Riptide Project

The Riptide Project was a conglomeration of blue wizards established around 4305 AR on Riptide Island, an island off the coast of mainland Otaria, Dominaria.

History

The Riptide project was founded by Empress Llawan as a means to further the understanding of the magic of both the surface dwellers and the Mer Empire, in an attempt to repair relations between the surface and the Empire following the actions of Aboshan and Laquatus. The most significant piece of research undertaken by the project was the study of slivers, based on remains discovered in the ruins of the Stronghold on Urborg. The project succeeded in recreating slivers and even creating new varieties, but without the control of the Sliver Queen, the slivers ran wild and slaughtered most of the researchers. They then escaped the island and made it to mainland Otaria, and soon they spread rapidly over all Dominaria.

It's been hinted that the Cabal also had an interest in the Riptide Project, but it's unknown if they were spying on the research academy simply out of curiosity or for more sinister reasons.

Of all the researchers that came to Riptide, seemingly only one survived the Slivers' devastating onslaught - a wizard called Pemmin, known for his enchantment spell called Pemmin's Aura.

In-game references

Represented in:

• Riptide Island

Associated cards:

• Riptide Director
• Riptide Biologist
• Riptide Chronologist
• Riptide Entrancer
• Riptide Shapeshifter
• Riptide Survivor
• Riptide Replicator
• Warped Researcher

Depicted in:

• Riptide Laboratory

Quoted or referred to:

• Blade Sliver
• Crypt Sliver
• Discombobulate
• Dispersing Orb
• Fugitive Wizard (Legions)
• Graxiplon
• Hundroog
• Mistform Sliver
• Psychic Trance
• Quick Sliver
• Root Sliver
• Shifting Sliver
• Spectral Sliver
• Stabilizer
• Stifle (Scourge)
• Synapse Sliver
• Uncontrolled Infestation
• Ward Sliver

Note

• The Riptide Chimera from Theros is unrelated to the Riptide project.

Sources

• Rei Nakazawa (January 14, 2003). "For They Are Legions". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Rei Nakazawa (March 08, 2004). "A Sliver Story". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Mark Gottlieb (March 12, 2003). "Grand Designs". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.