Oyobi, Who Split the Heavens

Oyobi, Who Split the Heavens was released in 2005 as part of the Betrayers of Kamigawa expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. The set explored the second act of the Kamigawa block, a top-down design inspired by Japanese mythology and folklore, depicting a brutal war between the physical realm and the spirit world. This card, a legendary spirit, represents the celestial entities that defined the conflict's high-fantasy aesthetic.

The card’s illustration was created by artist Christopher Rush, a legendary figure in the early history of the game. Rush utilized a distinct, painterly style to capture the ethereal and imposing nature of the spirits found within the Kamigawa setting. While the card is often discussed for its place in the history of white-aligned spirit tribal mechanics, its visual design remains a notable example of Rush’s ability to imbue cards with a sense of mythological weight.