Lukka
| Lukka | |
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[[File:{{#setmainimage:Lukka Bound to Ruin.jpg}}|250px]] | |
| Details | |
| Race | Phyrexian Human Planeswalker |
| Birthplace | Ikoria |
| Lifetime | Mending Era |
| Colors | |
Center:  Currently:  | |
Lukka is a red-aligned human Phyrexian Planeswalker from the plane of Ikoria.[1] He was compleated as part of the Second Phyrexian Invasion of Dominaria during the events of Phyrexia: All Will Be One.
Appearance and characteristics
Lukka is a military-trained man in his late thirties. He is lean and muscled and has a short beard. His black, short-cropped hair is greying at the temples. He has the ability to bond and control animals. When he does that, his face acquires the physical attributes of those animals.[2]
Lukka used to be a member of the Coppercoats, an elite military squad tasked with protecting the human cities of Ikoria against monsters. He used to be engaged to Jirina Kudro, the daughter of the general of the Coppercoats. The influence of an unnamed planeswalker via the Ozolith has disturbed his sense of justice and destabilized his mental health. He has a strong urge to return home and take control of the city where he grew up, thinking his way is the only way. He always wants to be respected, but usually is feared instead.
Although he still has the ability to connect with animals, he sees them as tools rather than as allies. Lukka was centered in red mana, but when compleated by the Vicious Swarm, he gained access to their corrupted green mana.
History
Ikoria
Lukka was the Commander of the First Special Intercept Squad, commonly known as the "Specials", which acted as a small incident reaction team.[3] He had spent half his life - twenty years - in the Coppercoats, and the last two years as captain of the Specials.
After he bonded with the winged cat, Lukka was banned from Drannith and became an outcast. The visiting planeswalker Vivien Reid had sensed some of his bonding magic and came to investigate. She rescued Lukka from his pursuers and befriended him. They found out that a crystalline formation in the north, the Ozolith, had been instrumental in causing the bondings and the newfound rage of the monsters against Drannith. The Ozolith had been used for this purpose by an unnamed planeswalker known for his meddling. Since Lukka had been successful in counteracting the rage in his winged tiger, he and Vivien theorized that he would be able to neutralize the workings of the Ozolith, as well.
Under the influence of the Ozolith he became powerful but imbalanced. He formed an army of beasts, that he proposed to use to defend the city. As Kudro refused to listen, Lukka killed him. Against his deluded expectations, Jirina refused to join him. She attacked him and fled home to take command of Drannith's defenses.
Believing that his newfound power would save Drannith in the end, Lukka and his army attacked the city. The sheer number of monsters threatened to overrun Drannith, but Jirina's strategy of defense and use of the bonders proved enough to turn the tide of battle. Facing defeat, Lukka attempted to use more of the Ozolith's power but was warned by the unknown planeswalker of its consequences. Lukka refused to listen and the Ozolith exploded, causing his planeswalker's spark to ignite as he planeswalked away.
Lukka awoke in a swamp on another world facing a small group of dangerous beasts. Although the power of the Ozolith was gone, Lukka was still able to control one of them. Glad to be alive and with at least some of his power intact, Lukka vowed to one day return home.
Arcavios
Still coming to terms with his newfound power, Lukka traveled to Arcavios. Faced with the hostility of the inhabitants, he was drawn to the crazy, mysterious presence of the dark mages called the Oriq.[4][5] After he had arrived on the plane, he bonded with a grey fox-like, fire-breathing creature, called Mila.[5] During a confrontation between the Oriq and a Dragonsguard, Lukka was mistaken as one of the Oriq but was saved by Mila. While searching for the dark mages, Lukka was captured and taken to their leader Extus Narr, who Lukka discovered had knowledge of planeswalkers. Extus explained that there were things he could teach Lukka and proposed a trade.
Lukka had developed a deep distrust of Strixhaven and its influence on the plane, due in part to his rejection by local inhabitants and for the ongoing persecution of the Oriq. Now with a common enemy, Lukka decided to help the Oriq by distracting Kasmina and coordinating a mage hunter attack on Strixhaven.[2] However, when the tide was turned by the Founder Dragons, Lukka quickly left the battlefield.[6] He was last seen wandering the land with Mila and a few of the remaining Oriq, scrounging for food and shelter. It is currently unknown what Lukka received from Extus Narr in exchange for his help.
Against the Phyrexians
Lukka joined the Gatewatch and other assembled planeswalkers to support the Mirrans' efforts against Elesh Norn on New Phyrexia.[7] However, when the planeswalkers were scattered across the Spheres upon entry, Lukka was stranded alongside Nissa Revane in the Hunters' Maze and made the mistake of forming the eludha with a Phyrexian beast. This made him susceptible to compleation[8].
Companions
Lukka is a Bonder from the plane of Ikoria, and as such he can form a magical bond called Eludha with creatures across the multiverse. Here are the various creatures he has bonded with across the planes.
Lukka's Patagia Tiger
Lukka's first experience bonding was with a large winged cat known as a patagia tiger. The cat was huge, easily taller than a man, and longer than a cart. Its basic form was cat-like, with thick white fur cut by light brown stripes. Its fangs included two long canines that protruded beyond its lower lip like a pair of swords. It had leathery wings. The monster was very smart and tried to protect Lukka's humanity, but was executed in a Heartless Act by General Kudro. Lukka never even gave her a name.[3]
Mila
Mila is a magical, grey fox-like creature with many spots that can breathe fire. Lukka first meets her when she brings him food after he nearly starves. He then bonds with her. Sometime later, he gets into a fight with a Dragonsguard and Oriq members. Mila then rescues him. He then strengthens the bond with her.[5][9]
Lukka's centaur hulk
When Lukka arrived on New Phyrexia, he encountered Nissa and the Wanderer imperiled by a Phyrexian beast he dubbed a centaur hulk. He formed the eludha with it to keep his companions out of danger, and later used it to help the party traverse the Hunters' Maze. However, when he instructed it to "secure him" to keep him from falling down one of the monolithic trees, it did so by piercing his body with oily tentacles, inducing phyresis. Later, when he fully succumbed to the infection, he found that the centaur hulk could fully fuse with him, and the two became a singular entity.
Planes visited
- Arcavios[4]
- Dominaria
- Ikoria
- New Phyrexia
- Unnamed plane
Planeswalkers met
- Chandra Nalaar
- Elspeth Tirel[7]
- Jace Beleren[7]
- Kaito Shizuki[7]
- Kasmina
- Kaya[7]
- Liliana Vess
- Nahiri[7]
- Nissa Revane[7]
- Saheeli Rai[7]
- Teferi Akosa (non-mutually)[7]
- Tyvar Kell[7]
- Unnamed planeswalker of the Ozolith (voice only)
- Vivien Reid
- Vraska[7]
- The Wanderer[7]
- Wrenn[7]
Gallery
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Lukka's original appearance before becoming a phyrexian.
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Lukka’s bond provided not only friendship, but also the most powerful weapon in his arsenal.
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“Drannith gives no quarter to traitors.”
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Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast variant art by Kieran Yanner.
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Kudro runs the Patagia Tiger.
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Lukka and Kasmina confront each other in Strixhaven.
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Magic: The Gathering Arena avatar.
Story appearances
In-game references
- Represented in:
- Associated cards:
- Depicted in:
- Quoted or referred to:
- Lukka's flying tiger:
References
- ↑ Danny Forster (April 2). "MTG reveals new Ikoria planeswalker Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast". Dotesports.com.
- ↑ a b Adana Washington (April 7, 2021). "Episode 3: Extracurriculars". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Django Wexler (2020), "Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths — Sundered Bond", Wizards of the Coast
- ↑ a b Adana Washington (March 25, 2021). "Episode 1: Class Is in Session". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c Adana Washington (March 31, 2021). "Episode 2: Lessons". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Adana Washington (April 21, 2021). "Episode 5: Final Exam". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Seanan McGuire (October 26, 2022). "The Brother's War - Chapter 5: Exodus". Magicthegathering.com.
- ↑ Langley Hyde (January 14, 2023). "Phyrexia: All Will Be One: Hard as Anger, Bright as Joy". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Fox Allison, Doug Beyer and Ari Zirulnik (April 13, 2021). "The Legends of Strixhaven". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 03, 2020). "The Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Story on Cards". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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