flavorful representation of the syndicate’s practice of trapping souls to maintain their grip on power, cementing its place in the lore of Ravnica.