Liliana's Specter

Liliana's Specter was originally introduced in the 2010 Magic: The Gathering core set, designed as an efficient black creature that forces opponents to discard a card upon entering the battlefield. The card reflects the color pie's emphasis on hand disruption and attrition, serving as a tactical tool to deplete an opponent's resources while providing a flying threat. Its inclusion in the 2016 Planechase Anthology, specifically as card number 34, placed it within a preconstructed multiplayer experience that utilized planar cards to alter the game environment.

The artwork for the card was created by Aleksi Briclot, a prolific illustrator known for his work in the fantasy genre. Briclot's design captures the spectral, haunting aesthetic associated with Liliana Vess, a central necromancer character in the game's narrative. The illustration emphasizes a ghostly, ethereal quality, consistent with the card's function as a shadowy figure that lingers to plague the mind of the opponent. It was well-received by the player base as a staple of the format due to its combination of evasion and utility.