The Evolution of Horror in Magic: the Gathering 

So which era was your favorite, but be sure to let us know why!

I really don't understand this Christian based hatred of gory and dark imagery. I was at a Catholic church and a priest told me that the skull on my shirt was "giving bad vibes", I pointed out the agonising crucified man in plain sight of everyone, with a skull at the feet of the cross, and asked him how that was any different. Our religion used to not be afraid of evil and dark imagery

Bloodborne is my favorite video game of all time. The blending of classic gothic horror and Lovecraftian is just beautiful. When Shadows Over Innistrad came out, it actually pulled me out of a long time hiatus from MtG. Another blending of two genres of horror, and is still my absolute favorite set that has come out so far. Another great video, Dice.

Probably because I joined in during the modern era, I definitely prefer the more subtle horror of now. It sits with you and sinks in rather than shock you before taking the time to observe it. Though the older eras can definitely take hold and stick with you

I like the Modern Era's art more on average than the Rennaissance's and Classic's, but the looser cohesion of the older eras lent itself to some truly unique pieces that wouldn't exist nowadays if not for booster fun type stuff, and some that just might not exist nowadays at all.

My two cents on new phyrexia: I actually prefer the art from the scars of mirrodin block. Many cards from New Phyrexia Had this dark, almost smudged look (Necropuncer, Xenograft). That, and the fact that the artistic identities of the factions hadn't solidified yet created this feeling of profound corruption. The creatures of All Will Be One look like perfected constructs, while the Mirrodin war era phyrexians look like diseased versions of existing creatures. It creates a feeling that the oil is an intrusive force that takes over, rather than creates. Even the lighting on some of the cards feels corrupted (Forced Worship, Inquisitor Exarch, Phyrexian Rebirth, Strandwalker), creating this feeling that the very air is thick, greasy, and noxious, but somehow also unbearably dry. I compare this favorably to the clean, glorious spires of Elesh Norns white temples. TLDR: Scars of Mirrodin phyrexians look like twisted monstrosoties. All Will Be One phyrexians look like comic book villains. Both eras are good, I personally prefer the former. (Edit: also look up: Flesh Allergy, Inexorable Tide, Contagion Engine, Vivisection)

14:41 First time seeing this card, and it's so disturbing. Seriously, so frightening and panic inducing. The look on the surgeon's face is so deeply unsettling.

To me, horror is best illustrated in cards with mechanics that are deeply unsettling to a player's core gameplay loop at what costs are you willing to go for a slight edge or what sacrifice will you make to ensure the contiunation of your gameplan. I feel a lot of these cards nail that on the head, let there be no greater motive like murder to remove any creature on the field for 3 mana.

Great video! I love how it went through out the history of horror in MTG, my first set was a Crimson Vows gift bundle I remember the feeling of amazement while seeing vampires and zombie cards which personally I love in horror movies, finding out that horror expands way beyond is beautiful, the art designs and stories give great meaning

5:42 Urzas Sega

Whilst I do not indulge in horror for enjoyment, it is ever present in a card game of which I do indulge. I feel this video has helped shine a light on an artistic aspect of Magic which often goes unspoken. Thank you for your video. 😎

While a break might have been nice, I actually still enjoyed the artwork and aesthetic of Shadows over Innistrad and Eldritch Moon. The Shadows block felt like the beginning of a Lovecraftean story while Eldritch Moon felt like the payoff. The people of Innistrad live with all sorts of terrors and monsters that would consume them at any chance they got. Evil witches and mad scientists would use them as ingredients for their potions and experiments. Vampires seduce and kill them. Werewolves hunt the humans like prey. It is all a case of Humans VS Monsters on Innistrad. Introducing the Eldrazi does something that I think is very cool...it takes that trope and twists it. Where before the monsters of Innistrad were the predators, now they can be the prey as the madness seeps into the plane itself. It takes the established rules of Innistrad, rules that the humans fully understood, and changes it so that now no one is safe.

It could be just the fact that only started playing magic commander only a couple years ago. With Midnight hunt being my first ever pack I’ve opened. But i believe the modern era is magic’s best horror era. It’s gore may not be as clear cut and its terrifying machines may be more out of place. But they still belong here. I’m a massive fan of body horror, gothic horror, psychological horror and eldritch horror. And I feel like even the most recent sets tell that tone well. Beneath the resplendent glow of wine and laughter of Cepenna lies killers and beasts within everyone’s shadows. Hidden underneath an angelic facade is a demon. Phyreixa took its horror to new horizons. It’s designs were clean. As if the unnatural twist was normal. As if it’s always been this way. And of course, innastrad’s gothic horror captivated me most. Werewolves on the hunt, humans turning to old magic of even Pagan nature. A lot of people disregard the modern age. But don’t let it fool you. Look at it through a different lease and think. And see

I never understood why your vids feel like a short breath and my watch goes half an hour ahead lol I LOVE your Horror themed videos, Innistrad is a must-rewatch every few months. I hope they explode the old unsettling and disturbing art for the house of horrors :D Thanks for your work! Have a nice weekend!

Oh hey das me Definitely didn't know _this_ was the video you were working on! Good job, it's well-researched, edited, and informative!

What an interesting video. I didn't know what exactly I was missing from the old magic, but I can see it now… Man, I miss the fleshy evoking horror from the old phyrexian themes, especially the masterwork from Mark Tedin and Ron Spencer. Subscribed!

I still take umbrage with what happened to the Werewolves of Innistrad in MH/CV. The wws of Innistrad used to look so unique and distinct, but in the newest sets they've turned into far more generic designes. Anyone else notice this?

This video is just amazing! A delight for both horror and MTG fans. Thanks for it.

This was wonderful. And it was beautifully done. Bravo! 👍🏽👍🏽 I absolutely loved this. Thank you. For reference: What I enjoy most about MtG is the art, lore, and history of it. Getting into MtG over the past 4 years helped realize I have always had a soft spot for Sci Fi horror, cosmic horror, biopunk, biomech, science fantasy, etc. This video was very much up my alley 👍🏽👍🏽

awesome video and very thorough

The Mirrodin/New Phyrexia blocks were what was out when i started, and I've loved the phyrexians ever since.

Great video. I just have one small piece of constructive feedback. If you felt the tone shift in 2017 and the horror became a back seat there, then why not have your renaissance era end in 2017 instead of 2021? I feel like we hit 2017 in the video and then did a quick jump after a couple lines of dialogue to what came after in 2021 with hardly any commentary about what happened in the 4 years in between! So I feel like 2017 would have been a more appropriate cut off point for your era since that seems like what you were leaning towards saying in your video! Just a thought! Unless I misinterpreted something in which case forget everything I said lol But again, great video!

Technically the layer d design of New Phyrexia isn’t is touted by Dante’s Inferno; it is in cannon an homage to the original Phyrexia which had nine layers like that but when the writers came up with that design decades ago, it was in fact based on Dante’s Inferno. Iunno if anyone who was around back then is still around now tho n if they aren’t then I think it rude if then to take credit for associating Phyrexia with The Divine Comedy. That would be like me taking a tooth brush n saying “We should make a bigger version of this to use on ur hair. We would make millions; I’m such a genius inventor with totally original ideas.”

Great video man! Thnx

Great Work. Thank you!

Manifesting campy "classic era" horror in duskmorne 🙏🙏🙏 Also Dominik Mayer mentioned!!!!!

Great video !

I feel like the side story of Crimson Vow "The Edge of the world" also kind of shows this era of horror, with an acceptance of fate more than out right death...

Evil is always criticized as being an opposing force to religion. I myself plan to do a video discussing horror in each color of magic in terms of what makes them morally evil. White for example is in design a cult mentality if given enough power. Between smaller groups it’s just unity in the darkness of mortality but as a civilization it’s moral purity that knows no bending or grey areas. You’re either doing what’s right or what’s wrong

Awesome video

I came back to Magic during the pandemic and started collecting cards for mainly Midnight Hunt, Crimson Vow and All Will Be One and I've been thinking the exact same thing that you mentioned in the video. Contemporary Magic-art is less scary and dark than they used to be around the Original Innistrad-block and New Phyrexia. Maybe Wizards are afraid of scaring off potential fans?

wow ......... .......just wow 10/10

Great video. Please list the card name in a corner when you use a full screen piece of art. Often I would like to look it up

epic!!!

The scariest thing im seeing in dusknore is that it has semi modern clothes

Innistrad never struck me as a plane were human are helpless, it's a plane full of dangers but humans show that thy can handle even the worst it can throw at them. Also I feel this way because of gameplay reasons, humane have always been stronger than vampires and werewolves

I always find it funny how Shadows over Innistrad/Eldritch moon seem to be disliked by the youtube Mtg art sphere but beloved by everyone else. Those sets to me represent a concept done very well that isnt often explored. I love the gothic horror meets eldritch horror theme of it and all the art.

Can someone tell me which cards are from the arts at 13:06 and 13:57?

Thank you for creating this amazing i truly enjoyed it. Yet i hope anyone can explain to me the reason why seeing the classic art as being simply made for shock value I personally love the classic horror art and i dont see it as simple on the contrary. I just dont understand how the modern watered down art and even most of the 2010-2018 art to mature while the classics aren't Sorry i am not an art student but i simply cannot see the classic art as simple gore i feel the criticism is a bit unjust and maybe biased and not necessarily from you but even others i met irl or online say modern/new art is better I hope to understand why that being the case

The horror was what originally got me into MTG, because I was a pretty edgy 12 year old. As an edgy 31 year old, it's still good but I miss the old style.

It's worth noting that even if your parents aren't fundamentalists or even religious it's pretty normal to question your kids looking at some of this stuff

I miss art from the early 2010’s. It was really incredible what they could do then. Too many art pieces now look like league of legends splash art 24:10 exactly this. Magic is starting to feel too bright and happy now. It’s becoming marvelesque

Hate to be that guy but… There’s an extra R in the title. “Horrror”

Horror is what got me into MtG. I still remember the first time I saw my favorite card art: Phyrexian Broodlings. I hope we don't lose that like everything else is destroyed by "diversity."

Don’t use AI! Thank you!

10:32 A second wave? I thought the original Satanic Panic was still going, given how Christian the Republicans have been getting.

Hmm AI voices have improved a lot but it’s still not quite there

Morden era is easily.. The worst. At lest for me.

I'm always kinda shocked by the strength of religion in the USA. The fact that you couldn't trust your parents to let you play mtg really came as a shock to me