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'''Gorgon'''s are medusae, snake-skinned humanoid women with hair made of snakes and the ability to calcify organic entities by them looking at the gorgon in the face. Incredibly deadly, they are thankfully rare across the planes, only known to have appeared in [[Dominaria]] and [[Ravnica]].  Until recently, the [[Golgari]] were led by a trio of gorgons known as the <c>Sisters of Stone Death</c>.
{{Infobox type
|type=creature
|stats={{stats|B=15|BG=5|M=1}}
as of ''[[Murders at Karlov Manor]]''
}}
{{TOCright}}
'''Gorgons''', also known as '''medusae''', are [[snake]]-skinned humanoid women with hair made of snakes or snakelike tendrils. Incredibly deadly, these creatures are rare across the various planes.


{{Story-stub}}[[Category:Species and Races]][[Category:Storylines]][[Category:Ravnica]]
Gorgons have the ability to calcify organic entities that look at the gorgon's face. The transformation is rapid, leaving the victim as a stone statue, usually frozen in a position of abject fear or agony- a fine trophy for the gorgon's macabre collection. The gorgon must exert its will to effect this transformation, so the gaze of a surprised or friendly gorgon is harmless.<ref name="D&D">[[James Wyatt]] and Jeremy Crawford (November 2018). "''[[D&D Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica]]''", [[Wizards of the Coast]]</ref> Only rare, powerful magic can reverse petrification (usually resulting in a well-preserved corpse), and it is irreversible if the victim statue is broken beyond repair.<ref name="Ravnica art book">[[James Wyatt]] (January 2019). "''[[The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ravnica]]''". [[Wizards of the Coast]]</ref>
 
The first creature to bear the [[creature type]] was <c>Masked Gorgon</c> in ''[[Judgement]]'', though the <c>Infernal Medusa</c> from ''[[Legends]]'' was later issued errata in the [[Grand Creature Type Update]] to become a Gorgon instead of a '''Medusa'''. Mechanically, Gorgons tend to either have deathtouch, or an ability that destroys creatures - of those without access to deathtouch, three have deathtouch variants, and five others destroy creatures in other ways. They also tend to have lower power and higher toughness.
 
==Storyline==
===Dominaria===
A gorgon named [[Visara]] served as one of the [[Cabal]]'s pit fighters on [[Otaria]]. Unlike other gorgons seen throughout Magic's history, Visara had large, plated wings which enabled her to fly.
 
===Ravnica===
[[File:RAV Style Guide Sisters of Stone Death.jpg|Right|thumb|300px|Sisters of Stone Death]]
[[Ravnica]] is home to dozens of gorgons,<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/deaths-precious-moments-2018-11-07|Death's Precious Moments|[[Nicky Drayden]]|November 7, 2018}}</ref> including the [[Sisters of Stone Death]] and the [[planeswalker]] [[Vraska]]. After several battles with the [[Golgari]] [[parun]], [[Svogthir]], the Sisters of Stone Death were diminished to only one: [[Ludmilla]]. She was believed to be the sole gorgon left on Ravnica, though Vraska and others later appeared as members of the Golgari Swarm as well. When Vraska took control of the guild, she became a passionate voice for other gorgons as they had become the most downtrodden race of the Golgari.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/flavorful-guide-guilds-ravnica-2018-10-03|A Flavorful Guide to the Guilds of Ravnica|[[Chas Andres]]|October 3, 2018}}</ref>
 
Ravnican gorgons resemble green-scaled humanoids. In place of hair, they have a writhing mass of black, serpentine cables, and their hands are scaly claws.
 
===Shandalar===
Various gorgons are in the employ of [[List of secondary characters|Xathrid]], a [[demon]]ic creature worshiped by some cults of [[Shandalar]].<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://dougbeyermtg.tumblr.com/post/63341557518/who-what-or-where-is-a-xathrid-of|title= Who, what, or where is a Xathrid?|October 06, 2013}}</ref> This is represented by <c>Xathrid Gorgon</c>.
 
===Theros===
Gorgons of Theros were created by the god [[Pharika]]. Gorgons appear more common on this plane than on other planes, though they are still quite rare. Unlike the gorgons of previous planes, gorgons on Theros have snakelike lower bodies (similar to [[naga]]s).<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/monster-menagerie-gorgons-2014-02-19-0|Monster Menagerie: Gorgons|Bonnie Bruenderman|February 19, 2014}}</ref> Rather than the animated cable-like protrusions common to other planes' gorgons, most Theran gorgons have actual snakes for hair.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://dougbeyermtg.tumblr.com/post/74675166869/i-think-you-misread-the-gorgon-question-some-theros|title=Some Theros Gorgons don't have snakes for hair|January 26, 2014}}</ref>
 
One of the most powerful gorgons of Theros is [[Hythonia]], known as <c>Hythonia the Cruel</c>. Another gorgon was encountered by [[Dack Fayden]] when he entered her lair searching for a magical artifact.<ref>[[Magic: The Gathering - Theros]] Issue #2</ref>
 
Some of Pharika's first creations, the <c>Pharika's Spawn</c>, were considered by her to be too dangerous for her to control. They were banished to [[the Underworld]], and are now used by [[Erebos]] to keep souls where they belong.<ref name="On cards">{{DailyRef|feature/theros-beyond-death-story-cards-2019-12-16|The Theros Beyond Death Story on Cards|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|December 16, 2019}}</ref>
 
==Notable Gorgons==
'''Dominaria'''
*[[Visara]] {{-}} A pit fighter for the [[Cabal]] on [[Otaria]].
 
'''Ravnica'''
*[[Sisters of Stone Death]] {{-}} The guildmasters of the [[Golgari Swarm]] during the original [[Ravnica block|Ravnica]] block. The only surviving sister, Ludmilla, remains in Ravnica's [[Undercity]].
*[[Vraska]] {{-}} A planeswalker associated with the [[Golgari Swarm]].
 
'''Theros'''
*[[Hythonia]] {{-}} A massive gorgon initially believed to be the avatar of Pharika.
 
'''Unknown'''
*[[Damia]] {{-}} A sage whose knowledge of the arcane rivals that of any archmage.
 
==Trivia==
*It is implied through [[Jace Beleren]] and [[Vraska]]'s relationship that gorgons and [[human]]s are [[Wikipedia:Reproductive isolation|reproductively isolated]].<ref name="OTJ Epilogue 2">{{DailyRef|magic-story/epilogue-2-bring-the-end-part-2|''Outlaws of Thunder Junction'' - Epilogue 2: Bring the End, Part 2|[[Alison Lührs]]|April 2, 2024}}</ref>
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Korozda_Gorgon.jpg|Ravnica
File:Wizkids Ravnica miniature 34.jpg|Ravnica miniature
File:Xathrid_Gorgon.jpg|Shandalar
File:Venomous_Hierophant.jpg|Theros
File:Pharika's_Spawn.jpg|Theros variant
File:Wizkids Theros miniature 16.jpg|Theros miniature
</gallery>
 
==In-game references==
{{In-game
|associated=
*<c>Aspect of Gorgon</c>
*<c>Cast into Darkness</c>
*<c>Coils of the Medusa</c>
*<c>Evolutionary Leap</c>
*<c>Felhide Petrifier</c>
*<c>Gaze of the Gorgon</c>
*<c>Gaze of Granite</c>
*<c>Gorgon Flail</c>
*<c>Gorgon's Head</c>
*<c>Killing Glare</c>
*<c>Mirror Shield</c>
*<c>Treasured Find</c>
*<c>Vorpal Sword</c>
}}
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Creature types|Races|Gorgons}}

Latest revision as of 23:01, 28 April 2024

Gorgon
Creature Type
(Subtype for creature/kindred cards)
Statistics
21 cards
{B} 71.4% {B/G} 23.8% {M} 4.8%
as of Murders at Karlov Manor
Scryfall Search
type:"Gorgon"

Gorgons, also known as medusae, are snake-skinned humanoid women with hair made of snakes or snakelike tendrils. Incredibly deadly, these creatures are rare across the various planes.

Gorgons have the ability to calcify organic entities that look at the gorgon's face. The transformation is rapid, leaving the victim as a stone statue, usually frozen in a position of abject fear or agony- a fine trophy for the gorgon's macabre collection. The gorgon must exert its will to effect this transformation, so the gaze of a surprised or friendly gorgon is harmless.[1] Only rare, powerful magic can reverse petrification (usually resulting in a well-preserved corpse), and it is irreversible if the victim statue is broken beyond repair.[2]

The first creature to bear the creature type was Masked Gorgon in Judgement, though the Infernal Medusa from Legends was later issued errata in the Grand Creature Type Update to become a Gorgon instead of a Medusa. Mechanically, Gorgons tend to either have deathtouch, or an ability that destroys creatures - of those without access to deathtouch, three have deathtouch variants, and five others destroy creatures in other ways. They also tend to have lower power and higher toughness.

Storyline

Dominaria

A gorgon named Visara served as one of the Cabal's pit fighters on Otaria. Unlike other gorgons seen throughout Magic's history, Visara had large, plated wings which enabled her to fly.

Ravnica

Sisters of Stone Death

Ravnica is home to dozens of gorgons,[3] including the Sisters of Stone Death and the planeswalker Vraska. After several battles with the Golgari parun, Svogthir, the Sisters of Stone Death were diminished to only one: Ludmilla. She was believed to be the sole gorgon left on Ravnica, though Vraska and others later appeared as members of the Golgari Swarm as well. When Vraska took control of the guild, she became a passionate voice for other gorgons as they had become the most downtrodden race of the Golgari.[4]

Ravnican gorgons resemble green-scaled humanoids. In place of hair, they have a writhing mass of black, serpentine cables, and their hands are scaly claws.

Shandalar

Various gorgons are in the employ of Xathrid, a demonic creature worshiped by some cults of Shandalar.[5] This is represented by Xathrid Gorgon.

Theros

Gorgons of Theros were created by the god Pharika. Gorgons appear more common on this plane than on other planes, though they are still quite rare. Unlike the gorgons of previous planes, gorgons on Theros have snakelike lower bodies (similar to nagas).[6] Rather than the animated cable-like protrusions common to other planes' gorgons, most Theran gorgons have actual snakes for hair.[7]

One of the most powerful gorgons of Theros is Hythonia, known as Hythonia the Cruel. Another gorgon was encountered by Dack Fayden when he entered her lair searching for a magical artifact.[8]

Some of Pharika's first creations, the Pharika's Spawn, were considered by her to be too dangerous for her to control. They were banished to the Underworld, and are now used by Erebos to keep souls where they belong.[9]

Notable Gorgons

Dominaria

Ravnica

Theros

  • Hythonia — A massive gorgon initially believed to be the avatar of Pharika.

Unknown

  • Damia — A sage whose knowledge of the arcane rivals that of any archmage.

Trivia

Gallery

  • Ravnica

    Ravnica

  • Ravnica miniature

    Ravnica miniature

  • Shandalar

    Shandalar

  • Theros

    Theros

  • Theros variant

    Theros variant

  • Theros miniature

    Theros miniature

In-game references

Associated cards:

References

  1. ↑ James Wyatt and Jeremy Crawford (November 2018). "D&D Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", Wizards of the Coast
  2. ↑ James Wyatt (January 2019). "The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ravnica". Wizards of the Coast
  3. ↑ Nicky Drayden (November 7, 2018). "Death's Precious Moments". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Chas Andres (October 3, 2018). "A Flavorful Guide to the Guilds of Ravnica". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Doug Beyer (October 06, 2013). "Who, what, or where is a Xathrid?". A Voice for Vorthos. Tumblr.
  6. ↑ Bonnie Bruenderman (February 19, 2014). "Monster Menagerie: Gorgons". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Doug Beyer (January 26, 2014). "Some Theros Gorgons don't have snakes for hair". A Voice for Vorthos. Tumblr.
  8. ↑ Magic: The Gathering - Theros Issue #2
  9. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (December 16, 2019). "The Theros Beyond Death Story on Cards". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ Alison Lührs (April 2, 2024). "Outlaws of Thunder Junction - Epilogue 2: Bring the End, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
 
Multicolored {M}
Majority {W}
Majority {U}
Majority {B}
Majority {R}
Majority {G}
Majority {C}
Majority Token
Crossover
 
Notable Races
Notable Classes
Other
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