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Krenko’s Guide to Creature Types: Moonfolk

Art by  Randy Gallegos

What is a Moonfolk (flavorfully)?

A misnomer.

Moonfolk live in the clouds, not on the moon, and their proper name, Soratami, actually means Skyfolk. They do claim to be descended from the Moon Myojin, though.

Moonfolk are slender humanoids with pale skin and hair and big, floppy bunny ears. Moonfolk fly through unspecified means, either through the magic of Kami ancestry or because they’re actually just that lightweight. They appear to be more intelligent than humans, but there hasn’t been a study.

Moonfolk are exclusively native to Kamigawa.

What is a Moonfolk (mechanically)?

Moonfolk are Blue creatures, most of which have Flying. Size varies between 1/1 and 4/4. A significant number of Moonfolk have abilities that require returning lands you control to your hand to activate. Modern Moonfolk are frequently interested in Kamigawa’s technology, either interacting with artifacts or using cybernetics to become artifact creatures themselves. 

Can I make a Moonfolk deck?

Due to so many Moonfolk requiring the same limited cost to play in returning lands, playing a deck with multiple Moonfolk can be extremely difficult. Without some method of playing extra lands, which they don’t provide, a Moonfolk heavy deck will rapidly find that it can’t afford to continue paying for their abilities.

The other Moonfolk, while a bit more synergistic in their Artifacts Matter themes, simply don’t exist in high enough numbers. While there are a number of effective Legendary Moonfolk to use as Commanders (and I myself have a Kotori deck I quite enjoy), the synergy to build a Moonfolk deck simply doesn’t exist. Tameshi, Reality Architect rewards you for returning your lands to your hand, but White/Blue simply don’t give you enough good ways to put the lands back down other than Ghirapur Orrery. Of course, then you still run into the issue of not having enough decent Moonfolk to make a deck to begin with.

If you really wanted to force the issue, I’d suggest using Green as a secondary color. There are no Moonfolk in Green, but Ramp spells and anything that allows you to play additional lands in a turn are serious boons for a Moonfolk deck.

Is Moonfolk a good creature type?

Kamigawa’s original Moonfolk have a very clear and perfect identity, and though Neon Dynasty strongly redefined most Moonfolk, they gave a new identity to work with, and Tameshi that rewards the old one.

Moonfolk are held back by only existing on Kamigawa, but their issue is just their small size right now. There’s plenty of room to grow for them while still maintaining what makes them unique, and given a few more visits to Kamigawa, or a second plane with Moonfolk on it, they could easily turn into a truly great creature type.

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The Lore of Adventures in the Forgotten Realms: Iymrith, Desert Doom

“Known as the Dragon of the Statues and the Doom of the Desert, the ancient blue dragon Iymrith commands an army of gargoyles and has studied magic for centuries in the hope of one day transcending her physical form and becoming a god.

Iymrith often uses magic to appear as a storm giant. In this guise, she infiltrates storm giant settlements and insinuates herself into the affections of the rulers' heirs, becoming a mother figure to them—and turning them against their parents so that they might rule as Iymrith's protégés. She demands great accomplishments from her own offspring, but she is more than willing to support and aid them with her considerable resources.

Ferocious in her youth, Iymrith has grown more philosophical and even whimsical as she ages, but she has not lost sight of her quest for transcendence.”

Art by Wisnu Tan and Antonio José Manzenedo

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The Lore of Commander Legends: Akroma, Vision of Ixidor

“When the illusionist Ixidor's greatest love, Nivea, was slain in a pit fight with Phage the Untouchable, Ixidor's grief caused his powers to increase immeasurably. He could turn his dreams into reality; he could even create living creatures. Ixidor's greatest creation was Akroma, a battle angel made in Nivea's image to avenge her death by killing Phage.

When Ixidor was swallowed by a tremendous deathwurm, Akroma didn't hesitate. Diving down the monster's gullet, she waded through its digestive juices to reach her creator. Ixidor bade her to leave him, and Akroma's followers replaced her ruined legs with metal lances. In the end, Akroma and Phage (and the muleskinner Zagorka) died at the same moment, slain by Kamahl's axe-stroke, combining them together into the form of Karona, the False God.”

Art by Chris Rahn

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The Lore of Commander Legends: Radiant, Serra Archangel

“Radiant was one of the first of the archangels created by the ancient planeswalker Serra. Radiant commanded Serra's angelic hosts in their battles against corruption and darkness. When Serra left her Realm, she entrusted its guardianship to Radiant.

Year after year, Radiant sat upon Serra's throne, which was not made for a being such as herself and inflicted great tortures upon her. Although Radiant's light remained unwavering, Phyrexian sleeper agents turned her against her own people as the Phyrexians invaded Serra's Realm. The skyship Weatherlight intervened, rescuing all those who wished to evacuate. When the last humans and angels made good their escape, the plane collapsed, taking Radiant with it. Radiant's divine light, and the magical power of Serra's Realm, fuel the powerstone at the heart of the Weatherlight, the flying ship which proved to be the salvation of Dominaria.”

Art by Chris Rallis

[umbral-the-archivist]

"Akroma is one of the most famous figures of The Mirari Conjecture, even though she did not appear until a little before the Legion Wars. She was created in a dream by Ixidor, (who had become Lowalyn's Avatar, the Numena Mage who long ago banished Dromar) using his literal right arm. Her name means "without color", named as she appears like his lost love Nivea but devoid of the color of her life."

"Her purpose was to slay the former Pardic Barabrian and sister to Kamahl Jeska who had been turned into an Avatar of Death by the Cabal and taken the name Phage. Phage had killed Nivea in a pit fight against Ixidor. Even after Ixidor's apparent death, Akroma sought to complete her master's vengeance and her clash with Phage let to the rebirth of Karona, the False God and embodiment of Dominaria's Magic."

"This is vastly abridged information as Akroma's life was nothing but 3 years of continent wide conflict. If you seek more on Akroma, I suggest looking into the Novels of Onslaught and Legions." -Umbral the Archivist

#Akroma #mtg #magic the gathering #magic #onslaught #legions #commander legends #edh #vorthos #rp #lore #jeska #ixidor #phage #uploads

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"Bell Borca was Agrus Kos's investigation partner as a Wojek. Wojeks are essentially law enforcement detectives of the Boros Legion. His untimely demise before the Decamilliennial and subsequent cover up led Agrus Kos to uncover the plot of Szadek and House Dimir to destroy the Guildpact and expose the long thought destroyed guild to the masses." -Umbral, the Archivist

#mtg #magic #bell borca #boros #ravnica #agrus kos #dimir #szadek #commander legends #edh #previews #vorthos #uploads #magic the gathering #rp

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"Rebbec was one of the leaders of The Thran civilization and was responsible for sealing away Phyrexia for thousands of years. I have not researched into The Thran much and therefore I can only give a basic summary someone else has made." -Umbral the Archivist

https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Rebbec

#mtg #magic the gathering #commander legends #Rebbec #Yawgmoth #phyrexia #edh #vorthos #rp #umbral #preview #planeswalker umbral #mtgarena #magic #thran #uploads

[umbral-the-archivist]

The Art of Magic: The Gathering - War of the Spark

By James Wyatt, Hardcover, Release October 13, 2020.  Available at Amazon, Indigo, RightStuf

“Even gods shall kneel.” - Nicol Bolas

Centuries of scheming have come to fruition at last. Meet Nicol Bolas: Elder dragon, Planeswalker, God-Pharaoh. He is the ultimate mastermind, whose plots for domination twist through the histories of countless worlds. Now those plots culminate on the shattered streets of Ravnica, with undead armies marching at his command and dozens of Planeswalkers marshaled to oppose him. In these lavishly illustrated pages, featuring art carefully chosen from more than two decades of Magic: The Gathering®, the full scope of Nicol Bolas’s plans is revealed at last.

It has all led to this. The greatest heroes of the Multiverse make their stand against the ultimate villain in the War of the Spark!

[umbral-the-archivist]

The Legends of Zendikar Rising: Anowon, the Ruin Thief

“In settlements around Zendikar, Anowon was considered a renowned mage and benevolent scholar. With the help of his followers, he cultivated an image of himself as a man of knowledge—the person to go to with strange relics and hard questions. He didn't like the answers he found after leading planeswalkers to the Eye of Ugin led to the release of the Eldrazi.

In the years since the appearance of the Eldrazi, Anowon's fortunes, and his reputation, have been in steady decline. Numerous adventurers have made claims that he stole the credit for their expeditions and discoveries, not to mention stealing some of the precious finds they uncovered. With the rise of the ancient kor Skyclaves, Anowon has dedicated himself with renewed purpose to deciphering the secrets of this lost civilization . . . and rebuilding his own power and prestige.”

[umbral-the-archivist]

Magic: the Gathering - Adam Paquette

An appreciation post for artist Adam Paquette on these amazing full art Zendikar Rising full-art basic lands.

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archnogenesis

“every movement is a summons-even your screams”

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Zendikar Rising / Zendikar sets references pt 1/21

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Zendikar sets references pt. 2/21

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Zendikar set references pt 3/21

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Zendikar Rising/ Zendikar sets references pt 4/21

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Zendikar Rising/ Zendikar sets references pt 5/21

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Zendikar Rising / Zendikar sets references pt 6/21