Heartwood Dryad

Heartwood Dryad was released in 1997 as part of the Tempest expansion for Magic: The Gathering. As a common green creature, it was designed to fit within the set's mechanics, which focused on aggressive gameplay and graveyard interactions. The card emerged during a period when the game was refining its mechanical identity, helping to flesh out the forest-dwelling creature types available to players in the Rath cycle storyline.

The artwork for this card was created by Rebecca Guay, an illustrator renowned for her distinct, ethereal watercolor style that stood out against the often darker, grittier art of the era. Guay intended to capture the organic, protective nature of the dryad within its woodland environment. The illustration was well-received by players for its departure from standard fantasy tropes, cementing Guay's reputation as a signature artist whose aesthetic brought a sense of grace and artistic sophistication to the game's early collectible years.