Murder

Murder was first introduced to the Magic: The Gathering card pool in the Magic 2013 core set, later reappearing in the 2016 expansion set Conspiracy: Take the Crown. As a common instant, it serves as a functional, straightforward piece of removal that allows players to destroy a target creature at any time. The set Conspiracy: Take the Crown was designed specifically for draft-style multiplayer play, focusing on political maneuvering and social manipulation, which makes a clean, efficient removal spell like Murder a staple utility card within that high-stakes context.

For this specific printing, artist Allen Williams provided a haunting, atmospheric illustration that departed from the more traditional, literal interpretations of the card's function seen in earlier sets. Williams, known for his work in dark fantasy and graphite illustration, utilized a somber, monochromatic aesthetic that emphasizes the ominous nature of the spell. His design was well-received for its artistic depth, elevating a simple common card into a piece that feels more thematic and evocative within the sinister, backstabbing world of the Conspiracy series.