Saheeli Rai

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Saheeli Rai
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Saheeli Rai Planeswalker.jpg}}|250px]]
Details
Race Human planeswalker
Birthplace Kaladesh
Lifetime Mending Era
Colors
Center: {U}{R}

Saheeli Rai is a human planeswalker from the the plane of Kaladesh.[1][2] She is a brilliant inventor who specializes in creating lifelike animated constructs as beautiful as they are deadly.

Appearance and characteristics

Saheeli Rai is an especially tall woman with warm brown skin (noted to be taller than Kaya). She is lithe and graceful with curious eyes and a smiling mouth. She likes to wear long swirling dresses, decorated with shiny gold filigree, and her hair in swirls.[3]

Saheeli has a magical command over metal that she uses for the purpose of artifice and the creation of lifelike artifact constructs. She is even able to transmute metals from one into the other.[4] On Kaladesh, she is regarded as one of the brightest inventors of her age and she has many admirers and rivals. Enjoying competition, she's wholly supportive of the efforts of other inventors, happy to share advice, a kind word, or an encouraging smile. She thrills at the prospect of innovation, and basks in the creative spirit that surrounds her in Ghirapur.[5] Her dazzling intellect and mastery over metal make her a formidable adversary.

Saheeli has a bright, optimistic personality, and she loves facing off against other inventors in contests and tournaments.[6] While not a strong linguist, she has an eye for visual aesthetics, wishing to use her skill to create beauty. She also shares the curiosity of knowledge that many blue mages hold.

Saheeli is centered in blue and red mana.

History

Inventor

Saheeli Rai

Saheeli Rai participated in the Inventors' Fair, keeping renegades away from it. When she learned of the work of her friend, the elf Rashmi and the vedalken Mitul, on an aether teleporter that seemed to move objects through the Blind Eternities, she refused to help her, fearing what could happen to Kaladesh if such an invention came into wide usage. After being confronted with a previous statement of hers, that innovation has no boundaries, she acquiesced to lend her aid nonetheless, having an audience with the Enlightened Keeper Padeem, one of the Consuls.[7]

At some point, she was conscripted by Gonti for technological surgery on their aether heart.[8]

Renegade

After Tezzeret's coup and the confiscation of numerous inventions, and the abduction of some Fair participants, Saheeli joined forces with the Renegades and the newly arrived Gatewatch. She later learned that Tezzeret was hiding in the Aether Spire. Saheeli believed that he, together with Rashmi, was conducting experiments on the planar portal she had invented. Saheeli asked for help to break into the Spire. Liliana volunteered to accompany her.[9] While they didn't reach Tezzeret, the pair discovered that Rashmi had escaped and that her invention had been rebuilt and expanded to allow transport of inanimate objects to and from other planes. They brought her away to the Renegades.[10]

Saheeli later aided the Renegades in their attack on the Consulate's Spire. Working together with Pia Nalaar, she constructed the thopter Hope of Ghirapur to destroy Tezzeret's planar bridge, and together with Chandra, defended the Heart of Kiran from Consulate troops. After Dovin Baan's sabotage was discovered, she modified the thopter to carry Chandra and Gideon. When the pyromancer offered her a place at the side of the Gatewatch, Saheeli declined, stating that there would be much to do in the aftermath of the revolt on Kaladesh.[11]

Host

When Huatli arrived in Ghirapur on her first planeswalk, she was quickly recognized for what she was by Saheeli. The two women shared their experiences, with Saheeli being eager to construct an artificial dinosaur after hearing about them from Huatli for the first time.[12]

Some time later, while splitting time between Dominaria and Ravnica, she began a relationship with Huatli.[13]

War of the Spark

Saheeli, Sublime Artificer

Saheeli and Huatli were 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.[14]

During the invasion, the trapped planeswalkers got together with Ravnican leaders to strategize. At the meeting, Dack Fayden flirted with her, though he also considered stealing her jewelry.[15]

At Jace's recommendation, they decided to split up into teams to focus on specific tasks. Chandra, Saheeli, Lavinia, and Lazav were tasked with shutting off the Immortal Sun. Lazav disguised himself as Chandra in the fight against Dovin Baan, using illusions and an Izzet League flamethrower to replicate the effects of her pyromancy. This deception allowed the real Chandra to sneak into Baan's facility and disable the Immortal Sun, allowing many planeswalkers to leave Ravnica. Lazav subsequently defeated Baan, blinding him with throwing stars and causing him to planeswalk away.

Saheeli 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. Later, as part of Gideon's plan to kill Nicol Bolas, Chandra reactivated the Immortal Sun in order to prevent Bolas from planeswalking away. She left Saheeli to guard the artifact. After Bolas' defeat, Saheeli disabled the Immortal Sun for a second time. Unbeknownst to her, Jace had told her to disable the sun in order to let Ugin planeswalk away with Bolas' body, as well as to let Liliana escape.

Saheeli survived the battle. She appeared to be present during the Planewide Celebration that followed, but it turned out to be Lazav disguised as her, leaving Teyo to wonder what happened to the real Saheeli.

Aftermath of the War

Saheeli participated in the memorial service for Gideon on Theros.[16]

Dominaria United

Saheeli re-created the Golgothian Sylex after it was destroyed in the battle of the Mana Rig after attending the memorial for Jaya Ballard.[17] Despite this, she had no ability to activate it, leaving Teferi to travel to the first detonation to determine its mechanics.

Together with Teferi and Kaya, Saheeli resolved to find a solution to the Phyrexian problem in the past. To this end, she created the Temporal Anchor which they installed in Urza's Tower.[18]

Planeswalkers met

Planes visited

Gallery

Story appearances

Title Author Publishing date Set Setting (plane) Featuring
In This Very Arena Doug Beyer 2016-10-12 Kaladesh Ravnica, Kaladesh Jace Beleren, Ral Zarek, Liliana Vess, Nissa Revane, Chandra Nalaar, Oviya Pashiri, Ajani Goldmane, Gideon Jura, Kambal, Pia Nalaar, Dhiren Baral, Tezzeret, Saheeli Rai
Quiet Moments Michael Yichao 2016-12-07 Aether Revolt Kaladesh Gideon Jura, Chandra Nalaar, Liliana Vess, Saheeli Rai, Jace Beleren, Nissa Revane, Yahenni, Ajani Goldmane, Pia Nalaar
Breaking Points Doug Beyer 2017-01-18 Aether Revolt Kaladesh Gideon Jura, Chandra Nalaar, Liliana Vess, Pia Nalaar, Saheeli Rai, Rashmi, Hope of Ghirapur, Ajani Goldmane, Nissa Revane, Oviya Pashiri, Dovin Baan, Vatti
Wool Over the Eyes Alison Luhrs 2018-02-14 Rivals of Ixalan Kaladesh, Angrath's homeplane, Meditation Plane, Ixalan, Dominaria Huatli, Saheeli Rai, Angrath, Vraska, Nicol Bolas, Jace Beleren, Malcolm, Breeches, Gideon Jura, Jaya Ballard, Apatzec
War of the Spark: Ravnica—The Path to Opulent Greg Weisman 2019-05-15 War of the Spark Ravnica Rat, Teyo Verada, Kaya, Ral Zarek, Angrath, Jaya Ballard, Gideon Jura, Gan Shokta, Domri Rade, Vorel, Maree, Kiora, Samut, Eknet, Temmet, Neit, Haq, Kawit, Huatli, Saheeli Rai, Kasmina, Oketra, Kefnet, Bontu, Rhonas, Jace Beleren, Nicol Bolas
War of the Spark: Ravnica—Ashes Greg Weisman 2019-06-12 War of the Spark Ravnica Rat, Gideon Jura, Tomik Vrona, Lavinia, Ral Zarek, Jace Beleren, Chandra Nalaar, Teferi, Ajani Goldmane, Nissa Revane, Jaya Ballard, Karn, Kaya, Teyo Verada, Isperia, Dack Fayden, Saheeli Rai, Hekara, Vraska, Nicol Bolas, Borborygmos, Samut, Vorel, Sorin Markov, Nahiri, Arlinn Kord, Feather, Liliana Vess, Oketra, Rakdos, Bontu, Niv-Mizzet, Angrath, The Wanderer, Mu Yanling, Jiang Yanggu, Mowu, Vivien Reid, Aurelia, Exava, Lazav
Note for a Stranger Alison Luhrs 2022-05-02 Secret Lair: Pride Across the Multiverse Ravnica Huatli, Saheeli Rai
Episode 5: A Whisper in the Wind Langley Hyde 2022-08-18 Dominaria United Dominaria Teferi, Karn, Jhoira, Ertai, Ajani Goldmane, Jaya Ballard, Radha, Danitha Capashen, Sheoldred, Darigaaz, Jodah, Saheeli Rai, Elesh Norn
The Brothers' War - Chapter 1: Stronghold Reinhardt Suarez 2022-10-21 The Brothers' War Dominaria Teferi, Jodah, Elspeth Tirel, Kaya, Vivien Reid, Saheeli Rai, Wrenn, Seven
The Brothers' War - Chapter 2: Antiquities Reinhardt Suarez 2022-10-24 The Brothers' War Dominaria, Kaladesh Saheeli Rai, Kaya, Gonti, Jodah, Jhoira, Sharaman, Xantcha, Mishra
The Brothers' War - Chapter 4: The Dark Reinhardt Suarez 2022-10-25 The Brothers' War Dominaria Elspeth Tirel, Wrenn, Seven, Chandra Nalaar, Nissa Revane, Jodah, Kaya, Saheeli Rai, Rona, Tezzeret, Ashiok
The Brothers' War - Chapter 5: Exodus Reinhardt Suarez 2022-10-26 The Brothers' War Dominaria Chandra Nalaar, Nissa Revane, Kaya, Saheeli Rai, Teferi Akosa, Wrenn, Seven, Nahiri, Jace Beleren, Jodah, Elspeth Tirel, The Wanderer, Kaito Shizuki, Tyvar Kell, Lukka, Vraska
The Brothers' War - Episode 5: As Cruel, As Necessary Miguel Lopez, Jeff Grubb 2022-10-26 The Brothers' War Dominaria Teferi Akosa, Kaya, Saheeli Rai, Urza, Tawnos

In-game references

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

References

  1. Wizards of the Coast (May 16, 2016). "Saheeli Rai is our newest Planeswalker!". The Official Magic: The Gathering Tumblr. Tumblr.
  2. Magic Creative Team (November 2, 2016). "Planeswalker's Guide to Kaladesh". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Greg Weisman (May 15, 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica – The Path to Opulent". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. Magic at PAX: Kaladesh World-Building Panel
  5. Saheeli Rai
  6. Commander 2018 blurbs
  7. Kimberly J. Kreines (August 31, 2016). "A Time of Innovation". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. Reinhardt Suarez (October 24, 2022). "The Brothers' War - Chapter 2: Antiquities". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. Michael Yichao (December 7, 2016). "Quiet Moments". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. Kimberly J. Kreines (December 14, 2016). "Breakthrough". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. Doug Beyer (January 18, 2017). "Breaking Points". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. R&D Narrative Team (February 14, 2018). "Wool over the Eyes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. a b c d Alison Luhrs (May 2, 2022). "Note for a Stranger". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. a b c Greg Weisman (April 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica". Del Rey.
  15. Greg Weisman (May 22, 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica – Rallying the Reluctant"
  16. a b Greg Weisman (November 2019). "War of the Spark: Forsaken". Del Rey.
  17. Langley Hyde (August 18, 2022). "A Whisper in the Wind". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  18. Reinhardt Suarez (October 21, 2022). "The Brothers' War - Chapter 1: Stronghold". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  19. a b c d e MacKay, Jed. (2021). Magic. Vol 1, iss 9.
  20. Seanan McGuire (October 26, 2022). "The Brother's War - Chapter 4: The Dark". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  21. Flavor text of Heartbeat of Spring.