Rats

The Rats card from the Jumpstart 2022 front cards series was released as part of a set designed to streamline the popular Jumpstart play experience. These front cards serve as the visual identity for randomized 20-card themed decks, allowing players to quickly identify the contents and strategic archetype of a pack before beginning a game. The set was conceived to support a high-variance, pick-up-and-play format that removes the need for traditional deck construction, making the game accessible to both new and veteran players.

The illustration by Christina Kraus captures a frantic, swarming aesthetic that aligns with the tribal mechanics of the Rats deck, which typically focuses on overwhelming opponents through volume and synergistic buffs. Kraus opted for a dark, textured style that emphasizes the chaotic nature of a rat colony, moving away from more clinical or whimsical depictions found in earlier magic sets. The artwork was well-received by the community for its thematic cohesion and its ability to immediately signal the high-aggression playstyle associated with the deck.