Hostility

Hostility was included as a centerpiece card in the 2008 'Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra' set, a product line designed by Wizards of the Coast to introduce new players to Magic: The Gathering while offering thematic, pre-constructed gameplay experiences. The set leaned into the color pie philosophy of the game, pitting the blue-aligned Jace Beleren against the red-aligned Chandra Nalaar. Hostility served as a mechanically thematic inclusion for the Chandra deck, as its ability to turn countered spells into hasty elemental tokens synergized with the aggressive, fire-themed playstyle associated with her character.

The card illustration was executed by artist Greg Staples, whose work often characterizes the visceral, high-fantasy aesthetic of the game during this era. Staples captured the essence of pure red-aligned aggression with a hulking, magma-infused elemental form that reflected the card’s title and function. Upon release, the card was well-received by players for its role as a powerful sideboard tool against blue control decks, cementing its place as a recognizable staple of the early Duel Decks series.