Zealous Persecution

Zealous Persecution was released in 2009 as part of Alara Reborn, the final set in the Shards of Alara block for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. The set was notable for being the first in the game's history to consist entirely of multicolored cards, reflecting the thematic convergence of the fractured plane of Alara. The card was designed as a white and black sorcery that provides a temporary power boost to the player's creatures while simultaneously weakening the opponent's board state, serving as a versatile tool for aggressive black-white strategies.

The artwork for the card was created by illustrator Zoltan Boros, who was tasked with depicting the aggressive, zealot-focused aesthetic associated with the Orzhov or Mardu-adjacent themes of the color pair. Boros aimed to capture a sense of fanatical intensity through the visual depiction of organized, divine-sanctioned combat. Upon its release, the card saw immediate play in various competitive formats, particularly in the Standard environment of the time, where its ability to swing combat math in favor of small, aggressive creature decks was highly valued by tournament players.