| Emrakul | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Race | Eldrazi |
| Birthplace | Blind Eternities |
| Lifetime | Active until the Time of Legends, released and reimprisoned in the Mending Era |
| Born | Unknown |
| Colors | |
 | |
Emrakul, the "Aeons Torn," known as Keening Mother by some on Innistrad,[1] is one of the three Eldrazi titans and the inspiration for the Zendikari merfolk god Emeria.
Description[]
Emrakul is the Titan of Corruption, the largest and most fearsome of the Eldrazi. She does not affect inorganic matter - rocks, water, etc. - but twists all things living, be they plants, animals, or other sentient beings. She causes silent terror wherever she soars, embodying desolation, emotional and physical distance, the chill of the void, and the terror of being alone. She is 60 meters or 200 feet tall.[2]
Emrakul's Lineage[]
The Emrakul lineage is characterized by flesh-like lattice structures, uneasy bilateral symmetry, and tentacles that end in knobby, vestigial digits.[3] Looking like spongy, alien baleen, the lattice respires independent of the Eldrazi herself, supporting a host of unseen mite creatures within. Some within this lineage, including Emrakul herself, float above the ground, using unknown powers to alter the surrounding gravity.
History[]
Imprisonment of the Eldrazi[]
After they discovered the threat of the Eldrazi 40 years prior, Ugin, Nahiri, and Sorin Markov prepared thoroughly to trap them on Nahiri's home plane of Zendikar. They devised a plan to trap the Eldrazi by creating a complex network of leylines, hedrons and nodes of mana. Nahiri was the one to build this intricate structure. She worked relentlessly, pulling and shaping hedrons from the living stone of Zendikar, while Ugin inscribed them with draconic runes to hold them in place. These hedrons, scattered across Zendikar, acted as both a lure and a trap, drawing the Eldrazi with their pulsing magical energy.[4]
As the Eldrazi slowly approached Zendikar in -1400 AR, Nahiri warned the inhabitants of her plane — merfolk, kor, humans, elves, and even the surrakar — of the impending threat. The angels patrolled the skies, ever watchful. When the Titans arrived, it was a sight beyond comprehension. Ulamog, Kozilek, and the towering Emrakul descended upon Zendikar, their monstrous forms dwarfing everything in their path.[4]
Ugin, Sorin, and Nahiri fought valiantly. Ugin unleashed his ghostfire, Sorin drained the Eldrazi's strength, and Zendikar's people battled the Titans' spawn, while the Eldrazi moved toward the heart of the trap — the Eye of Ugin. In a final act of power, the three Planeswalkers converged at the Eye, combining their magic to activate the hedron network. Every hedron on Zendikar shifted into place, sealing the Titans in a prison of mana and stone. The earth itself began to swallow the Eldrazi, encasing them and leaving them petrified, slowly sinking into the mountains themselves as Zendikar, though scarred, stood victorious. As the three Planeswalkers locked the chamber with a spell only three planeswalkers together could break, they knew that Zendikar would heal, and its people would adapt to life in the shadows of the hedrons.[4]
The Eldrazi Released[]
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
After the release of Kozilek, Ulamog, and Emrakul by Nissa Revane, Emrakul vanished. After the death of Kozilek and Ulamog, Ugin confirmed that Emrakul had been absent from Zendikar for some time.[5] She was drawn through the Blind Eternities to the plane of Innistrad by the planeswalker Nahiri, who was summoning Emrakul to enact her revenge on Sorin Markov.[6] On Innistrad, her influence corrupted the people of the plane into tentacled monstrosities. The archangel Avacyn kept Emrakul at bay, but once she was unmade by Sorin, the titan physically entered Innistrad and her influence over the plane magnified. Jace Beleren returned to Zendikar to call the remaining planeswalkers of the Gatewatch: Gideon Jura, Nissa Revane, and Chandra Nalaar, to combat Emrakul, like they had Ulamog and Kozilek on Zendikar.
Emrakul's gravitational distortion
After destroying much of the city of Thraben, Emrakul is confronted by the Gatewatch and Liliana Vess, who is nearly brought down by her mental assaults. Jace communicates with a figment of her that manifests as Emeria, which tells him that she is "incomplete, unfulfilled, inchoate" and that Innistrad should welcome her, not reject her. When the Gatewatch performs the ritual to trap her, she willingly lets herself be sealed in Innistrad's moon. She possesses Tamiyo and has her read a scroll she has vowed to never read, after telling Jace, "I just no longer want to play" and "There should be blossoms, not barren resentment. The soil was not receptive. It is not my time. Not yet."[7]
Emeria also appeared at the end of Nissa's vision of Nicol Bolas' plan while she was taking the Trial of Knowledge on Amonkhet. It is unknown if this communication originated from Emrakul.[8]
Once Emrakul was banished to the moon, the great sigil on its face formed by the imprisonment spell eventually faded from view. However, the Eldrazi titan still resides inside, slumbering quietly. Prominent astronomancers and the Dawnhart Coven of witches believe that the cosmic titan's residency within the moon might be related to the coming of the Eternal Night.[1]
Planes visited[]
Gallery[]
-
Early concepts of the three Eldrazi titans by Aleksi Briclot. -
Emrakul concept by Aleksi Briclot. -
Emrakul concept by Aleksi Briclot. -
Emrakul arrives on Innistrad. Art by Aleksi Briclot. -
The Gatewatch fights Emrakul. Art by Aleksi Briclot.
-
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn art for Duel Masters.
-
Emrakul in the Duel Masters anime.
-
Story appearances[]
Trivia[]
- Emrakul, the Aeons Torn was also featured as a card in the Japanese TCG Duel Masters, which was likewise published by Wizards of the Coast.
In-game references[]
- Represented in:
- Associated cards:
- Depicted in:
- All Is Dust
- Consume the Meek (Rise of the Eldrazi)
- Eldrazi Conscription
- Geier Reach Sanitarium
- Gravitational Shift
- Hanweir Battlements
- Hanweir Garrison
- The Heron Moon (Mystery Booster 2)
- Imprisoned in the Moon
- Near-Death Experience
- Nissa's Revelation
- Prize Wall (Unfinity)
- Rise of the Eldrazi
- Shrine of the Forsaken Gods
- Swamp (Modern Horizons 3, #306)
- Tamiyo, the Moon Sage (Secret Lair, #396)
- Through the Breach (Ultimate Masters)
- Time of Heroes
- Referred to:
- Bruna, the Fading Light
- Cloud Manta
- Coax from the Blind Eternities
- Drownyard Lurker
- Exultant Cultist
- Gisela, the Broken Blade
- Gnarlwood Dryad
- Grapple with the Past
- Guardian of Pilgrims
- Horrific Assault
- Kessig Prowler
- Mutated Cultist
- Otherworldly Outburst
- Permeating Mass
- Prey Upon (Eldritch Moon)
- Somberwald Stag
- Squirrel Mob
- Unruly Mob (Innistrad: Midnight Hunt)
- Weirded Vampire
- Emrakul's Brood:
- Emrakul's Conscription:
- Abolisher of Bloodlines
- Abundant Maw
- Angelic Aberration
- Basking Broodscale
- Brisela, Voice of Nightmares (Secret Lair)
- Chittering Host
- Conduit of Emrakul
- Corrupted Shapeshifter
- Decimator of the Provinces
- Distended Mindbender
- Dronepack Kindred
- Drownyard Behemoth
- Drownyard Lurker
- Elder Deep-Fiend
- Eldrazi Horror
- Erupting Dreadwolf
- Extricator of Flesh
- Fibrous Entangler
- Final Iteration
- Grisly Anglerfish
- Hanweir, the Writhing Township
- Hope-Ender Coatl
- Howling Chorus
- It of the Horrid Swarm
- It That Rides as One
- Lashweed Lurker
- Mockery of Nature
- Mutated Cultist
- Nulldrifter
- Sinuous Predator
- Snapping Voidcraw
Sources[]
- Doug Beyer (March 17, 2010). "Gods and Monsters". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Doug Beyer (March 29, 2010). "The Eldrazi Arisen". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Magic Arcana (April 12, 2010). "Sketches: Consume the Meek". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Monty Ashley (May 18, 2010). "Just Out of Shot". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Kelly Digges (May 14, 2015). "Know Your Spawn!". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
References[]
- ↑ a b Doug Beyer and Ari Zirulnik (September 9, 2021). "Planeswalker's Guide to Innistrad: Midnight Hunt". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ The Eldrazi Power Hour - MagicCon Amsterdam (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (July 10, 2024).
- ↑ Doug Beyer (April 28, 2010). "The Three Brood Lineages". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c Kelly Digges (October 29, 2014). "The Lithomancer". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ari Levitch, Doug Beyer, Kelly Digges and Kimberly J. Kreines (February 24, 2016). "Zendikar Resurgent". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Kimberly J. Kreines (June 20, 2016). "Emrakul Rises". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ken Troop (July 27, 2016). "The Promised End". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ken Troop (April 26, 2017). "The Hand That Moves". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Emrakul & Chatterfang!? Koma & Toski!? 62 Unknown Magic Cards! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (May 10, 2023).
- ↑ My 62 Secret Magic Playtest Cards! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (February 20, 2023).