Hand of Cruelty

Hand of Cruelty was released in 2005 as part of the Saviors of Kamigawa expansion for Magic: The Gathering. The set focused on the conclusion of the Kamigawa block, a narrative arc heavily inspired by Japanese folklore and mythology. This card was designed as a proactive offensive tool, featuring the protection from white ability, which mechanically represented the thematic conflict between the dark, occult forces of the set and the structured, light-aligned factions within the game's lore.

The artwork was provided by long-time Magic contributor Kev Walker, whose gritty and highly distinct style helped define the visual language of the game throughout the mid-2000s. Walker aimed to capture the menacing, disciplined aesthetic of the Nezumi—the anthropomorphic rat folk of the setting. Upon its release, the card was viewed as a solid, if niche, inclusion for aggressive black-aligned decks, particularly valued by players for its ability to bypass certain defensive white creatures common in the competitive meta of that era.