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{{SubTabs
|noitalic=1
|sub1=AskUrza.com
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{{Infobox character
{{Infobox character
|image=Urza1.jpg‎
|image=Urza planeswalker.jpg
|name=Urza
|name=Urza
|birthplace=[[Argive]], [[Terisiare]], [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]
|birthplace=[[Argive]], [[Terisiare]], [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]
|lifetime=0 - 4205 AR
|lifetime=0 - 4205 AR
|race=[[Human]] [[Planeswalker]]
|race=[[Human]] [[Planeswalker]]
|spouse=[[Kayla bin-Kroog]]
|children=[[Harbin]]<br/>[[Karn]] (creation)
|relatives=[[Mishra]] (brother)<br>[[Jarsyl]] (grandson)<br> [[Jodah]] (descendant)
|colors = Center: {{mana|U}}<br>Currently: {{mana|WUBRG}}
|colors = Center: {{mana|U}}<br>Currently: {{mana|WUBRG}}
|sources=[[Rath and Storm]], [[The Brothers' War]], [[Planeswalker (novel)|Planeswalker]], [[Time Streams]], [[Bloodlines]], [[Prophecy (novel)|Prophecy]], [[Invasion (novel)|Invasion]], [[Planeshift (novel)|Planeshift]], [[Apocalypse (novel)|Apocalypse]]
|sources=[[Rath and Storm]], [[The Brothers' War]], [[Planeswalker (novel)|Planeswalker]], [[Time Streams]], [[Bloodlines]], [[Prophecy (novel)|Prophecy]], [[Invasion (novel)|Invasion]], [[Planeshift (novel)|Planeshift]], [[Apocalypse (novel)|Apocalypse]]
|aka=Master Malzra<ref name="Remembrance"/>
}}
}}
'''Urza''' was a [[planeswalker]] originating from [[Terisiare]] on [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]], best known for his millennia-long struggle with [[Yawgmoth]] and the [[plane]] of [[Phyrexia]].<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/faces-urza-2010-03-25|Faces of Urza|[[Magic Arcana]]|March 25, 2010}}</ref>
'''Urza''' was a [[human]] [[planeswalker]] originating from [[Terisiare]] on [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]], best known for his millennia-long struggle with [[Yawgmoth]] and the [[plane]] of [[Phyrexia]].<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/faces-urza-2010-03-25|Faces of Urza|[[Magic Arcana]]|March 25, 2010}}</ref> The cataclysms caused by his [[Sylex Blast|ignition]] of the [[Golgothian Sylex]] earned him the nickname '''Destroyer of Dominaria'''.<ref name="Alone">{{DailyRef|magic-story/alone|Alone|[[Miguel Lopez]]|January 17, 2023}}</ref> As the co-founder of the [[Tolarian Academy]], Urza was known as '''Master Malzra'''.<ref name="Remembrance">[[Will McDermott]] (November 1998). "[[A Time for Remembrance]]". ''[[The Official Guide to Urza's Saga]]''</ref>
 
==Appearance and characteristics==
Urza was a great and brilliant [[artificer]] and a powerful [[wizard]], having a stereotypical wizardly look as a bearded old man with unkempt hair and a robe-and-staff ensemble. He devoted centuries of his life to fighting [[Phyrexia]], sometimes employing questionable methods, but at the crux of his victory his obsessive nature won out over his thirst for vengeance. After his rise as a planeswalker he replaced his eyes with two [[Powerstone/Lore|powerstones]], the [[Mightstone]] and the [[Weakstone]]. 
 
Urza was centered in [[blue]], but he had access to the five colors of [[mana]].


==History==
==History==
===Early years===
===Early years===
Urza was born on the first day of the year 0 [[AR]] to a noble family of Argive, one of the three coastal kingdoms of [[Terisiare]]. His younger brother [[Mishra]] was born on the last day of the same year. Urza's mother died while he was a child, so his father married another member of the Aristocracy. This woman treated Urza and Mishra with indifference at best and contempt at worst. In 10 AR, their father fell ill, so he sent them away to his old friend [[Tocasia]] to serve as students at her archaeological dig.
Urza and his younger brother [[Mishra]] were born on the first and last days of the same year, marked 0 [[AR]] by later historians. They were born to a noble family of Argive, one of the three coastal kingdoms of [[Terisiare]]. Urza's mother died while he was a child, and his father married another member of the aristocracy. This woman treated Urza and Mishra with indifference at best and contempt at worst. In 10 AR, their father fell ill, so he sent them away to his old friend, [[Tocasia]], to serve as students at her archaeological dig. Their father later died, leaving the boys orphaned.<ref name="Visual Guide">[[Jay Annelli]] (2022). ''[[Magic: The Gathering - The Visual Guide]]'', [[Wikipedia:DK (publisher)|DK]]. ISBN-13 978-0744061055.</ref>


===Apprenticeship to Tocasia===
===Apprenticeship to Tocasia===
Under Tocasia's guidance, the two brothers learned a large amount about the manufacture of artifacts from the archaeological excavations of the ancient ruins of the [[Thran]], the mysterious civilization that ruled Terisiare thousands of years prior. During this time, Urza developed a talent for study. Rarely having a hands on approach, he would prefer to study the artifacts the excavations uncovered rather than participate in the diggings.
[[File:Young Urza and Mishra.jpg|left|thumb|During their youth, Urza and [[Mishra]] were [[Tocasia]]'s apprentices.]]
 
Under Tocasia's guidance, the two brothers learned a large amount about the manufacture of artifacts from the archaeological excavations of the ancient ruins of the [[Thran]], the mysterious civilization that ruled Terisiare thousands of years prior. During this time, Urza developed a talent for study. Rarely having a hands-on approach, he would prefer to study the artifacts the excavations uncovered rather than participate in the diggings.
Over their years at Tocasia's camp, Urza and Mishra made several important inventions and discoveries. While the most obvious of these was the [[ornithopter]], the most important turned out to be the [[Caves of Koilos]]. A mysterious cave filled with old Thran artifacts, the Caves were also the location of a long-sealed gateway to [[Phyrexia]], used in almost every Phyrexian infiltration and invasion of Dominaria. On their first visit, Urza and Mishra acquired the Mightstone and the Weakstone respectively, the two halves of the stone that had been holding the [[planar portal]] shut. Mutual desire for the other brother's stone led to a falling-out between Urza and Mishra, as well as the inadvertent death of Tocasia.


Over their years at Tocasia's camp, Urza and Mishra made several important inventions and discoveries. While the most obvious of these was the [[ornithopter]], the most important turned out to be the [[Caves of Koilos]]. A mysterious cave filled with old Thran artifacts, the Caves were also the location of a long-sealed gateway to [[Phyrexia]], used in almost every Phyrexian infiltration and invasion of Dominaria. On their first visit, Urza and Mishra discovered the [[Powerstone/Lore|powerstone]] sealing Phyrexia, and in their haste to grab the stone before the other brother, they broke it in two. Urza and Mishra kept the two halves of the stone, which became known as the [[Mightstone]] and the [[Weakstone]] respectively. A mutual desire for the other brother's stone led to a falling-out between Urza and Mishra, as well as the inadvertent death of Tocasia.[[File:Urza3.png|thumb|<c>Urza, Lord High Artificer</c>|229x229px]]
===The Chief Artificer===
===The Chief Artificer===
After Tocasia's death, Urza moved to [[Yotia]] and put his skills with machinery to work as a clockmaker's apprentice. Shortly thereafter, a public contest was announced by the ruler of Yotia: Any man who could move a gigantic jade statue across a courtyard would be married to his daughter. Urza wasn't particularly interested in the daughter, but in an attempt to acquire a Thran tome that was in her dowry, Urza built a gigantic machine to move the statue. He succeeded, and was wed to [[Kayla bin-Kroog]]. However, being wed did not make him any more affectionate towards his wife - on the contrary, he left her bed on their wedding night to study the Thran book from her dowry. However, he threw himself headlong into his new position of Chief Artificer, working obsessively on his attempts to improve his artifacts.
After Tocasia's death, Urza moved to [[Yotia]] and put his skills with machinery to work as a clockmaker's apprentice. Shortly thereafter, a public contest was announced by the ruler of Yotia: Any man who could move a gigantic jade statue across a courtyard would be married to his daughter. Urza wasn't particularly interested in the daughter, but in an attempt to acquire a Thran tome that was in her dowry, Urza built a gigantic machine to move the statue. He succeeded and was wed to [[Kayla bin-Kroog]]. However, being wed did not make him any more affectionate towards his wife - on the contrary, he left her bed on their wedding night to study the Thran book from her dowry. However, he threw himself headlong into his new position of Chief Artificer, working obsessively on his attempts to improve his artifacts.


===The Brothers' War===
===The Brothers' War===
While Urza was inadvertently acquiring the reins of power in Yotia, Mishra was doing the same with the [[Fallaji]] desert people, becoming a close advisor to the Fallaji ruler over the course of several years. A series of double-crossings and sneak attacks quickly commenced between the two brothers and their kingdoms, soon resulting in an open war. An increasingly elaborate set of machines developed by the two brothers began to fight on either side, and the war slowly spiraled out of control. It continued for decades, until the fateful day at [[Argoth]] when the brothers met face to face at the head of their armies. Urza discovered there that Mishra had been corrupted by Phyrexian influence, slowly turning himself from a man into a living machine. Urza responded to this with the frightening force of the [[Golgothian Sylex]]. The sylex blast was one of the most traumatic events in Dominarian history. It slaughtered both armies, blasted the landscape for miles around, sank the sub-continent Argoth, and altered weather patterns for centuries, leading to the Ice Age. However, it did something more important than any of that - it ignited Urza's [[planeswalker]]'s spark.
[[File:Bitter Reunion.jpg|thumb|262x262px|left]]
While Urza was inadvertently acquiring the reins of power in Yotia, Mishra was doing the same with the [[Fallaji]] desert people, becoming a close advisor to the Fallaji ruler over several years. A series of double-crossings and sneak attacks quickly commenced between the two brothers and their kingdoms, soon resulting in open war. An increasingly elaborate set of machines developed by the two brothers began to fight on either side, and the war slowly spiraled out of control. It continued for decades until the fateful day at [[Argoth]] when the brothers met face to face at the head of their armies. Urza discovered there that Mishra had been corrupted by Phyrexian influence, slowly turning himself from a man into a living machine.
[[File:Urza'ss-Ruinous-Blast.jpg|thumb|244x244px|Urza ignited  the planeswalker spark within the re-fused [[Powerstone/Lore|powerstone]] after the detonation of the [[Golgothian Sylex]]. The stone then took on Urza's consciousness.]]
Urza responded to this with the frightening force of the [[Golgothian Sylex]].<ref name="Cruel">{{DailyRef|magic-story/the-brothers-war-episode-5-as-cruel-as-necessary|The Brothers' War - Episode 5: As Cruel, As Necessary|[[Miguel Lopez]] and [[Jeff Grubb]]|October 26, 2022}}</ref> The [[Sylex Blast]] was one of the most traumatic events in Dominarian history. It slaughtered both armies, blasted the landscape for miles around, sank the sub-continent Argoth, and altered weather patterns for centuries, leading to the Ice Age.  


Urza then departed Dominaria after saying a final farewell to his student and good friend [[Tawnos]] in which he asked his former student and close confidant to go to his wife, whom he had come to love and cherish, that she not remember him as he was but instead that she remember him "As he tried to be."
At the moment of the blast, Urza met his future student [[Teferi Akosa]] in a moment beyond time. As his body was destroyed and reknit itself, melding Urza with the Mightstone and Weakstone, which became his eyes, and igniting his latent planeswalker spark, Teferi learned from Urza the method of activating the Sylex.<ref name="Cruel"/>


===Quest for Vengeance===
Six years later, Urza returned to Dominaria to say a final farewell to his student and good friend [[Tawnos]], who he asked to return to Urza's wife, Kayla.
[[Image:Urzathroughtheages.jpg|right|thumb|Urza through the ages]]
Urza realized that, after he had destroyed his brother, Mishra had been completely corrupted by the black mana from Phyrexia. This realization filled Urza with grief, and pushed him to begin his lifelong hunt for retribution against Phyrexia, and its demonic ruler, Yawgmoth.


===Exploring the Origins of Phyrexia===
===Exploring the Origins of Phyrexia===
After meeting the Newt [[Xantcha]], who had been intended as a Sleeper Agent but had been turned into an expendable servant now that the Agents couldn't be deployed, Urza created a monstrous machine-dragon to attack Phyrexia. He managed to blast a gigantic hole in the plane, all the way down to the [[Phyrexia#Fourth Sphere|4th Sphere]], but then Yawgmoth himself invaded his mind and made him go even more insane. Urza fled and for years he traveled from plane to plane, the Phyrexians always on his heels, for Yawgmoth couldn't let someone who planned to destroy Phyrexia go unpunished. Urza was eventually healed by [[Serra]], but after he left the Phyrexians even invaded [[Serra's Realm|her realm]] and corrupted it.
After he had destroyed his brother, Urza came to realize that Mishra had been completely corrupted by [[Gix]]. This realization filled Urza with grief and pushed him to begin his lifelong hunt for retribution against Phyrexia, and its demonic ruler, Yawgmoth.
 
After meeting the Newt [[Xantcha]], who had been intended as a Sleeper Agent but had been turned into an expendable servant now that the Agents couldn't be deployed, Urza created a monstrous machine-dragon to attack Phyrexia. He managed to blast a gigantic hole in the plane, all the way down to the [[Phyrexia#Fourth Sphere|4th Sphere]], but then Yawgmoth himself invaded his mind and made him go even more insane. Urza fled for years and traveled from plane to plane, with the Phyrexians always on his tail. Once, he visited [[Zendikar (plane)|Zendikar]], but Urza deemed the [[hedron]] matrix insufficient to stop Phyrexia.<ref name="Hedron">{{TwitterRef|LoreleyWrites|1587116866203426816}}</ref> Eventually, Urza was healed by [[Serra]], but after he left, the Phyrexians invaded [[Serra's Realm|her realm]] and corrupted it.


===Returning home===
===Returning home===
[[Ratepe]] was a young Dominarian recruited by Xantcha, Urza's Phyrexian assistant. Xantcha sought out Ratepe from a small nation in order to impersonate [[Mishra]], Urza's long dead brother. Urza was becoming increasingly obsessed and guilt ridden over his role in his brother's death, so much so that he was abandoning his defense of Dominaria in the hopes of finding a way to undo his brother's death. Xantcha brought Ratepe, posing as Mishra, to Urza in the hopes of alleviating some of his guilt and allowing him to focus on defeating the Phyrexians. Thanks to Xantcha's coaching and Ratepe's ability to hear Urza's Weakstone singing to him, Ratepe was able to help shock Urza out of his guilt. He continued to help Urza and eventually became Xantcha's lover. Both Ratepe and Xantcha were killed when Urza fought the Phyrexian Demon [[Gix]] in [[Koilos]]. [[Ratepe]] and Xantcha's sacrifice helped Urza defeat Gix and also revealed to him the shared Phyrexian ancestry with the Thran.
[[Ratepe]] was a young Dominarian recruited by Xantcha, Urza's Phyrexian assistant. Xantcha sought out Ratepe from a small nation to impersonate [[Mishra]], Urza's long-dead brother. Urza was becoming increasingly obsessed and guilt-ridden over his role in his brother's death, so much so that he was abandoning his defense of Dominaria in the hopes of finding a way to undo his brother's death. Xantcha brought Ratepe, posing as Mishra, to Urza in the hopes of alleviating some of his guilt and allowing him to focus on defeating the Phyrexians. Thanks to Xantcha's coaching and Ratepe's ability to hear Urza's Weakstone singing to him, Ratepe was able to help shock Urza out of his guilt. He continued to help Urza and eventually became Xantcha's lover. Both Ratepe and Xantcha were killed when Urza fought the Phyrexian Demon [[Gix]] in [[Koilos]]. [[Ratepe]] and Xantcha's sacrifice helped Urza defeat Gix and also revealed to him the shared Phyrexian ancestry with the Thran.


===Tolaria and the Time Streams===
===Tolaria and the Time Streams===
Though Urza got over his obsession with reversing his brother's death, his interest in the past was far from over. Having learned that the impending Phyrexian threat was more dangerous than ever, Urza created a vast school of magic and technology on the island of [[Tolaria]] - [[Tolarian Academy|the Academy]]. From all around the world, Urza summoned the most talented artificers, sorcerers, mathematicians, and biologists to study in his prestigious school, including [[Barrin]], [[Teferi]], and [[Rayne]]. Using the information he had gleaned from [[Gix]] and the technology being developed by his genius resident staff, Urza began the creation of a time machine that allowed him to gaze into the past and see the ancient war that led to Phyrexian banishment.
[[Image:Urzathroughtheages.jpg|thumb|Urza through the ages|left|270x270px]]
Though Urza got over his obsession with reversing his brother's death, his interest in the past was far from over. Having learned that the impending Phyrexian threat was more dangerous than ever, Urza created a vast school of magic and technology on the island of [[Tolaria]] - [[Tolarian Academy|the Academy]]. Under the pseudonym "Master Malzra," Urza summoned the most talented artificers, sorcerers, mathematicians, and biologists from across Dominaria to study in his prestigious school, including [[Barrin]], [[Teferi]], and [[Rayne]].<ref name="Legacy">[[Will McDermott]] (April 1999). "[[Scars of the Legacy]]". ''[[The Official Urza's Legacy Game Guide]]''</ref> Using the information he had gleaned from [[Gix]] and the technology being developed by his genius resident staff, Urza began the creation of a time machine that allowed him to gaze into the past and see the ancient war that led to the Phyrexian banishment.  


By implanting Xantcha's [[heartstone]] (her only remains) into a silver [[golem]], Urza created [[Karn]], a being that could theoretically enter rifts created by his temporal disruptor and change the past. Tragically, during the machine's trial run, the temporal vortex drew far too much energy and "exploded", destroying the majority of the Tolarian Academy, killing inhabitants, and covering the island in odd (and sometimes horrific) temporal disturbances. Although Karn and Urza survived without injury, and much had been learned about the history of the enemy, Urza was devastated.
By implanting Xantcha's [[heartstone]] (her only remains) into a silver [[golem]], Urza created [[Karn]], a being that could theoretically enter rifts created by his temporal disruptor and change the past. Tragically, during the machine's trial run, the temporal vortex drew far too much energy and "exploded", destroying the majority of the Tolarian Academy, killing inhabitants, and covering the island in odd (and sometimes horrific) temporal disturbances. Although Karn and Urza survived without injury, and much had been learned about the history of the enemy, Urza was devastated.


After being distraught and guilt-ridden over causing another horrible explosion (the first being the [[Sylex]]), Urza eventually rebuilt the Academy and realized that the temporal rifts throughout Tolaria could be used to his advantage. He engineered magical-technological armor that allowed Tolarian researchers to finish decades of work in mere hours in fast-time bubbles. Potions derived from water in slow-time bubbles could extend a promising student's life by years. For the first time, Urza had a viable means for gaining ground on the multi-millenial head start the Phyrexian invasion force had so long held.
After being distraught and guilt-ridden over causing another horrible explosion (the first being the [[Sylex]]), Urza eventually rebuilt the Academy and realized that the temporal rifts throughout Tolaria could be used to his advantage. He engineered magical-technological armor that allowed Tolarian researchers to finish decades of work in mere hours in fast-time bubbles. Potions derived from water in slow-time bubbles could extend a promising student's life by years. For the first time, Urza had a viable means for gaining ground on the multi-millennial head start the Phyrexian invasion force had so long held.


===Atonement for Past Sins===
===Atonement for Past Sins===
[[File:Urza1.jpg|thumb|263x263px]]
Urza's return to Tolaria was to fix the mistakes that he had made, one of which he learned was missing an invading group of Phyrexian Negators, led by the sleeper agent [[Kerrick]], who had managed to survive the time machine's explosion and were trapped in a pocket of extreme fast time, or would be until mutations led to a temporal rift proof Phyrexian.
Urza's return to Tolaria was to fix the mistakes that he had made, one of which he learned was missing an invading group of Phyrexian Negators, led by the sleeper agent [[Kerrick]], who had managed to survive the time machine's explosion and were trapped in a pocket of extreme fast time, or would be until mutations led to a temporal rift proof Phyrexian.
In order to ensure victory against the growing threat of invasion, and gain allies for the future coming war with Phyrexia, Urza traveled throughout Dominaria, creating alliances with multiple races.
Lastly, he went to [[Yavimaya]], a place he knew held deep hatred of him for the destruction of [[Argoth]]. [[Multani]], feigning a peaceful welcome, trapped Urza in a [[magnigoth]] tree and forced him to experience all the pain [[Titania]], the Maro Elemental of Argoth had felt.
Ultimately Urza was saved by Barrin, who summoned him when Tolaria was being overrun, but while escaping Multani became trapped within him. During the battle, after seeing the horrors of Phyrexians, Multani aided Urza in destroying Kerrick and all his minions and promised his and Yavimaya's help in the future.


===Building the Legacy===
To ensure victory against the growing threat of invasion, and gain allies for the future coming war with Phyrexia, Urza traveled throughout Dominaria, creating alliances with multiple races. Lastly, he went to [[Yavimaya]], a place he knew held deep hatred of him for the destruction of [[Argoth]]. [[Multani]], feigning a peaceful welcome, trapped Urza in a [[magnigoth]] tree and forced him to experience all the pain [[Titania]], the Maro Elemental of Argoth had felt.
With the conclusion of the battle for Tolaria, Urza began work on what he called "the salvation of Dominaria" - a flying ship, capable of sonic speeds as well as the ability to planeshift between worlds. Armed with the best weaponry conceived and piloted by the best fighters, it would be the lynchpin of Urza's battle plan.
Built with a frame of [[Thran metal]] and fused with the Weatherseed, a seed from the [[Heart of Yavimaya]], Urza christened the ship [[Skyship Weatherlight]].
Problems arose though in how to power the ship's Mana Battery, as the mana energies needed to charge its Powerstone core was an entire plane worth. In other words, to save his world, Urza would have to sacrifice another.
With much regret, Urza decided to use the energies of the collapsing Phyrexian-overrun plane of [[Serra's Realm]] to do so, while at the same time try to save as many people from that plane as possible.


This did not come without a price though, as many brave Dominarians, including Gherridarigaaz, Rhammidarigaaz's mother, died during the battle with Radiant's Angel army, though they were successful in trapping the planar energies of Serra's Realm just before it was erased from existence.
Ultimately, Urza was saved by Barrin, who summoned him when Tolaria was being overrun, but while escaping Multani became trapped within him. Urza first traveled to the [[Shiv]]an [[Mana Rig]], gathering [[Teferi]] and Shivan allies to aid in the fight. It was only at this point that his identity as Urza Planeswalker was revealed to his students.<ref name="Legacy"/> During the battle, after seeing the horrors of Phyrexians, Multani aided Urza in destroying Kerrick and all his minions and promised his and Yavimaya's help in the future.


Urza later realized that Weatherlight wasn't enough, and that another piece, an organic living component, would be needed, and started working on plans for what would become the [[Bloodline Project]].
===Building the Legacy===
[[File:Urza4.jpg|thumb|Urza in front of the Rath portal|231x231px|left]]
With the conclusion of the battle for Tolaria, Urza began work on what he called "the salvation of Dominaria" - a flying ship, capable of sonic speeds as well as the ability to planeshift between worlds. Armed with the best weaponry conceived and piloted by the best fighters, it would be the lynchpin of Urza's battle plan. Built with a frame of [[Thran metal]] and fused with the Weatherseed, a seed from the [[Heart of Yavimaya]], Urza christened the ship [[Skyship Weatherlight]]. Problems arose though in how to power the ship's Mana Battery, as the mana energies needed to charge its Powerstone core was an entire plane's worth. In other words, to save his world, Urza would have to sacrifice another. With much regret, Urza decided to use the energies of the collapsing Phyrexian-overrun plane of [[Serra's Realm]] to do so, while at the same time trying to save as many people from that plane as possible. This did not come without a price though, as many brave Dominarians, including Gherridarigaaz, Rhammidarigaaz's mother, died during the battle with Radiant's Angel army, though they were successful in trapping the planar energies of Serra's Realm just before it was erased from existence. Urza later realized that Weatherlight wasn't enough and that another piece, an organic living component, would be needed, and started working on plans for what would become the [[Bloodline Project]].


===Bloodlines and Rath===
===Bloodlines and Rath===
[[File:Urza4.jpg|right|thumb|Urza in front of the Rath portal]]
[[Rath]] was an artificial plane utilized by [[Yawgmoth]] to 'overlay' upon [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]], in essence creating a giant land portal for his Phyrexian armies. Rath was able to overlay Dominaria due to the properties of "flowstone", a substance produced by the Rathi [[Stronghold]]. Flowstone was a magical substance that could increase the mass of a plane, thus moving Rath into the position occupied by Dominaria and 'fusing' them together. Urza constructed an army of sorcery and power to resist the coming invasion. He called them the [[Metathran]].
[[Rath]] was an artificial plane utilized by [[Yawgmoth]] to 'overlay' upon [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]], in essence creating a giant land portal for his Phyrexian armies.
Rath was able to overlay Dominaria due to the properties of "flowstone", a substance produced by the Rathi [[Stronghold]]. Flowstone was a magical substance that could increase the mass of a plane, thus moving Rath into the position occupied by Dominaria and 'fusing' them together.
 
Urza constructed an army of sorcery and power to resist the coming invasion. He called them the [[Metathran]].
[[Image:blindseer.jpg|left|thumb|Urza, in his guise as the Blind Seer donned to help the Weatherlight Crew]]


===The Invasion===
===The Invasion===
During the [[Phyrexian Invasion]], [[Yawgmoth]] tried to invade [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]] using the land-based portal in the [[Caves of Koilos]]. Urza, determined to never allow him re-entrance, resolved to stop him. All of the forces of Dominaria banded against Yawgmoth and tried to push him back. The [[Elf#Llanowar Elves|elves]] of [[Llanowar]], [[Metathran]] (artificial humanoids created by Urza to emulate Phyrexian physiology; much stronger, faster, and smarter than humans with certain other biological modifications), and [[Gerrard Capashen]] (commander of the ''[[Weatherlight]]'' & inheritor of [[Urza's Legacy]]) banded together. At the head of the Phyrexian troops was [[Tsabo Tavoc]], one of Yawgmoth's generals. She has a mechanical torso with 8 spider legs, segmented insect eyes, and a detached mouth (could open larger than humans) and poison injectors attached to her torso.
[[File:blindseer.jpg|thumb|Urza, in his guise as the Blind Seer donned to help the Weatherlight Crew|266x266px]]
During the [[Phyrexian Invasion]], [[Yawgmoth]] tried to invade [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]] using the land-based portal in the [[Caves of Koilos]]. Urza, determined to never allow him re-entrance, resolved to stop him. All of the forces of Dominaria banded against Yawgmoth and tried to push him back. The [[Elf#Llanowar Elves|elves]] of [[Llanowar]], [[Metathran]] (artificial humanoids created by Urza to emulate Phyrexian physiology; much stronger, faster, and smarter than humans with certain other biological modifications), and [[Gerrard Capashen]] (commander of the ''[[Weatherlight]]'' & inheritor of [[Urza's Legacy]]) banded together. At the head of the Phyrexian troops was [[Tsabo Tavoc]], one of Yawgmoth's generals. She has a mechanical torso with 8 spider legs, segmented insect eyes, a detached mouth (which could open larger than humans), and poison injectors attached to her torso.


===The Nine Titans===
===The Nine Titans===
The nine [[Titan Engines]] were huge artifact creations that were built by Urza to assist in the attack on [[Phyrexia]]. Each titan was controlled and powered by a Planeswalker and as such, they grew to emulate that planeswalkers' characteristics. There was one titan engine for each of these nine planeswalkers: Commodore [[Guff]], [[Tevash Szat]], [[Bo Levar]], [[Daria]], [[Taysir]], [[Freyalise]], [[Kristina]], Lord [[Windgrace]], and, of course, Urza himself (he intended [[Teferi]] and [[Parcher]] to join him, but the first phased out, and the second was considered too crazy to work with them). The Titan engines were huge constructs with a vast arsenal of weaponry. They contained aeries of falcon engines (artifacts created by Urza to detect [[glistening oil]], dive towards it, and then once inside the Phyrexian, burst apart and destroy it), rocket launchers located on the wrists, mana cannons, as well as colossal hands and feet that could crush hundreds of Phyrexians at a time. These weapons, combined with the formidable power of the planeswalkers themselves, made each and every titan engine a force to be reckoned with.
The nine [[Titan Engines]] were huge artifact creations that were built by Urza to assist in the attack on [[Phyrexia]]. Each titan was controlled and powered by a Planeswalker and as such, they grew to emulate that planeswalker's characteristics. There was one titan engine for each of these nine planeswalkers: Commodore [[Guff]], [[Tevash Szat]], [[Bo Levar]], [[Daria]], [[Taysir]], [[Freyalise]], [[Kristina]], Lord [[Windgrace]], and, of course, Urza himself (he intended [[Teferi]] and [[Parcher]] to join him, but the first phased out, and the second was considered too crazy to work with them). The Titan engines were huge constructs with a vast arsenal of weaponry. They contained aeries of falcon engines (artifacts created by Urza to detect [[glistening oil]], dive towards it, and then once inside the Phyrexian, burst apart and destroy it), rocket launchers located on the wrists, mana cannons, as well as colossal hands and feet that could crush hundreds of Phyrexians at a time. These weapons, combined with the formidable power of the planeswalkers themselves, made every titan engine a force to be reckoned with.


===Betrayal===
===Betrayal===
Entering Phyrexia, using the powers of the Titan Suits, the Nine Titans began to destroy the artificial plane in a final gambit to protect Dominaria. However, over time, [[Tevash Szat]] began to betray and kill his fellow planeswalkers, turning to the side of the Phyrexians. At one point, Urza was able to defeat him, and used the power from his life force to charge together the [[soul bomb]]s that he planned to use to destroy Phyrexia for good. While [[Barrin]] had argued with Urza that the power source for them, the life force of a living being, was a punishment not worthy of even the worst crime, Tevash's betrayal was so devastating to the fate of Dominaria that Urza declared his use for the soul bombs a form of "justice." Unfortunately for the remaining Titans, as well as Dominaria itself, Urza found himself unable to complete his lifetime goal of destroying the artificial plane, when he found himself becoming fascinated with the fact that it was something that had been created completely artificially. Unwilling to destroy a place full of such potential knowledge, he dismantled the master soul bomb, which would have been able to set off all of the others, creating a ripple effect that would have decimated Phyrexia to the point of no return. After destroying it, he surrendered himself to [[Yawgmoth]], but the ruler of Phyrexia forced him to battle [[Gerrard Capashen]] in the Phyrexian Arena, feeling that slaying the master of arms of the [[Weatherlight]], Urza's former ally, was the only way that he could prove he was not surrendering as part of an elaborate trap. Urza nearly defeated Gerrard twice, but during each attempt he was chastised by his new master Yawgmoth for using cowardly and indirect tactics. After restarting their combat for the third time, Gerrard beheaded Urza and was crowned as Yawgmoth's new champion.
Entering Phyrexia, using the powers of the Titan Suits, the Nine Titans began to destroy the artificial plane in a final gambit to protect Dominaria. However, over time, [[Tevash Szat]] began to betray and kill his fellow planeswalkers, turning to the side of the Phyrexians. At one point, Urza was able to defeat him and used the power from his life force to charge together the [[soul bomb]]s that he planned to use to destroy Phyrexia for good. While [[Barrin]] had argued with Urza that the power source for them, the life force of a living being, was a punishment not worthy of even the worst crime, Tevash's betrayal was so devastating to the fate of Dominaria that Urza declared his use for the soul bombs a form of "justice." Unfortunately for the remaining Titans, as well as Dominaria itself, Urza found himself unable to complete his lifetime goal of destroying the artificial plane, when he found himself becoming fascinated with the fact that it was something that had been created completely artificially. Unwilling to destroy a place full of such potential knowledge, he dismantled the master soul bomb, which would have been able to set off all of the others, creating a ripple effect that would have decimated Phyrexia to the point of no return. After destroying it, he surrendered himself to [[Yawgmoth]], but the ruler of Phyrexia forced him to battle [[Gerrard Capashen]] in the Phyrexian Arena, feeling that slaying the master of arms of the [[Weatherlight]], Urza's former ally, was the only way that he could prove he was not surrendering as part of an elaborate trap. Urza nearly defeated Gerrard twice, but during each attempt, he was chastised by his new master Yawgmoth for using cowardly and indirect tactics. After restarting their combat for the third time, Gerrard beheaded Urza and was crowned as Yawgmoth's new champion.


===Final Atonement===
===Final Atonement===
[[File:Phyrexian arena.jpg|thumb|Urza and Gerrard fight in the {{card|Phyrexian Arena|Apocalypse}}|266x266px]]
As Gerrard betrayed Yawgmoth and escaped from The Stronghold, he carried Urza's severed head with him. When Gerrard returned to the transformed Weatherlight, he was shocked to hear the head of Urza address him. The loss of his body was minor to Urza, as his life was contained within the twin gemstones, the [[Mightstone]] and [[Weakstone]], which rested in his head as his eyes, though his powers had been greatly weakened.
As Gerrard betrayed Yawgmoth and escaped from The Stronghold, he carried Urza's severed head with him. When Gerrard returned to the transformed Weatherlight, he was shocked to hear the head of Urza address him. The loss of his body was minor to Urza, as his life was contained within the twin gemstones, the [[Mightstone]] and [[Weakstone]], which rested in his head as his eyes, though his powers had been greatly weakened.


Enraged by the escape of his new champion Gerrard, Yawgmoth entered Dominaria himself. Forsaking subtlety he transformed himself into massive black plague cloud and began to smother the defending world. When the Weatherlight's plan to use the stored up [[white]] [[mana]] in the [[Null Moon]] failed to stop Yawgmoth, Urza told the crew the final secret of the [[The Legacy|Legacy Weapon]]. In order to fire the weapon they had to combine the various pieces they had gathered in their journey, along with the two stones within Urza's head, Karn's body, and Gerrard's life. Urza and Gerrard died in the activation, but the weapon successfully destroyed Yawgmoth. Karn, now infused with Urza's spark and the power unleashed by the Legacy Weapon, took up his former master's staff and soon left Dominaria.
Enraged by the escape of his new champion Gerrard, Yawgmoth entered Dominaria himself. Forsaking subtlety he transformed himself into a massive black plague cloud and began to smother the defending world. When the Weatherlight's plan to use the stored up [[white]] [[mana]] in the [[Null Moon]] failed to stop Yawgmoth, Urza told the crew the final secret of the [[The Legacy|Legacy Weapon]]. To fire the weapon, they had to combine the various pieces they had gathered in their journey, along with the two stones within Urza's head, Karn's body, and Gerrard's life. Urza and Gerrard died in the activation, but the weapon successfully destroyed Yawgmoth. Karn, now infused with Urza's spark and the power unleashed by the Legacy Weapon, took up his former master's staff and soon left Dominaria.
 
===The second legacy===
===The second legacy===
After the [[Mending]], [[Teferi]] discovered that Urza had left behind a series of devices and magical [[artifact]]s that could be of help in repairing the [[Zhalfir]]in [[time rift]]. One of these artifact was hidden in monument in the [[Tivan Desert]].<ref name="Return 6">{{DailyRef|magic-story/return-dominaria-episode-6-2018-04-18|Return to Dominaria, Episode 6|[[Martha Wells]]|April 18, 2018}}</ref>
After the [[Mending]], [[Teferi]] discovered that Urza had left behind a series of devices and magical [[artifact]]s throughout Dominaria. One of these artifacts, the [[Starfield Orb]], was hidden in a monument in the [[Tivan Desert]].<ref name="Return 6">{{DailyRef|magic-story/return-dominaria-episode-6-2018-04-18|Return to Dominaria, Episode 6|[[Martha Wells]]|April 18, 2018}}</ref> The Orb contained contingencies for Teferi to lead the fight against the Phyrexian Invasion should Urza fail.<ref name="Antiquities">{{DailyRef|magic-story/the-brothers-war-chapter-2-aitiquities|The Brothers' War - Chapter 2: Antiquities|[[Reinhardt Suarez]]|October 24, 2022}}</ref>
 
==Artifacts acquired==
*The [[Golgothian Sylex]].
*The [[powerstone]]s [[Mightstone]] and [[Weakstone]].
*The [[artifact]]s that make up [[The Legacy]].


==Planeswalkers met==
==Planeswalkers met==
Line 105: Line 121:
*[[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]
*[[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]
*[[Gastal]]
*[[Gastal]]
*[[Moag]]
*[[Phyrexia]]
*[[Phyrexia]]
*[[Serra's Realm]]
*[[Serra's Realm]]
Line 110: Line 127:
*[[Rath]]
*[[Rath]]
*[[Equilor]]
*[[Equilor]]
*[[Vatraquaz]]
*[[Zendikar (plane)|Zendikar]]<ref name="Hedron"/>
}}
}}
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Stern Lesson.jpg|[[Tocasia]] was the brothers' first mentor, teaching them about [[Thran]] [[artifact]]s.
File:Urza Prince of Kroog.jpg|After his marriage to [[Kayla bin-Kroog]], Urza becomes ''Chief Artifice''.
File:Urza MTGA avatar BRO.png|[[Magic: The Gathering Arena]] avatar.
File:Urza comic.jpg|Young Urza with [[Mightstone]] during the [[Antiquities War]].
File:Retaliation.jpg|The brothers Urza and [[Mishra]] battle during the event known as ''[[Brothers' War]]''.
File:Urza Automaton MTGA avatar BRO.png|[[Artifact]] [[Construct]] of Urza's design, used during the ''Brothers' War''.
File:Urza Lord Protector.jpg|To defeat his brother, Urza gathers powerful [[artifact]]s like the [[Mightstone]] and [[Golgothian Sylex]].
File:Urza's Guilt.jpg|Urza finds the body of his brother [[Mishra]] in [[Phyrexia]].
File:Epic Confrontation Lucas Graciano.jpg|The brothers' final confrontation took place on [[Argoth]].
File:One with the Multiverse.jpg|With his [[Planeswalker's spark|spark]] ignited, Urza begins exploring the [[Multiverse]].
File:Opposition.jpg|Due to Urza's methods, many discussions took place between the [[planeswalker]] and [[Barrin]].
File:Pledge of Loyalty.jpg|Many of Urza's creations were based on [[Thran Empire|Thran]] technology.
File:Urza's Incubator.jpg|Urza creates the [[Metathran]] based on the genetics of the [[Thran Empire|Thran]].
File:Shower of Sparks.jpg|Urza uses the [[Mana Rig]] to forge his creations used against the Phyrexians.
File:Well-Laid Plans.jpg|''“You can build a perfect machine out of imperfect parts.”''
File:Disrupt.jpg|Teferi and Urza destroying the Phyrexian Portal.
File:Psychic Battle.jpg|<c>Psychic Battle</c>
File:Rewards of Diversity.jpg|Urza has mastery of the five colors of [[mana]].
File:Urza's Rage.png|''“Those who know only one path to victory can never hope to triumph.”''
File:Tevesh Szat and Urza.jpg|Urza uses [[Tevesh Szat|Tevesh's]] vital energy to fuel soul bombs.
File:Warped Devotion.jpg|[[Gerrard Capashen]] and Urza face off at the Phyrexian Arena.
File:UrzaConceptJehanChoo.png|Concept art of Urza from ''[[The Brothers' War]]''
File:UrzasFactory.jpeg|Urza patrols his factory
File:Urza profile.jpg|Card art by [[Grant Griffin]] in ''[[Commander Masters]]''.
</gallery>


==Subtype==
==Subtype==
The [[planeswalker]] [[subtype]] '''Urza''' was created for ''[[Unstable]]'' when Urza's head appeared as the game's first Un-planeswalker.  
The [[planeswalker]] [[subtype]] '''Urza''' was created for ''[[Unstable]]'' when {{Card|Urza, Academy Headmaster}} appeared as the game's first [[Acorn]] planeswalker. This crossed over to Eternal with {{Card|Urza, Planeswalker}} in ''[[The Brothers' War]]''.
 
==Story appearances==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title !! Author !! Publishing date !! Set !! Setting (plane) !! Featuring
|-
|{{ArticleArchive|magic-story/the-brothers-war-episode-5-as-cruel-as-necessary|The Brothers' War - Episode 5: As Cruel, As Necessary}} || [[Miguel Lopez]], [[Jeff Grubb]] || 2022-10-26 || ''[[The Brothers' War]]'' || [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]] || [[Teferi Akosa]], [[Kaya]], [[Saheeli Rai]], Urza, [[Tawnos]]
|}
 
==In-game references==
==In-game references==
{{In-game
{{In-game
|cards=
|cards=
*<c>Urza</c>
*<c>Blind Seer</c>
*<c>Blind Seer</c>
*{{card|Urza, Academy Headmaster|Unstable}}
*{{card|Urza, Academy Headmaster|Unstable}}
*<c>Urza, Chief Artificer</c>
*<c>Urza, Lord High Artificer</c>
*<c>Urza, Lord High Artificer</c>
*<c>Urza, Lord Protector</c>
*<c>Urza, Planeswalker</c><ref>{{WebRef|url=https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/making-magic/the-brothers-war-card-stories-part-2|title=The Brothers' War Card Stories, Part 2|author=[[Mark Rosewater]]|date=November 28, 2022|publisher=Magicthegathering.com}}</ref>
*<c>Urza, Powerstone Prodigy</c>
*<c>Urza, Prince of Kroog</c>
*{{card|Urza|Vanguard|PVAN}}
|associated=
|associated=
*<c>The Brothers' War</c>
*<c>Glasses of Urza</c>
*<c>Glasses of Urza</c>
*<c>Karn, Scion of Urza</c>
*<c>Karn, Scion of Urza</c>
*<c>Liberator, Urza's Battlethopter</c>
*<c>Sunglasses of Urza</c>
*<c>Sunglasses of Urza</c>
*<c>Tawnos, Urza's Apprentice</c>
*<c>Tawnos, Urza's Apprentice</c>
*<c>The Mightstone and Weakstone</c>
*<c>Urza's Armor</c>
*<c>Urza's Armor</c>
*<c>Urza Assembles the Titans</c>
*<c>Urza's Avenger</c>
*<c>Urza's Avenger</c>
*<c>Urza's Bauble</c>
*<c>Urza's Bauble</c>
*<c>Urza's Blueprints</c>
*<c>Urza's Blueprints</c>
*<c>Urza's Cave</c>
*<c>Urza's Chalice</c>
*<c>Urza's Chalice</c>
*<c>Urza's Command</c>
*<c>Urza's Construction Drone</c>
*{{card|Urza's Contact Lenses|Unglued}}
*{{card|Urza's Contact Lenses|Unglued}}
*{{card|Urza's Dark Cannonball|Unfinity|SUNF}}
*<c>Urza's Engine</c>
*<c>Urza's Engine</c>
*<c>Urza's Factory</c>
*<c>Urza's Factory</c>
*<c>Urza's Filter</c>
*<c>Urza's Filter</c>
*{{card|Urza's Fun House|Unfinity}}
*<c>Urza's Guilt</c>
*<c>Urza's Guilt</c>
*[[Unknown Event/2024 list of event cards#You Make the Card list|Urza's Hot Dog Stand]]<ref name="Unknown">{{YouTubeRef|L-QhBBzdJpc|The Gavin Unknown Playtest Cards of MagicCon Chicago!|channel=[[Good Morning Magic]]|date=February 28, 2024}}</ref>
*{{card|Urza's Hot Tub|Unhinged}}
*{{card|Urza's Hot Tub|Unhinged}}
*<c>Urza's Incubator</c>
*<c>Urza's Incubator</c>
Line 142: Line 213:
*<c>Urza's Power Plant</c>
*<c>Urza's Power Plant</c>
*<c>Urza's Rage</c>
*<c>Urza's Rage</c>
*<c>Urza's Rebuff</c>
*<c>Urza's Ruinous Blast</c>
*<c>Urza's Ruinous Blast</c>
*<c>Urza's Saga</c>
*{{card|Urza's Science Fair Project|Unglued}}
*{{card|Urza's Science Fair Project|Unglued}}
*<c>Urza's Sylex</c>
*<c>Urza's Tome</c>
*<c>Urza's Tome</c>
*<c>Urza's Tower</c>
*<c>Urza's Tower</c>
*<c>Urza's Workshop</c>
|art=
|art=
*<c>Acidic Soil</c>
*<c>Acidic Soil</c>
*<c>Bitter Reunion</c>
*{{card|Blessed Reversal|Urza's Legacy}}
*{{card|Blessed Reversal|Urza's Legacy}}
*<c>Brand</c><ref>{{DailyRef|symbol-urza-2007-12-03|Symbol of Urza|[[Magic Arcana]]|December 03, 2007}}</ref>
*<c>Brand</c><ref>{{DailyRef|symbol-urza-2007-12-03|Symbol of Urza|[[Magic Arcana]]|December 03, 2007}}</ref>
*<c>Bravado</c>
*<c>Bravado</c>
*<c>Brotherhood's End</c>
*<c>Calamity's Wake</c>
*{{card|Corrupt|Urza's Saga}}
*{{card|Corrupt|Urza's Saga}}
*{{card|Consign to Memory||MH3}}
*<c>Dark Suspicions</c>
*<c>Dark Suspicions</c>
*{{card|Death Grasp|Apocalypse}}
*{{card|Death Grasp|Apocalypse}}
*<c>Death or Glory</c>
*<c>Death or Glory</c>
*<c>Dismantling Blow</c>
*{{card|Dismantling Blow|Invasion}}
*{{card|Disrupt|Invasion}}
*{{card|Disrupt|Invasion}}
*<c>Distant Memories</c>
*<c>Distant Memories</c>
*<c>Energy Field</c>
*<c>Energy Field</c>
*{{card|Epic Confrontation||BRO}}
*<c>Exhaustion</c>
*{{card|Gainsay|Planeshift}}
*{{card|Gainsay|Planeshift}}
*<c>Gruesome Realization</c>
*<c>Hall of Tagsin</c>
*{{card|Holy Day|Invasion}}
*{{card|Holy Day|Invasion}}
*{{card|Jace, Cunning Castaway|Comic-Con|PS18}}
*{{card|Jace, Cunning Castaway|Comic-Con|PS18}}
*{{card|Legacy Weapon|Tenth Edition}}
*{{card|Legacy Weapon|Tenth Edition}}
*{{card|Legacy Weapon|Dominaria Remastered|DMR|#=229}}
*<c>Machine over Matter</c>
*<c>March of Progress</c>
*{{card|Mass Production}}
*<c>Memorial to Genius</c><ref name="Memorial">{{DailyRef|card-preview/memorializing-dominaria-2018-04-04|Memorializing Dominaria|[[Chas Andres]]|April 4, 2018}}</ref>  
*<c>Memorial to Genius</c><ref name="Memorial">{{DailyRef|card-preview/memorializing-dominaria-2018-04-04|Memorializing Dominaria|[[Chas Andres]]|April 4, 2018}}</ref>  
*<c>Memorial to Folly</c><ref name="Memorial"/>
*<c>Memorial to Folly</c><ref name="Memorial"/>
*<c>Memory Jar</c><ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/visions-mage’s-jar-2006-11-02|Visions in a Mage’s Jar|[[Magic Arcana]]|November 02, 2006}}</ref>
*<c>Memory Jar</c><ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/visions-mage’s-jar-2006-11-02|Visions in a Mage’s Jar|[[Magic Arcana]]|November 02, 2006}}</ref>
*<c>Mightstone's Animation</c>
*<c>Mind Over Matter</c>
*<c>Mind Over Matter</c>
*<c>Mourning</c>
*<c>Mourning</c>
*<c>One with the Multiverse</c>
*{{card|Opportunity|Urza's Legacy}}
*{{card|Opportunity|Urza's Legacy}}
*{{card|Opposition|Urza's Destiny}}
*{{card|Opposition|Urza's Destiny}}
*{{card|Pacifism|Urza's Saga}}
*{{card|Pacifism|Urza's Saga}}
*{{card|Parallel Lives|Judge Gift|P22}}
*{{card|Personal Tutor||CMM|#=633}}
*{{card|Phone a Friend|Unfinity}}
*{{card|Phyrexian Arena|Apocalypse}}
*{{card|Phyrexian Arena|Apocalypse}}
*<c>Planar Collapse</c>
*<c>Planar Collapse</c>
Line 182: Line 274:
*<c>Shared Fate</c>
*<c>Shared Fate</c>
*<c>Shower of Sparks</c>
*<c>Shower of Sparks</c>
*<c>Sibling Rivalry</c>
*<c>Sicken</c>
*<c>Sicken</c>
*<c>Soul Link</c>
*<c>Soul Link</c>
*<c>Splitting the Powerstone</c>
*<c>Stern Lesson</c>
*<c>Stroke of Genius</c>
*<c>Stroke of Genius</c>
*<c>Storage Matrix</c>
*<c>Storage Matrix</c>
*<c>Suppress</c>
*<c>Suppress</c>
*<c>The Antiquities War</c>  
*<c>Temporal Aperture</c>
*<c>The Antiquities War</c>
*<c>The Weatherseed Treaty</c>  
*<c>Thran Foundry</c>
*<c>Thran Foundry</c>
*<c>Tocasia's Welcome</c>
*<c>Visions of Phyrexia</c>
*{{card|Warped Devotion|Planeshift}}
*{{card|Warped Devotion|Planeshift}}
*<c>Well-Laid Plans</c>
*<c>Well-Laid Plans</c>
Line 196: Line 295:
*<c>Amulet of Kroog</c>
*<c>Amulet of Kroog</c>
*<c>Angelic Curator</c>
*<c>Angelic Curator</c>
*<c>Argivian Avenger</c>
*<c>Argothian Sprite</c>
*<c>Artifact Blast</c>
*<c>Artifact Blast</c>
*<c>Ashnod's Intervention</c>
*<c>Attunement</c>
*<c>Attunement</c>
*{{card|Bane of Progress|Commander Collection: Green}}
*{{card|Beast of Burden|Urza's Legacy}}
*{{card|Beast of Burden|Urza's Legacy}}
*<c>Blitz Automaton</c>
*<c>Blizzard Elemental</c>
*<c>Blizzard Elemental</c>
*<c>Bog Initiate</c>
*<c>Bog Initiate</c>
*{{card|Brushland||BRO}}
*<c>Callous Giant</c>
*<c>Callous Giant</c>
*<c>Candelabra of Tawnos</c>
*<c>Candelabra of Tawnos</c>
Line 208: Line 313:
*<c>Confound</c>
*<c>Confound</c>
*{{card|Darkest Hour|Urza's Saga}}
*{{card|Darkest Hour|Urza's Saga}}
*<c>Deadly Riposte</c>
*{{card|Door to Nothingness||BRR|#=77}}
*{{card|Elsewhere Flask|Retro Artifacts|BRR|#=78}}
*<c>Elvish Herder</c>
*<c>Elvish Herder</c>
*<c>Energy Refractor</c>
*<c>Excavation Explosion</c>
*<c>Extruder</c>
*<c>Extruder</c>
*<c>Fateful Handoff</c>
*<c>Fog of War</c>
*{{card|Giant Growth||BRO}}
*<c>Giant Cindermaw</c>
*{{card|Go for the Throat||BRO}}
*{{card|Grapeshot Catapult|Antiquities}}
*{{card|Grapeshot Catapult|Antiquities}}
*<c>Harbin, Vanguard Aviator</c>
*{{card|Healing Salve|Urza's Saga}}
*{{card|Healing Salve|Urza's Saga}}
*<c>Hermetic Study</c>
*<c>Hermetic Study</c>
*<c>Ill-Gotten Gains</c>
*<c>Ill-Gotten Gains</c>
*<c>Illuminated Wings</c>
*<c>Illuminated Wings</c>
*{{card|Inspiring Statuary||BRR|#=85}}
*{{card|Jalum Tome|Antiquities}}
*{{card|Jalum Tome|Antiquities}}
*{{card|Jalum Tome|Retro Artifacts|BRR|#=87}}
*{{card|Juggernaut|Dominaria}}
*{{card|Juggernaut|Dominaria}}
*<c>Karn, Scion of Urza</c>
*<c>Karn, Scion of Urza</c>
*<c>Kavu Chameleon</c>
*<c>Kavu Chameleon</c>
*<c>Kayla's Kindling</c>{{ref|AlchemyFlavor|†}}
*<c>Kayla's Music Box</c>
*{{card|Key to the City||BRR|#=90}}
*<c>Legions to Ashes</c>
*<c>Loran, Disciple of History</c>
*<c>Magus of the Candelabra</c>
*<c>Magus of the Candelabra</c>
*<c>Mana Maze</c>
*<c>Mana Maze</c>
Line 225: Line 348:
*<c>Metathran Soldier</c>
*<c>Metathran Soldier</c>
*<c>Mightstone</c>
*<c>Mightstone</c>
*{{card|Mind Stone|Wizards Play Network|PW21}}
*<c>Mine Worker</c>
*{{card|Mishra|Vanguard|PVAN}}
*<c>Mishra, Excavation Prodigy</c>
*<c>Mishra's Onslaught</c>
*[[Extra Pulled|Mox Dragon of the Lotus]]
*<c>Multani, Maro-Sorcerer</c>
*<c>Multani, Maro-Sorcerer</c>
*{{card|Nature's Spiral|Dominaria}}
*{{card|Nature's Spiral|Dominaria}}
Line 230: Line 359:
*<c>Onulet</c>
*<c>Onulet</c>
*{{card|Ornithopter|Tenth Edition}}
*{{card|Ornithopter|Tenth Edition}}
*{{card|Ornithopter||BRR|#=100}}
*{{card|Perilous Vault||BRR|#=101}}
*<c>Platoon Dispenser</c>
*<c>Powerstone Shard</c>
*<c>Powerstone Shard</c>
*<c>Prison Sentence</c>
*{{card|Pristine Talisman||BRR|#=106}}
*<c>Rain of Filth</c>
*<c>Rain of Filth</c>
*<c>Rakalite</c>
*<c>Rakalite</c>
*<c>Reckless Assault</c>
*<c>Reckless Assault</c>
*<c>Reconstructed Thopter</c>
*{{card|Recover|Invasion}}
*{{card|Recover|Invasion}}
*{{card|Rescue|Urza's Destiny}}
*{{card|Rescue|Urza's Destiny}}
*<c>Rivalry</c>
*<c>Rivalry</c>
*{{card|Rogue Kavu|Invasion}}
*{{card|Rogue Kavu|Invasion}}
*<c>Rust Goliath</c>
*<c>Sanctum Custodian</c>
*<c>Sanctum Custodian</c>
*<c>Saproling Infestation</c>
*<c>Saproling Infestation</c>
*<c>Sardian Cliffstomper</c>
*<c>Scavenged Weaponry</c>
*<c>Scavenged Weaponry</c>
*<c>Searing Rays</c>
*<c>Searing Rays</c>
*<c>Sicken</c>
*<c>Sicken</c>
*{{card|Sol Ring|Commander Masters|#=703}}
*{{card|Spatula of the Ages|Unglued}}
*{{card|Spatula of the Ages|Unglued}}
*<c>Spirit of Resistance</c>
*<c>Spirit of Resistance</c>
*<c>Strip Mine</c>
*<c>Strip Mine</c>
*<c>Stroke of Genius</c>
*<c>Stroke of Genius</c>
*{{card|Sundering Titan||BRR|#=120}}
*{{card|Sustainer of the Realm|Urza's Legacy}}
*{{card|Sustainer of the Realm|Urza's Legacy}}
*<c>Tablet of Epityr</c>
*<c>Tablet of Epityr</c>
*<c>Take Flight</c>
*{{card|Tawnos|Vanguard|PVAN}}
*<c>Tawnos's Tinkering</c>
*{{card|Tawnos's Weaponry|Antiquities}}
*{{card|Tawnos's Weaponry|Antiquities}}
*<c>Tectonic Instability</c>
*<c>Tectonic Instability</c>
Line 257: Line 399:
*<c>Thran Lens</c>
*<c>Thran Lens</c>
*<c>Thran Turbine</c>
*<c>Thran Turbine</c>
*<c>Thraxodemon</c>
*<c>Timeless Lotus</c>
*<c>Tocasia's Dig Site</c>
*<c>Tower Worker</c>
*<c>Treacherous Link</c>
*<c>Treacherous Link</c>
*<c>Treefolk Mystic</c>
*<c>Treefolk Mystic</c>
*<c>Trench Wurm</c>
*<c>Trench Wurm</c>
*<c>Wall of Junk</c>
*<c>Wall of Junk</c>
*<c>Wasteful Harvest</c>
*<c>Whalebone Glider</c>
*<c>Whalebone Glider</c>
*<c>Whirlwind</c>
*<c>Whirlwind</c>
Line 266: Line 413:
*<c>Wings of Hope</c>
*<c>Wings of Hope</c>
*<c>Word of Undoing</c>
*<c>Word of Undoing</c>
*{{card|Xantcha|Vanguard|PVAN}}
*{{card|Yotian Soldier|Antiquities}}
*{{card|Yotian Soldier|Antiquities}}
}}
}}
:{{note|AlchemyFlavor|†}} Scryfall does not record flavor text for digital cards. See [[Alchemy: The Brothers' War/Flavor text]]


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*According to [[Mark Rosewater]], Urza is centered in [[blue]] mana, but over the course of his lifetime gained the ability to use [[white]], [[black]], [[red]], and [[green]] mana in that order.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/185044717983/im-super-happy-with-the-interesting-design-of}}</ref>
*In early sources, Urza and Mishra were described as twin brothers.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://archive.org/details/the-duelist-a-special-preview-edition/|title="An Expansion Timeline"|author=[[John Tynes]]|date=April 1995|work=The Duelist: A Special Preview Edition|publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|}}</ref>
*According to [[Mark Rosewater]], Urza is centered in [[blue]] mana, but throughout his life gained the ability to use [[white]], [[black]], [[red]], and [[green]] mana in that order.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/185044717983/im-super-happy-with-the-interesting-design-of}}</ref>
*In an alternate reality, Urza and Mishra were elementalists rather than artificers, and Urza later went on to oppose an Elemental Invasion, his progeny [[Gerrard Capashen|Gerrard]], and the witch [[Freyalise]].<ref>{{DailyRef|savor-flavor/backwards-through-looking-glass-2007-03-01|Backwards Through the Looking Glass|[[Doug Beyer]]|March 1, 2007}}</ref>
*"''Keep your lids open, or you'll see with Urza's eyes''" is an old Dominarian adage, meaning "Don't do thoughtless, stupid things".<ref name="OTJ Epilogue 1">{{DailyRef|magic-story/epilogue-1-the-invasion-tree|''Outlaws of Thunder Junction - Epilogue 1: Bring The End, Part 1|[[Alison Lührs]]|April 1, 2024}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{The Weatherlight Saga|Nine Titans|state=collapsed}}
{{Weatherlight Saga|Nine Titans|state=collapsed}}
{{Planeswalker|nocat=1}}
{{Dominaria|characters|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Dominaria]]
{{Planeswalker|types}}
{{Acorn|types|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Humans]]
[[Category:Artificers]]
[[Category:Wizards]]
[[Category:Deceased]]

Latest revision as of 13:40, 28 May 2024

Urza
 
 
Urza
Master Malzra[1]
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Urza planeswalker.jpg}}|250px]]
Details
Race Human Planeswalker
Birthplace Argive, Terisiare, Dominaria
Lifetime 0 - 4205 AR
Spouse Kayla bin-Kroog
Children Harbin
Karn (creation)
Relatives Mishra (brother)
Jarsyl (grandson)
Jodah (descendant)
Colors
Center: {U}
Currently: {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}
Sources
Rath and Storm, The Brothers' War, Planeswalker, Time Streams, Bloodlines, Prophecy, Invasion, Planeshift, Apocalypse

Urza was a human planeswalker originating from Terisiare on Dominaria, best known for his millennia-long struggle with Yawgmoth and the plane of Phyrexia.[2] The cataclysms caused by his ignition of the Golgothian Sylex earned him the nickname Destroyer of Dominaria.[3] As the co-founder of the Tolarian Academy, Urza was known as Master Malzra.[1]

Appearance and characteristics

Urza was a great and brilliant artificer and a powerful wizard, having a stereotypical wizardly look as a bearded old man with unkempt hair and a robe-and-staff ensemble. He devoted centuries of his life to fighting Phyrexia, sometimes employing questionable methods, but at the crux of his victory his obsessive nature won out over his thirst for vengeance. After his rise as a planeswalker he replaced his eyes with two powerstones, the Mightstone and the Weakstone.

Urza was centered in blue, but he had access to the five colors of mana.

History

Early years

Urza and his younger brother Mishra were born on the first and last days of the same year, marked 0 AR by later historians. They were born to a noble family of Argive, one of the three coastal kingdoms of Terisiare. Urza's mother died while he was a child, and his father married another member of the aristocracy. This woman treated Urza and Mishra with indifference at best and contempt at worst. In 10 AR, their father fell ill, so he sent them away to his old friend, Tocasia, to serve as students at her archaeological dig. Their father later died, leaving the boys orphaned.[4]

Apprenticeship to Tocasia

During their youth, Urza and Mishra were Tocasia's apprentices.

Under Tocasia's guidance, the two brothers learned a large amount about the manufacture of artifacts from the archaeological excavations of the ancient ruins of the Thran, the mysterious civilization that ruled Terisiare thousands of years prior. During this time, Urza developed a talent for study. Rarely having a hands-on approach, he would prefer to study the artifacts the excavations uncovered rather than participate in the diggings.

Over their years at Tocasia's camp, Urza and Mishra made several important inventions and discoveries. While the most obvious of these was the ornithopter, the most important turned out to be the Caves of Koilos. A mysterious cave filled with old Thran artifacts, the Caves were also the location of a long-sealed gateway to Phyrexia, used in almost every Phyrexian infiltration and invasion of Dominaria. On their first visit, Urza and Mishra discovered the powerstone sealing Phyrexia, and in their haste to grab the stone before the other brother, they broke it in two. Urza and Mishra kept the two halves of the stone, which became known as the Mightstone and the Weakstone respectively. A mutual desire for the other brother's stone led to a falling-out between Urza and Mishra, as well as the inadvertent death of Tocasia.

Urza, Lord High Artificer

The Chief Artificer

After Tocasia's death, Urza moved to Yotia and put his skills with machinery to work as a clockmaker's apprentice. Shortly thereafter, a public contest was announced by the ruler of Yotia: Any man who could move a gigantic jade statue across a courtyard would be married to his daughter. Urza wasn't particularly interested in the daughter, but in an attempt to acquire a Thran tome that was in her dowry, Urza built a gigantic machine to move the statue. He succeeded and was wed to Kayla bin-Kroog. However, being wed did not make him any more affectionate towards his wife - on the contrary, he left her bed on their wedding night to study the Thran book from her dowry. However, he threw himself headlong into his new position of Chief Artificer, working obsessively on his attempts to improve his artifacts.

The Brothers' War

While Urza was inadvertently acquiring the reins of power in Yotia, Mishra was doing the same with the Fallaji desert people, becoming a close advisor to the Fallaji ruler over several years. A series of double-crossings and sneak attacks quickly commenced between the two brothers and their kingdoms, soon resulting in open war. An increasingly elaborate set of machines developed by the two brothers began to fight on either side, and the war slowly spiraled out of control. It continued for decades until the fateful day at Argoth when the brothers met face to face at the head of their armies. Urza discovered there that Mishra had been corrupted by Phyrexian influence, slowly turning himself from a man into a living machine.

Urza ignited the planeswalker spark within the re-fused powerstone after the detonation of the Golgothian Sylex. The stone then took on Urza's consciousness.

Urza responded to this with the frightening force of the Golgothian Sylex.[5] The Sylex Blast was one of the most traumatic events in Dominarian history. It slaughtered both armies, blasted the landscape for miles around, sank the sub-continent Argoth, and altered weather patterns for centuries, leading to the Ice Age.

At the moment of the blast, Urza met his future student Teferi Akosa in a moment beyond time. As his body was destroyed and reknit itself, melding Urza with the Mightstone and Weakstone, which became his eyes, and igniting his latent planeswalker spark, Teferi learned from Urza the method of activating the Sylex.[5]

Six years later, Urza returned to Dominaria to say a final farewell to his student and good friend Tawnos, who he asked to return to Urza's wife, Kayla.

Exploring the Origins of Phyrexia

After he had destroyed his brother, Urza came to realize that Mishra had been completely corrupted by Gix. This realization filled Urza with grief and pushed him to begin his lifelong hunt for retribution against Phyrexia, and its demonic ruler, Yawgmoth.

After meeting the Newt Xantcha, who had been intended as a Sleeper Agent but had been turned into an expendable servant now that the Agents couldn't be deployed, Urza created a monstrous machine-dragon to attack Phyrexia. He managed to blast a gigantic hole in the plane, all the way down to the 4th Sphere, but then Yawgmoth himself invaded his mind and made him go even more insane. Urza fled for years and traveled from plane to plane, with the Phyrexians always on his tail. Once, he visited Zendikar, but Urza deemed the hedron matrix insufficient to stop Phyrexia.[6] Eventually, Urza was healed by Serra, but after he left, the Phyrexians invaded her realm and corrupted it.

Returning home

Ratepe was a young Dominarian recruited by Xantcha, Urza's Phyrexian assistant. Xantcha sought out Ratepe from a small nation to impersonate Mishra, Urza's long-dead brother. Urza was becoming increasingly obsessed and guilt-ridden over his role in his brother's death, so much so that he was abandoning his defense of Dominaria in the hopes of finding a way to undo his brother's death. Xantcha brought Ratepe, posing as Mishra, to Urza in the hopes of alleviating some of his guilt and allowing him to focus on defeating the Phyrexians. Thanks to Xantcha's coaching and Ratepe's ability to hear Urza's Weakstone singing to him, Ratepe was able to help shock Urza out of his guilt. He continued to help Urza and eventually became Xantcha's lover. Both Ratepe and Xantcha were killed when Urza fought the Phyrexian Demon Gix in Koilos. Ratepe and Xantcha's sacrifice helped Urza defeat Gix and also revealed to him the shared Phyrexian ancestry with the Thran.

Tolaria and the Time Streams

Urza through the ages

Though Urza got over his obsession with reversing his brother's death, his interest in the past was far from over. Having learned that the impending Phyrexian threat was more dangerous than ever, Urza created a vast school of magic and technology on the island of Tolaria - the Academy. Under the pseudonym "Master Malzra," Urza summoned the most talented artificers, sorcerers, mathematicians, and biologists from across Dominaria to study in his prestigious school, including Barrin, Teferi, and Rayne.[7] Using the information he had gleaned from Gix and the technology being developed by his genius resident staff, Urza began the creation of a time machine that allowed him to gaze into the past and see the ancient war that led to the Phyrexian banishment.

By implanting Xantcha's heartstone (her only remains) into a silver golem, Urza created Karn, a being that could theoretically enter rifts created by his temporal disruptor and change the past. Tragically, during the machine's trial run, the temporal vortex drew far too much energy and "exploded", destroying the majority of the Tolarian Academy, killing inhabitants, and covering the island in odd (and sometimes horrific) temporal disturbances. Although Karn and Urza survived without injury, and much had been learned about the history of the enemy, Urza was devastated.

After being distraught and guilt-ridden over causing another horrible explosion (the first being the Sylex), Urza eventually rebuilt the Academy and realized that the temporal rifts throughout Tolaria could be used to his advantage. He engineered magical-technological armor that allowed Tolarian researchers to finish decades of work in mere hours in fast-time bubbles. Potions derived from water in slow-time bubbles could extend a promising student's life by years. For the first time, Urza had a viable means for gaining ground on the multi-millennial head start the Phyrexian invasion force had so long held.

Atonement for Past Sins

Urza's return to Tolaria was to fix the mistakes that he had made, one of which he learned was missing an invading group of Phyrexian Negators, led by the sleeper agent Kerrick, who had managed to survive the time machine's explosion and were trapped in a pocket of extreme fast time, or would be until mutations led to a temporal rift proof Phyrexian.

To ensure victory against the growing threat of invasion, and gain allies for the future coming war with Phyrexia, Urza traveled throughout Dominaria, creating alliances with multiple races. Lastly, he went to Yavimaya, a place he knew held deep hatred of him for the destruction of Argoth. Multani, feigning a peaceful welcome, trapped Urza in a magnigoth tree and forced him to experience all the pain Titania, the Maro Elemental of Argoth had felt.

Ultimately, Urza was saved by Barrin, who summoned him when Tolaria was being overrun, but while escaping Multani became trapped within him. Urza first traveled to the Shivan Mana Rig, gathering Teferi and Shivan allies to aid in the fight. It was only at this point that his identity as Urza Planeswalker was revealed to his students.[7] During the battle, after seeing the horrors of Phyrexians, Multani aided Urza in destroying Kerrick and all his minions and promised his and Yavimaya's help in the future.

Building the Legacy

Urza in front of the Rath portal

With the conclusion of the battle for Tolaria, Urza began work on what he called "the salvation of Dominaria" - a flying ship, capable of sonic speeds as well as the ability to planeshift between worlds. Armed with the best weaponry conceived and piloted by the best fighters, it would be the lynchpin of Urza's battle plan. Built with a frame of Thran metal and fused with the Weatherseed, a seed from the Heart of Yavimaya, Urza christened the ship Skyship Weatherlight. Problems arose though in how to power the ship's Mana Battery, as the mana energies needed to charge its Powerstone core was an entire plane's worth. In other words, to save his world, Urza would have to sacrifice another. With much regret, Urza decided to use the energies of the collapsing Phyrexian-overrun plane of Serra's Realm to do so, while at the same time trying to save as many people from that plane as possible. This did not come without a price though, as many brave Dominarians, including Gherridarigaaz, Rhammidarigaaz's mother, died during the battle with Radiant's Angel army, though they were successful in trapping the planar energies of Serra's Realm just before it was erased from existence. Urza later realized that Weatherlight wasn't enough and that another piece, an organic living component, would be needed, and started working on plans for what would become the Bloodline Project.

Bloodlines and Rath

Rath was an artificial plane utilized by Yawgmoth to 'overlay' upon Dominaria, in essence creating a giant land portal for his Phyrexian armies. Rath was able to overlay Dominaria due to the properties of "flowstone", a substance produced by the Rathi Stronghold. Flowstone was a magical substance that could increase the mass of a plane, thus moving Rath into the position occupied by Dominaria and 'fusing' them together. Urza constructed an army of sorcery and power to resist the coming invasion. He called them the Metathran.

The Invasion

Urza, in his guise as the Blind Seer donned to help the Weatherlight Crew

During the Phyrexian Invasion, Yawgmoth tried to invade Dominaria using the land-based portal in the Caves of Koilos. Urza, determined to never allow him re-entrance, resolved to stop him. All of the forces of Dominaria banded against Yawgmoth and tried to push him back. The elves of Llanowar, Metathran (artificial humanoids created by Urza to emulate Phyrexian physiology; much stronger, faster, and smarter than humans with certain other biological modifications), and Gerrard Capashen (commander of the Weatherlight & inheritor of Urza's Legacy) banded together. At the head of the Phyrexian troops was Tsabo Tavoc, one of Yawgmoth's generals. She has a mechanical torso with 8 spider legs, segmented insect eyes, a detached mouth (which could open larger than humans), and poison injectors attached to her torso.

The Nine Titans

The nine Titan Engines were huge artifact creations that were built by Urza to assist in the attack on Phyrexia. Each titan was controlled and powered by a Planeswalker and as such, they grew to emulate that planeswalker's characteristics. There was one titan engine for each of these nine planeswalkers: Commodore Guff, Tevash Szat, Bo Levar, Daria, Taysir, Freyalise, Kristina, Lord Windgrace, and, of course, Urza himself (he intended Teferi and Parcher to join him, but the first phased out, and the second was considered too crazy to work with them). The Titan engines were huge constructs with a vast arsenal of weaponry. They contained aeries of falcon engines (artifacts created by Urza to detect glistening oil, dive towards it, and then once inside the Phyrexian, burst apart and destroy it), rocket launchers located on the wrists, mana cannons, as well as colossal hands and feet that could crush hundreds of Phyrexians at a time. These weapons, combined with the formidable power of the planeswalkers themselves, made every titan engine a force to be reckoned with.

Betrayal

Entering Phyrexia, using the powers of the Titan Suits, the Nine Titans began to destroy the artificial plane in a final gambit to protect Dominaria. However, over time, Tevash Szat began to betray and kill his fellow planeswalkers, turning to the side of the Phyrexians. At one point, Urza was able to defeat him and used the power from his life force to charge together the soul bombs that he planned to use to destroy Phyrexia for good. While Barrin had argued with Urza that the power source for them, the life force of a living being, was a punishment not worthy of even the worst crime, Tevash's betrayal was so devastating to the fate of Dominaria that Urza declared his use for the soul bombs a form of "justice." Unfortunately for the remaining Titans, as well as Dominaria itself, Urza found himself unable to complete his lifetime goal of destroying the artificial plane, when he found himself becoming fascinated with the fact that it was something that had been created completely artificially. Unwilling to destroy a place full of such potential knowledge, he dismantled the master soul bomb, which would have been able to set off all of the others, creating a ripple effect that would have decimated Phyrexia to the point of no return. After destroying it, he surrendered himself to Yawgmoth, but the ruler of Phyrexia forced him to battle Gerrard Capashen in the Phyrexian Arena, feeling that slaying the master of arms of the Weatherlight, Urza's former ally, was the only way that he could prove he was not surrendering as part of an elaborate trap. Urza nearly defeated Gerrard twice, but during each attempt, he was chastised by his new master Yawgmoth for using cowardly and indirect tactics. After restarting their combat for the third time, Gerrard beheaded Urza and was crowned as Yawgmoth's new champion.

Final Atonement

Urza and Gerrard fight in the Phyrexian Arena (Apocalypse)

As Gerrard betrayed Yawgmoth and escaped from The Stronghold, he carried Urza's severed head with him. When Gerrard returned to the transformed Weatherlight, he was shocked to hear the head of Urza address him. The loss of his body was minor to Urza, as his life was contained within the twin gemstones, the Mightstone and Weakstone, which rested in his head as his eyes, though his powers had been greatly weakened.

Enraged by the escape of his new champion Gerrard, Yawgmoth entered Dominaria himself. Forsaking subtlety he transformed himself into a massive black plague cloud and began to smother the defending world. When the Weatherlight's plan to use the stored up white mana in the Null Moon failed to stop Yawgmoth, Urza told the crew the final secret of the Legacy Weapon. To fire the weapon, they had to combine the various pieces they had gathered in their journey, along with the two stones within Urza's head, Karn's body, and Gerrard's life. Urza and Gerrard died in the activation, but the weapon successfully destroyed Yawgmoth. Karn, now infused with Urza's spark and the power unleashed by the Legacy Weapon, took up his former master's staff and soon left Dominaria.

The second legacy

After the Mending, Teferi discovered that Urza had left behind a series of devices and magical artifacts throughout Dominaria. One of these artifacts, the Starfield Orb, was hidden in a monument in the Tivan Desert.[8] The Orb contained contingencies for Teferi to lead the fight against the Phyrexian Invasion should Urza fail.[9]

Artifacts acquired

Planeswalkers met

Planes visited

Gallery

Subtype

The planeswalker subtype Urza was created for Unstable when Urza, Academy Headmaster appeared as the game's first Acorn planeswalker. This crossed over to Eternal with Urza, Planeswalker in The Brothers' War.

Story appearances

Title Author Publishing date Set Setting (plane) Featuring
The Brothers' War - Episode 5: As Cruel, As Necessary Miguel Lopez, Jeff Grubb 2022-10-26 The Brothers' War Dominaria Teferi Akosa, Kaya, Saheeli Rai, Urza, Tawnos

In-game references

Represented in:
Associated cards:
Depicted in:
Quoted or referred to:
^† Scryfall does not record flavor text for digital cards. See Alchemy: The Brothers' War/Flavor text

Trivia

  • In early sources, Urza and Mishra were described as twin brothers.[15]
  • According to Mark Rosewater, Urza is centered in blue mana, but throughout his life gained the ability to use white, black, red, and green mana in that order.[16]
  • In an alternate reality, Urza and Mishra were elementalists rather than artificers, and Urza later went on to oppose an Elemental Invasion, his progeny Gerrard, and the witch Freyalise.[17]
  • "Keep your lids open, or you'll see with Urza's eyes" is an old Dominarian adage, meaning "Don't do thoughtless, stupid things".[18]

References

  1. a b Will McDermott (November 1998). "A Time for Remembrance". The Official Guide to Urza's Saga
  2. Magic Arcana (March 25, 2010). "Faces of Urza". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Miguel Lopez (January 17, 2023). "Alone". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. Jay Annelli (2022). Magic: The Gathering - The Visual Guide, DK. ISBN-13 978-0744061055.
  5. a b Miguel Lopez and Jeff Grubb (October 26, 2022). "The Brothers' War - Episode 5: As Cruel, As Necessary". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. a b LoreleyWrites. Twitter.
  7. a b Will McDermott (April 1999). "Scars of the Legacy". The Official Urza's Legacy Game Guide
  8. Martha Wells (April 18, 2018). "Return to Dominaria, Episode 6". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. Reinhardt Suarez (October 24, 2022). "The Brothers' War - Chapter 2: Antiquities". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. Mark Rosewater (November 28, 2022). "The Brothers' War Card Stories, Part 2". Magicthegathering.com.
  11. The Gavin Unknown Playtest Cards of MagicCon Chicago! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (February 28, 2024).
  12. Magic Arcana (December 03, 2007). "Symbol of Urza". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. a b Chas Andres (April 4, 2018). "Memorializing Dominaria". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. Magic Arcana (November 02, 2006). "Visions in a Mage’s Jar". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  15. John Tynes (April 1995). ""An Expansion Timeline"". The Duelist: A Special Preview Edition. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. Mark Rosewater. "Im super happy with the interesting design of...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  17. Doug Beyer (March 1, 2007). "Backwards Through the Looking Glass". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  18. Alison Lührs (April 1, 2024). "Outlaws of Thunder Junction - Epilogue 1: Bring The End, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.