List of storyline sources
This article contains a list of sources about the Magic: The Gathering storyline.[1]
Canon
In Magic, canon is the material accepted as officially part of the story taking part in the Multiverse. The alternative terms (official) mythology, continuity, storyline and timeline are also often used, with the first of these being used especially to refer to the richly detailed imaginary worlds and history, while the latter typically refer to the single arc where all events are directly connected chronologically. Other times, the word can mean "to be acknowledged by the creator(s)".
Prerevisionist
The first books were printed by Harper Prism. These are part of prerevisionist continuity, although most fit in the post-revisionist continuity quite easily as well. On this page, sources released before the revision are marked with an asterisk (*).
Revisionist
When Tempest was released, Wizards of the Coast started to get more involved with the story than they had been before, and declared that from that moment on there was a new continuity: older books were still canon as long as newer books didn't contradict them.
Non-canon
The Acorn Multiverse is known as the Un-iverse.[2] This is a separate entity[3][4][5], a parallel universe.[6]
Characters, in slightly different forms, can exist in both the Multiverse and the Un-iverse at the same time.[7][8]
Since 2020, there is also a series of black-bordered non-canon cards.
The storyline of Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms and the Universes Beyond series are declared non-canon.[9][10]
Flavor-wise, Special Guests are represented through the art style of the set they are included in but they are non-canon representations and are not intended to actually be on that plane.[11]
BOOM! continuity
The events depicted in the Magic BOOM! comics are officially declared to not be part of the TCG's canon. They are based on the familiar characters and locations, but have their own continuity.[12] Many events in Boom! continuity appear to have happened similarly to the TCG, with differences such as Niv-Mizzet being reborn in a mizzium body instead of as an avatar of the Guildpact.[13]
Ambiguous canon
Story elements made as a part of third party products, such as video games like Magic: the Gathering (Microprose), Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014, or Magic: Legends may contain story elements that are not confirmed to be part of the main TCG canon. In the absence of explicit confirmation (such as story elements working their way into the TCG continuity), these story elements may be labelled as ambiguous canon. Similarly, any previous story with elements incongruous with current continuity (but not explicitly contradicted elsewhere), such as Test of Metal, may also be labelled ambiguous.
Books
The novels are the main source of storyline knowledge.[14]
Harper Prism
- The Garth/Greensleeves Cycle*
- Other Novels*
- Anthologies*
Wizards of the Coast
From Tempest onward, Wizards of the Coast has been publishing its own novels, most of which have been structured in cycles of 3 or 4 books.
- Invasion Cycle
- The Thran (prologue )
- Invasion
- Planeshift
- Apocalypse
- Planeswalker novels
- Planeswalker's Guides
- Return to Ravnica novels
- Theros novels
- War of the Spark novels
- Graphic novels
- Anthologies
- Rath and Storm — Rath Cycle
- The Colors of Magic
- The Myths of Magic
- The Dragons of Magic
- The Secrets of Magic
- The Monsters of Magic
- Shadowmoor (part of Shadowmoor Cycle)
- Artbooks
- The Art of Magic: The Gathering - The Rath Cycle
- The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Zendikar
- The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Innistrad
- The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Kaladesh
- The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Amonkhet
- The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ixalan
- The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Dominaria
- The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ravnica
- The Art of Magic: The Gathering - War of the Spark
- Game Guides
- The Official Guide to Urza's Saga with the short story "A Time for Remembrance"
- The Official Urza's Legacy Game Guide with the short story "Scars of the Legacy"
- The Official Urza's Destiny Game Guide with the short story "Phyrexian Autopsy"
- Player's Guide
- Coldsnap Player's Guide with the short story "Keeping the Cold"
- Other
- Dragons: Worlds Afire with the story "Unnatural Predator"
Comics
Another media that contributed much to the Magic storyline in prerevision days were comics printed by ARMADA (an imprint of Acclaim Comics).[15] Many plotlines of these comics were supposed to come together in a series called about the Planeswalker War of Corondor, but that series was canceled in favor of the Weatherlight Saga. Despite the cancellation, information that would have been in these comics has been provided by Jeff Gómez, the editor of the Magic line at Armada. Following that, 4 comics were printed by Dark Horse Comics.
In the meantime, promotional comics appeared in TopDeck Magazine and a short online comic was released on magicthegathering.com (see below).
In January 2012, the comic company IDW Publishing began printing the first official Magic comics produced outside of the company in over a decade.[16] The series follows the exploits of the thief Dack Fayden. The series ended in 2014.
As of December 2017, new comics were expected, as part of Chris Cocks' effort to continue the expansion of the intellectual property.[17] Again published by IDW Publishing, the first of these was published in 2018 and featured Chandra Nalaar.
ARMADA Comics
- Arabian Nights*
- Arabian Nights #1-2
- Antiquities*
- Antiquities War #1-4
- Urza–Mishra War #1-2
- Legends*
- Dakkon Blackblade #1
- Elder Dragons #1-2
- Fallen Angel #1
- Legend of Jedit Ojanen #1-2
- Fallen Empires*
- Fallen Empires #1-2
- Homelands*
- Homelands #1
- Other*
- Nightmare #1
- Serra Angel #1
- The Shadow Mage #1-4
- Wayfarer #1-5
- Comics that were never published*
Dark Horse
- Gerrard's Quest #1-4
Gotta Comics
Dengeki-Maoh
On February 27, 2010, the Japanese magazine Dengeki-Maoh published a manga-version of The Purifying Fire, drawn by Yoshino Himori.[20][21]
IDW Publishing
- Magic: The Gathering #1-4 [22]
- Magic: The Gathering - The Spell Thief #1-4
- Magic: The Gathering - Path of Vengeance #1-4 [23]
- Magic: The Gathering - Theros #1-5
- Magic: The Gathering - Chandra [24]
Manga
Magic: The Gathering Japan has released manga associated with most sets beginning in Ixalan block.
BOOM! Studios
Published by BOOM! Studios
- Magic comic (ongoing) [25]
- Magic: Master of Metal (one-shot)
- Magic: The Hidden Planeswalker (four-issue)
- Magic: Ajani Goldmane (one-shot)
- Magic: Nahiri the Lithomancer (one-shot)
- Magic Planeswalkers: Noble (one-shot)
- Magic Planeswalkers: Notorious (one-shot)
Magazines
Back in the days, before there was widely available internet, people read about Magic in magazines like Scrye and InQuest. The most famous of these would be The Duelist, which was the 'official' magic magazine and thus also contained tidbits about the storyline, or even some short stories.
The Duelist
- #0 (Supplement) Antiquities War*
- #1 Duel for Dominia
- #2 The Dark, Mezzlock's Challenge #1*
- #3 Fallen Empires, Mezzlock's Challenge #2*
- #4 Animal Trap*
- #5 Ice Age, fold-out map, short story "Feast of Kjeld" by John Tynes*
- #7 Homelands, The Slowing of His Heart*
- #8 Eron the Rentless*
- #9 Autumn Willow*
- #10 Baron Sengir*
- #11 Alliances, Lord of Tresserhorn*
- #12 Verduran Enchantress*
- #13 Mirage*
- #14 Serra Angel*
- #15 Visions, Goblins*
- #16 Dominaria #1*
- #17 Weatherlight #1, Maelstrom
- #18 Weatherlight #2 Torrent
- #19 Dominia FAQ #1, Dominaria #2
- #20 Dominia FAQ #2, Rath #1, Tempest, Tempest Storyboard
- #21 Dominia FAQ #3, Rath #2, Sisay's Quest #1
- #22 Dominia FAQ #4
- #23 Dominia FAQ #5, Rath #3, Sisay's Quest #2
- #24 Dominia FAQ #6, Stronghold
- #25 Dominia FAQ #7, Sisay's Quest #3
- #26 Dominia FAQ #8
- #27 Dominia FAQ #9
- #28 Exodus
- #29 Born to Greatness #1
- #31 Sleeper Agents
- #32 Urza's Saga, Born to Greatness #2
- #34 Dominia FAQ #10, Born to Greatness #3
- #35 Urza's Legacy #1
- #36 Jhoira, Urza's Legacy #2
- #38 Dominia FAQ #11
- #40 Yavimaya, Urza's Destiny
Top Deck
- #1 Mercadian Masques
- #4 The Dark Ambassador, Nemesis
- #8 Prophecy
- #12 Invasion
Scans have been posted here
Digital
Wizards of the Coast sites
The Multiverse
Lore on the Cards
Webcomics
Between 2007 and 2011, Wizards of the Coast published a series of webcomics on their website.
Savor the Flavor short stories
Savor the Flavor was a column that appeared on DailyMTG.com. Written by members of the Magic: The Gathering Creative Team, it explored the creative process behind the flavor, including card art, flavor text, card names, world-building, books, comics, and the foundations of Magic: The Gathering on fantasy. It was replaced then by the Uncharted Realms column.
On the Mirrodin Site
On the Mirrodin Site was a column that appeared on DailyMTG.com. Written by members of the Magic: The Gathering Creative Team, it told stories about some of denizens of Mirrodin during the Phyrexian invasion and reveals some details about the Mirran-Phyrexian war. These were originally posted on the Mirrodin Site which was later defunct.
- Ria of Bladehold
- Unctus of the Synod
- Roxith, Thane of Rot
- Farris of the Anvil
- Kessla of Temple Might
Uncharted Realms short stories
Uncharted Realms was a column that appeared weekly on DailyMTG.com. Written by members of the Magic: The Gathering Creative Team, it is a series of short stories providing a deeper look into the world, lore, and characters of Magic: The Gathering. The column was initially focused on telling stories about specific cards but later expanded to more general stories.
Magic Story
Magic Story is the successor to Uncharted Realms. It is the same concept, but features more writers from outside of Wizards of the Coast.
Feature Articles short stories
Feature Articles was a column that appeared irregularly on DailyMTG.com. Occasionally, these features would be used to help tell the story of the current block. Written by members of the Magic: The Gathering Creative Team, it is a series of short stories providing a deeper look into the world, lore, and characters of Magic: The Gathering. The column was initially focused on telling stories about specific cards but has since expanded to more general stories.
- MagicTheGathering.com Staff (April 14, 2003). "The Love Song of Day and Night". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.* (by Jenny Scott)
Magic Story Podcasts
Magic Story Podcasts have appeared occasionally on DailyMTG.com, and have occasionally included new story information.
Other online stories
- Planar Chaos
- Destiny, by Michael G. Ryan (currently down, try [1])
- Coldsnap
- Dissension
- Kamigawa block
- Visions
- Mirage
- Shadows over Innistrad
Reposts of older stories
- The Nature of Dominia*
- Magic: the Gathering Pocket Players' Guide contained a story called "Roreca's Tale"* and "Dominia and Its Walkers"*
- The Alpha Rule Book contained a very short story simply called "Introduction"*
- The Tempest Story Board follows the cards and plot of the Tempest set
Older articles
These pages were launched in the days of the Weatherlight Saga, and thus post-revisionist, but they have not been updated anymore and are often down.
- The Magic Multiverse
- The Multiverse of Dominaria
- Magic Invasion
- Magic Odyssey
- Wizards of the Coast Magic book Archives
Third Party Sites
Archived sites
The Duelist is not being printed anymore. The Internet has taken the place of many magazines, also on storyline territory. But even before the decline of printed magazines, there was information about the magic storyline to be found on the World Wide Web.
- Encyclopedia Dominia* (In case it is down the stories can be read here.)
- Library of Leng*
- Exodus: Ertai's Struggle*
- Stronghold: The Darkness Within*
- Tempest: Into the Storm*
- Weatherlight: Legacy*
- Visions: The Oracle*
- Mirage: Oasis* (Part of it has been reposted here.)
Acclaim
Acclaim produced a computer game called Battlemage that centered around the Planeswalker War. On its site, Acclaim posted a long history of the conflict. Most of it is a recap of the ARMADA comics, although it does include some stuff not mentioned anywhere else.
Computer games
There are also some computer games based on Magic that reveal parts of the storyline. The Battlegrounds game did have a storyline, but it was never in-continuity.
Acclaim
Microprose
Sega
Cryptic Studios
- Magic: Legends (canonicity uncertain)
See also
References
- ↑ Brady Dommermuth (May 27, 2003). "The Story of the Story". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 16, 2017). "So, when can we expect a set called Bablovia?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 08, 2017). "So the Domina Multiverse, Un-Multiverse, and Sparks Multiverse are all separate, right?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 09, 2017). "Are you worried about Multiverse creep?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 17, 2017). "Why is the Un-iverse separated from the multiverse?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 12, 2019). "How the heck did Urza (or just his head) get there?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 11, 2018). "“Bablovia is in the wrong multiverse”". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 11, 2019). "are planeswalkers limited to their own multiverse?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (February 25, 2021). "Magic's Voyages to the Universes Beyond". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 7, 2021). "Where does Adventures in the Forgotten realms fit in with the current lore?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ The Preview Panel at MagicCon: Las Vegas 2023 (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (September 22, 2023).
- ↑ Magic Comes Back to Comics (Video). Weekly MTG. YouTube (March 12, 2021).
- ↑ Jed MacKay (2021). Magic. Boom. Issue 3.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (September 13, 2012). "Magic: The Gathering Novels". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Michael G. Ryan (June 01, 2009). "A Magic History of Time". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Monty Ashley (September 08, 2011). "Magic Comic Book". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Brian Crecente (December 27, 2017), "Chasing Innovation Inside the Company Behind D&D, Magic and Avalon Hill", Rollingstone.com
- ↑ Amazon.jp page
- ↑ Manga Magic? — MTG Salvation
- ↑ Magic Arcana (March 02, 2010). "Magic Manga". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Monty Ashley (June 28, 2010). "Jace vs. Chandra Go Japanese". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Monty Ashley (October 27, 2011). "Comic Book Previews!". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Monty Ashley (February 21, 2013). "Path of Vengeance #3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ IDW Publishing (Aug 8, 2018). New Magic: The Gathering Comic Celebrates The Franchise's 25th Anniversary
- ↑ Jesse Schedeen (January 21, 2021). "Magic: The Gathering Returns to Comics in April 2021". Ign.com.
- ↑ Alison Luhrs (May 31, 2016). "Hanweir Chronicle Recap". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.