Blinkmoth
| Blinkmoth | |
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| Scryfall Search | |
| type:"Blinkmoth" |
Blinkmoth is an artifact creature type used for cards depicting the odd, tiny flying creatures that are the very essence of Mirrodin, and one of the plane’s original species.[1]
Description
Blinkmoths are tiny, bioluminescent, insectile creatures native to Mirrodin.[2] Beings with poetic souls consider them beautiful, for they glow in the night like fireflies with an eerie, blue-white light.[3] They are the most basic and perhaps most essential part of Mirrodin's ecosystem, able to synthesize pure mana from metal and vice versa. Swarms of them have been known to fly across the plane in complex formations, sometimes vanishing into Mirrodin's core. When Mirrodin’s suns align and half the world is in darkness, every blinkmoth disappears into the plane, an event known as the Night of Pitch.
Blinkmoth serum
Unfortunately for them, the blinkmoths are not just pretty, they’re useful. When isolated from a swarm, individual blinkmoths grow agitated, then frenzied.[3] Finally they hiss and pop, producing a tiny amount of blue liquid known as "serum" or "lymph", which is sought after by Neurok and Vedalken alike.[4] A being that drinks blinkmoth serum finds their self-awareness, understanding, mental capacity, and intelligence instantly augmented, making the serum, and thus blinkmoths, a highly sought after commodity. It is extremely addictive, and long-term use leads to physiological changes.
Blinkmoths used to be harvested by hovermyrs and preyed upon by frogmites. Though the Vedalken were masters of measured science, they failed to anticipate the sharp decline their exhaustive experiments would cause in the blinkmoth population. This myopic and uncontrolled research soon made blinkmoths, and thus serum, among the rarest commodities on Mirrodin. This was called the Diminishing.[5]
Hexgold
Treating the plates of the Glimmervoid with blinkmoth serum refines the metal into "hexgold," which can be used to craft weapons or injected as a protection against Phyresis.[6][7] The Goldwardens are elite warriors who provide security for Mirran settlements, conduct guerilla missions against the Phyrexians, and train the rest of the community. They are identified by their hexgold implants.
Inkmoths
After Mirrodin's compleation, they became inkmoths and bring visions of perfection.[8] Phyrexians spent countless hours unsuccessfully trying to harvest and recreate blinkmoth serum.[9]
Last Reserves
Once the Quicksilver Sea was transplanted to the Surgical Bays layer, so was the Fathom Ward, an "underwater" facility. It contains the last reserves of blinkmoth serum.[7] Studying the vedalkens' blinkmoth serum allowed the Progress Engine to enhance their vast reserve of glistening oil, making it more virulent and able to proliferate through organic material at record speeds.
In-game
There are no cards with the subtype Blinkmoth. However, there are two lands that can turn into Blinkmoth Artifact Creatures: Blinkmoth Nexus from Darksteel and its later corrupted version Inkmoth Nexus from Mirrodin Besieged.
In-game references
- Associated cards:
- Depicted in:
- Pithing Needle (Double Masters 2022, #397)
- Referred to:
- Hexgold references:
References
- ↑ Rei Nakazawa (January 13, 2004). "Shedding Light on Darksteel". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Doug Beyer (September 22, 2010). "The Terms of Engagement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020.
- ↑ a b (2003). Mirrodin Player's Guide. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (May 15, 2007). "Memnarch and the Panopticon". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Doug Beyer (December 08, 2010). "The Nonhuman Cultures of Mirrodin". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Seanan McGuire (January 13, 2023). "Assault on New Phyrexia - Episode 2: Unstable Foundations". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Grace Fong (January 31, 2023). "Planeswalker's Guide to Phyrexia: All Will Be One". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Flavor text for Serum Visions (Modern Masters 2017)
- ↑ Flavor text for Pithing Needle (Double Masters 2022, #397)
