Snow-Covered Island

The Snow-Covered Island, numbered 152 in the 2006 Coldsnap expansion for Magic: The Gathering, was released as part of a set designed to complete the long-unfinished Ice Age block. Wizards of the Coast intended the set to evoke the mechanics and aesthetic of 1995's Ice Age and Alliances, reintroducing the 'snow' supertype which had remained largely dormant for over a decade. By including these snow-covered basic lands, the designers provided players with the necessary fuel for cold-themed mechanics that scaled based on the number of snow permanents controlled.

The art for this particular card was rendered by illustrator Anthony S. Waters, a frequent contributor to the game during this era. Waters opted for a stark, desolate landscape that emphasized the brutalist, frozen atmosphere central to the Coldsnap narrative. The piece was well-received by players for its atmospheric consistency, fitting seamlessly into the visual identity of the set and establishing a bleak, wintry tone that distinguished it from standard basic land illustrations found in core sets.