Archon

Archon
Creature Type
	(Subtype for creature/kindred cards)
Statistics	20 cards 75% 5% 5% 10% 5% as of Wilds of Eldraine
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	type:"Archon"

For other uses, see Archon (disambiguation).

Archons is a creature type describing mystical celestial beings that are heavily aligned with the principles of White, have obscured faces, and always appear on a flying steed.^[1] On some planes, rider and mount are a single being.

Description

Archon is a Greek word that means "ruler", "magistrate" or "lord". Fitting this, some archons warp the game by imposing a significant restriction, most famously Blazing Archon.

Archons symbolize White's harsher aspects like its moral rigidity and ferocious retribution, while angels have a more varied role, generally leaning towards compassion and mercy.^[2] Archons are often mirror-images of the black Specters, hooded beings that also ride flying mounts. A notable exception, Modern Horizons 2 introduced the mono-black Archon of Cruelty.

Storyline

Alara

The flavor text of Krond the Dawn-Clad implies that archons might be created, naturally or by white-aligned mages, as embodiments of concepts, something supported by the fact that many archons are directly associated with said concepts. Unlike them, however, Krond appeared to be a solar deity.

Arcavios

Archons of Arcavios are similar to those from other planes, except having giant owls as their mounts.

Eldraine

Archons on Eldraine ride winged stags with glowing antlers and gleaming eyes. Despite this appearance, rider and mount are a single creature that can't be separated.^[3] Though they understand speech, they are unable to speak.

The archons of Eldraine are enigmatic beings who fly over the perimeter where the realm meets the wilds.^[3] The sight of an archon overhead is a clear signal that one is entering the wilds. Tales say that archons are ascended spirits of paladins fused with the spirits of their steeds, returned from the celestial realms to watch over the boundary of the Wilds and protect those who dare to cross it. Occasionally, knights attempt to expand the borders of the Realm by driving archons deeper into the Wilds. Such efforts are futile; not only are archons difficult to kill, but they don’t create the boundaries, merely mark them.

During the Wildered Quest, an archon watched the Kenrith twins from the trees and protected them from redcaps.^[4] After New Phyrexia's Invasion of Eldraine, an archon guarded a rose that would heal the Redtooth elves of the Curse of the Werefox.^[5]

Fiora

Archon of Coronation comes from Fiora; its stance on the local political drama is unknown. It rides an eagle.

Shadowmoor

Archons manifested on Shadowmoor, among them the Archon of Justice, who apparently manifested as a reaction to the darkening of the plane in order to defend their associated concept. They ride winged stags.

Ravnica

On Ravnica, Archons seem to be closely aligned to the Azorius Senate, who embody the law on the plane, as opposed to the angels that are leaders of the Boros Legion or within the Orzhov Syndicate; guildless Archons are featured in the first block, but currently they are mostly found within the Azorius.^[6] Their presence is strong enough that people willingly submit to them and cease fighting. They ride lions and felidars. Though rider and mount are metaphysically linked and bonded, they are separate beings.^[7]

After the New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse, the archon Ezrim formed an detective agency, leaving the Azorius with several followers.^[8]

Theros

In ancient times, the archons of Theros held a massive empire, tyrannizing the world in the belief that they were imposing strict justice.^[9] This was known as the Age of Trax, beginning when the Archons marched from the north and ending with the fall of their empires.^[10] The most notable of these Archon tyrants was Agnomakhos, who used the leonin as an army. Eventually, the Archon empires fell, being instead replaced by the poleis, and the remaining Archons now lash at these, slighting the "honor" they feel was stripped from them. These archons are gendered.^[11] They stand apart from the gods of the plane, serving a force they deem higher. Theran Archons ride a large variety of mounts, including winged lions and winged oxens.

During their rule, the archons of Theros apparently held some animosity towards the giants. Agnomakhos' actions were justified with the war against the giants, while the hundred-handed ones were the result of archons using magic to twist giants into forms that would make them more monuments.^[10]

Archon of Falling Stars

The text, known as The Cosmogony, details the battle of an archon and the champions of the gods. Heliod took pity on the archon and gave it a spear almost as radiant as his own in exchange for the rule of law in the world's wildest places.^[10]

Ashen Riders

Some of the despondent archons took refuge in the Underworld, and their minds, bodies, and spirits were subsequently twisted, turning them into especially monstrous variants who delight in culling mortals.^[10]

Archon Steeds

Evil creatures, typically bulls or lions, which may or may not be an extension of their rider's will.^[10]

Zendikar

The Archons of Zendikar are subordinated to its Archangels and act as their enforcers. Archons and their steeds are actually the same beings, sharing the same mind and will (it is unknown if this applies to all Archons or just the ones on Zendikar).^[12] Most Zendikari archons ride winged lions.