Lier, Disciple of the Drowned

Lier, Disciple of the Drowned was released in the 2021 Magic: The Gathering expansion, Innistrad: Midnight Hunt. The card was designed to represent a pivotal character in the set's narrative, a human cleric who turned to the worship of the Drowned after being driven to madness by the darkening days of the plane. Mechanically, the card was crafted to impact high-level competitive play by allowing players to cast spells from their graveyard while preventing those spells from being countered, a design choice that pushed the boundaries of traditional spell-casting interactions.

The artwork was commissioned from illustrator Evan Cagle, who captured Lier's descent into fanaticism through a haunting and waterlogged aesthetic. Cagle sought to evoke the gothic horror themes central to the Innistrad setting, utilizing muted, desaturated tones and atmospheric lighting to emphasize the character’s connection to the flooded landscape. Upon its release, the card was well-received by the player base for its unique strategic utility, establishing it as a formidable presence in constructed formats where graveyard synergy is rewarded.