Dross Pits
| Dross Pits | |
|---|---|
| The sixth sphere of New Phyrexia | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Plane | New Phyrexia |
| Colors |
 |
| Type | Swamp Sphere |
| Formerly part of | The Mephidross |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
The Dross Pits are the sixth sphere of New Phyrexia, aligned with black mana. Once the toxic swamplands of the Mephidross, this layer was formed when the surface of Mirrodin was hollowed out and restructured by the Phyrexians. The Dross Pits are a hellscape of necrotic gases, acidic pools, and bone spires, ruled by the scheming Thanes and dominated by Sheoldred. Brutal gladiatorial combat in Sheoldred’s Coliseum, the corrosion of the land, and the pervasive necrogen clouds define the grim ecosystem of this corrupted realm.
Description
The Dross Pits are a vast, desolate sphere choked with acidic bogs and clouds of necrotic gas, siphoned directly from the former Mephidross.[1] Dimly lit by the eerie green glow of necrogen pools, the landscape is broken by humped, primitive structures made of blackened bone and metal.[2] Sunlight does not reach this depth, and non-Phyrexians who enter typically succumb to the atmosphere’s poisons before they can be compleated by its infectious spores.[3][1] The underside of the layer is silver, and a shaft from the Fair Basilica above connects to it.[2]
The sphere was originally conceived as the Flesh Layer, a promise from the thane Roxith to Kraynox. However, Sheoldred seized control through deceit and transformed it into her own power base, where she and the other Steel Thanes continue their endless infighting.
One notable stronghold is Geth’s fortress, a towering amalgam of black bone and red sinew. Possibly the rebuilt Ish Sah, it features a grotesque parody of Elesh Norn’s throne and is protected by a gate that can only be opened by solving a musical puzzle.[2]
History
The Dross Pits came into being as part of the restructuring of Mirrodin into New Phyrexia. As the Phyrexians expanded, the Mephidross overran surrounding regions, absorbing parts of the Tangle, Razor Fields, Oxidda Chain, and Quicksilver Sea.[1] However, once Mirrodin was fully compleated, its surface, now a depleted wasteland called the Mirrex, was stripped, and its biomes were transplanted deeper into the plane's interior. The Mephidross was siphoned into the sixth layer, becoming the Dross Pits.[4][2][5]
Roxith’s Flesh Sphere was meant as a domain for Kraynox, but Sheoldred tricked Roxith into ceding control. She and the other Thanes—black-aligned Phyrexian warlords—carved out fiefdoms here and waged constant war among themselves.
At the heart of the pits lay Sheoldred's Coliseum, a monstrous arena encircled by a massive ribcage. Combatants were forced to enter through a narrow gate, and the bowl-like arena was paved in black metal, rimmed and centered with pools of necrogen. Survivors of the battles were allowed to graft parts from fallen foes onto themselves. No one left unchanged. Koth was among the few to escape its horrors, though deeply scarred. During the Invasion of New Phyrexia, Nahiri ripped the Coliseum from the layer and dropped it onto the Fair Basilica.[1]
In-game references
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- Associated cards:
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References
- ↑ a b c d Seanan McGuire (January 14, 2023). "Assault on New Phyrexia – Episode 3: Inconceivable Losses". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c d Aysha U. Farah (January 12, 2023). "A Hollow Body". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ All Will Be Art (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (February 17, 2023).
- ↑ Jay Annelli. (2022.) *Magic: The Gathering – The Visual Guide*, KBB
- ↑ Grace Fong (January 31, 2023). "Planeswalker's Guide to Phyrexia: All Will Be One". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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