Screeching Griffin

Screeching Griffin was released in 2005 as part of the Ravnica: City of Guilds set, the first expansion in the Ravnica block for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. Designed by Wizards of the Coast, this set introduced a multi-color focused theme centered on the sprawling, urban plane of Ravnica, where ten distinct guilds vie for influence. The card was created to serve as a common-rarity white creature, providing players with a reliable flying unit that could be tapped to prevent an opponent's creature from attacking, fitting the defensive and restrictive identity of the game's white mana color pie.

The artwork for the card was provided by illustrator Greg Staples, a long-time contributor to the game whose style often features moody, atmospheric lighting and a gritty, painterly approach. Staples intended to capture the imposing and aggressive nature of the griffin within the context of Ravnica's dense, gothic cityscape. Upon its release, the card was widely recognized by players for its utility in the 'Limited' formats—Draft and Sealed—where its combination of evasion and utility made it a staple for white-based decks during the Ravnica tournament season.