A bunch of HoD spoilers came out. From the flavor texts it looks like:
-Bolas wanted the worthy to create an army of super powerful eternals.
-The Hekma falls and Naktamun is overrun
-The GW gets wrecked
-All 5 of the gods are killed
-The three corrupted gods are a scorpion, a scarab, and a locust, they dont seem to have names.
-After Naktamun falls, the surviving Amonkhetu try to carve out a new life in the broken lands. The naga in particular seem to be handling everything that went down fairly well.
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UG Merfolk RG 8-Whack BWG Abzan midrange GRB Living End UWB Spirit Control
GU Kruphix's "Hug Assassin" RW Kalemne's "Play Fatties and Hope for the Best!" BUGW Atraxa's "All counters, all the time"
She might die. We've been to Kaladesh, and we've had her story.
Nissa as well.
A part of me would really like to see Gideon, Nissa, and Chandra (the Archenemy Planeswalkers) totally obliterated, the Gatewatch gutted, and Jace and Liliana scattered to different corners of the Multiverse. We have a new G/R female Planeswalker to take Nissa and Chandra's place, and the Gatewatch would take several sets to regroup and rebuild. Bolas' villain cred would go through the roof, and (let's be honest) the survivors' character arcs would likely benefit more from having to deal with their comrades' losses then from actually having them around.
If we're going to have an Hour of Devastation, may as well crank it up to ten and go all out.
I'd like to see Chandra killed, and Nissa bound, with Gideon escaping but Bolas wiping his ability to generate his shield. Then Gideon blames Liliana for Chandra's death, because she urged quick action and kept the gatewatch in the dark re: her demon. This would prevent the remaining members from being able to regroup for a few sets, because it would be just Lili and Gids (with Jace sent to Ixilan without his memory), and they wouldn't be on speaking terms.
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I'm not a fan of all of the gods dying but I guess something has got to go in order to make Bolas look good. To be honest, at this point if they don't do anything with Rhonas, I'd be fine with it. I'd rather not read a story of him doing some small stuff before going out. :/
This set is rough but it's giving me my sweet Bolas fix at last.
Well the gods dying ruins my theory of them being the ones to defeat Bolas.
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“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
Amonkhet becomes a desert wasteland dominated by horrors, zombies and demons, not to mention 3 Bolas-ified Gods who don't even have names because Bolas wanted that extra touch about how he made them into his puppets, and the few living survivors have to eke out an existence in what is left, AND the 5 Gods we've come to know and love (maybe not Rhonas, since no-one cares about him apparently) all die a likely horrible death, AND the "Worthy" becomes Bolas's private undead army. Also, the 5 mono-colored Gatewatch all get their due for not listening to Ajani.
When you consider what Amonkhet might have once been, this might not be the saddest tale of a plane, but it's up there.
So, in the end, just about the only thing that makes the story tout Razaketh as more powerful, or at least, more dangerous than the other two was because his contract involves full control of Liliana's self? Okay, well, I guess that's a believable threat level.
Where the hell is Ajani by the way? I just realized after rereading that in Impact, there's no mention where he goes...
Guys, guys. I have the most important news! It all makes sense now. Bolas planning OP, plz nerf. Hear me out...
For the longest time, Vorthos everywhere have wondered why Bolas of all people would help Liliana and broker the demon pacts to help her regain her youth and power. Some speculated it had to be with just making her owe him a favor, and while that's definitely a factor, her defeat card's flavor text finally shows the true purpose.
Bolas brokered the pacts, let her regain some power and let her go about her business to gain even more, anticipating she'd murder the demons to get out of it, climbing ever higher up the totem pole... only for him to steal that power away and add it to his own, without having to do any of the dirty work.
(this hinges on him actually stealing it since the card only says he can, but given this is the entity who was going to destroy an entire plane because he could...!)
Even if he can't take Liliana's innate power away, there's the Chain Veil, which is very physical. Considering the whole Chain Veil business was started by one of the demons Bolas has contact with... (and that the Chain Veil is actually sort of getting less and less relevant to Liliana's story, they're trying to establish she doesn't really need it and the only voice that matters to her now is the Raven Man, who isn't part of the Chain Veil).
Bolas can literally use it without drawback once he mindwipes the Onakke Spirits inside (once again depending on his powers, but I wouldn't say it's impossible), effectively creating a second army of "worthy" all stored inside an artifact he probably wears as a talon-hankerchief.
I think Liliana will be last in the Gatewatch pecking order (the same way Bontu is being implicated to be conflicted now) - Bolas promptly took out the blue mage (Kefnet) first, so I think Jace is getting his defeat (and banished to Ixalan) first. Or at least I hope it does, it will an elegant parallel action.
So, I really like the way the Scorpion God is not following the tired design pattern of the Theran gods as closely as the God cards from the previous set. The derivative design was hurting my perception of the guardians of Nakatmun as "not so special". Though there is at least a nice dichotomy between those who are supposed to "stand eternal" and those "returning".
I hope the bug-Gods stay around despite some implication on blogatog that those were not their original forms.
Well the gods dying ruins my theory of them being the ones to defeat Bolas.
My theory is that Bolas wins (defeats thhe Gods, levels the city), leaves with his army (we'll find out lazothep can be used as a catalyst to planeswalking and anything fully covered in an armor of it can be taken to another plane with relative ease - it's just that any living thing would suffocate in such armor), and then Nissa returns to use her leyline mastery to accelerate the recovery of the gods (into their uncorrupted form) and Rhonas will rally his clerics to channel green mana to reawaken Amonkhet - not enough to not be full of deserts, but enough to allow the survivors of the Hours to have a new oasis from which they can start to rebuild.
Where the hell is Ajani by the way? I just realized after rereading that in Impact, there's no mention where he goes...
Art of Ajani was used on the Conquest of Power mock-ups, so since Vraska appeared on the Atlazen mock-up and appears to be in Ixalan this suggests we meet Ajani again in Rivals of Ixalan. Speculation was that he'd be there to recruit new allies, but it might as well be that he already recruited allies during the time we spend on Amonkhet and he's actually there to find and reunite the scattered members of the Gatewatch.
and Rhonas will rally his clerics to channel green mana to reawaken Amonkhet - not enough to not be full of deserts, but enough to allow the survivors of the Hours to have a new oasis from which they can start to rebuild.
Except that the five first Gods all die, including Rhonas.
Also, I find Nissa returning to Amonkhet in the near future unlikely.
and Rhonas will rally his clerics to channel green mana to reawaken Amonkhet - not enough to not be full of deserts, but enough to allow the survivors of the Hours to have a new oasis from which they can start to rebuild.
Except that the five first Gods all die, including Rhonas.
Okay, so I'm going to add back in some of what you cut out of my proposed option for upcoming events:
"Nissa returns to use her leyline mastery to accelerate the recovery of the gods (into their uncorrupted form) and Rhonas will rally his clerics to channel green mana to reawaken Amonkhet"
Gods are different. They "die" differently. It has been implied or outright stated that they are tied to the plane and cannot be ended without ending the plane - hence I suggest that Nissa would be able to (help) re-weave the gods of Amonkhet - of which Rhonas is one. So even if Rhonas "dies" I have provided an explanation why that isn't a hindrance. And you cut off that explanation, so blame no one but yourself if that snippet doesn't contain a full explanation when taken out of context.
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Planar Chaos was not a mistake neither was it random. You might want to look at it again.
[thread=239793][Game] Level Up - Creature[/thread]
So even if Rhonas "dies" I have provided an explanation why that isn't a hindrance. And you cut off that explanation, so blame no one but yourself if that snippet doesn't contain a full explanation when taken out of context.
What the heck is your problem? You act like I insulted you.
I read the whole thing, but I misinterpreted what you mean by "recovery", and I just quoted the part I was answering to for the sake of shortening the quote. Also the Gods are tied to the plane, yes, but that doesn't guarantee that they'll revive in the same form (if at all). The closest example we have of this kind of phenomenon are the demons on Innistrad, and they all get "replaced" when they "die".
What if the 3 bug gods aren't the missing 3 gods? I would be very shocked and disappointed if wotc didn't make a falcon god
This is your question in more detail:
What if the 3 new gods we know of that are malevolent, in servitude to Bolas, showed up for the Hours, and aren't what they originally were (as someone said in this thread IIRC) aren't the 3 missing gods that we know got extra-corrupted, and were stored away by Bolas for just this moment, also disregarding the fact that only 8 gods were ever mentioned existing in the story?
How likely do you think it is that the answer to that question is "Yes"? With the sprinkled information laid out about these guys since Nissa's vision of them, there's no real reason to be shocked about any of this.
Probably the biggest surprise is their lack of proper names, but when you consider that anyone who knew their names were either mind-wiped or not among the living, and the fact that Bolas stripped them of their identities, it makes perfect sense.
I wonder if it's possible that Gatewatch save Amonkhet, but are defeated themselves (as in, Bolas in his rage sends them broken for vengeance in foiling his plans)?
I was surprised Razaketh knew about the contracts of the other demons, considering Bolas told Lilliana not to mention the other demons while brokering her deals. Granted it seemed Kothophed knew of the other anyway when she signed with him, so IDK.
I wonder if it's possible that Gatewatch save Amonkhet, but are defeated themselves (as in, Bolas in his rage sends them broken for vengeance in foiling his plans)?
I was surprised Razaketh knew about the contracts of the other demons, considering Bolas told Lilliana not to mention the other demons while brokering her deals. Granted it seemed Kothophed knew of the other anyway when she signed with him, so IDK.
I wonder if it's possible that Gatewatch save Amonkhet, but are defeated themselves (as in, Bolas in his rage sends them broken for vengeance in foiling his plans)?
I was surprised Razaketh knew about the contracts of the other demons, considering Bolas told Lilliana not to mention the other demons while brokering her deals. Granted it seemed Kothophed knew of the other anyway when she signed with him, so IDK.
Well her contract tatoos kinda gave it away.
How did the demons know of one another if they can't planeswalk?
I doubt that they gather intel using planeswalking minions.
Didn't Bolas broker the deal? He probably mentioned there were three other demons in on it when he pitched it to them.
So its possible that not all of the gods are going to die. I mean we've seen Bontu's Last Reckoning and art that looks like it could be for Hazorets, but we don't know if the other three will die or not. Since it seems like there will be survivora there could be one or two gods that make it and protect thw mortals as they make their new post-God-Pharoah lives in the desert. Maybe thats Rhonas' job. If anyone is going to not die in a fight its the God pf strength right?
yet in the story he said to Liliana to not mention the other demons while stipulating the contracts, right?
I think creative keeps confusing that point. IIRC she used the gifts the other demons gave her in order to get more from the demons farther in the pact.
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“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
-Bolas wanted the worthy to create an army of super powerful eternals.
-The Hekma falls and Naktamun is overrun
-The GW gets wrecked
-All 5 of the gods are killed
-The three corrupted gods are a scorpion, a scarab, and a locust, they dont seem to have names.
-After Naktamun falls, the surviving Amonkhetu try to carve out a new life in the broken lands. The naga in particular seem to be handling everything that went down fairly well.
RG 8-Whack
BWG Abzan midrange
GRB Living End
UWB Spirit Control
GU Kruphix's "Hug Assassin"
RW Kalemne's "Play Fatties and Hope for the Best!"
BUGW Atraxa's "All counters, all the time"
I'd like to see Chandra killed, and Nissa bound, with Gideon escaping but Bolas wiping his ability to generate his shield. Then Gideon blames Liliana for Chandra's death, because she urged quick action and kept the gatewatch in the dark re: her demon. This would prevent the remaining members from being able to regroup for a few sets, because it would be just Lili and Gids (with Jace sent to Ixilan without his memory), and they wouldn't be on speaking terms.
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
This set is rough but it's giving me my sweet Bolas fix at last.
"Kiora is the Aquaman of planeswalkers."
"Useless and everyone pretends to like her?"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
Amonkhet becomes a desert wasteland dominated by horrors, zombies and demons, not to mention 3 Bolas-ified Gods who don't even have names because Bolas wanted that extra touch about how he made them into his puppets, and the few living survivors have to eke out an existence in what is left, AND the 5 Gods we've come to know and love (maybe not Rhonas, since no-one cares about him apparently) all die a likely horrible death, AND the "Worthy" becomes Bolas's private undead army. Also, the 5 mono-colored Gatewatch all get their due for not listening to Ajani.
When you consider what Amonkhet might have once been, this might not be the saddest tale of a plane, but it's up there.
Thanx to Bookworm10 for the Sig.
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Where the hell is Ajani by the way? I just realized after rereading that in Impact, there's no mention where he goes...
Even if he can't take Liliana's innate power away, there's the Chain Veil, which is very physical. Considering the whole Chain Veil business was started by one of the demons Bolas has contact with... (and that the Chain Veil is actually sort of getting less and less relevant to Liliana's story, they're trying to establish she doesn't really need it and the only voice that matters to her now is the Raven Man, who isn't part of the Chain Veil).
Bolas can literally use it without drawback once he mindwipes the Onakke Spirits inside (once again depending on his powers, but I wouldn't say it's impossible), effectively creating a second army of "worthy" all stored inside an artifact he probably wears as a talon-hankerchief.
I think Liliana will be last in the Gatewatch pecking order (the same way Bontu is being implicated to be conflicted now) - Bolas promptly took out the blue mage (Kefnet) first, so I think Jace is getting his defeat (and banished to Ixalan) first. Or at least I hope it does, it will an elegant parallel action.
I hope the bug-Gods stay around despite some implication on blogatog that those were not their original forms.
My theory is that Bolas wins (defeats thhe Gods, levels the city), leaves with his army (we'll find out lazothep can be used as a catalyst to planeswalking and anything fully covered in an armor of it can be taken to another plane with relative ease - it's just that any living thing would suffocate in such armor), and then Nissa returns to use her leyline mastery to accelerate the recovery of the gods (into their uncorrupted form) and Rhonas will rally his clerics to channel green mana to reawaken Amonkhet - not enough to not be full of deserts, but enough to allow the survivors of the Hours to have a new oasis from which they can start to rebuild.
Art of Ajani was used on the Conquest of Power mock-ups, so since Vraska appeared on the Atlazen mock-up and appears to be in Ixalan this suggests we meet Ajani again in Rivals of Ixalan. Speculation was that he'd be there to recruit new allies, but it might as well be that he already recruited allies during the time we spend on Amonkhet and he's actually there to find and reunite the scattered members of the Gatewatch.
Either option is now open though.
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
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Except that the five first Gods all die, including Rhonas.
Also, I find Nissa returning to Amonkhet in the near future unlikely.
Okay, so I'm going to add back in some of what you cut out of my proposed option for upcoming events:
"Nissa returns to use her leyline mastery to accelerate the recovery of the gods (into their uncorrupted form) and Rhonas will rally his clerics to channel green mana to reawaken Amonkhet"
Gods are different. They "die" differently. It has been implied or outright stated that they are tied to the plane and cannot be ended without ending the plane - hence I suggest that Nissa would be able to (help) re-weave the gods of Amonkhet - of which Rhonas is one. So even if Rhonas "dies" I have provided an explanation why that isn't a hindrance. And you cut off that explanation, so blame no one but yourself if that snippet doesn't contain a full explanation when taken out of context.
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
Factions: Sleeping
Remnants: Valheim
Legendary Journey: Heroes & Planeswalkers
Saga: Shards of Rabiah
Legends: The Elder Dragons
Read up on Red Flags & NWO
What the heck is your problem? You act like I insulted you.
I read the whole thing, but I misinterpreted what you mean by "recovery", and I just quoted the part I was answering to for the sake of shortening the quote. Also the Gods are tied to the plane, yes, but that doesn't guarantee that they'll revive in the same form (if at all). The closest example we have of this kind of phenomenon are the demons on Innistrad, and they all get "replaced" when they "die".
This is your question in more detail:
What if the 3 new gods we know of that are malevolent, in servitude to Bolas, showed up for the Hours, and aren't what they originally were (as someone said in this thread IIRC) aren't the 3 missing gods that we know got extra-corrupted, and were stored away by Bolas for just this moment, also disregarding the fact that only 8 gods were ever mentioned existing in the story?
How likely do you think it is that the answer to that question is "Yes"? With the sprinkled information laid out about these guys since Nissa's vision of them, there's no real reason to be shocked about any of this.
Probably the biggest surprise is their lack of proper names, but when you consider that anyone who knew their names were either mind-wiped or not among the living, and the fact that Bolas stripped them of their identities, it makes perfect sense.
I was surprised Razaketh knew about the contracts of the other demons, considering Bolas told Lilliana not to mention the other demons while brokering her deals. Granted it seemed Kothophed knew of the other anyway when she signed with him, so IDK.
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
Well her contract tatoos kinda gave it away.
Didn't Bolas broker the deal? He probably mentioned there were three other demons in on it when he pitched it to them.
Also, he's green and apparently that's what oasis-free Amonkhet needs to regrow (no pun intended).
I think creative keeps confusing that point. IIRC she used the gifts the other demons gave her in order to get more from the demons farther in the pact.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
The flavortext for that one is just... d**kish.
"Fire? Is that your only trick, Chandra?"
Seems like Hour of Devastation will be our "Breaking of the Fellowship".
Maybe he just got knocked out?
EDIT: NOPE. That's Diabolic Edict RIP Rhonas.
I think when Kruphix7 said all of them, he meant all of them. Defiant Khenra and the Desert cycle are particularly indicative of this.
At least the pics in RedGauntlet's post heavily imply that Rhonas will die, but it's sad that his own "sibling" did the deed.
How likely do you think that is?