Syr Konrad, the Grim

Syr Konrad, the Grim, first appeared in the Throne of Eldraine set in 2019, drawing inspiration from Arthurian legend filtered through the gothic, fairy-tale aesthetic of the Eldraine plane. The character was designed to represent a knight burdened by the weight of his own immortality and the endless cycle of death, a theme mirrored in his mechanical ability to deal damage whenever creatures perish. This specific iteration, printed in the 2023 March of the Machine Commander set, serves as a thematic reprint that integrates the character into the multi-planar conflict against the Phyrexians.

The original card art was illustrated by Wisnu Tan, who captured a grim, atmospheric tone that emphasizes the character's role as a fallen guardian. When introduced, Syr Konrad was well-received by players for his synergy with graveyard-focused strategies and his unique, repeatable damage-ping mechanic, which proved potent in the Commander format. This version retains the flavor of the original design while providing a refreshed visual presentation suited to the set's broader narrative scope.