Soul Manipulation

Soul Manipulation was released in 2009 as part of the Alara Reborn set for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. The set was unique in the game's history because it consisted entirely of gold-bordered, multicolored cards, representing the culmination of the storyline involving the convergence of five distinct shards into a single plane. As a blue-black spell, it reflects the mechanical themes of Grixis, the shard characterized by death, decay, and the recycling of resources, allowing players to both counter a creature spell and return a creature card from their graveyard to their hand.

The card's art was created by the illustrator Chippy, who has contributed extensively to the game's aesthetic identity. The visual design emphasizes the somber, necrotic nature of the Grixis plane, depicting a spellcaster channeling energy through the remains of the deceased. Upon its release, the card was received as a versatile utility tool for limited formats, valued for its ability to generate two-for-one card advantage by simultaneously disrupting an opponent's momentum and bolstering the player's own battlefield presence.