Queza, Augur of Agonies

Queza, Augur of Agonies was released in 2022 as part of the Streets of New Capenna expansion for Magic: The Gathering. The set draws heavy inspiration from 1920s Art Deco architecture and noir crime fiction, centering on the titular city of New Capenna, a metropolis built by angels and controlled by five warring demonic families. As a member of the Obscura, a faction of mages and spies who value information and manipulation, Queza embodies the sinister elegance and deceptive complexity central to the set's thematic identity.

The card was illustrated by Josh Hass, whose design choices lean into the dark, ornate aesthetic prevalent throughout the set. Hass depicts Queza as a haunting, ethereal figure wrapped in flowing, ink-like shadows, effectively capturing the card's mechanical focus on card draw and life drain. Upon release, the card gained significant traction within the Commander format, where players often favored it for its unique ability to turn the act of drawing cards into a weaponized resource against opponents.