When this card was legal, being able to discard 2 cards in return for a Trainer from your discard pile was a handy ability
This wasn't just any Poliwrath, however, but instead one of only three GEM-MT 10 copies of the "No Rarity" variant that resulted from a printing error that occurred during the TCG's infancy
This versatility is important, as March of Swirling Mist can either protect your creatures or phase out your opponent's, which is crucial when you're being attacked or trying to bypass a difficult blocker
The way she seems to dissolve into painterly strokes as your eyes move across the piece is an incredibly effective use of the medium, while the expression on her face, perfectly captured mid-scream, makes it clear that, while her sacrifice was heroic, it definitely wasnt easy for Elspeth.
Thats especially nice when you consider some people will pay three mana for a spell that does the same thing without the creature that stays around and might get even more lands later