Wickerbough Elder

Wickerbough Elder was originally released in the 2008 Magic: The Gathering set Eventide. As a rare creature card within the Shadowmoor block, it reflects the block's emphasis on hybrid mana costs and the eerie, autumnal folklore aesthetic that defined the set's artistic direction. The card was designed to provide utility through its ability to destroy artifacts and enchantments, leaning into the mechanics of the persist keyword which allowed creatures to return to the battlefield after dying.

The card was illustrated by Rebecca Guay, an artist widely recognized for her ethereal, painterly style that became a hallmark of early Magic: The Gathering. Guay’s portrayal of the Elder captures a shifting, arboreal figure that feels deeply rooted in the dark, mystical flavor of the Shadowmoor plane. Its inclusion in The List—a curated selection of reprints inserted into later expansion boosters—serves as a nod to the card's enduring tactical value and its status as a classic example of green-aligned utility in the game's history.