Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Cosplay Spotlight: Fell Horseman Creature, Deathly Ride
There’s something irresistibly cinematic about the two faces of Fell Horseman // Deathly Ride. From the grim hallway of a knightly undertaker to the whispering shadows of a graveyard-tinged spell, this Wilds of Eldraine pairing invites cosplayers to tell two stories with one costume. The front face, Fell Horseman, is a zombie knight whose 3/3 body demands sturdy construction and restrained menace. The back face, Deathly Ride, is a lean gesture toward the grave, a compact adventure spell that fetches a fallen ally back from the dead. Together, they form a narrative toggle: suit up as the armored revenant and then reveal the spellbound trick that lets you bend death to your will. 🧙♂️🔥
What makes this pair so cosplay-friendly is how seamlessly the two halves converse through color and silhouette. The color identity is singularly Black, with a mood that leans toward bone gray, tarnished steel, and the hush of night. The art on Igor Krstic’s faces captures a fairy-tale macabre: noble armor that has seen hard battles, and a haunting, almost ceremonial magic that hints at the underworld’s quiet revolution. That duality is precisely what prop builders dream of when they sketch out a build plan: one heroic, armored shell that can transform into a more intimate, skeletal magic-user. ⚔️🎨
Crafting the Look: practical tips for a two-face build
- Base and armor: Start with EVA foam or Worbla for the plate sections. A blackened steel paint job with dry brushing to highlight edges creates that battle-worn gleam without looking cartoonish. Think layered, misaligned plates that peek out from beneath a cloak—less pristine knight, more haunted sentinel.
- Helmet and headpieces: A tall helm with a visor that can lift to reveal the skull motif on Fell Horseman’s face sells the “two faces” energy. Consider a modular add-on that can detach or flip, mimicking the transition between creature and spell.
- Cloak and textiles: A tattered cape in charcoal to midnight tones anchors the look. Frayed edges, shredded hems, and subtle bone-like embroidery (think ivory thread or silver-gray appliqués) nod to the Deathly Ride theme without overpowering the armor’s silhouette. 🧵
- Bone accents and details: Bone vambraces, skeletal gauntlets, and a shoulder crest shaped like a ribcage can be achieved with lightweight foam carved with a Dremel and sealed with a matte finish. The key is texture, not gloss—keep it grounded and realistic.
- Weapon and props: A long, dark blade or halberd with bone inlays becomes a visual proxy for the adventure’s fetch—Deathly Ride’s return-from-grave mechanic. A small prop card or parchment slip attached to the belt can echo the “return from your graveyard” flavor text.
- Makeup and presence: Pale base with cool gray shading around eyes, shaded cheekbones, and a touch of ash on the lips sells the undead vibe. For photos, a soft backlight can carve the silhouette and make the armor’s edges pop even in low light. 💀
Two faces, one story: storytelling through cosplay
The design philosophy behind Fell Horseman // Deathly Ride invites cosplayers to stage a reveal moment. On the convention floor, you might pose mid-stride as the knight—breath fogging in the cold air, cape snapping behind you. Then, flip to the Deathly Ride side and show a graveyard relic moment—perhaps retrieving a relic or a target prop from a prop graveyard, signaling the card’s recursion power. The trick is to let the audience feel the transition: one person, two identities, one mythic fate. This approach is very Eldraine in spirit—where fairy-tale danger hides just beyond the gleaming armor. 🧙♀️🗡️
Pro photographers love this concept because the two faces can be captured as a diptych: a heroic, armored silhouette against a chiaroscuro graveyard backdrop, with a quick, expressive flip into the spell’s casual complexity. Small stage elements—fog machines, subtle greenish or bluish light, and bone-white props—can underscore the “two faces” narrative without turning the shoot into a cosplay parade. The result is an image that feels like a whispered legend from Eldraine’s enchanted forests and moonlit battlements. 🪄
Accessibility and budget-minded notes
Two-faced cosplay doesn’t have to break the bank. Build up a solid, reusable base armor in black tones, then supplement with removable bone details to swap looks. Foam, craft epoxies, and a handful of satin or velvet fabrics can deliver a convincing cloak for far less than a full metal build. Budget-friendly lighting tricks—LED strips tucked behind armor plates or a single colored gel on a handheld light—can elevate the Deathly Ride effect on camera. And if you’re chasing a show-stopping photo, lean into the contrast: the stark, clean lines of armor against the soft, weathered textures of the cloak create a striking visual rhythm that feels almost magical. 🔥
Where to find inspiration and connect with fans
Beyond the cosplay itself, the Fell Horseman’s lore intersects with the broader Eldraine universe’s charm and peril. The art captures a moment of metamorphosis—armor becoming creature, spell becoming memory. It’s a reminder that in Magic, design is a dialogue between artwork, mechanics, and player imagination. Panels, livestreams, and community showcases love these two-face concepts because they invite creativity while staying rooted in the card’s mechanical identity. If you’re building a portfolio or planning a con showcase, this pair is a perfect centerpiece for a “story in two acts” shoot. 🧙♂️💎
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