Maro

Maro originally appeared in the 1996 Mirage expansion, designed by Richard Garfield as a unique creature whose power and toughness are tied to the number of cards in its controller's hand. Its inclusion in the Seventh Edition core set in 2002 marked a significant moment for the card, as it was one of the few pieces of design work to be grandfathered into the modern core set era from the early days of Magic: The Gathering. The card was chosen for this set to provide a classic example of green's identity, emphasizing card advantage and scaling growth.

The artwork for this version was provided by Pete Venters, a prolific artist who has illustrated hundreds of cards for the game. Venters depicts the elemental spirit of Maro as a hulking, wood-and-vine figure emerging from a dense forest landscape. His interpretation leans into the card's nature-bound theme, utilizing earthy tones and organic textures that were well-received by players for their consistency with the creature's established lore and color identity within the game's broader mechanical framework.