Murder

Murder was first introduced to Magic: The Gathering in the 2013 core set, arriving as a direct-speed removal spell that solidified black's mechanical identity in modern play. Its design reflects the transition toward streamlining removal tools in core sets, offering a clean, simple answer to creature-based threats without the color-pie restrictions of earlier incarnations like Terror or Doom Blade.

The card features artwork by Allen Williams, whose illustration depicts a shadowed, chilling assassination scene that emphasizes the grim nature of the spell. The piece was well-received by the player base for its evocative atmosphere, and the card itself became a staple common, appearing frequently in limited formats and serving as a fundamental pedagogical tool for new players learning the value of reactive card advantage.