Rain of Salt

Rain of Salt was released in 1997 as part of the Portal expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Designed specifically as an introductory product, the Portal set aimed to streamline complex mechanics for newcomers by removing the 'instant' spell type and simplifying card interactions. The card itself, a white-bordered land destruction spell, reflects this era’s focus on clear, functional card design that prioritized readability over the intricate rules baggage typical of the game's earlier iterations.

The artwork for this card was created by artist Heather Hudson, a prolific illustrator who contributed hundreds of pieces to the game throughout the late 1990s and 2000s. Her approach to the piece captures a dramatic, somber atmosphere intended to convey the destructive nature of the spell within the game's fantasy world. While Portal was initially met with mixed reactions from veteran players due to its simplified mechanics, cards like Rain of Salt remain notable artifacts of the game's historical attempt to widen its player base.