Traitorous Instinct

Traitorous Instinct was first introduced to the Magic: The Gathering card game in the Zendikar expansion, designed to evoke the chaotic and untamed nature of the plane. The card functions as a sorcery that temporarily grants control of an opponent's creature while providing a power boost, a mechanic deeply rooted in the red color identity of impulsivity and temporary gain. Its reappearance in the 2017 Modern Masters set was intended to provide drafters with a specific utility tool for aggressive deck archetypes, ensuring that players could leverage an opponent's high-value threat to swing the momentum of a game.

The art for this iteration, consistent with its original release, captures the visceral, shifting energy of the Zendikar landscape. The illustration emphasizes the psychological and physical strain of the spell, depicting a creature being manipulated by external forces. Within the design philosophy of Modern Masters 2017, the card served as a functional reprint that maintained the aesthetic continuity of the Zendikar block while fitting into the curated environment of the master set, which focused on bringing iconic mechanics and flavor back into active rotation for modern play formats.