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| first = [[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]
| first = [[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]
| last = [[March of the Machine]]
| last = [[March of the Machine]]
| status=Invaded by New Phyrexia's Machine Legion
| status = Recovering from New Phyrexia's invasion
|planeswalkers=[[Lukka]]
| planeswalkers = [[Lukka]]
|rabiah=5}}
| rabiah = 5
| rabiah_ref = <ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/the-rabiah-scale-part-3|The Rabiah Scale, Part 3|[[Mark Rosewater]]|2024-05-13}}</ref>
|demonym=Ikorian
}}
{{TOCright}}
{{TOCright}}
{{Distinguish|Kiora}}{{For|the set|Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths}}
{{Distinguish|Kiora}}{{For|the set|Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths}}
'''Ikoria''' (pronounced as ''Ick-oria''<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/610944377058197504/is-it-pronounced-ick-oria-or-eye-koria-i-always|title=Is it pronounced ick-oria or eye-koria?|February 25, 2020}}</ref>) is a [[plane]] that is a "[[Monster]] World".<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/187500231728/i-missed-the-announcement-of-the-sets-for-next|title=I missed the announcement of the sets for next year.|September 04, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Guide"/>  
'''Ikoria''' (pronounced as ''Ick-oria''<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/610944377058197504/is-it-pronounced-ick-oria-or-eye-koria-i-always|title=Is it pronounced ick-oria or eye-koria?|February 25, 2020}}</ref>) is a [[plane]] that is a "[[Monster]] World".<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/187500231728/i-missed-the-announcement-of-the-sets-for-next|title=I missed the announcement of the sets for next year.|September 04, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Guide"/>


==Inhabitants==
==Description==
===Monsters===
Ikoria is a plane ruled by monsters, where [[human]] civilization ekes out a living in a handful of heavily defended sanctuaries.<ref name="Visual Guide">[[Jay Annelli]] (2022). ''[[Magic: The Gathering - The Visual Guide]]'', [[Wikipedia:DK (publisher)|DK]]. ISBN-13 978-0744061055.</ref> Though most humans exhibit a militant attitude toward monsters, humans known as bonders can form a metaphysical bond with them. A massive island, the continent is made up of five regions known as "triomes."
Monsters on this plane are everywhere. They come in all shapes and sizes, from terrifying, city-stomping behemoths to clever small [[beast]]s. Skysharks soar over herds of lumbering goriaks, winged foxes flit through crystalline forests, and brooding [[nightmare]] creatures emerge from the shadows to hunt the unsuspecting. Each possesses power beyond comprehension. On top of this, they are liable to [[mutate]] into something completely different from one moment to the other.


===Humans===
==History==
Humans are the only "civilized" species to have survived on Ikoria, occupying a precarious midpoint in its monstrous food chain. They owe their resilience to a variety of strategies that have allowed them to elude extinction for generations. Most of them choose to live inside protective sanctuaries. These communities range from small wilderness outposts to massive walled cities, and each employs a combination of techniques to ward off monster attacks (both physical and magical).
===The Ozolith===
The appearance of a new crystal formation outside [[Drannith]] known as the [[Ozolith]] spawned a new era of wild mutation on Ikoria.<ref name="Visual Guide" /> In 4561 [[AR]], [[Lukka]], the captain of [[Drannith]]'s defense forces and fiancé of General [[Kudro]]'s daughter [[Jirina Kudro|Jirina]], suddenly bonded with a monster. After he was exiled from the sanctuary, the new bonder besieged the city with a force of monsters, killing the General, shattering the Ozolith, and igniting his [[planeswalker's spark]] in the process.


====Bonders====
===Phyrexian invasion===
Bonders are humans that established an '''''eludha''''', a deeply mystical bond with a monster.<ref name="Anger">{{DailyRef|magic-story/hard-as-anger-bright-as-joy|Phyrexia: All Will Be One: Hard as Anger, Bright as Joy|[[Langley Hyde]]|January 14, 2023}}</ref> The eludha ties the spirit of the bonder and the monster together, helping them evolve and become stronger. Bonders are hated by the "civilized humans" and are considered traitors for aligning themselves with the monsters that threaten the human cities. Bonders often wear colors, clothing, or items to resemble their bonded monster.
[[File:IkoriaInvasion.png|left|thumb|[[New Phyrexia (plane)|New Phyrexia]] begins the [[New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse|invasion]] of Ikoria at [[Drannith]].]]
Ikoria was a target in [[New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse]].<ref name="Panel">{{YouTubeRef|-y3G-nFhN0I|First Look at March of the Machine|channel=[[Magic: The Gathering]]|date=February 19, 2023}}</ref> With no plane of her own to defend, [[Vivien Reid|Vivien]] took to arranging the defense of Ikoria alongside [[Chevill]] and [[Jirina Kudro]]. The crystals of Ikoria began seeping [[glistening oil]] and producing copper oxide growths, but quickly the natural mutations fought against it, granting oil-vaporizing crystals to the defending beasts of Ikoria.<ref name="Survival">{{DailyRef|magic-story/survival-of-the-fittest|March of the Machine, Ikoria: Survival of the Fittest|[[Roy Graham]]|March 20, 2023}}</ref>


Like the increased mutation rate, intelligence, and aggression among the monsters, bonding is only a recent occurrence on Ikoria. It is caused by an unnamed planeswalker's meddling with the [[Ozolith]].
Lukka returned to Ikoria compleated, destroying Drannith and scattering its people. However, his assimilation strategy seemed to revolve around personally amassing the monsters into a titanic humanoid monstrosity, limiting its infectious spread. After Lukka's amalgam was vaporized by [[Vadrok]]'s flame, more of [[Realmbreaker]]'s omenpaths opened to Ikoria.  


There is a sanctuary that reveals itself only to those graced by the eludha.<ref>Flavor text of <c>Bonder's Enclave</c></ref>
Vorinclex's main invasion force continued the devastation of Ikoria's human culture, but Ikoria's monsters focused their ire upon the invaders rather than the local populace. The ten [[Companion]] Legendaries, plus Zilortha, <c>Kogla and Yidaro</c> were amongst the defenders of the plane.
 
====Hunters====
Born from fear and malice, these individuals hunt the beasts for profit, due to a vendetta, or only for sport. Some are foreigners who had drifted to Drannith because the Coppercoats paid good bounties. Others were those whose temperament made them ill-suited to military life, which was a more polite way of saying “criminals and madmen". Hunter bands often spent as much time fighting one another as they did hunting monsters, hence the emphasis on intimidating masks and other forms of bravado.
 
While human cities rarely reject the presence of hunters, they are viewed with mistrust by their civilized counterparts. Most hunters use magical or physical traps to capture a monster and are easily recognized by their equipment: goggles, helmets, or visors.


==Geography==
==Geography==
===Triomes===
===Triomes===
Ikoria has five major geographical regions called ''triomes''. Each triome has its unique terrain, a dominant clade of monsters, and a fearsome apex monster. The triomes came into existence due to the unique flow of magic through the land of this plane. Each region is the result of three distinct types of mana mixing.  
Ikoria is an island continent with five major geographical regions called ''triomes''.<ref name="Visual Guide" /> Each triome has its unique terrain, a dominant clade of monsters, and a fearsome apex monster. The triomes came into existence due to the unique flow of magic through the land of this plane. Each region is the result of three distinct types of mana mixing.  
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Triome !! Colors !! Dominant Clade !! Apex Predator
! Triome !! Colors !! Dominant Clade !! Apex Predator
Line 47: Line 46:


====Savai====
====Savai====
Savai consists of grassy plains atop mountainous cliff faces and swampy subterranean tunnels. Its dominant clade is cats and it is home to the apex monster Snapdax. In the lowlands of Savai lies [[Drannith]], the largest human sanctuary on the plane and a thriving city with tens of thousands of residents. It also boasts an incredible military force that defends the city.
Savai consists of grassy plains atop mountainous cliff faces and swampy subterranean tunnels. Its dominant clade is cats and it is home to the apex monster Snapdax. In the lowlands of Savai lies '''[[Drannith]]''', the largest human sanctuary on the plane and a thriving city with tens of thousands of residents. It also boasts an incredible military force that defends the city.


====Ketria====
====Ketria====
Ketria consists of rivers and waterfalls that wind through crystalline forests and cascade down mountainsides. The dominant clade is elementals and it is home to the ethereal monster Illuna.
Ketria consists of rivers and waterfalls that wind through crystalline rainforests and cascade down mountainsides. The dominant clade is elementals and it is home to the ethereal monster Illuna.


====Indatha====
====Indatha====
Indatha consists of swampy pools within lowland plains, dotted with uniquely shaped trees. The dominant clade is nightmares and it is home to the death-dwelling monster Nethroi. Many generations ago, there was once a walled sanctuary in Indatha called Orn. One night, nightmares breached the gates under cover of darkness. Some residents built hot-air balloons to escape and, over time, more and more balloonists joined their vessels together, forming what's now known as [[Skysail]]. The residents of Skysail now use their mobility to avoid or mislead the monsters rather than directly fight them.  
Indatha consists of swampy pools within lowland plains, dotted with uniquely shaped trees. The dominant clade is nightmares and it is home to the death-dwelling monster Nethroi. Many generations ago, there was once a walled sanctuary in Indatha called '''[[Orn]]'''. One night, nightmares breached the gates under cover of darkness. Some residents built hot-air balloons to escape and, over time, more and more balloonists joined their vessels together, forming what's now known as '''[[Skysail]]'''. The residents of Skysail now use their mobility to avoid or mislead the monsters rather than directly fight them.


====Raugrin====
====Raugrin====
Raugrin consists of volcanic mountains surrounding white-sand beaches along the coastline. The dominant clade is dinosaurs and it is home to the existence-erasing monster Vadrok. [[Lavabrink]] is a sanctuary city tucked under a huge volcanic shelf in the Ongra Range in Raugrin, where lava runs into carefully maintained canals and floodways, running out to Kauld, the lava lake. Its survival strategy is to become inaccessible, as the lava protects the city. The city is also known for its expertise in blacksmithing, metalworking, toolmaking, and sculpting, and therefore possesses the best weapons on the plane.
Raugrin consists of volcanic mountains surrounding white-sand beaches along the coastline. The dominant clade is dinosaurs and it is home to the existence-erasing monster Vadrok. '''[[Lavabrink]]''' is a sanctuary city tucked under a huge volcanic shelf in the Ongra Range in Raugrin, where lava runs into carefully maintained canals and floodways, running out to Kauld, the lava lake. Its survival strategy is to become inaccessible, as the lava protects the city. The city is also known for its expertise in blacksmithing, metalworking, toolmaking, and sculpting, and therefore possesses the best weapons on the plane.


====Zagoth====
====Zagoth====
Line 68: Line 67:
The crystals are nodes in the natural energy network of the plane, and the larger the crystal the more powerful the node and its draw. Bonded monsters can communicate with each other through crystals.<ref name="Sundered"/>
The crystals are nodes in the natural energy network of the plane, and the larger the crystal the more powerful the node and its draw. Bonded monsters can communicate with each other through crystals.<ref name="Sundered"/>


An unnamed planeswalker, known for his meddling, changed something in the [[Ozolith]], one of the biggest crystal formations of Ikoria. It made the monsters go mad and caused rapid mutations.
An unnamed planeswalker, known for his meddling, changed something in the [[Ozolith]], one of the biggest crystal formations of Ikoria. It made the monsters go mad and caused rapid mutations. While it was broken during ''Sundered Bond''<ref name="Sundered"/><ref><c>Ozolith, the Shattered Spire</c></ref>, the remnants still accelerated the monsters' growth.


===Phyrexian invasion===
==Inhabitants==
Ikoria was a target in [[New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse]].<ref name="Panel">{{YouTubeRef|-y3G-nFhN0I|First Look at March of the Machine|channel=[[Magic: The Gathering]]|date=February 19, 2023}}</ref> With no plane of her own to defend, Vivien took to arranging the defense of Ikoira alongside [[Chevill]] and [[Jirina Kudro]]. The crystals of Ikoria began seeping [[glistening oil]] and producing copper oxide growths, but quickly the natural mutations fought against it, granting oil-vaporizing crystals to the defending beasts of Ikoria.<ref name="Survival">{{DailyRef|magic-story/survival-of-the-fittest|March of the Machine, Ikoria: Survival of the Fittest|[[Roy Graham]]|March 20, 2023}}</ref>
===Monsters===
Monsters on this plane are everywhere. They come in all shapes and sizes, from terrifying, city-stomping behemoths to clever small [[beast]]s. Skysharks soar over herds of lumbering goriaks, winged foxes flit through crystalline forests, and brooding [[nightmare]] creatures emerge from the shadows to hunt the unsuspecting. Each possesses power beyond comprehension. On top of this, they are liable to [[mutate]] into something completely different from one moment to the other.
 
They generally belong to one or more of five monster groups called clades: [[Beast]]s, [[Cat]]s, [[Dinosaur]]s, [[Elemental]]s, and [[Nightmare]]s.<ref name="Visual Guide" /> Each clade has an apex monster, a hybrid of three clades representing the strongest their primary clade has to offer.
 
===Humans===
Humans are the only "civilized" species to have survived on Ikoria, occupying a precarious midpoint in its monstrous food chain. They owe their resilience to a variety of strategies that have allowed them to elude extinction for generations. Most of them choose to live inside protective sanctuaries. These communities range from small wilderness outposts to massive walled cities, and each employs a combination of techniques to ward off monster attacks (both physical and magical). Humans employ dirigibles as the primary means of long-distance travel.<ref name="Visual Guide" />
 
====Bonders====
Bonders are humans that establish an '''''eludha''''', a deeply mystical bond with a monster.<ref name="Anger">{{DailyRef|magic-story/hard-as-anger-bright-as-joy|Phyrexia: All Will Be One: Hard as Anger, Bright as Joy|[[Langley Hyde]]|January 14, 2023}}</ref> The eludha ties the spirit of the bonder and the monster together, helping them evolve and become stronger. Bonders are hated by the "civilized humans" and are considered traitors for aligning themselves with the monsters that threaten the human cities. Bonders often wear colors, clothing, or items to resemble their bonded monster.
 
Like the increased mutation rate, intelligence, and aggression among the monsters, bonding is only a recent occurrence on Ikoria. It is caused by an unnamed planeswalker's meddling with the [[Ozolith]].
 
There is a sanctuary that reveals itself only to those graced by the eludha.<ref>Flavor text of <c>Bonder's Enclave</c></ref>
 
====Hunters====
Born from fear and malice, these individuals hunt the beasts for profit, due to a vendetta, or only for sport. Some are foreigners who had drifted to Drannith because the Coppercoats paid good bounties. Others were those whose temperament made them ill-suited to military life, which was a more polite way of saying “criminals and madmen". Hunter bands often spent as much time fighting one another as they did hunting monsters, hence the emphasis on intimidating masks and other forms of bravado.


Lukka returned to Ikoria compleated, destroying Drannith and scattering its people. However, his assimilation strategy seemed to revolve around personally amassing the monsters into a titanic humanoid monstrosity, limiting its infectious spread. After Lukka's amalgam was vaporized by [[Vadrok]]'s flame, more of [[Realmbreaker]]'s omenpaths opened to Ikoria.  
While human cities rarely reject the presence of hunters, they are viewed with mistrust by their civilized counterparts. Most hunters use magical or physical traps to capture a monster and are easily recognized by their equipment: goggles, helmets, or visors.


==Inhabitants==
===Creature Types===
Ikoria's nonhuman inhabitants include a variety of species, but unlike most other planes the members of these species mutate and incorporate other creatures, creating amalgamations of numerous creature types.
Ikoria's nonhuman inhabitants include a variety of species, but unlike most other planes the members of these species mutate and incorporate other creatures, creating amalgamations of numerous creature types.


*[[Human]]s {{mana|WUBRG}}
*[[Ape]]s {{mana|RG}}
*[[Ape]]s {{mana|RG}}
*[[Beast]]s {{mana|WUBRG}}
*[[Bird]]s {{mana|WU}}
*[[Brushwagg]]s {{mana|G}}
*[[Cat]]s {{mana|RWB}}
*[[Cat]]s {{mana|RWB}}
*[[Demon]]s {{mana|B}}
*[[Dinosaur]]s {{mana|GURW}}, uniquely multicolored solely within this range rather than with Raugrin colors ({{mana|URW}})
*[[Elemental]]s {{mana|GUR}}
*[[Elemental]]s {{mana|GUR}}
*[[Elephant]]s {{mana|G}}
*[[Elephant]]s {{mana|G}}
*[[Nightmare]]s {{mana|GWUB}}
*[[Faerie]] [[Dragon]]s {{mana|UR}}
*[[Dinosaur]]s {{mana|GURW}}, uniquely multicolored solely within this range rather than with Raugrin colors ({{mana|URW}})
*[[Fox]]es {{mana|WR}}
*[[Beast]]s {{mana|WUBRG}}
*[[Goat]]s {{mana|GW}}
*[[Goat]]s {{mana|GW}}
*[[Bird]]s {{mana|WU}}
*[[Gremlin]]s {{mana|R}}
*[[Shark]]s {{mana|U}}
*[[Human]]s {{mana|WUBRG}}
*[[Hydra]]s {{mana|UBG}}
*[[Hyena]]s {{mana|GW}}
*[[Insect]]s {{mana|WUBRG}}
*[[Leviathan]]s {{mana|U}}
*[[Leviathan]]s {{mana|U}}
*[[Demon]]s {{mana|B}}
*[[Lizard]]s<ref name="Survival"/>
*[[Turtle]]s {{mana|GUR}}
*[[Mice]]<ref name="Survival"/>
*[[Insect]]s {{mana|WUBRG}}
*[[Monkey]]s {{mana|R}}
*[[Nightmare]]s {{mana|GWUB}}
*[[Otter]]s {{mana|UR}}
*[[Otter]]s {{mana|UR}}
*[[Rabbit]]s {{mana|G}}
*[[Shark]]s {{mana|U}}
*[[Spider]]s {{mana|G}}
*[[Spider]]s {{mana|G}}
*[[Hydra|Hydras]] {{mana|UBG}}
*[[Turtle]]s {{mana|GUR}}
*[[Hyena]]s {{mana|GW}}
*[[Unicorn]]s {{mana|W}}
*[[Wolf|Wolves]] {{mana|UB}}
*[[Wolf|Wolves]] {{mana|UB}}
*[[Fox]]es {{mana|WR}}
*[[Wombat]]s {{mana|BG}}
*[[Unicorn]]s {{mana|W}}
*[[Gremlin]]s {{mana|R}}
*[[Monkey]]s {{mana|R}}
*[[Brushwagg]]s {{mana|G}}
*[[Faerie]] [[Dragon]] {{mana|UR}}
*Lizards<ref name="Survival"/>
*Mice<ref name="Survival"/>


==Planeswalkers==
==Planeswalkers==
Line 112: Line 129:
*[[Lukka]]
*[[Lukka]]
}}
}}
===Visitors===
===Visitors===
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* An unnamed planeswalker known for his meddling.<ref name="Sundered">[[Django Wexler]] (2020), "''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths — Sundered Bond]]''", [[Wizards of the Coast]]</ref>
* An unnamed planeswalker known for his meddling.<ref name="Sundered">[[Django Wexler]] (2020), "''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths — Sundered Bond]]''", [[Wizards of the Coast]]</ref>
*[[Isona Maive]]<ref name=hp4>Mairghread, Scott. (2022). ''[[Magic: The Hidden Planeswalker]]''. Vol 1, iss 4.</ref> (non-canon)
*[[Isona Maive]]<ref name=hp4>Mairghread, Scott. (2022). ''[[Magic: The Hidden Planeswalker]]''. Vol 1, Iss 4.</ref> (non-canon)
*[[Liliana Vess]]<ref name=hp4/> (non-canon)
*[[Liliana Vess]]<ref name=hp4/> (non-canon)
*[[Nahiri]]<ref name="nahiri the lithomancer">[[Seanan McGuire]] (2022). [[Magic: Nahiri the Lithomancer]]. Wizards of the Coast.</ref> (non-canon)
*[[Nahiri]]<ref name="nahiri the lithomancer">[[Seanan McGuire]] (2022). [[Magic: Nahiri the Lithomancer]]. Wizards of the Coast.</ref> (non-canon)
*[[Narset]]<ref name="Guide">{{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-ikoria-2020-04-02|Planeswalker's Guide to Ikoria|[[Chris Mooney]]|April 2, 2020}}</ref>  
*[[Narset]]<ref name="Guide">{{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-ikoria-2020-04-02|Planeswalker's Guide to Ikoria|[[Chris Mooney]]|April 2, 2020}}</ref>
*[[Nissa Revane]]<ref name="Animist">{{WebRef|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/12kyvxc/full_art_of_path_of_the_animist/|title=Full Art of Path of the Animist|date=April 13, 2023|author=Liiga Smilshkalne|publisher=Reddit}}</ref>
*[[The Wanderer]]<ref name="Forsaken">{{WikiRef|author=[[Greg Weisman]]|date=November 2019|title=War of the Spark: Forsaken|publisher=Del Rey}}</ref>
*[[The Wanderer]]<ref name="Forsaken">{{WikiRef|author=[[Greg Weisman]]|date=November 2019|title=War of the Spark: Forsaken|publisher=Del Rey}}</ref>
*[[Vivien Reid]]<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/epzh7o/ikoria_advert_from_thd_booster_packs/|title=Ikoria advert from THD booster packs|date=January 17, 2020|publisher=Reddit}}</ref>
*[[Vivien Reid]]<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/epzh7o/ikoria_advert_from_thd_booster_packs/|title=Ikoria advert from THD booster packs|date=January 17, 2020|publisher=Reddit}}</ref>
}}
}}
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:BonderConcepts.png|Bonder concepts.
File:CrystalConcepts.png|Crystal concepts.
File:MonsterConcepts.png|Monster concepts.
</gallery>


==In-game references==
==In-game references==
Line 132: Line 158:
|referred=
|referred=
*<c>Bonded Herdbeast</c>
*<c>Bonded Herdbeast</c>
*<c>Coppercoat Vanguard</c>
*<c>Copper Host Crusher</c>
*<c>Copper Host Crusher</c>
*<c>Drannith Ruins</c>
*<c>Essence Symbiote</c>
*<c>Essence Symbiote</c>
*<c>Glistening Deluge</c>
*<c>Glistening Deluge</c>
Line 154: Line 182:
{{Ikoria|{{!}} |state=collapsed}}
{{Ikoria|{{!}} |state=collapsed}}
{{Planes of the Multiverse}}
{{Planes of the Multiverse}}
[[Category:Planar types]]

Latest revision as of 06:04, 2 June 2024

Ikoria
[[File:{{#setmainimage:4 Forest JasonEngle.png}}|250px]]
Information
First seen Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Last seen March of the Machine
Planeswalkers Lukka
Rabiah Scale 5[1]
Status Recovering from New Phyrexia's invasion
Demonym Ikorian
Not to be confused with Kiora.
For the set, see Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.

Ikoria (pronounced as Ick-oria[2]) is a plane that is a "Monster World".[3][4]

Description

Ikoria is a plane ruled by monsters, where human civilization ekes out a living in a handful of heavily defended sanctuaries.[5] Though most humans exhibit a militant attitude toward monsters, humans known as bonders can form a metaphysical bond with them. A massive island, the continent is made up of five regions known as "triomes."

History

The Ozolith

The appearance of a new crystal formation outside Drannith known as the Ozolith spawned a new era of wild mutation on Ikoria.[5] In 4561 AR, Lukka, the captain of Drannith's defense forces and fiancé of General Kudro's daughter Jirina, suddenly bonded with a monster. After he was exiled from the sanctuary, the new bonder besieged the city with a force of monsters, killing the General, shattering the Ozolith, and igniting his planeswalker's spark in the process.

Phyrexian invasion

New Phyrexia begins the invasion of Ikoria at Drannith.

Ikoria was a target in New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse.[6] With no plane of her own to defend, Vivien took to arranging the defense of Ikoria alongside Chevill and Jirina Kudro. The crystals of Ikoria began seeping glistening oil and producing copper oxide growths, but quickly the natural mutations fought against it, granting oil-vaporizing crystals to the defending beasts of Ikoria.[7]

Lukka returned to Ikoria compleated, destroying Drannith and scattering its people. However, his assimilation strategy seemed to revolve around personally amassing the monsters into a titanic humanoid monstrosity, limiting its infectious spread. After Lukka's amalgam was vaporized by Vadrok's flame, more of Realmbreaker's omenpaths opened to Ikoria.

Vorinclex's main invasion force continued the devastation of Ikoria's human culture, but Ikoria's monsters focused their ire upon the invaders rather than the local populace. The ten Companion Legendaries, plus Zilortha, Kogla and Yidaro were amongst the defenders of the plane.

Geography

Triomes

Ikoria is an island continent with five major geographical regions called triomes.[5] Each triome has its unique terrain, a dominant clade of monsters, and a fearsome apex monster. The triomes came into existence due to the unique flow of magic through the land of this plane. Each region is the result of three distinct types of mana mixing.

Triome Colors Dominant Clade Apex Predator
Savai {R}{W}{B} Cats Snapdax
Ketria {G}{U}{R} Elementals Illuna
Indatha {W}{B}{G} Nightmares Nethroi
Raugrin {U}{R}{W} Dinosaurs Vadrok
Zagoth {B}{G}{U} Beasts Brokkos

Savai

Savai consists of grassy plains atop mountainous cliff faces and swampy subterranean tunnels. Its dominant clade is cats and it is home to the apex monster Snapdax. In the lowlands of Savai lies Drannith, the largest human sanctuary on the plane and a thriving city with tens of thousands of residents. It also boasts an incredible military force that defends the city.

Ketria

Ketria consists of rivers and waterfalls that wind through crystalline rainforests and cascade down mountainsides. The dominant clade is elementals and it is home to the ethereal monster Illuna.

Indatha

Indatha consists of swampy pools within lowland plains, dotted with uniquely shaped trees. The dominant clade is nightmares and it is home to the death-dwelling monster Nethroi. Many generations ago, there was once a walled sanctuary in Indatha called Orn. One night, nightmares breached the gates under cover of darkness. Some residents built hot-air balloons to escape and, over time, more and more balloonists joined their vessels together, forming what's now known as Skysail. The residents of Skysail now use their mobility to avoid or mislead the monsters rather than directly fight them.

Raugrin

Raugrin consists of volcanic mountains surrounding white-sand beaches along the coastline. The dominant clade is dinosaurs and it is home to the existence-erasing monster Vadrok. Lavabrink is a sanctuary city tucked under a huge volcanic shelf in the Ongra Range in Raugrin, where lava runs into carefully maintained canals and floodways, running out to Kauld, the lava lake. Its survival strategy is to become inaccessible, as the lava protects the city. The city is also known for its expertise in blacksmithing, metalworking, toolmaking, and sculpting, and therefore possesses the best weapons on the plane.

Zagoth

Zagoth consists of teeming rainforests with vast lily pools and swampy wetlands. The dominant clade is beasts and it is home to the long-lived monster Brokkos.

Crystals and mutations

Crystals are a natural part of Ikoria's landscapes. These crystal formations are not well understood by both city dwellers and bonders, but they are known to power the growth and evolution of monsters. Throughout a monster's lifetime, it can grow, warp, and change into new forms. Some monsters simply become bigger or more powerful. In other cases, they may gain entirely new traits, like wings, extra limbs, feathers, or even extra heads. Some monsters mutate into hybrids, blending characteristics of multiple monster clades. The fear of mutated monsters is so high that in sanctuaries, humans are forbidden to even keep household plants.

Many of Ikoria's crystals flare when monsters are near, and city-dwelling humans have learned to utilize them as an advanced warning system. Large crystals the size of buildings are built into the architecture of many human sanctuaries. Smaller crystals are often incorporated into military uniforms, to serve as monster-detection devices as well as to designate rank and specialty. Magic employed by the military's mages often mirrors the shapes and refracted colors of the crystals that are found in or near their sanctuaries.

The crystals are nodes in the natural energy network of the plane, and the larger the crystal the more powerful the node and its draw. Bonded monsters can communicate with each other through crystals.[8]

An unnamed planeswalker, known for his meddling, changed something in the Ozolith, one of the biggest crystal formations of Ikoria. It made the monsters go mad and caused rapid mutations. While it was broken during Sundered Bond[8][9], the remnants still accelerated the monsters' growth.

Inhabitants

Monsters

Monsters on this plane are everywhere. They come in all shapes and sizes, from terrifying, city-stomping behemoths to clever small beasts. Skysharks soar over herds of lumbering goriaks, winged foxes flit through crystalline forests, and brooding nightmare creatures emerge from the shadows to hunt the unsuspecting. Each possesses power beyond comprehension. On top of this, they are liable to mutate into something completely different from one moment to the other.

They generally belong to one or more of five monster groups called clades: Beasts, Cats, Dinosaurs, Elementals, and Nightmares.[5] Each clade has an apex monster, a hybrid of three clades representing the strongest their primary clade has to offer.

Humans

Humans are the only "civilized" species to have survived on Ikoria, occupying a precarious midpoint in its monstrous food chain. They owe their resilience to a variety of strategies that have allowed them to elude extinction for generations. Most of them choose to live inside protective sanctuaries. These communities range from small wilderness outposts to massive walled cities, and each employs a combination of techniques to ward off monster attacks (both physical and magical). Humans employ dirigibles as the primary means of long-distance travel.[5]

Bonders

Bonders are humans that establish an eludha, a deeply mystical bond with a monster.[10] The eludha ties the spirit of the bonder and the monster together, helping them evolve and become stronger. Bonders are hated by the "civilized humans" and are considered traitors for aligning themselves with the monsters that threaten the human cities. Bonders often wear colors, clothing, or items to resemble their bonded monster.

Like the increased mutation rate, intelligence, and aggression among the monsters, bonding is only a recent occurrence on Ikoria. It is caused by an unnamed planeswalker's meddling with the Ozolith.

There is a sanctuary that reveals itself only to those graced by the eludha.[11]

Hunters

Born from fear and malice, these individuals hunt the beasts for profit, due to a vendetta, or only for sport. Some are foreigners who had drifted to Drannith because the Coppercoats paid good bounties. Others were those whose temperament made them ill-suited to military life, which was a more polite way of saying “criminals and madmen". Hunter bands often spent as much time fighting one another as they did hunting monsters, hence the emphasis on intimidating masks and other forms of bravado.

While human cities rarely reject the presence of hunters, they are viewed with mistrust by their civilized counterparts. Most hunters use magical or physical traps to capture a monster and are easily recognized by their equipment: goggles, helmets, or visors.

Creature Types

Ikoria's nonhuman inhabitants include a variety of species, but unlike most other planes the members of these species mutate and incorporate other creatures, creating amalgamations of numerous creature types.

Planeswalkers

Native

Visitors

Gallery

  • Bonder concepts.

    Bonder concepts.

  • Crystal concepts.

    Crystal concepts.

  • Monster concepts.

    Monster concepts.

In-game references

Represented in:
Associated cards:
Referred to:

References

  1. ↑ Mark Rosewater (2024-05-13). "The Rabiah Scale, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 25, 2020). "Is it pronounced ick-oria or eye-koria?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 04, 2019). "I missed the announcement of the sets for next year.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  4. ↑ a b Chris Mooney (April 2, 2020). "Planeswalker's Guide to Ikoria". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ a b c d e Jay Annelli (2022). Magic: The Gathering - The Visual Guide, DK. ISBN-13 978-0744061055.
  6. ↑ First Look at March of the Machine (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (February 19, 2023).
  7. ↑ a b c Roy Graham (March 20, 2023). "March of the Machine, Ikoria: Survival of the Fittest". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ a b c Django Wexler (2020), "Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths — Sundered Bond", Wizards of the Coast
  9. ↑ Ozolith, the Shattered Spire
  10. ↑ Langley Hyde (January 14, 2023). "Phyrexia: All Will Be One: Hard as Anger, Bright as Joy". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. ↑ Flavor text of Bonder's Enclave
  12. ↑ a b Mairghread, Scott. (2022). Magic: The Hidden Planeswalker. Vol 1, Iss 4.
  13. ↑ Seanan McGuire (2022). Magic: Nahiri the Lithomancer. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. ↑ Liiga Smilshkalne (April 13, 2023). "Full Art of Path of the Animist". Reddit.
  15. ↑ Greg Weisman (November 2019). "War of the Spark: Forsaken". Del Rey.
  16. ↑ Ikoria advert from THD booster packs. Reddit (January 17, 2020).

External links

Ikoria sets
Ikoria storyline
Magic Story
set settings
Seen on
plane cards
Other planes
Non-canon
Related
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