Multiverse
The Multiverse of Magic: the Gathering is the near-infinite number of different planes.[1][2][3]
Description
Nobody knows how many planes there truly are. Urza believed that there was a finite number of planes, merely more than can ever be counted in the combined lifetime of every being in existence.[4] Other sources have noted that the Multiverse is "boundless" and that planes are "countless" and perhaps infinite.[5][6] Most non-planeswalkers have no conception that a Multiverse exists.[7]
Dominia
Dominia is an outdated name for the entire Multiverse.[8] The term was dropped probably due to its confusing similarity to Dominaria, the setting for most of Magic's storylines in the early years.[9]
Nexus of the Multiverse
The "Nexus of the Multiverse" is a plane (or a place) in the center of the Multiverse with a great influence on all other planes. The world of Dominaria is known to have been the Nexus. Since the plane had only been in existence for a finite amount of time, and in fact, older planes are known (such as Equilor), this was probably not always the case. Due to the changing nature of the Multiverse, it was bound to happen that one day another plane would replace it. Dominaria stopped being the Nexus of the Multiverse when the Mending happened.[10] It is currently unknown where the new nexus is located.
Being a Nexus is probably connected with a large amount of mana lines flowing into it from other planes. That lets it quickly regenerate its supplies of mana[notes 1] and most likely is a way of how it affects other planes. Its collapse can destroy the time stream—an abrupt end of the Multiverse's existence and the near-infinite amount of its planes.
Ravnica and the Omenpath Project
Following New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse, Omenpaths began opening across Ravnica and other worlds. Niv-Mizzet recognized their patterns as a significant threat to his plane and devised a plan to regulate their access in a way to position Ravnica as a locus of the Multiverse.[11]
Describing the Omenpaths as "trans-planar arteries", the stitcher Geralf Cecani pondered the effects of trans-planar travel on non-Planeswalkers. He believed that every plane of existence has its own rules of magic and that every magic user over time will have their magic adapt itself to the natural rules of the new plane.[12]
Un-iverse
The silver-bordered / acorn Multiverse is known as the Un-iverse.[13] This is a separate entity[14][15][16], a parallel multiverse[17] apart from the main continuity.
Characters, in slightly different forms, can exist in both Multiverses at the same time.[18][19]
Although Unfinity contains a mix of black-bordered eternal-legal cards and Acorn cards, the set as a whole is still part of the Un-iverse.[20]
Two known planes in the Un-iverse are Bablovia and Myra the Magnificent's Intergalactic Astrotorium of Fun.
Planar Chaos
The multiverse interacted with an alternate reality, maybe a parallel multiverse, in the Planar Chaos storyline.[21]
Earth
Earth is not considered to be part of either Multiverse.[22][23][3] This is because R&D doesn't want to tell stories about planeswalkers visiting Earth or being from Earth.[24] Gavin Verhey used Earth as a non-canon plane for Wizards of the Coast in the Unknown Event at MagicCon Minneapolis 2023.[25] As the test cards in the event are designed to be humorous or silly, it is not considered a change in position on the use of Earth as a plane.
The setting of Portal Three Kingdoms closely resembles historic Earth, but is retroactively considered to be a parallel plane.[26][27]
Earth is used as an official plane type in the Doctor Who Commander decks Planechase cards, but they are a part of the Universes Beyond model.
Universes Beyond
Universes Beyond features separate Universes which don't interact with Magic canon. According to Mark Rosewater, the planes of the canon Multiverse aren't counted as Universes.[28]
In-game references
- Associated cards:
- Referred to:
- All Will Be One
- Axiom Engraver
- Basri's Acolyte
- Braids, Conjurer Adept
- Brainstorm (Mystical Archive)
- Brown Ouphe (Mirrodin)
- Cogwork Archivist
- Compleat Devotion
- Compulsive Research (Mystical Archive)
- Crux of Fate (Mystical Archive)
- Defy Gravity (Ultimate Masters)
- Destroy Evil
- Discerning Peddler
- Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
- Etali, Primal Sickness
- Fraying Omnipotence
- Idyllic Tutor (Secret Lair, #1020)
- Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur
- Krosan Grip (Mystical Archive)
- Manalith
- Mana Screw
- Mystic Meditation
- Myth Unbound
- Null Elemental Blast
- Oath of Jace
- One with the Machine
- Portent Tracker
- Preordain
- Pyretic Ritual
- Render Inert
- Segovian Angel
- Single Combat
- Surge of Salvation
- Thirst for Knowledge (Neon Dynasty)
- Thought Scour (Double Masters 2022, #65)
- Thrashing Frontliner
- Two-Headed Hellkite
- Urza's Ruinous Blast
- Vedalken Orrery (Double Masters 2022, #399)
- Volrath
- Wistful Thinking
See also
Database
- "Multiverse" also used to be the name of the Wizards of the Coast card database that includes R&D comments on cards. It was replaced by a new database named Drake.[30][31]
Notes
- ↑ It can be crucial for a plane which is a focus point of many planeswalkers' interests and their destructive influences.
References
- ↑ Dominia and Its Walkers, by Richard Garfield
- ↑ Brady Dommermuth (March 19, 2008). "The Known Mutliverse". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (April 28, 2023). "Is the magic multiverse infinite? ie is earth technically canon to mtg lore?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Planeswalker
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (July 25, 2008). "You Are a Planeswalker". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Doug Beyer (March 28, 2015). "is the Multiverse infinite?". A Voice for Vorthos. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 31, 2015). "How aware of the multiverse is the citizenry of any given plane?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 27, 2014). "Does the multiverse still have the proper name Dominia?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 18, 2022). "Dominaria United We Stand, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic Story Podcast: The Mending (May 3, 2018)
- ↑ Seanan McGuire (February 14, 2024). "Episode 11: Portents and Omens". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Seanan McGuire (March 21, 2024). "A Pleasant Family Outing". 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.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 30, 2021). "Given that this Un-set is not silver border does it mean that it is also a part of the MtG multiverse?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 11, 2019). "Didn't a few multiverses interact during the Planar Chaos?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 10, 2018). "Is Earth on a plane in the Multiverse? The un-iverse?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 11, 2019). "Is Earth canonically a plane in the Magic the Gathering storyline?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 17, 2019). "To say that our universe definitely isn't part of the MtG multiverse is paramount". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Emrakul & Chatterfang!? Koma & Toski!? 62 Unknown Magic Cards! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (May 10, 2023).
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 22, 2017). "What plane did Portal: Three Kingdoms take place on?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 11, 2019). "Portal: Three Kingdoms took place on an unnamed plane that shares a lot with early history China, but is not China.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 9, 2022). "Do the different planes of the multiverse count as their own "Universe"?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Emrakul & Chatterfang!? Koma & Toski!? 62 Unknown Magic Cards! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (May 10, 2023).
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 7, 2016). "A Few More Words from R&D". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 7, 2016). "What's up with the changing of "Multiverse" to "Drake"?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
