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'''Serra''' was a [[human]] female [[planeswalker]] from the ancient days of the planes, with an affinity for [[angel]]s, born on an undisclosed plane. She was immensely powerful, enough to create her own plane - [[Serra's Realm]], which she populated with her [[Serra Angel]]s. The [[Church of Serra]] was founded on [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]] in her honor, worshipping the planeswalker as a goddess.
'''Serra''' was a [[human]] female [[planeswalker]] from the ancient days of the planes, with an affinity for [[angel]]s, born on an undisclosed plane. She was immensely powerful, enough to create her plane - [[Serra's Realm]], which she populated with her [[Serra Angel]]s. The [[Church of Serra]] was founded on [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]] in her honor, worshipping the planeswalker as a goddess.


==Appearance and characteristics==
==Appearance and characteristics==
When [[Xantcha]] visited [[Serra's Realm]], after having seen angels and archangels, she had expected a tall, slender, and remote woman. However, Serra could have walked through any man-made village without attracting a second glance. Her face, though pleasant, was plain, and she had the sturdy silhouette of a woman who'd borne children and done many a hard day's work. She was also surrounded by a gently flickering white nimbus.<ref>[[Lynn Abbey]] (1998). [[Planeswalker (novel)|Magic: The Gathering - Planeswalker]]. [[Wizards of the Coast]]</ref>
When [[Xantcha]] visited [[Serra's Realm]], after having seen angels and archangels, she had expected a tall, slender, and remote woman. However, Serra could have walked through any man-made village without attracting a second glance. Her face, though pleasant, was plain, and she had the sturdy silhouette of a woman who'd borne children and done many a hard day's works. She was also surrounded by a gently flickering white nimbus.<ref>[[Lynn Abbey]] (1998). [[Planeswalker (novel)|Magic: The Gathering - Planeswalker]]. [[Wizards of the Coast]]</ref>


Serra was centered in [[white]] mana.
Serra was centered in [[white]] mana.
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===Creation of Serra's Realm===
===Creation of Serra's Realm===
She created her own heavenly plane, [[Serra's Realm]], formed primarily with [[white]] mana and populated by her [[angel]]s and human worshippers. Her worldview, beliefs, and wisdom are chronicled in the [[Song of All]].<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-november-2006-2006-11-01|The Song of All! Where can I see this complete song? Does it really exist?|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|November 01, 2006}}</ref>
She created her heavenly plane, [[Serra's Realm]], formed primarily with [[white]] mana and populated by her [[angel]]s and human worshippers. Her worldview, beliefs, and wisdom are chronicled in the [[Song of All]].<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-november-2006-2006-11-01|The Song of All! Where can I see this complete song? Does it really exist?|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|November 01, 2006}}</ref>


Serra's personal realm came to an end when [[Urza]] appeared, wounded from an attack by [[Phyrexia]]ns. He spent years there recovering and left the plane in peace. However, the Phyrexians attacked shortly thereafter, having tracked Urza to her realm, killing many of Serra's subjects. Worse still, the [[black]] mana essence of the Phyrexians tainted Serra's Realm so badly that Serra herself could no longer stand to stay there. She abandoned it woefully, taking those who would come with her and entrusting the archangel [[Radiant]] as its caretaker in her absence.[[File:HLSerra.jpg|thumb|Serra in the Homelands|left|228x228px]]
Serra's realm came to an end when [[Urza]] appeared, wounded from an attack by [[Phyrexia]]ns. He spent years there recovering and left the plane in peace. However, the Phyrexians attacked shortly thereafter, having tracked Urza to her realm, killing many of Serra's subjects. Worse still, the [[black]] mana essence of the Phyrexians tainted Serra's Realm so badly that Serra herself could no longer stand to stay there. She abandoned it woefully, taking those who would come with her and entrusting the archangel [[Radiant]] as its caretaker in her absence.[[File:HLSerra.jpg|thumb|Serra in the Homelands|left|228x228px]]
===Living with Feroz on Ulgrotha===
===Living with Feroz on Ulgrotha===
She wandered the planes for some time afterward, eventually meeting and falling in love with another planeswalker named [[Feroz]].<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-april-2002-2002-04-01|Ask Wizards - April 2002|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|April, 2002}}</ref> They lived together on the plane of [[Ulgrotha]] for some time, protected from the rest of the multiverse by [[Feroz's Ban]], and protecting the people of Ulgrotha from [[Baron Sengir]] and his [[vampire]]s. That is until Feroz himself was accidentally killed before her eyes.
She wandered the planes for some time afterward, eventually meeting and falling in love with another planeswalker named [[Feroz]].<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-april-2002-2002-04-01|Ask Wizards - April 2002|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|April 2002}}</ref> They lived together on the plane of [[Ulgrotha]] for some time, protected from the rest of the multiverse by [[Feroz's Ban]], and protecting the people of Ulgrotha from [[Baron Sengir]] and his [[vampire]]s. That is until Feroz himself was accidentally killed before her eyes.


===Murdered in Sursi===
===Murdered in Sursi===
Serra, heartbroken, fled Ulgrotha to [[Sursi]] on Dominaria and hid among some wandering refugees (possibly from her own plane).<ref name="Podcast" /> Serra joined Feroz in death soon after when she was attacked by an unnamed black planeswalker disguised as a thief. Though she could have healed herself easily, her will to live had been shattered and she wasted away. She used her last strength to sanctify the land around Sursi.<ref name="Dominaria art book" /><ref name="Podcast" /><ref name="DMUGuide">{{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-dominaria-2022-08-31|Planeswalker's Guide to Dominaria|[[Roy Graham]], [[Ethan Fleischer]], [[Jenna Helland]], [[Gerritt Turner]]|August 31, 2022}}</ref> Her death inspired [[Brother Angus]], the man who had saved her from the thief, to build the [[Cathedral of Serra]] around her tomb.[[File:Epityr.jpg|right|thumb|The Temple of Serra at [[Epityr]]. Art by Christine Choi.|271x271px]]
Serra, heartbroken, fled Ulgrotha to [[Sursi]] on Dominaria and hid among some wandering refugees (possibly from her plane).<ref name="Podcast" /> Serra joined Feroz in death soon after when she was attacked by an unnamed black planeswalker disguised as a thief. Though she could have healed herself easily, her will to live had been shattered and she wasted away. She used her last strength to sanctify the land around Sursi.<ref name="Dominaria art book" /><ref name="Podcast" /><ref name="DMUGuide">{{DailyRef|feature/planeswalkers-guide-dominaria-2022-08-31|Planeswalker's Guide to Dominaria|[[Roy Graham]], [[Ethan Fleischer]], [[Jenna Helland]], [[Gerritt Turner]]|August 31, 2022}}</ref> Her death inspired [[Brother Angus]], the man who had saved her from the thief, to build the [[Cathedral of Serra]] around her tomb.[[File:Epityr.jpg|right|thumb|The Temple of Serra at [[Epityr]]. Art by Christine Choi.|271x271px]]
===Radiant and the end of the Realm===
===Radiant and the end of the Realm===
After Serra's death, her legions persisted and were taken over by [[Radiant]], who was prideful, quick to judgment, and lacked Serra's compassion, allowing her and many of her followers to become corrupted by the influence of [[Phyrexia]].  The sisterhood of angels fell completely under Phyrexian influence, with Radiant's corrupted angels becoming a terrible winged army, slaughtering the inhabitants of [[Serra's Realm]].  
After Serra's death, her legions persisted and were taken over by [[Radiant]], who was prideful, quick to judgment, and lacked Serra's compassion, allowing her and many of her followers to become corrupted by the influence of [[Phyrexia]].  The sisterhood of angels fell completely under Phyrexian influence, with Radiant's corrupted angels becoming a terrible winged army, slaughtering the inhabitants of [[Serra's Realm]].  
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==Trivia==
==Trivia==
* Some scholars and fans have concluded that Serra was a human named after a goddess of the same name that used to be worshipped on multiple planes. According to [[Ethan Fleischer]] and [[Kelly Digges]] that is not true. All references to the goddess Serra are references to the planeswalker Serra who was simply mistaken for a goddess.<ref name="Podcast">[http://media.wizards.com/2018/podcasts/magic/MSPodcast_20180510_d8axGQ5.mp3 The Magic Story Podcast: The Church of Serra]</ref>
* Some scholars and fans have concluded that Serra was a human named after a goddess of the same name that used to be worshipped on multiple planes. According to [[Ethan Fleischer]] and [[Kelly Digges]] that is not true. All references to the goddess Serra are references to the planeswalker Serra who was simply mistaken for a goddess.<ref name="Podcast">[http://media.wizards.com/2018/podcasts/magic/MSPodcast_20180510_d8axGQ5.mp3 The Magic Story Podcast: The Church of Serra]</ref>
* In [[J. Robert King]]'s novel ''[[Scourge (novel)|Scourge]]'' it is stated that Serra and her realm had been returned to existence after the destruction of the [[Skyship Weatherlight|skyship ''Weatherlight'']] released the captured plane, which had served as a power source for the skyship. This is now contradicted by the later story, where [[Tiana]] found the [[powerstone]] containing the realm still inside the wreckage.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/return-dominaria-episode-3-2018-03-28|Return to Dominaria: Episode 3|[[Martha Wells]]|March 28, 2018}}</ref>
* In [[J. Robert King]]'s novel ''[[Scourge (novel)|Scourge]]'' it is stated that Serra and her realm had returned to existence after the destruction of the [[Skyship Weatherlight|skyship ''Weatherlight'']] released the captured plane, which had served as a power source for the skyship. This is now contradicted by the later story, where [[Tiana]] found the [[powerstone]] containing the realm still inside the wreckage.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-story/return-dominaria-episode-3-2018-03-28|Return to Dominaria: Episode 3|[[Martha Wells]]|March 28, 2018}}</ref>
* In ''Scourge'', Serra appeared after the false goddess [[Karona]] ended up in [[Serra's Realm|her realm]], telling Karona and her companions that they could not stay there. After explaining their plight, the angelic figure only mused on the fact that Karona reminded her of another being named [[Urza]], who had unintentionally caused great damage to the multiverse in his efforts to protect Dominaria against the [[Phyrexia]]ns. Serra's only advice was to remind Karona that she was [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]’s magic and Dominaria was her true home. Though Serra's death is [[prerevisionist]], the continuity of the novel ''Scourge'' is dubious in many respects, leaving Serra's status questionable.  
* In ''Scourge'', Serra appeared after the false goddess [[Karona]] ended up in [[Serra's Realm|her realm]], telling Karona and her companions that they could not stay there. After explaining their plight, the angelic figure only mused the fact that Karona reminded her of another being named [[Urza]], who had unintentionally caused great damage to the multiverse in his efforts to protect Dominaria against the [[Phyrexia]]ns. Serra's only advice was to remind Karona that she was [[Dominaria (plane)|Dominaria]]’s magic and Dominaria was her true home. Though Serra's death is [[prerevisionist]], the continuity of the novel ''Scourge'' is dubious in many respects, leaving Serra's status questionable.  
* Serra's name originated from the word "serrated" because the warrior angel that [[Richard Garfield]] originally had envisioned carried a serrated sword.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/629379441432379392/if-its-not-too-much-trouble-i-would-like-to-get-a|title=Birthday Trivia: Serra|September 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/que-serra-serra-2004-06-21|Que Serra, Serra|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 21, 2004}}</ref>
* Serra's name originated from the word "serrated" because the warrior angel that [[Richard Garfield]] originally had envisioned carried a serrated sword.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/629379441432379392/if-its-not-too-much-trouble-i-would-like-to-get-a|title=Birthday Trivia: Serra|September 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/que-serra-serra-2004-06-21|Que Serra, Serra|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 21, 2004}}</ref>
* In an alternate reality, Serra was a blue-aligned intellectual Sphinx Planeswalker.<ref>{{DailyRef|savor-flavor/backwards-through-looking-glass-2007-03-01|Backwards Through the Looking Glass|[[Doug Beyer]]|March 1, 2007}}</ref>
* In an alternate reality, Serra was a blue-aligned intellectual Sphinx Planeswalker.<ref>{{DailyRef|savor-flavor/backwards-through-looking-glass-2007-03-01|Backwards Through the Looking Glass|[[Doug Beyer]]|March 1, 2007}}</ref>
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File:Worship Serra.jpg|''“Believe in the ideal, not the idol.”''
File:Worship Serra.jpg|''“Believe in the ideal, not the idol.”''
File:Serra in Homelands (comic).png|Serra in Homelands (comic).
File:Serra in Homelands (comic).png|Serra in Homelands (comic).
File:Serra_Key_Art.jpg|''Modern Horzons'' key art
File:Serra_Key_Art.jpg|''Modern Horizons'' key art
File:Serra.jpg|Serra. Art by Matthew Wilson.
File:Serra.jpg|Serra. Art by Matthew Wilson.
File:Serra MTGA avatar MH1.png|[[Magic: The Gathering Arena]] avatar.
File:Serra MTGA avatar MH1.png|[[Magic: The Gathering Arena]] avatar.
Line 59: Line 59:
*[[Feroz]]
*[[Feroz]]
*[[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)
* [[Ravi]]
*[[Ravi]]
*[[Sandruu]]
*[[Sandruu]]
*[[Urza]]
*[[Urza]]

Revision as of 11:47, 1 December 2022

Serra
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Serra2.jpg}}|250px]]
Details
Race Human planeswalker
Birthplace Unknown
Lifetime Birth unknown, died ~3780 AR
Colors
Center: {W}
Sources
Planeswalker, Homelands comic, Scourge

Serra was a human female planeswalker from the ancient days of the planes, with an affinity for angels, born on an undisclosed plane. She was immensely powerful, enough to create her plane - Serra's Realm, which she populated with her Serra Angels. The Church of Serra was founded on Dominaria in her honor, worshipping the planeswalker as a goddess.

Appearance and characteristics

When Xantcha visited Serra's Realm, after having seen angels and archangels, she had expected a tall, slender, and remote woman. However, Serra could have walked through any man-made village without attracting a second glance. Her face, though pleasant, was plain, and she had the sturdy silhouette of a woman who'd borne children and done many a hard day's works. She was also surrounded by a gently flickering white nimbus.[1]

Serra was centered in white mana.

History

First visit to Dominaria

Thousands of years ago, the planeswalker first visited Dominaria and created her first angels.[2]

Church of Serra Founded In Sheoltun

The Church of Serra can be traced back to the days of the Sheoltun Empire, Benalia's forerunner. Here, she was revered as a goddess and a temple was built in her honor in Epityr.[3] The enormous statue that is part of the temple depicts her with wings.

Creation of Serra's Realm.

Creation of Serra's Realm

She created her heavenly plane, Serra's Realm, formed primarily with white mana and populated by her angels and human worshippers. Her worldview, beliefs, and wisdom are chronicled in the Song of All.[4]

Serra's realm came to an end when Urza appeared, wounded from an attack by Phyrexians. He spent years there recovering and left the plane in peace. However, the Phyrexians attacked shortly thereafter, having tracked Urza to her realm, killing many of Serra's subjects. Worse still, the black mana essence of the Phyrexians tainted Serra's Realm so badly that Serra herself could no longer stand to stay there. She abandoned it woefully, taking those who would come with her and entrusting the archangel Radiant as its caretaker in her absence.

Serra in the Homelands

Living with Feroz on Ulgrotha

She wandered the planes for some time afterward, eventually meeting and falling in love with another planeswalker named Feroz.[5] They lived together on the plane of Ulgrotha for some time, protected from the rest of the multiverse by Feroz's Ban, and protecting the people of Ulgrotha from Baron Sengir and his vampires. That is until Feroz himself was accidentally killed before her eyes.

Murdered in Sursi

Serra, heartbroken, fled Ulgrotha to Sursi on Dominaria and hid among some wandering refugees (possibly from her plane).[3] Serra joined Feroz in death soon after when she was attacked by an unnamed black planeswalker disguised as a thief. Though she could have healed herself easily, her will to live had been shattered and she wasted away. She used her last strength to sanctify the land around Sursi.[2][3][6] Her death inspired Brother Angus, the man who had saved her from the thief, to build the Cathedral of Serra around her tomb.

The Temple of Serra at Epityr. Art by Christine Choi.

Radiant and the end of the Realm

After Serra's death, her legions persisted and were taken over by Radiant, who was prideful, quick to judgment, and lacked Serra's compassion, allowing her and many of her followers to become corrupted by the influence of Phyrexia. The sisterhood of angels fell completely under Phyrexian influence, with Radiant's corrupted angels becoming a terrible winged army, slaughtering the inhabitants of Serra's Realm.

Urza visited the Realm in its last days on the Skyship Weatherlight and saved many Serran refugees before collapsing the plane to prevent its total takeover by Phyrexia.

Trivia

  • Some scholars and fans have concluded that Serra was a human named after a goddess of the same name that used to be worshipped on multiple planes. According to Ethan Fleischer and Kelly Digges that is not true. All references to the goddess Serra are references to the planeswalker Serra who was simply mistaken for a goddess.[3]
  • In J. Robert King's novel Scourge it is stated that Serra and her realm had returned to existence after the destruction of the skyship Weatherlight released the captured plane, which had served as a power source for the skyship. This is now contradicted by the later story, where Tiana found the powerstone containing the realm still inside the wreckage.[7]
  • In Scourge, Serra appeared after the false goddess Karona ended up in her realm, telling Karona and her companions that they could not stay there. After explaining their plight, the angelic figure only mused the fact that Karona reminded her of another being named Urza, who had unintentionally caused great damage to the multiverse in his efforts to protect Dominaria against the Phyrexians. Serra's only advice was to remind Karona that she was Dominaria’s magic and Dominaria was her true home. Though Serra's death is prerevisionist, the continuity of the novel Scourge is dubious in many respects, leaving Serra's status questionable.
  • Serra's name originated from the word "serrated" because the warrior angel that Richard Garfield originally had envisioned carried a serrated sword.[8][9]
  • In an alternate reality, Serra was a blue-aligned intellectual Sphinx Planeswalker.[10]

Gallery

  • Serra Lore Card

    Serra Lore Card

  • Serra and her angels in Serra's Realm.

    Serra and her angels in Serra's Realm.

  • Humble (Urza's Saga)

    Humble (Urza's Saga)

  • “Believe in the ideal, not the idol.”

    “Believe in the ideal, not the idol.”

  • Serra in Homelands (comic).

    Serra in Homelands (comic).

  • Modern Horizons key art

    Modern Horizons key art

  • Serra. Art by Matthew Wilson.

    Serra. Art by Matthew Wilson.

  • Magic: The Gathering Arena avatar.

    Magic: The Gathering Arena avatar.

Planeswalkers met

Planes visited

In-game references

Represented in:
Associated cards:
Depicted in:
Quoted or referred to:

References

  1. ↑ Lynn Abbey (1998). Magic: The Gathering - Planeswalker. Wizards of the Coast
  2. ↑ a b James Wyatt (2018), The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Dominaria. VIZ Media.
  3. ↑ a b c d The Magic Story Podcast: The Church of Serra
  4. ↑ Brady Dommermuth (November 01, 2006). "The Song of All! Where can I see this complete song? Does it really exist?". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 2002). "Ask Wizards - April 2002". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Roy Graham, Ethan Fleischer, Jenna Helland, Gerritt Turner (August 31, 2022). "Planeswalker's Guide to Dominaria". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Martha Wells (March 28, 2018). "Return to Dominaria: Episode 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 15, 2020). "Birthday Trivia: Serra". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  9. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 21, 2004). "Que Serra, Serra". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ Doug Beyer (March 1, 2007). "Backwards Through the Looking Glass". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. ↑ Seanan McGuire (2022). Magic: Nahiri the Lithomancer. Wizards of the Coast.
Story publications
Blocks and Sets
Weatherlight crew
Nine Titans
Other characters
See also
Non-block sets
Ulgrotha storyline
Publications
Locations
Characters
Affiliations
Other
Sets
Supplemental
Dominaria storyline
Novels
Comics
Art books
Main locations
Characters & Affiliations
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Crossover
Related
 
Planeswalkers
in Lore only
Affiliations
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