Web

Web was originally printed in the Alpha set of Magic: The Gathering in 1993, representing the game's early focus on top-down design where mechanics directly mirrored flavor. As a green enchantment, it serves as an anti-flying utility card, designed to ground creatures that would otherwise bypass the player's defenses. The Ninth Edition printing, released in 2005, marked the card's inclusion in the first modern-frame core set, providing a refined aesthetic that updated the classic look for a new generation of players.

The illustration for this iteration was crafted by artist Christopher Rush, a legendary figure in the game's history known for his iconic work on the original Black Lotus. Rush’s approach to the card emphasizes the visceral, entangling nature of the web, capturing the essence of a forest predator trapping its airborne prey. While the card is a functional reprint from the early days of the game, its presence in Ninth Edition reflects Wizards of the Coast's effort to preserve the foundational mechanics that defined the game's initial strategic identity.