Murder

Murder was first introduced to the Magic: The Gathering card pool in the Magic 2013 core set, designed as a straightforward, efficient removal spell that epitomizes the color black’s ability to destroy creatures instantly. By the release of the Core Set 2020 version, the card had become a staple of the game’s common rarity, serving as a reliable utility piece for players in both limited and constructed formats. It was designed to provide a clear, unambiguous answer to threats on the battlefield, reflecting the ruthless nature of the game’s black-aligned magic.

The 2020 iteration of this card features evocative, somber artwork by Allen Williams. Known for his intricate and often haunting illustrative style, Williams focused on the visceral finality of the spell. His design avoids overly chaotic imagery in favor of a quiet, deliberate sense of dread, aligning with the card's function as a cold and calculated strike. Upon its release in this set, the artwork was well-received by the community for its artistic depth, which elevated a mechanically simple card into a piece of dark, atmospheric visual storytelling.