Mask of Riddles

Mask of Riddles was released in 2009 as part of Alara Reborn, the final expansion of the Shards of Alara block for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. The set was notable for being the first in the game's history to consist entirely of multicolored cards. In the narrative of the game, this card represents the intricate and deceptive nature of the Grixis shard, a plane defined by death, decay, and the pursuit of power through dark artifice.

The card was illustrated by the artist Christopher Moeller, who employed his signature painterly style to capture the eerie, skeletal aesthetic of the Grixis aesthetic. The design focuses on the duality of the artifact, reflecting its mechanical function of drawing cards upon combat damage. It has been recognized by players as a staple utility card within the Limited format for its ability to provide consistent card advantage, serving as a distinct example of the set's emphasis on complex, multi-colored mechanical identity.