Earlier today, while collecting hi-res images to make D&D tokens, I noticed that there is a human(oid) adventurer/climber roped to a piece of debris in the artwork for Iona, Shield of Emeria.
I thought the climber was something else at first, perhaps part of the debris. I had yet to think angels to be towering behemoths... But I was looking at the hi-res image (1200x900 px) on the artist's blog. It was unmistakable that the figure was definitely not a tiny faerie (or similar creature). Not to mention, I do not recall faeries (or other exceptionally tiny beings) existing on Zendikar.
Then the Wizards article about "scaling birds" quickly flashed into my thoughts... except the scaling "birds" here are the pieces of architecture and the human climber. The only logical conclusion my mind could come to was: Iona is GIGANTIC. Judging from the size of the human climber, probably (without jest) the size of a monster that would appear in a Godzilla film.
Up until this moment, I had always considered MtG angels to be, generally, around the size of other average-sized MtG humanoid creatures. You know, somewhere in the ballpark of 5' - 7'; possibly 8' - 9' for large angels, but not several hundred feet tall. As a D&D token (using the 1" = 5' system), Iona would be the size of a 8x11" page or map.
So, having stumbled upon this most... surprising revelation, the question came to me: ~ Are there other angels in the multiverse (on the planes we've visited thus far) that are towering (but elegant & beautiful) gargantuan titans?
I immediately thought of Avacyn and her three underling archangels (Bruna, Gisela, & Sigarda). I quickly opened an image of the Avacyn Restored set art (where she is descending from the sky) and examined it. My first thoughts were, "The humans look big enough compared to her. She must be normal-sized." Then I looked at it again, and realized the image is foreshortened from the perspective of the grounded Innistradian humans, if not the ground itself. Which then lead me to think, "Maybe Avacyn is taller than the average human. Maybe even as tall as Garruk or Ajani..."
I haven't seen any other size comparisons with angels & average-size humanoids, so I am not yet sure what to make of this.
I noticed that myself the first time I saw Iona. I definitely think she's meant to be a freakishly large angel, though, since every other instance of them that I can think of shows them to be the same size as humans. You can see this in Kiss of the Amesha and Serra's Embrace (the 10th edition art).
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I guess being a 7/7, gargantuan size comes with the territory. The only angel with more power and toughness is Avacyn, and her smaller size can be justified because of her raw power (See: The cursemute).
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By my reckoning, she's only about ten times the height of that humanoid. Still huge, but that's no Godzilla.
I can't remember the details, or even where I read it, but Iona is a special case. Most angels on Zendikar are the same size as a normal humanoid. Iona is unique not only in that she's huge, but also she's the only angel without a halo over her eyes (until Rise of the Eldrazi, at least).
If I recall correctly, Iona is actually the prison of Emrakul, so being enormous isn't so strange.
You recall incorrectly unfortunately.
The Eye of Ugin is the prison of all the Titans.
Iona, however, is the only angel we know of from the time of the Eldrazi empires and as Star points out below, the only one not blinded by their magic.
She guards Emeria, the Sky Ruin for... some reason.
By my reckoning, she's only about ten times the height of that humanoid. Still huge, but that's no Godzilla.
I can't remember the details, or even where I read it, but Iona is a special case. Most angels on Zendikar are the same size as a normal humanoid. Iona is unique not only in that she's huge, but also she's the only angel without a halo over her eyes (until Rise of the Eldrazi, at least).
I'm still immensely irritated she isn't a Creature- Angel Giant.
I understand the argument against it, in that just because one is large doesn't make one a giant as a creature type... but then again, there's not a damn thing apart from their size that distinguishes a giant as unique either.
I for one have mistook some details here and there but was slapped conscious by Barinellos.
Tracking back in this article ( http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/stf/86 ) I think before there were other angels the same size as Iona (who I think is of higher rank amongst the common angel) but was wiped out at the resistance they mounted back in the days.
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By my reckoning, she's only about ten times the height of that humanoid. Still huge, but that's no Godzilla.
I can't remember the details, or even where I read it, but Iona is a special case. Most angels on Zendikar are the same size as a normal humanoid. Iona is unique not only in that she's huge, but also she's the only angel without a halo over her eyes (until Rise of the Eldrazi, at least).
Ah, I see. That's quite interesting that's she is unique. I suppose a plane like Zendikar, with its potent & abundance of mana would create such angels as Iona (at least in its past).
I just measured the size of the human to Iona, and yes, you're right, she is approximately 10 - 12 (granted her feet are cut off & that she's slightly further in the background than the climber). Judging from that, I would imagine she'd be a 3x3 - 4x4" D&D token... which is actually larger than a good number of dragons in D&D (and likely MtG as well). . .
I wonder if MtG angels have the ability to adjust their size to best suit their needs or situation. I would imagine they would, since angels in our real world lore have such an ability.
@Unskilled Ninja: Oh, I know. Avacyn is practically a deity by my reckoning. I often refer to her to others as an archangel god.
I wonder if MtG angels have the ability to adjust their size to best suit their needs or situation. I would imagine that angels in our real world's scripture have such an ability since I do recall them having an ability to change appearances.
They do not. They are pretty much made as they are and according to their need going forward.
Looking at it again now, Iona art looks a little bit creepy in a Lovcraftian way, as it was one of the themes of Zendikar. Also she have six wings and gigantic which much more resembles the original Bible angels, who looked more like eldritch horrors, than humans, and again Zendikar would be the best fit for such a reference.
it's strange because in her card she is very big, but in iona's judgement she's not such a giant
I think that's more a trick of perspective. The location of the "camera" behind the foreground creature makes that creature appear larger relative to the distant Iona.
I have always thought that angels in M:tG are the same size as humans or slightly larger, but I did not know that Iona was so massive in size in comparison to a normal human; wow, that artwork, now that I have seen it in greater detail, truly makes her very impressive!
Was not Akroma also stated to be taller than an average human? I have read the Odyssey and Onslaught cycles, but I cannot recall if her height was mentioned.
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Was not Akroma also stated to be taller than an average human? I have read the Odyssey and Onslaught cycles, but I cannot recall if her height was mentioned.
Akroma was half jaguar in very short order. That tends to make one kinda tall.
Akroma was half jaguar in very short order. That tends to make one kinda tall.
Actually, jaguars are about 70 cm tall in they shoulders, so that would make her of about the same height as the average human female and shorter then the tall ones.
Actually, jaguars are about 70 cm tall in they shoulders, so that would make her of about the same height as the average human female and shorter then the tall ones.
Yeah, but in fairness, she was stapled to one by magic and grew fangs and the like when it happened. I think the jaguar aspects probably scaled up to human size.
Yeah, but in fairness, she was stapled to one by magic and grew fangs and the like when it happened. I think the jaguar aspects probably scaled up to human size.
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The card you are talking about also displays a giant iona (not emeria). It's just a trick of perspective.
Typo error. I meant to say Iona.
Though in the art it seems she is still bigger than that human (she looks like a 7 footer being compared to a 6 footer). Looking at the card and judging by the size of the sword she is holding, she did shrunk in size compared to her creature card version. And it's not because a giant Iona is floating in the skies, the two characters are closer to one another (part of Iona's clothing is close or may have already touched the soldier).
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I thought the climber was something else at first, perhaps part of the debris. I had yet to think angels to be towering behemoths... But I was looking at the hi-res image (1200x900 px) on the artist's blog. It was unmistakable that the figure was definitely not a tiny faerie (or similar creature). Not to mention, I do not recall faeries (or other exceptionally tiny beings) existing on Zendikar.
Then the Wizards article about "scaling birds" quickly flashed into my thoughts... except the scaling "birds" here are the pieces of architecture and the human climber. The only logical conclusion my mind could come to was: Iona is GIGANTIC. Judging from the size of the human climber, probably (without jest) the size of a monster that would appear in a Godzilla film.
Up until this moment, I had always considered MtG angels to be, generally, around the size of other average-sized MtG humanoid creatures. You know, somewhere in the ballpark of 5' - 7'; possibly 8' - 9' for large angels, but not several hundred feet tall. As a D&D token (using the 1" = 5' system), Iona would be the size of a 8x11" page or map.
So, having stumbled upon this most... surprising revelation, the question came to me:
~ Are there other angels in the multiverse (on the planes we've visited thus far) that are towering (but elegant & beautiful) gargantuan titans?
I immediately thought of Avacyn and her three underling archangels (Bruna, Gisela, & Sigarda). I quickly opened an image of the Avacyn Restored set art (where she is descending from the sky) and examined it. My first thoughts were, "The humans look big enough compared to her. She must be normal-sized." Then I looked at it again, and realized the image is foreshortened from the perspective of the grounded Innistradian humans, if not the ground itself. Which then lead me to think, "Maybe Avacyn is taller than the average human. Maybe even as tall as Garruk or Ajani..."
I haven't seen any other size comparisons with angels & average-size humanoids, so I am not yet sure what to make of this.
What do you members of the forum think?
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I guess being a 7/7, gargantuan size comes with the territory. The only angel with more power and toughness is Avacyn, and her smaller size can be justified because of her raw power (See: The cursemute).
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I can't remember the details, or even where I read it, but Iona is a special case. Most angels on Zendikar are the same size as a normal humanoid. Iona is unique not only in that she's huge, but also she's the only angel without a halo over her eyes (until Rise of the Eldrazi, at least).
You recall incorrectly unfortunately.
The Eye of Ugin is the prison of all the Titans.
Iona, however, is the only angel we know of from the time of the Eldrazi empires and as Star points out below, the only one not blinded by their magic.
She guards Emeria, the Sky Ruin for... some reason.
I'm still immensely irritated she isn't a Creature- Angel Giant.
I understand the argument against it, in that just because one is large doesn't make one a giant as a creature type... but then again, there's not a damn thing apart from their size that distinguishes a giant as unique either.
Anyways, Iona is definitely unique.
Tracking back in this article ( http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/stf/86 ) I think before there were other angels the same size as Iona (who I think is of higher rank amongst the common angel) but was wiped out at the resistance they mounted back in the days.
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Linvala for instance is probably only 2-3 meters tall.
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Will be kept until 12/31/2013 to prove if Right or Wrong.Proven right 1/27/2013Ah, I see. That's quite interesting that's she is unique. I suppose a plane like Zendikar, with its potent & abundance of mana would create such angels as Iona (at least in its past).
I just measured the size of the human to Iona, and yes, you're right, she is approximately 10 - 12 (granted her feet are cut off & that she's slightly further in the background than the climber). Judging from that, I would imagine she'd be a 3x3 - 4x4" D&D token... which is actually larger than a good number of dragons in D&D (and likely MtG as well). . .
I wonder if MtG angels have the ability to adjust their size to best suit their needs or situation. I would imagine they would, since angels in our real world lore have such an ability.
@Unskilled Ninja: Oh, I know. Avacyn is practically a deity by my reckoning. I often refer to her to others as an archangel god.
They do not. They are pretty much made as they are and according to their need going forward.
Thank you for the information.
I think that's more a trick of perspective. The location of the "camera" behind the foreground creature makes that creature appear larger relative to the distant Iona.
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Was not Akroma also stated to be taller than an average human? I have read the Odyssey and Onslaught cycles, but I cannot recall if her height was mentioned.
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Akroma was half jaguar in very short order. That tends to make one kinda tall.
Actually, jaguars are about 70 cm tall in they shoulders, so that would make her of about the same height as the average human female and shorter then the tall ones.
Yeah, but in fairness, she was stapled to one by magic and grew fangs and the like when it happened. I think the jaguar aspects probably scaled up to human size.
Great now I have the image of Ixidor, Reality Stapler stuck in my head. Thanks.
I still think that was just her projection. Angels have a standard size in MTG.
There's another card where a smaller version of Emeria is shown with a soldier/knight bowing down to her.
That art (Iona's Judgment right?) actually looks erroneous in terms of the way it presented her size when you compare it to Iona's card art.
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Typo error. I meant to say Iona.
Though in the art it seems she is still bigger than that human (she looks like a 7 footer being compared to a 6 footer). Looking at the card and judging by the size of the sword she is holding, she did shrunk in size compared to her creature card version. And it's not because a giant Iona is floating in the skies, the two characters are closer to one another (part of Iona's clothing is close or may have already touched the soldier).