Necromancer's Familiar

Necromancer's Familiar was released in 2021 as part of the Modern Horizons 2 expansion for Magic: The Gathering. Unlike standard sets, Modern Horizons was designed specifically for eternal formats like Modern, allowing Wizards of the Coast to introduce cards directly into the card pool without requiring them to pass through the Standard rotation. This card was conceptualized to support graveyard-centric strategies, providing players with a recurring method to filter their deck and manage resources from the discard pile.

The card was illustrated by Wisnu Tan, who utilized a dark, atmospheric aesthetic to capture the macabre essence of a necromantic servant. The design focuses on the synergy between the creature’s activated ability and the mechanics of the graveyard, reflecting the set's goal of introducing complex, high-utility cards that reward strategic deck-building. Upon release, it was received as a functional niche piece for black-aligned control and reanimator decks, favored by players who value consistent card selection.