Scars of the Veteran

Scars of the Veteran was released in June 1996 as part of the Alliances expansion for Magic: The Gathering. As the second standalone expansion set, Alliances was designed to shift the game’s competitive landscape by introducing powerful mechanics and providing a thematic continuation of the Ice Age block's narrative. The card serves as a thematic reflection of the brutal, drawn-out conflicts defining that era of the game's lore, functioning as an instant that rewards players for managing the resilience of their creatures during combat.

The artwork was commissioned from Dan Frazier, one of the original illustrators for Magic: The Gathering who is perhaps best known for his iconic designs of the game's Power Nine artifacts. Frazier utilized his distinctively stark and gritty style to capture the toll of war, opting for a visceral depiction that aligned with the set's dark, high-fantasy tone. At the time of its release, the card was noted for its utility in limited formats, though it remains a modest, nostalgic piece for those documenting the transition period of the mid-1990s card designs.