Wickerbough Elder

Wickerbough Elder was released in 2008 as part of the Eventide expansion for Magic: The Gathering. As the second half of the Shadowmoor block, the set focused on the transition of the plane into a state of eternal night, emphasizing hybrid mana costs and mechanics that rewarded players for interacting with permanents that had multiple colors. The Elder was designed to showcase the set's affinity for the persist mechanic, which allowed creatures to return from the graveyard with a -1/-1 counter, creating a persistent board presence.

The card’s illustration was created by artist Jesper Ejsing, whose work often features high-fantasy creatures with organic, textured appearances. Ejsing sought to capture the Elder as a stoic guardian of the forest, utilizing earthy tones and sturdy, wooden forms to reflect the creature’s resilience and its thematic connection to the nature-heavy themes of the green-white color identity. Upon its release, the card was well-received by players for its efficiency in providing repeatable artifact and enchantment removal, securing it a lasting role in various casual and competitive formats.