The Wanderer
| The Wanderer | |
|---|---|
| Emperor of Kamigawa | |
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[[File:{{#setmainimage:The Wandering Emperor.jpg}}|250px]] | |
| Details | |
| Race | Human Planeswalker |
| Birthplace | Eiganjo, Kamigawa |
| Lifetime | ~4537 - |
| Colors | |
Center:  | |
The Wanderer is a planeswalker introduced in War of the Spark. She is the current Emperor of Kamigawa, and one of the most efficient and deadly warriors seen on any plane.[1]
Appearance and characteristics
The Wanderer is a roughly twenty-four-year-old traveling swordswoman with snow-white hair and brown eyes.[2] As Emperor of Kamigawa, she is unable to reveal her name to anyone. Her bond with the kami Kyodai is embodied by the kami Himoto.[3]
As the Wanderer, she hides her face behind a wide-brimmed hat and wears white garb. Beneath the brim of her hat, she wears a golden mask that covers her entire visage and even keeps her eyes in the shadow.[4] Because she admitted that she once was considered to be beautiful, Ral Zarek suspected that her real face was now scarred. The Wanderer didn't deny this and implied that Tezzeret was to blame for her disfigurement.[4] When she briefly returned to Kamigawa, it turned out that it was her planeswalker spark and not her appearance that was damaged.
The Wanderer is adept at swordplay and can magically absorb kinetic energy and redirect that force through her massive sword.[5] The broadsword leaves a white mana trail in its wake when she swings it.[6] She often appears without warning to aid in a battle or defend the innocent, only to disappear just as suddenly without explanation.[7]
Able to down the largest foes with a single stroke, The Wanderer is also cursed to make an effort not to planeswalk. Unlike other planeswalkers who are tired by the process of planeswalking, The Wanderer can planeswalk and then planeswalk again almost immediately - but if she doesn't focus, she will be pulled at random from plane to plane.[5] This also happens when she sleeps or falls unconscious. Her condition makes her uniquely attuned to the Blind Eternities. She feels every ripple across it and can sense a planeswalker's path longer than a typical planeswalker.
The Wanderer is centered in white mana. When she planeswalks, she disappears in a violent flash of white light.[4][8] When she has control over her spark, she is able to planeswalk within the same plane.[9]
History
Origins
When they were young, the Wanderer and Kaito Shizuki became friends and sparring partners.[10] Around age fourteen, her spark was ignited when the planeswalker Tezzeret attempted to control the kami Kyodai with a prototype Reality Chip.[11] The Chip left her spark unstable, causing the irregularities with her planeswalking ability.
On her first day of training, her mentor Light-Paws gave her a puppy, telling her to raise it by hand: care for this dog now, so you can care for the kingdom in the future. The young emperor took these words to heart, and Yoshimaru became the most intelligent, most loyal dog the court had ever seen. She loved having a friend whom she could share her Imperial secrets with and relieve the burden of responsibility.[7]
War of the Spark
The Wanderer was lured to Ravnica by the Interplanar Beacon, and immediately became trapped there due to Bolas's use of the Immortal Sun. Alongside many other planeswalkers and Ravnicans, she fought against the Eternals of Bolas' Dreadhorde.[6] She and Sarkhan Vol knew each other.
She was one of the few planeswalkers who chose to remain on Ravnica after Chandra disabled the Immortal Sun, helping the Gatewatch in their fight against Bolas. She survived the battle.
Forsaken
As her unique abilities allowed her to track Tezzeret and the Planar Bridge technology he carried, the Wanderer aided Ral Zarek in finding his target.[4] They eventually found Tezzeret in his fortress on Alara in Esper, once known as the Seekers' Sanctum. The pair were greeted by a squadron of etherium gargoyles in which all but the leader, Brokk, were destroyed. Ral and the Wanderer entered Tezzeret's base and battled against his minions through multiple traps. Upon reaching Tezzeret, the Wanderer was knocked unconscious by the lead gargoyle and automatically planeswalked away.
After regaining consciousness, the Wanderer returned to Esper to investigate Tezzeret's fortress and found evidence of an organized abandonment. Back on Ravnica, the Wanderer relayed her newfound information at the guild meeting after Ral Zarek told the truth about his defeat. The Wanderer also revealed that she could no longer sense the Planar Bridge technology which indicated that Tezzeret may have intended to be followed.[4]
Ikoria
The Wanderer was briefly present on Ikoria, where Vivien Reid saw her cut down a monster before planeswalking away.[12]
Neon Dynasty
The Wanderer was briefly able to return to her home plane, meet Kaito, and with the stabilization offered by the Reality Chip, she was able to reconnect with Kyodai and Kaito Shizuki. Before her spark became unstable again, she and the spirit agreed to appoint Light-Paws acting Regent of Kamigawa.[9]
Against New Phyrexia
The Wanderer and Kaito joined the Gatewatch and other assembled planeswalkers to support the Mirrans' efforts against Elesh Norn on New Phyrexia.[13] However, the presence of a "planar shield" seriously disrupted the Wanderer's spark upon arrival, giving her only enough time to accompany Kaito and Nahiri to the outskirts of a Mirran camp before involuntarily planeswalking away. Upon her return, she discovered a Mirran camp razed to the ground as she feared the fate of her companions. She hoped to see them again before departing.[14]
While Planeswalking through New Phyrexia, she eventually reached the Hunter Maze and came across Nissa Revane and Lukka fighting Phyrexian beasts. She provided some assistance before forcibly planeswalking away. She returned to and planeswalked from the two a few times while helping the them slay Phyrexians. Once she met up with them near the center of the Maze, she revealed she knew where Vorinclex was and suggested that they should eliminate him while they had the chance. She planeswalked before the two travelled to the praetor's chamber, but she returned to see what Lukka had become and bought Nissa time to flee[15].
Zhalfir
After the failed attempt to stop New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse, the Wanderer ended up on the pocket plane of Zhalfir, where she was temporarily caught in an Amber Prison and reconnected with Teferi Akosa.[16]
Trivia
- The Wanderer is the only carded planeswalker character without a planeswalker type.[17]
- The Wanderer is the deuteragonist of the teaser, cinematic, and animated trailers for Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.[18][19][20]
Artifacts acquired
- The Wanderer has a sword that she uses to channel kinetic energy into powerful attacks.
- For a short time, she was attached to the Reality Chip.
Planes visited
| “ | The Multiverse is infinite, but I've visited a few hundred at least. | ” |
—The Wanderer[4] | ||
Planeswalkers met
- Chandra Nalaar[13]
- Dack Fayden[6]
- Davriel Cane[6]
- Elspeth Tirel[13]
- Gideon Jura[6]
- Jace Beleren[13]
- Jaya Ballard[4]
- Kaito Shizuki[11]
- Kaya[4]
- Liliana Vess (non-mutually)[4]
- Lukka[13]
- Nahiri[13]
- Nissa Revane[13]
- Ral Zarek[4]
- Saheeli Rai[13]
- Samut
- Sarkhan Vol[6]
- Tamiyo[11]
- Teferi Akosa[16]
- Tezzeret[4]
- Tyvar Kell[13]
- Vivien Reid[4]
- Vraska[4]
- Wrenn[13]
Gallery
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Concept art by Sam Burley.
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Kaito and the Wanderer as children.
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Kaito and the Wanderer as adolescents.
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The Wanderer in the Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty animated trailer.
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The Wanderer leaves Kamigawa.
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The Wanderer in the Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty teaser.
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Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Key art.
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The Wanderer in the Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty cinematic trailer.
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The Reality Chip attached to the Wanderer's hand.
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The Wanderer fights Jin-Gitaxias.
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The Wanderer saves Kaito from Jin-Gitaxias.
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The Wanderer rescues Kaito and Tamiyo from Jin-Gitaxias' lab.
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Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty marketing art.
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Tamiyo attaches the Reality Chip to the Wanderer trying to repair the planeswalker's unstable spark.
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Magic: The Gathering Arena avatar.
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Magic: The Gathering Arena sleeve.
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The Wanderer, along with other planeswalkers and Mirrans survivors, launch a final assault on New Phyrexia.
Story appearances
In-game references
- Represented in:
- Associated cards:
- Depicted in:
- Quoted or referred to:
References
- ↑ Sam Burley (February 7, 2022). "The idea was simple: a mysterious PWalker and powerful swordswoman with a fancy hat.". Twitter.
- ↑ Akemi Dawn Bowman (January 24, 2022). "Episode 2: Lies, Promises, and Neon Flames". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Akemi Dawn Bowman (December 16, 2021). "Kaito Origin Stories: A Test of Loyalty & The Path Forward". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Greg Weisman (November 2019). "War of the Spark: Forsaken". Del Rey.
- ↑ a b War Of The Professor - Exclusive Magic: The Gathering War Of The Spark Preview / Spoiler Card (Video). Tolarian Community College. YouTube (April 1, 2019).
- ↑ a b c d e f g Greg Weisman (April 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica". Del Rey.
- ↑ a b Ari Zirulnik, Grace Fong, Emily Teng, and Gerritt Turner (February 11, 2022). "The Legends of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Akemi Dawn Bowman (January 26, 2022). "Episode 4: The Break-In". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Akemi Dawn Bowman (January 27, 2022). "Episode 5: Threads of War". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Akemi Dawn Bowman (January 24, 2022). "Episode 1: A Stranger in Eiganjo". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c Akemi Dawn Bowman (January 25, 2022). "Episode 3: An Unexpected Alliance". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Django Wexler (2020), "Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths — Sundered Bond", Wizards of the Coast
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Seanan McGuire (October 26, 2022). "The Brother's War - Chapter 5: Exodus". Magicthegathering.com.
- ↑ Seanan McGuire (January 13, 2023). "Assault on New Phyrexia - Episode 1: Uncontrolled Descent". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Langley Hyde (January 14, 2023). "Phyrexia: All Will Be One: Hard as Anger, Bright as Joy". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Miguel Lopez (January 17, 2023). "Alone". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "Alone" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 27, 2022). "Now that the Wanderer’s identity is known, was there discussion about giving her a subtype?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Official Teaser – Magic: The Gathering (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (December 16, 2021).
- ↑ Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Official Cinematic – Magic: The Gathering (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (February 10, 2022).
- ↑ Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Official Animated Trailer - Magic: The Gathering (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (February 15, 2022).
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 03, 2020). "The Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Story on Cards". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
