Raise Dead

Raise Dead is a foundational card in the Magic: The Gathering trading card game, appearing as a common black spell in the 1995 Fourth Edition core set. As a reprint of a card from the game’s Alpha release, it reflects the early design philosophy of Richard Garfield, who sought to capture classic fantasy tropes like necromancy in a minimalist, repeatable mechanical format. The Fourth Edition printing served as a key entry point for the growing player base of the mid-1990s, offering a reliable utility spell for black-aligned decks.

The artwork for this version was illustrated by Sandra Everingham, who provided a distinct, somber aesthetic that aligned with the dark fantasy tone of the period. Her depiction of the spell captures the tactile nature of returning a creature from the graveyard to a player's hand. Like many cards from the Fourth Edition, the design is defined by its clean, white-bordered card frame, which remains a recognizable symbol of the game's transition from a niche hobby into a global cultural phenomenon.