Groundshaker Sliver

Groundshaker Sliver was released as part of the Magic 2014 Core Set, which hit shelves in July 2013. Designed as a common-rarity creature to support the Sliver tribal archetype, the card fits into the broader history of Magic: The Gathering's creature evolution, where Slivers represent a hive-mind species that shares abilities across the battlefield. This specific iteration sought to update the classic Sliver mechanical identity for a modern core set environment, emphasizing the 'trample' keyword to push for aggressive board states.

The card features illustration by Kev Walker, a long-standing contributor to the game whose work is known for its distinct, high-contrast style and ability to convey the monstrous nature of creatures. Walker’s depiction of the Groundshaker focuses on the jagged, alien anatomy iconic to the species, aiming to ground the creature in the visceral aesthetic of the set. Upon release, the card was generally received as a functional, if standard, limited-format piece that contributed to the synergy-heavy playstyle characteristic of the 2014 Sliver subset.