Raise Dead

Raise Dead was included as card number 21 in the Rivals Quick Start Set, released by Wizards of the Coast in 1997. This set was designed as an introductory product to bridge the gap between the complex rules of Magic: The Gathering and the simplified mechanics of the now-defunct Netrunner-inspired Rivals game system. It provided a structured way for new players to engage with the thematic concepts of graveyard recursion and resource management common to the fantasy card game genre of the late nineties.

The card features an illustration that emphasizes the visceral, necromantic themes inherent to the spell's effect. The design team focused on creating accessible, functional cards that served as core staples for deck building within the Quick Start format. While the Rivals line did not achieve long-term commercial success compared to its parent game, Raise Dead remains a recognizable artifact of the experimentation Wizards of the Coast conducted in the late 1990s to broaden their audience and refine card accessibility for beginners.