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The '''rifts''' or '''time rifts''' were fractures in the planar fabric of [[Dominaria]] and to a lesser extent other [[plane]]s. In the greater scheme of things the rifts resulted from the imbalance between the primal forces of the [[Multiverse]] and the power of | [[File:Aura Flux.jpg|right|thumb|<c>Aura Flux</c>. Art by [[John Avon]].]] | ||
The '''rifts''' or '''time rifts''' were fractures in the planar fabric of [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]] and to a lesser extent other [[plane]]s (such as the [[Dead Zone]] on [[Ulgrotha]]). In the greater scheme of things the rifts resulted from the imbalance between the primal forces of the [[Multiverse]], and the power of [[god]]like [[planeswalker]]s or similar spells. | |||
{{TOCright}} | |||
==Description== | |||
Each of the major rifts was caused by some catastrophe, and in almost every case a planeswalker was involved.<ref name="Time Spiral">[[Scott McGough]] (2006), "[[Time Spiral (novel)|Time Spiral]]", [[Wizards of the Coast]]</ref> Sometime after [[Karona]]'s destruction, the rifts that accumulated over Dominaria's history proved too much — the damage to the plane was too severe to allow for self-repair. | |||
While each rift had a unique "personality" linked to the circumstances of its creation, they all had some common properties: They cut off the plane from its [[mana]] and caused anomalies in space and time. They also influenced each other, and with each additional rift, the others grew. | |||
If a planeswalker would 'walk near a rift, they would be afflicted with pain and glimpses of the realities that lie beyond the rifts. As such, 'walking near a rift would often cause the planeswalker to momentarily lose consciousness and become dazed and confused. Teferi was noticeably affected by the rifts in his first few encounters with them, while Freyalise was able to retain her focus. Nicol Bolas seemed to be unaffected or undisturbed by the rifts when he planeswalked in Madara near the Talon Gates while fighting Teferi. | |||
The rifts allowed | The rifts allowed [[creature]]s, people, objects, and spells from the past, alternate timelines, and possible futures to be pulled into the present day, while present Dominarians were sometimes caught up in the rifts and sent to times other than their own. Some [[wizard]]s used the rifts to their advantage, learning to draw magic through them. | ||
The [[suspend]] | When [[Phasing|phased-out]] [[Shiv]] was about to return, [[Teferi]] realized that without repairs Dominaria would be destroyed. Being the [[Nexus of the Multiverse]] it would take every other plane with it in a chain reaction. | ||
The keywords [[split second]], [[vanishing]], and [[suspend]] are associated with the time rifts. | |||
==Major rifts== | ==Major rifts== | ||
Before the [[Mending]], there were eight major rifts in existence (though numerous smaller ones sprung up across Dominaria). Here they are presented in the chronological order of their creation: | |||
===Madaran rift=== | ===Madaran rift=== | ||
Fifteen to twenty thousand years before the events of the rift crisis, the first battle between planeswalkers on Dominaria took place in [[Madara]].<ref>[[James Wyatt]] (2018), ''[[The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Dominaria]]''. [[VIZ Media]].</ref> It was a fight to the death between the [[Dragon#Elder Dragons|elder dragon]] [[Nicol Bolas]] and an unknown [[demon]]ic [[leviathan]]. Their battle destroyed one-third of the continent and caused the first temporal damage to the plane. The rift was located at the [[Talon Gates]], a remnant of that conflict. | |||
The rift was closed second to last by Nicol Bolas, using [[Leshrac]], killing the Nightwalker in the process. | When [[Ravi]] rang the [[Apocalypse Chime]] the damage propagated throughout various planes, in effect creating some sort of connection between Ulgrotha, Dominaria, and [[Kamigawa (plane)|Kamigawa]]. | ||
The rift was closed second to last by Nicol Bolas, using [[Leshrac]]'s powers, killing the Nightwalker in the process. | |||
===Yavimayan rift=== | ===Yavimayan rift=== | ||
[[Urza]]'s [[Sylex Blast]] changed the face of the world, brought on the [[Ice Age (event)|Ice Age]], and led to the formation of the [[Shard]]. In addition to these visible effects the plane itself was damaged, resulting in [[Yavimaya]]'s rift. When the rifts worsened, the sentient forest tried to heal the damage, without success. | [[Urza]]'s [[Sylex Blast]] changed the face of the world, brought on the [[Ice Age (event)|Ice Age]], and led to the formation of the [[Shard]]. In addition to these visible effects the plane itself was damaged, resulting in [[Yavimaya]]'s rift. When the rifts worsened, the sentient [[forest]] tried to heal the damage, without success. | ||
Under the influence of Leshrac, [[Jeska]] used [[Radha]] to seal the rift, causing the warrior to lose her potential to become a planeswalker. | Under the influence of Leshrac, [[Jeska]] used [[Radha]] to seal the rift, causing the [[warrior]] to lose her potential to become a planeswalker. | ||
===Tolarian rift=== | ===Tolarian rift=== | ||
In contrast to the other rifts, the [[Tolaria]]n rift was felt immediately after it came into being. Urza's failed time travel experiment caused temporal disruptions throughout the isle — there were bubbles in which time flowed much faster or much slower. | In contrast to the other rifts, the [[Tolaria]]n rift was felt immediately after it came into being. Urza's failed time travel experiment caused temporal disruptions throughout the isle — there were bubbles in which time flowed much faster or much slower. | ||
During the [[Phyrexian Invasion of Dominaria]], [[Barrin]] | |||
During the [[Phyrexian Invasion of Dominaria]], [[Barrin]] <c>obliterate</c>d the whole [[island]], worsening the damage beyond repair. Fortunately, [[Karn]] was able to travel back in time and mend the rift just before Barrin cast his spell. | |||
===Shivan rift=== | ===Shivan rift=== | ||
At the beginning of the | At the beginning of the invasion, Teferi [[Phasing|phased]] out a part of Shiv and [[Zhalfir]], leaving a hole in Dominaria. When the time came for Shiv to return, he realized that it would not fit. Teferi successfully healed the damage, losing his spark in the process. Closing the first rift allowed Shiv to phase back in. | ||
===Zhalfiran rift=== | ===Zhalfiran rift=== | ||
Zhalfir was phased out along with Shiv. Under the influence of Leshrac, Jeska used Radha to seal the Zhalfiran rift. Zhalfir was not able to phase back in, however, and Teferi remarked that it was lost. | [[Zhalfir]] was phased out along with Shiv. Under the influence of Leshrac, Jeska used Radha to seal the Zhalfiran rift. Zhalfir was not able to phase back in, however, and Teferi remarked that it was lost. | ||
===Urborg rift=== | ===Urborg rift=== | ||
The rift at | The rift at Urborg did not involve any planeswalker, but was instead a side effect of the [[Rathi Overlay]] with the arrival of [[Volrath]]'s [[Stronghold (location)|Stronghold]]. [[Phyrexia]]ns from an alternate timeline in which the Ice Age never ended were coming through it. Eventually, Lord [[Windgrace]] realized what he had to do and gave up his life to heal the rift, making it the third to be closed. | ||
===Skyshroud rift=== | ===Skyshroud rift=== | ||
To protect [[Skyshroud Forest]], [[Freyalise]] relocated it when the Rathi Overlay began. Similar to the rift in Urborg, it was linked to an alternate timeline in which the Phyrexian Invasion was successful. Freyalise gave her life to seal the rift, and save for a single tree the whole forest died with her. It was the second rift to be sealed. | To protect [[Skyshroud Forest]], [[Freyalise]] relocated it when the Rathi Overlay began. Similar to the rift in Urborg, it was linked to an alternate timeline in which the Phyrexian Invasion was successful. Freyalise gave her life to seal the rift, and save for a single tree, the whole forest died with her. It was the second rift to be sealed. | ||
===Otarian rift=== | ===Otarian rift=== | ||
The last major rift to come into existence was created when Karona, the incarnation of Dominarian magic, was destroyed. Because of Karona's nature [[Otaria]]'s rift was diffuse, widespread, and the most difficult to seal. Only with the help of [[Venser]] and Radha, and her | The last major rift to come into existence was created when Karona, the incarnation of Dominarian magic, was destroyed. Because of Karona's nature [[Otaria]]'s rift was diffuse, widespread, and the most difficult to seal. Only with the help of [[Venser]] and Radha, and her sacrifice could Jeska close it. | ||
With the last major rift sealed, the [[Great Mending]] began. | With the last major rift sealed, the [[Great Mending]] began. | ||
==Effects on other planes== | |||
Since Dominaria is the Nexus its damages were also felt on other planes. | |||
===Kamigawa=== | |||
On [[Kamigawa]], the veil between the [[utsushiyo]] and [[kakuriyo]] weakened. This enabled [[Konda]] to steal [[That Which Was Taken]], thus beginning the [[Kami War]]. | |||
===Lorwyn-Shadowmoor=== | |||
In the dual-plane of [[Lorwyn (plane)|Lorwyn]]-[[Shadowmoor (plane)|Shadowmoor]], the mending accelerated the cycle in which the plane alternated its structure for decades. | |||
===Mirrodin=== | |||
The rifts affected the stability of [[Mirrodin (plane)|Mirrodin]]'s [[Mirrodin's Core|mana core]], causing the five moons/suns to erupt. It also allowed [[Memnarch]] to prevent [[Karn]] from entering the plane. | |||
===Ravnica=== | |||
[[Ravnica]] became isolated from the rest of the Multiverse. The spirits of the dead could no longer move on to the afterlife, over time this resulted in the [[Ravnica#Geography|Ghost Quarter of Agyrem]], a "blister" on the plane of Ravnica.<ref name="Then and Now">{{DailyRef|feature/ravnica-then-and-now-2012-08-29|Ravnica, then and now|[[Adam Lee]]|August 29, 2012}}</ref> It was reachable through a rift named '''The Schism'''. | |||
==Gallery== | |||
<gallery> | |||
FUT Fat Pack Player's Guide 6.jpg|''[[Future Sight]]'' [[fat pack]] Players guide, page 6 | |||
FUT Fat Pack Player's Guide 7.jpg|''[[Future Sight]]'' [[fat pack]] Players guide, page 7 | |||
FUT Fat Pack Player's Guide 8.jpg|''[[Future Sight]]'' [[fat pack]] Players guide, page 8 | |||
FUT Fat Pack Player's Guide 9.jpg|''[[Future Sight]]'' [[fat pack]] Players guide, page 9 | |||
</gallery> | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
* [[Time Spiral Cycle]] | * [[Time Spiral Cycle]] | ||
* [http://www.wizards.com/ | *{{WebRef|title=You Are a Planeswalker|url=http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/article.aspx?x=magic/planeswalkers/week1|author=[[Brady Dommermuth]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926101613/http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/article.aspx?x=magic/planeswalkers/week1|archivedate=2008-09-26|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|work=[[magicthegathering.com]]}} | ||
*{{DailyRef|feature/dueling-dominaria-2006-09-28|Dueling in Dominaria|[[Matt Cavotta]]|September 28, 2006}} | |||
[[ | [[Category:Cosmology]] | ||
Latest revision as of 14:34, 26 August 2022
The rifts or time rifts were fractures in the planar fabric of Dominaria and to a lesser extent other planes (such as the Dead Zone on Ulgrotha). In the greater scheme of things the rifts resulted from the imbalance between the primal forces of the Multiverse, and the power of godlike planeswalkers or similar spells.
Description
Each of the major rifts was caused by some catastrophe, and in almost every case a planeswalker was involved.[1] Sometime after Karona's destruction, the rifts that accumulated over Dominaria's history proved too much — the damage to the plane was too severe to allow for self-repair.
While each rift had a unique "personality" linked to the circumstances of its creation, they all had some common properties: They cut off the plane from its mana and caused anomalies in space and time. They also influenced each other, and with each additional rift, the others grew.
If a planeswalker would 'walk near a rift, they would be afflicted with pain and glimpses of the realities that lie beyond the rifts. As such, 'walking near a rift would often cause the planeswalker to momentarily lose consciousness and become dazed and confused. Teferi was noticeably affected by the rifts in his first few encounters with them, while Freyalise was able to retain her focus. Nicol Bolas seemed to be unaffected or undisturbed by the rifts when he planeswalked in Madara near the Talon Gates while fighting Teferi.
The rifts allowed creatures, people, objects, and spells from the past, alternate timelines, and possible futures to be pulled into the present day, while present Dominarians were sometimes caught up in the rifts and sent to times other than their own. Some wizards used the rifts to their advantage, learning to draw magic through them.
When phased-out Shiv was about to return, Teferi realized that without repairs Dominaria would be destroyed. Being the Nexus of the Multiverse it would take every other plane with it in a chain reaction.
The keywords split second, vanishing, and suspend are associated with the time rifts.
Major rifts
Before the Mending, there were eight major rifts in existence (though numerous smaller ones sprung up across Dominaria). Here they are presented in the chronological order of their creation:
Madaran rift
Fifteen to twenty thousand years before the events of the rift crisis, the first battle between planeswalkers on Dominaria took place in Madara.[2] It was a fight to the death between the elder dragon Nicol Bolas and an unknown demonic leviathan. Their battle destroyed one-third of the continent and caused the first temporal damage to the plane. The rift was located at the Talon Gates, a remnant of that conflict.
When Ravi rang the Apocalypse Chime the damage propagated throughout various planes, in effect creating some sort of connection between Ulgrotha, Dominaria, and Kamigawa.
The rift was closed second to last by Nicol Bolas, using Leshrac's powers, killing the Nightwalker in the process.
Yavimayan rift
Urza's Sylex Blast changed the face of the world, brought on the Ice Age, and led to the formation of the Shard. In addition to these visible effects the plane itself was damaged, resulting in Yavimaya's rift. When the rifts worsened, the sentient forest tried to heal the damage, without success.
Under the influence of Leshrac, Jeska used Radha to seal the rift, causing the warrior to lose her potential to become a planeswalker.
Tolarian rift
In contrast to the other rifts, the Tolarian rift was felt immediately after it came into being. Urza's failed time travel experiment caused temporal disruptions throughout the isle — there were bubbles in which time flowed much faster or much slower.
During the Phyrexian Invasion of Dominaria, Barrin obliterated the whole island, worsening the damage beyond repair. Fortunately, Karn was able to travel back in time and mend the rift just before Barrin cast his spell.
Shivan rift
At the beginning of the invasion, Teferi phased out a part of Shiv and Zhalfir, leaving a hole in Dominaria. When the time came for Shiv to return, he realized that it would not fit. Teferi successfully healed the damage, losing his spark in the process. Closing the first rift allowed Shiv to phase back in.
Zhalfiran rift
Zhalfir was phased out along with Shiv. Under the influence of Leshrac, Jeska used Radha to seal the Zhalfiran rift. Zhalfir was not able to phase back in, however, and Teferi remarked that it was lost.
Urborg rift
The rift at Urborg did not involve any planeswalker, but was instead a side effect of the Rathi Overlay with the arrival of Volrath's Stronghold. Phyrexians from an alternate timeline in which the Ice Age never ended were coming through it. Eventually, Lord Windgrace realized what he had to do and gave up his life to heal the rift, making it the third to be closed.
Skyshroud rift
To protect Skyshroud Forest, Freyalise relocated it when the Rathi Overlay began. Similar to the rift in Urborg, it was linked to an alternate timeline in which the Phyrexian Invasion was successful. Freyalise gave her life to seal the rift, and save for a single tree, the whole forest died with her. It was the second rift to be sealed.
Otarian rift
The last major rift to come into existence was created when Karona, the incarnation of Dominarian magic, was destroyed. Because of Karona's nature Otaria's rift was diffuse, widespread, and the most difficult to seal. Only with the help of Venser and Radha, and her sacrifice could Jeska close it.
With the last major rift sealed, the Great Mending began.
Effects on other planes
Since Dominaria is the Nexus its damages were also felt on other planes.
Kamigawa
On Kamigawa, the veil between the utsushiyo and kakuriyo weakened. This enabled Konda to steal That Which Was Taken, thus beginning the Kami War.
Lorwyn-Shadowmoor
In the dual-plane of Lorwyn-Shadowmoor, the mending accelerated the cycle in which the plane alternated its structure for decades.
Mirrodin
The rifts affected the stability of Mirrodin's mana core, causing the five moons/suns to erupt. It also allowed Memnarch to prevent Karn from entering the plane.
Ravnica
Ravnica became isolated from the rest of the Multiverse. The spirits of the dead could no longer move on to the afterlife, over time this resulted in the Ghost Quarter of Agyrem, a "blister" on the plane of Ravnica.[3] It was reachable through a rift named The Schism.
Gallery
-
Future Sight fat pack Players guide, page 6
-
Future Sight fat pack Players guide, page 7
-
Future Sight fat pack Players guide, page 8
-
Future Sight fat pack Players guide, page 9
References
- ↑ Scott McGough (2006), "Time Spiral", Wizards of the Coast
- ↑ James Wyatt (2018), The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Dominaria. VIZ Media.
- ↑ Adam Lee (August 29, 2012). "Ravnica, then and now". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
Sources
- Time Spiral Cycle
- Brady Dommermuth. "You Are a Planeswalker". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2008-09-26.
- Matt Cavotta (September 28, 2006). "Dueling in Dominaria". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.