Hand of Death

Hand of Death was released in 1997 as part of the Portal expansion set for Magic: The Gathering. Developed by Wizards of the Coast, this set was intentionally designed to introduce the game to new players through simplified mechanics, excluding complex timing rules and interrupt cards. The card itself was created as a straightforward black removal spell, functioning as a basic tool for new players to interact with the board while learning the game's fundamental color identity.

The card features artwork by Christopher Rush, one of the most prolific and iconic illustrators from the early years of the game. His depiction of the dark, skeletal hand reaching out fits the grim aesthetic of black-mana cards of that era. Upon its release, while Portal was not initially embraced by tournament-level players due to its simplified nature, the card remains a recognizable piece of the game's history, reflecting the specific pedagogical design goals of the mid-1990s.