Izzet League

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Izzet League
Alternative Names
The Magewrights[1]
Lore Information
Parun Niv-Mizzet
Guild Leader Niv-Mizzet (now the Living Guildpact)
Ral Zarek (incumbent)
Guild Champion Tibor and Lumia
Melek
Niv-Mizzet
Guild Hall Nivix
Game Information
Colors Blue manaRed mana
Mechanics Replicate
(Guildpact)
Overload
(Return to Ravnica)
Jump-start
(Guilds of Ravnica)
Featured Sets
Guildpact
Return to Ravnica
Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari
Guilds of Ravnica
Signet Flavor Text
"The Izzet signet is redesigned often, each time becoming closer to a vanity portrait of Niv-Mizzet." — Izzet Signet
Scryfall Statistics

The Izzet League, also known as The Magewrights,[2] is a blue/red guild from the plane and city of Ravnica.[3] Introduced in Guildpact[4], the guild is also featured in Return to Ravnica, the Izzet vs. Golgari set[5] and Guilds of Ravnica.

Izzet basic lands from Guilds of Ravnica

Background

The Izzet League is charged with attending to Ravnican civic works,[6] including water supply systems, sewers, heating systems, boilers, and roadways.[2][7][8] In addition to carrying out these functions, the Izzet members — obsessive, keen, and creative intellectuals, who often have short attention spans[9] — are known to perform magical experiments, ever with reckless abandon and sometimes with spectacular but severe results.[6][10][11] In this way, they are an engineering firm run by a particularly enthusiastic research laboratory. Unlike the other guilds, the Izzet do not openly strive for hegemony of the city and the plane. Instead, integral to the Izzet League, a guild of masters of both theoretical and applied science and spellcraft, is the passionate seeking of, and thirst for, knowledge.[12] Combined with their drive for discovery and child-like curiosity, the brilliant but capricious and whimsical Izzet magewrights jump to and from ideas as they see fit, discarding old ideas for new ones that attract their attention.[6] In this regard, they can be likened to ambivalent or benevolent mad and absent-minded scientists/professors.[13]

Similarly to the Cult of Rakdos, the Izzet League, with its worship of its parun and guildmaster of the Izzet League, Niv-Mizzet, has been described as a cult of personality.[14]

Niv-Mizzet

An Izzet mage from the Wizards of the Coast Guildpact Style Guide.
Main article: Niv-Mizzet

The brilliant of Ravnica flock to Niv-Mizzet, the most intelligent being on Ravnica.[15][16] Powerful enough to live to tell the tale of his fight against the nephilim[17] and capable of seizing control of the city and plane of Ravnica,[18] Niv-Mizzet is content with not taking over Ravnica, in large part due to his fickleness and odium for monotony, as ruling and running Ravnica would become tedious.[15]

Although varieties of dragon-kin, such as drakes, wyverns, and wurms, are present in Ravnica, Niv-Mizzet is said to be the last true dragon.[18] As would be reasonably expected of him due to his vanity, Niv-Mizzet has numerous lesser clones of himself; other than as his underlings, the full purpose of these dragon clones, however, remains unknown.[18] Testimonies to the significance as well as vanity of Niv-Mizzet is reflected in the uniforms of Izzet League members and the names of inventions or structures, such as Mizzium, a metal invented by Niv-Mizzet; Nivix, the guild hall of the Izzet League;[19] and Izzet, the name of the guild itself.[15][20] The alchemically-boosted clothing of the Izzet are flamboyant, with bright fabrics dyed in the colors of their draconic leader's scales and shiny metals.[3]

Niv-Mizzet is conducting a scattered, grand meta-project he calls the Interlocus.[21] The purpose of the Interlocus—and indeed, its existence at all—is difficult to detect, as the sheer range and number of experiments that feed into it would fail to suggest any pattern to most observers.

Izmundi

The servants of Niv-Mizzet who make up his court are referred to as the Izmundi.[21] Niv-Mizzet uses them to guide his machinations and to keep him abreast of the happenings in the wider world. The Izmagnus are the most powerful members of the Izmundi court, and form a smaller board with five to seven members (some members' identities remain secret) who serve as Niv-Mizzet's closest advisors. Even members of the Izmagnus are not privy to Niv-Mizzet's highest-level plans and goals.

Ral Zarek

Main article: Ral Zarek

Ral Zarek is a blue and red-aligned planeswalker, born to the city plane of Ravnica and a high-ranking guildmage to the Izzet League. During his ascension, he thought he had managed to hide this fact from Niv-Mizzet, a very impressive task. Ral is the chief researcher investigating the ancient codes laid out in the Tenth District, the leylines and secrets that make up the Implicit Maze that so fascinates Niv-Mizzet. Ral then takes the role as the Izzet's maze runner after killing Melek.

Chemisters, blast-seekers and mech-mages

The Izzet chemisters are alchemists who forge mizzium and other elements into arcane tools.[21] They experiment with new alloys, energies, and runic markings. The chemisters are highly competitive, which often leads to spirited rivalries and petty infighting. Blastseekers are Izzet mages who wield and control the arcane tools devised by the chemisters. Sometimes the blastseekers manipulate orbs of elemental energy that float in mutual orbits, crackling concentric disks of power, or streams of lava-bubbling water. Izzet blast-seekers and chemisters might have up to forty attendants, most of whom are vedalken, due to their natural focus and organizational skills. Mech-mages make use of all sorts of inventions and artifacts.

Laboratories

The Izzet League is organized into units designated as laboratories that specialize in certain fields of research.[22] Though they all operate under the general guidance of the lzmundi, each laboratory is typically left alone to conduct its research.

  • The Laboratory of Pyrology has a prominent facility in the guildhall, Nivix. Its emphasis is on heat, fire, and explosion.
  • The Laboratory of Storms and Electricity focuses on controlling the weather as well as containing and conducting electrical energy. Its headquarters are in a spire atop Nivix, known as the Lightning Rod.
  • Research into smelting and forging, most often using the magical metal known as mizzium, is conducted at the Laboratory of Metallurgy, which has a small outpost in the Tenth District's Smelting Quarter.
  • The magical science of transmuting one substance to another is the study of the Laboratory of Alchemy.
  • The Laboratory of Orientation, concerned with teleportation and spatial recombination, has multiple Workshops that seem to appear and disappear at random.
  • The Laboratory of Mimeography studies means of duplication.
  • The Laboratory of Continuism emphasizes the study of temporal manipulation.
  • Research into counter-magic and redirection takes place in the Laboratory of Arcane Geometry, which has a small presence in Prism University in the Tenth District.
  • The Laboratory of Gravitational Inversion researches means of flight and maintains a workshop near Augustin Station in the Tenth District.
  • The Laboratory of Plasma-Dermatology emphasizes the combining of opposing elements, to create creatures called weirds.

Weirds

Main article: Weird

Created during the Katazar-Razblat Elemental Symposium by Niv-Mizzet, weirds are the semi-sentient, walking-paradox result of a fusion of elementals of opposing elements, of fire and water and earth and electricity.[20] Weirds are a creature type unique to the Izzet League, and function as ubiquitous lab assistants and "pets" of Izzet League members.

The Firemind

The Firemind is an extrasensory link with Niv-Mizzet's consciousness and omniscience, between selected, worthy Izzet League subordinates, Crixizix being one, and Niv-Mizzet himself.[18] Members of the Izzet League who are deemed worthy must first pass a test before they may communicate with Niv-Mizzet.[18]

Inventions

Name Inventor Description Cards
Haemalectric switch Possibly Ral Zarek A small, cylindrical device that electrocutes Glistening oil.[23][24]
Projektor Kylox[16] A small brass machine with a glass screen that displays notes and drawings.[25] Information can be added using an associated stylus tipped with mizzium.
Pyrowork Shimmering cascades of magic fill the sky with a dizzying array of colors.[26] A magical form of fireworks.

History

Founded by parun Niv-Mizzet, an ancient, brilliant, capricious, and narcissistic dragon, the Izzet League continuously creates and destroys and is obsessively driven by a desire for discoveries.[1] Being the analog of scientists and engineers on Ravnica and the masters of innovation and spellcraft, the Izzet are also responsible for the design and implementation of most of Ravnica's infrastructure and inventions.[27] They are the only guild that comprehends metamagic, which is the understanding of how magic works.[2]

Ravnica block

Introduced in the Magic storyline in the novel Guildpact, the Izzet League is depicted as passionate thinkers, largely via the viewpoint of Crix (later Crixizix),[28] A goblin courier who initially serves under a mage lord Zomaj Hauc but is later chosen, and promoted, by Niv-Mizzet.[18]

Return to Ravnica block

After fighting with the Nephilim, Niv-Mizzet was not seen for a while. Former guildmages wondered what use this newfound freedom could mean for the Izzet, but without a word from their guildmaster, the Izzet League became scattered and chaotic.[17]

Most Ravnicans saw the disappearance of Niv-Mizzet as the end of the Izzet guild. It wasn't until the emergence of large Izzet works being built and strange warehouses humming with manacoils throughout the night that the Ravnicans began to change their presumptions. The ancient dragon parun didn't have to be visible to control his guild. During his absence, he used the power of the Firemind to reach out to his guildmages with a complex array of new and mysterious projects for the Izzet League to work on.[17]

Guilds of Ravnica block

As Ravnica grew increasingly unstable, the Izmundi required more frequent and substantial discoveries.[29] Izzet research increased dramatically, with chemisters engaging in non-stop experimentation, driven by fear of losing their labs. The development of superweapons became a priority in guild research.[30]

Niv-Mizzet knew about the existence of planeswalkers and other planes and had deduced that a threat to Ravnica was imminent.[31] In response, the Firemind initiated an experiment known as the "Interlocus" that would aid him in absorbing the power of the Guildpact. However, this endeavor required the cooperation of the other guilds. To pursue his research, Niv-Mizzet withdrew in secrecy, appointing Ral Zarek as acting guildleader.[32]

After an agent of Nicol Bolas infiltrated Nivix, the Firemind revealed that he had known about Ral’s secrets all along and ordered him to transform Project Lightning Bug into a beacon to call other planeswalkers to defend Ravnica.[31] Ral later created a great machine to fulfill Niv-Mizzet's plan to become the Living Guildpact, but Dovin Baan found out and pretended to cooperate, only to sabotage the device just before Bolas's arrival.[33] This left Niv-Mizzet to face Bolas without the Guildpact’s power. Despite the Firemind’s immense efforts,[34] Nicol Bolas slew him, leaving behind only his skull and charred bones.[35][36]

For the first time in over 10,000 years, the Izzet League had a new guildmaster, Ral Zarek, who continued the fight against Nicol Bolas by carrying out the Firemind’s final orders. During the War of the Spark, Ral Zarek played a pivotal role in battling the Dreadhorde and uniting the guilds to ultimately resurrect Niv-Mizzet as the Living Guildpact.[35]

Phyrexian Invasion and aftermath

During the New Phyrexian Invasion, Vraska led the Phyrexian forces against Ravnica but was defeated by Ral Zarek with a sonic weapon attuned against the glistening oil.[23] Along with many members of the Simic Combine, numerous Izzet willingly underwent compleation out of sheer curiosity,[37] resulting in great distrust from the other guilds.[38]

Despite their focus on reckless experimentation, the Izzet League returned to their founding directive by prioritizing Ravnica’s reconstruction and civic works.[39] This surprising devotion to the plane's recovery efforts led many to soften their intense distrust of the guild and view them from a more positive and impartial perspective. The Izzet’s change in direction was primarily due to Ral Zarek’s influence, who significantly curtailed the pursuit of individual research and experimentation. Internally, these new limitations were not well received and were widely viewed as an excessive attempt to stifle creativity, sparking intense guild conflict and prompting the defection of numerous members. Their departures led to the establishment of new private research and engineering ventures, which have in turn dramatically increased the availability of inexpensive yet profitable assistive technology.

In the game

Guild mechanics

Guildpact: Replicate

Main article: Replicate

Designed as "polycast" and with the Izzet League's in-game identity being one heavily oriented around instant and sorcery spells, replicate is a static and triggered ability that allows a card's controller to copy a spell with replicate as many times as the card's replicate cost was paid.[40]

Return to Ravnica: Overload

Main article: Overload

Inspired by Ken Nagle's The Great Designer Search Radiate-inspired Dispersion mechanic,[41] like Replicate, Overload is a static ability solely featured on instant and sorcery spells. Unlike Replicate, however, it enables its controller to play a spell with Overload for its Overload cost to change the range of a spell from a single target to each possible target. Issues in designing and developing cards with Overload included the rarity of the cards, the playability of both sides of the cards, and guaranteeing a one-sided effect, without inadvertent side effects.[42]

Guilds of Ravnica: Jump-start

Main article: Jump-start

A keyword ability on instants and sorceries that allows the player to play the spell directly from their graveyard for the additional cost of discarding a card.

Creature types

Species and races

Species and races associated with the Izzet League include:

Classes

Classes associated with the Izzet League include:

Notable members

See also

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (July 25, 2008). "Planes of Existence: Ravnica". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
  2. ↑ a b c Guildpact Player's Guide (2006). Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ a b Magic Arcana (March 01, 2006). "Guildpact Style Guide: Izzet". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
  4. ↑ Rei Nakazawa (January 9, 2006). "Signing Onto the Guildpact". Magicthegathering.com.
  5. ↑ Magic Arcana (August 08, 2012). "Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2019-07-06.
  6. ↑ a b c Rei Nakazawa (September 5, 2005). "Life in the Big City". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020.
  7. ↑ Magic Arcana (March 02, 2006). "Pipes and Boilers". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
  8. ↑ Monty Ashley (November 13, 2012). "Working in the Lab". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-09-18.
  9. ↑ Magic Arcana (January 16, 2006). "Smart and a little crazy". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
  10. ↑ Magic Arcana (February 28, 2006). "Goblin Forkomancer". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
  11. ↑ Chris Gleeson (October 30, 2018). "Building the gUilds – Izzet League". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2018-11-01.
  12. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 27, 2006). "Creative Differences". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. ↑ Guildpact Theme Deck: Izzet Gizmometry — Wizards of the Coast
  14. ↑ Barinellos (July 15, 2012). "Which current planeswalkers would make the best couple?". MTG Salvation.
  15. ↑ a b c Matt Cavotta (January 11, 2006). "Niv-Mizzet, the Fountainhead". Magicthegathering.com.
  16. ↑ a b Emily Teng (February 6, 2024). "The Legends (and characters) of Murders at Karlov Manor". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  17. ↑ a b c Adam Lee (August 29, 2012). "Ravnica, Then and Now". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  18. ↑ a b c d e f Cory J. Herndon. (2006) Ravnica Cycle, Book III: Dissension, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 978 0786940011.
  19. ↑ Magic Arcana (January 17, 2006). "Lurker of Nivix". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
  20. ↑ a b Matt Cavotta (March 1, 2006). "An In-Depth Look at the Izze- Hey, Look at That!". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021.
  21. ↑ a b c Magic Creative Team (May 9, 2012). "Planeswalker's Guide to Return to Ravnica", Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  22. ↑ James Wyatt and Jeremy Crawford (November 2018). "D&D Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica", Wizards of the Coast.
  23. ↑ a b Alison Lührs (March 24, 2023). "March of the Machine Ravnica: One And The Same". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  24. ↑ Alison Lührs (April 1, 2024). "Outlaws of Thunder Junction - Epilogue 1: Bring the End, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  25. ↑ Seanan McGuire (January 15, 2024). "Episode 7: Rot Before Recovery". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  26. ↑ Seanan McGuire (December 5, 2023). "Murders at Karlov Manor - Episode 1: Ghosts of Our Past". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  27. ↑ Doug Beyer (September 02, 2009). "The Planes of Planechase". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  28. ↑ Cory J. Herndon. (2006) Ravnica Cycle, Book II: Guildpact, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 978 0786939893.
  29. ↑ Nicky Drayden (October 17, 2018). "Testing the Dark Waters". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  30. ↑ James Wyatt (January 2019). "The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ravnica". Wizards of the Coast
  31. ↑ a b Django Wexler (June, 2019), The Gathering Storm/Chapter One. Del Rey.
  32. ↑ Flavor text for Command the Storm
  33. ↑ Django Wexler (October 2, 2019). The Gathering Storm, Chapter Seventeen.
  34. ↑ Django Wexler (October 9, 2019). The Gathering Storm, Chapter Eighteen. Del Ray.
  35. ↑ a b Greg Weisman (April 2019). "War of the Spark: Ravnica". Del Rey.
  36. ↑ Django Wexler (October 23, 2019). The Gathering Storm, Chapter Twenty, Del Rey.
  37. ↑ Emily Teng (April 11, 2023). "Planeswalker's Guide to March of the Machine: The Phyrexian Invasion of the Multiverse". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  38. ↑ No Sparks Allowed – Aftermath Lore ft Rhystic Studies (Video). YouTube.
  39. ↑ Emily Teng (February 1, 2024). "Planeswalker's Guide to Murders at Karlov Manor". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  40. ↑ Aaron Forsythe (March 3, 2006). "Yes It Iz". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
  41. ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 10, 2012). "Return on Investment, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  42. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 12, 2012). "Designing for Izzet". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

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