Runner's Bane

Runner's Bane was released in 2013 as part of the Dragon's Maze expansion for Magic: The Gathering. As the final set in the Return to Ravnica block, it focused on the climax of the guild-based conflict on the plane of Ravnica, with this specific card serving as a common-rarity utility spell intended to highlight the set's mechanical emphasis on creature interaction and board state management.

The card features artwork by artist E.M. Gist, who illustrated the piece with a focus on the grim, urban aesthetic of the Orzhov Syndicate. By depicting a creature being magically shackled or hindered, the illustration aims to capture the thematic essence of control and restriction inherent to the black-aligned guilds within the Ravnica cityscape. Upon its release, it was regarded by the player community as a niche sideboard tool, primarily utilized in Limited formats to neutralize aggressive early-game threats.