Ihsan's Shade

Ihsan's Shade originally debuted in the 1996 Homelands expansion for Magic: The Gathering. Created during a period when the game's creative direction focused on deep, top-down atmospheric lore, the card represents a legendary entity from the plane of Ulgrotha. The character was designed to embody the haunting, ephemeral nature of dark magic, with art by Pete Venters capturing the creature's sinister and elusive silhouette.

The version from 'The List'—a rotating selection of reprints featured in Set Boosters—reintroduces this classic card to modern players. By including it in this curated collection, the developers honor the game's long history and the specific aesthetic sensibilities of the mid-1990s. While Homelands was initially met with a mixed reception due to its lower power level relative to previous sets, cards like Ihsan’s Shade have since gained appreciation among collectors for their distinct artistic style and nostalgic value.