Stalking Drone

Stalking Drone was released in 2016 as part of the Oath of the Gatewatch set, the second expansion in the Battle for Zendikar block. This set was designed to emphasize the ongoing struggle against the Eldrazi, eldritch entities threatening the survival of the plane. Mechanically, the card was designed to support the 'devoid' archetype, a keyword that marked cards as colorless even when they required colored mana to cast, reflecting the alien and corruption-driven nature of the Eldrazi influence on the world.

The artwork was created by Slawomir Maniak, who rendered the drone as a hovering, insectoid horror characterized by sharp, crystalline geometry and an unsettling, multi-eyed anatomy. Maniak’s design intended to evoke a sense of clinical observation and impending threat, consistent with the set's broader narrative of the Eldrazi forces systematically scouring the land. Upon release, the card functioned primarily as a common-rarity utility piece for Limited play, valued for its ability to provide early aggression while maintaining the colorless identity required for synergistic deck builds.