Cosmium

Cosmium is a pinkish-purple mineral found in the Core of Ixalan. It is a resource of immense power.

Description

Cosmium can be found throughout the caverns and the Core in veins, pockets, and clusters. It can be mined or extracted, refined, and then applied to organic and inorganic matter to enhance any latent magic properties present or imbued in the object or being. Refined cosmium is best thought of as a battery, conduit, and projector for magic, inexhaustible and only limited by the being wielding it or the object to which it is applied.

Cosmium was introduced to the Core and caverns by Chimil, the riven star, during the Night War. Chimil had been caged in a metal prison by the Coin Empire. After 320 years of darkness, the Oltec launched a final attack against the colonizers, weakening the infrastructure of the prison enough for Chimil to destroy it. Chimil shattered one shard, then another, and then a cascade began. A dark rain of steaming, fractured shards. Cosmium lashed out from Chimil, blasting away the colonizers while innervating the Komon — those present that day became semi-divine figures in their own right — the first angels of Ixalan.

Chimil is now surrounded by a reef of Cosmium that darkens half the land. Oltec scientists and geologists theorize that cosmium is closely tied to the life-essence of Chimil and may be the godly equivalent of blood or soul; myths contemporary to the era describe the weeping star hemorrhaging cosmium as she healed from the breaking of her shell. Because cosmium is so new (geologically speaking) to Ixalan and its source is in the plane's core, it is most dense in the Core and becomes sparser the farther from the Core one moves.

Use by the Oltec

Only the ancient Oltec civilization inhabiting The Core mastered the power of Cosmium. Exposure to and manipulation of cosmium has allowed them to transform themselves from a small agrarian society to arguably the most advanced culture anywhere on or below the known world. Gnomes, artifact creatures based on Fomori designs, are cosmium-powered servants that provide support throughout Oltec society. Among the Oltec, it is quite common to have tattoos done with cosmium ink as a rite of passage, ensuring one is never without a ready reserve of Chimil's gift. The effect this practice has on a person is substantial — a longer life, greater health, an increased affinity toward schools of magic, strength, and stamina outside of the bounds of what an otherwise unenhanced person can attain. An Oltec youth's first tattoo is the culmination of a lengthy coming-of-age trial that ends in a journey to Chimil itself to gather the necessary amount of cosmium for their first tattoo.

Use by the surface cultures

Shortly after surface cultures discovered cosmium, they determined that the application of cosmium to weapons and armor as a coating or inlay would increase that item's durability and enhance any existing properties. A blade made from or coated in cosmium will never dull, a cosmium-studded or -enameled cuirass will resist cannon fire, a drill bit coated in cosmium paint will grind through any rock.

Scholarship on cosmium is ongoing on the surface. In addition to its magical properties, it is quite a beautiful substance when refined and cut by gemworkers. The wealthy and powerful of both Torrezon and Ixalan prize cosmium-inlayed clothing and fine goods, weapons, and regalia. Among the vampires of Torrezon, ingesting cosmium has proven to act as a substitute for a vampire's hunger and need for blood; this has produced a corresponding call for more and more quantities of the wonderous mineral, both as an important manufacturing component and gourmet luxury.

In-game references

Associated cards:

• Captain Storm, Cosmium Raider
• Chimil, the Inner Sun
• Cosmium Blast
• Cosmium Catalyst
• Cosmium Confluence
• Cosmium Kiln
• The Core

Depicted in:

• Adaptive Gemguard
• Captivating Cave
• Careening Mine Cart
• Cavernous Maw
• Compass Gnome
• Didact Echo
• Dread Osseosaur
• The Enigma Jewel
• Explorer's Cache
• Fabrication Foundry
• Gemcutter Buccaneer
• Geode Grotto
• Lodestone Needle
• Ore-Rich Stalactite
• Promising Vein
• Relic's Roar
• Sage of Days
• Saheeli's Lattice
• Thousand Moons Infantry
• Thousand Moons Smithy
• Unstable Glyphbridge
• Visage of Dread
• Wedding Ring (Treasure Trove, #102)
• Zoyowa Lava-Tongue

Referred to:

• Amulet of Vigor (Treasure Trove, #103)
• Oaken Siren
• Stalwart Speartail
• Worn Powerstone (Treasure Trove, #120)

^† Scryfall does not record flavor text for digital cards. See Alchemy: Ixalan/Flavor text