Puncturing Blow

Puncturing Blow was released in 2017 as part of the Hour of Devastation expansion for Magic: The Gathering. Set on the plane of Amonkhet, the card reflects the climactic narrative of the block, where the dragon planeswalker Nicol Bolas returns to reclaim the world he reshaped. The card design serves as a functional piece of red-aligned removal, intended to provide players with a way to exile creatures that would otherwise trigger death effects or return from the graveyard.

The artwork was created by Eric Deschamps, a prolific illustrator for the game known for his dynamic compositions. Deschamps portrays a bolt of magical energy tearing through a construct, capturing the violent, focused intensity of the spell's thematic function. As a common card, it was designed primarily for limited play environments, where it was received as a reliable and efficient tool for managing mid-to-late game threats.