Natural State

Natural State was released in early 2016 as part of the Oath of the Gatewatch set for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Developed by Wizards of the Coast, the set was designed to emphasize cooperative gameplay mechanics, specifically highlighting the 'cohort' ability and the growing conflict between the game's heroic Planeswalkers and the cosmic threat of the Eldrazi. This card was intended to provide a low-cost, efficient utility spell that allowed players to destroy artifacts or enchantments, serving as a staple response tool within the game's complex mechanical ecosystem.

The card's visual identity was crafted by artist Bastien L. Deharme, who utilized a distinct, evocative style to capture the essence of nature reclaiming structure. The illustration depicts verdant flora aggressively overgrowing a synthetic, metallic construction, visually reinforcing the card's mechanical function of dismantling artificial objects. Upon its release, the card was well-received by the player base for its flexibility and power-to-cost ratio, quickly becoming a fixture in various competitive formats as an essential side-deck inclusion for controlling board states.