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(Updated transliterations for four of the five praetor cards.)
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|Vigilance
  
|Vigilance
 
Other creatures you control get +2/+2.
  
Other creatures you control get +2/+2.
−
Creatures your opponents control get -2/-2.
 +
Creatures your opponents control get -2/-2.<br/>
 
“The Gitaxians whisper among themselves of other worlds. If they exist, we must bring Phyrexia’s magnificence to them.”
  
“The Gitaxians whisper among themselves of other worlds. If they exist, we must bring Phyrexia’s magnificence to them.”
 
|-
  
|-
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|Flash
  
|Flash
 
At the beginning of your end step, draw seven cards.
  
At the beginning of your end step, draw seven cards.
−
Each opponent’s maximum hand size is reduced by seven.
 +
Each opponent's maximum hand size is reduced by seven.<br/>
 
“It is not a goal, but a process—the process of creating the perfect Phyrexia.”
  
“It is not a goal, but a process—the process of creating the perfect Phyrexia.”
 
|-
  
|-
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If-when opponent upkeep-step beginning, +imp creature sacrifice.<ref name=":4" />
  
If-when opponent upkeep-step beginning, +imp creature sacrifice.<ref name=":4" />
  +
|Swampwalk
−
|Swampwalk (This creature can’t be blocked as long as defending player controls a Swamp.)
  
 
At the beginning of your upkeep, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
  
At the beginning of your upkeep, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
−
At the beginning of each opponent’s upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature.
 +
At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature.
 
|-
  
|-
 
| [[Card name]] [[File:Ura Phy 1.jpg|200px|link=Special:FilePath/.jpg]]
  
| [[Card name]] [[File:Ura Phy 1.jpg|200px|link=Special:FilePath/.jpg]]
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+past when mirrodin-resistance came for-guidance +past Urabrask furnace-dwellers turned +past decree stunned: "leave-alone +imp. <ref name=":4" />
  
+past when mirrodin-resistance came for-guidance +past Urabrask furnace-dwellers turned +past decree stunned: "leave-alone +imp. <ref name=":4" />
 
|Creatures you control have haste.
  
|Creatures you control have haste.
−
Creatures your opponents control enter the battlefield tapped.
 +
Creatures your opponents control enter the battlefield tapped.<br/>
 
When the Mirran resistance arrived, the furnace dwellers looked to Urabrask for guidance. His decree stunned the others: “Let them be.”
  
When the Mirran resistance arrived, the furnace dwellers looked to Urabrask for guidance. His decree stunned the others: “Let them be.”
 
|-
  
|-
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|Trample
  
|Trample
 
Whenever you tap a land for mana, add one mana of any type that land produced.
  
Whenever you tap a land for mana, add one mana of any type that land produced.
−
Whenever an opponent taps a land for mana, that land doesn’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
 +
Whenever an opponent taps a land for mana, that land doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.
 
|-
  
|-
 
|}
  
|}

Revision as of 15:51, 23 May 2021

File:Phyrexian transliteration key.png

This key is used for transcribing Phyrexian to more common characters.

For the creatures that use this language, see Phyrexia#Phyrexian life forms.

The Phyrexian language is a complete written, and spoken language, constructed and developed for Scars of Mirrodin block.

Syntax Tree

Proposed syntax tree synthesizing information from several posts.[1][2][3]

It uses a novel alphabet, with primary glyphs attached to a central line that runs continuously to the end of a sentence, save for line breaks. Both the beginning and end of sentences are explicitly marked. It is written vertically, and read top to bottom.[4] These features lend it an appearance similar to a real-world script such as traditional Mongolian which is written vertically, and the early Irish Ogham due to the use of a stemline along the characters. Horizontally written variants exist, often when mixed with English text, and notably including the Elesh Norn promo.

Translation

File:Phyrexianconsonants.jpg

Proposed partial consonant chart[5]

A fragmentary understanding of the Phyrexian language has been acquired by the study of those cases where an English translation exists, and a transcription key developed. Transcription efforts are hindered by the low resolution of many samples, which can lead to confusion between similar diacritics. In particular, it is possible that ' and ` are equivalent.

The art for Dominaria's Phyrexian Scriptures, shared by its artist in high resolution, renewed interest in translation.[6] The text in that artwork appears to be the flavor text of Dark Ritual (Urza's Saga). That translation effort also yielded a proposed syntax tree for the language.[1]

In the study of pronunciation, the most recent theory proposes that the main glyph determines the manner of articulation, while diacritics determine the place of articulation.[7] A further theory suggests that the vowel glyphs are determined by their articulation, rather than being arbitrary. Each vowel is composed of three lines on one side of the staff, one line longer than the other two, sometimes with a "hook" on the long line. The height of the long line indicates closed to openness, the side of the staff indicates front or back vowels, and the presence of a hook indicates roundedness. These can be further modified by diacritics. The same effort produced a partial association of consonant sounds with Phyrexian characters.[5]

Samples

Elesh Norn Promo

Phyrexian is used for the card text of Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite (Judge Gift).

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent
Card name File:Phy EleshNorn 1 name.png 'ZE_^Mx| T^HD^T^ MxNxL'ZNx A`KT^HZXx.[8] Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite[8] Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Type line File:Phy EleshNorn 2 type.png N^LV^Z" 'X:E'ZN* X:N*LV^XxD^.[8] Legendary Creature - Praetor[8] Legendary Creature — Praetor
1. line of rules text File:Phy EleshNorn 3 text.png N"VFXvT^D^QX:T.[8] Vigilance[8] Vigilance
2. line of rules text File:Phy EleshNorn 4 text.png N*E| M:L_^_^| X^O| X^N*Q'X:Q_^N*| EN*O'X:EE'ZN* +2/+2 N^FXxLXvEX^.[8] (present tense) Other our controlled creatures +2/+2 receive.[8] Other creatures you control get +2/+2.
3. line of rules text File:Phy EleshNorn 5 text.png N*E| X^O| ON*T^JJX^Ax| X^N*Q'XvE_^| N*E'X:EE'ZN* -2/-2 N^FXxLXvEX^.[8] (present tense) Our opponents controlled creatures -2/-2 receive.[8] Creatures your opponents control get -2/-2.
1. line of flavor text File:Phy EleshNorn 6 text.png First sentence:
N*E| X:HD^Z"ON*Xx| Z^FGXxN*| M:L_^_^X:ENxOOZ^N` N^F'ZFA`E'ZEXx.[8] 		First sentence:
(present tense) Gitaxians [among themselves] other worlds whisper.[8] 		The Gitaxians whisper among themselves of other worlds.
2. line of flavor textFile:Phy EleshNorn 6 text.png Second sentence:
ZL| Z^FFXxN*| X:OT^LT^ 'X:L'X:L| 'NL| ~X:GD^N*X:ENxOZ^N` 'ZEMxNxL'ZNx T^LX:GXx.[8] 		Second sentence:
If they exist, [we must/will] Perfect world's magnificence bring.[8] 		If they exist, we must bring Phyrexia's magnificence to them.

Dark Discoveries

Phyrexian can be found in the speech bubbles of Dark Discoveries Part 3.[9]

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent
Page 5 Phy DarkDiscoveries 1 page5 'XxLXxXx T^LX*T TFV^ET^M:.
OX*'XvL| OV^T^LX^HAx| M:OX*Z^M:X:GFZ".
'X*L~XvL| Z^^XvNxLV^XxD^| 'XxOVHL^T.[10]
Page 6Phy DarkDiscoveries 2 page6 NxOO'ZHNxTT"E| Z^^TH'ZHNx| VAxXxOAxAx.[10]

All Will Be One

Phyrexian can be found in each scene of All Will Be One.[11]

According to Doug Beyer, there is a system for pronunciation, and the speech heard in this promotional video is accurately pronounced spoken Phyrexian.[4] It is uncertain if the spoken phrases are pronunciations of the corresponding writing.

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent
Scene 1
Phy AllWillBeOne 1 		N*E| X^O| 'ZOX:GD^N*T^L~X:GT| N*E| V^T^E~X:HT[8] (present tense) Our perfect work(now?) [flesh/is flesh/made flesh][8] We are perfection made flesh.[11]
Scene 2+3
Phy AllWillBeOne 2Phy AllWillBeOne 3 		N*E| N*QXxMxLN

X^O| 'ZQC`FAx| N*E| X:OT^'ZGZ"| N*EN*O| 'N'X:EE'ZN*| MxOX:~NxLFEX:[8] 		(present tense) (?) Our voice (to) (now) lost broken creatures [calls out][8] Our voice calls out to the lost and broken (creatures)[11]
Scene 4+5
Phy AllWillBeOne 4Phy AllWillBeOne 5 		N*E| NxQX^N*| N*VFN*GAx

Z^_^FX:| N"VFON*'XxENxQX^N*| 'ZQZ"'ZONxV[8] 		(present tense) Death [they fear] even as immortality [we offer][8] They fear death even as we offer immortality[11]
Scene 6+7
Phy AllWillBeOne 6Phy AllWillBeOne 7 		'X:L'X:L| Z^OX:ENxOZ^N`| ZGXxX:Xx N*GMx| N"JM^LZ^

N*E'ZQT| MxHX:D^LX:~X:GD^N"X:ENxGZ^N`| T^LXx_^GAx| X:D^EX:GZ^[8] 		(We must/will) this world's false skin flay (to now/in future) new Perfect world face reveal[8] We will flay the false skin of this world to reveal the face of a new Phyrexia[11]
Scene 8
Phy AllWillBeOne 8 		'ZQ| MxNxL'ZNxT^L'X:T| 'ZFFN*XxNvQ'ZE&[8] (perfect tense) Great Work [has begun][8] The Great Work has begun[11]

New Phyrexia

Phyrexian can be found in each scene of New Phyrexia.[12] Presumably, the non-English speech heard is also accurately pronounced Phyrexian.[4]

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent
Scene 1
Phy NewPhyrexia 1 		'ZQ|MxHX:D^ X:Xx ~X:GD^N" X:ENxOZ^N` MxNxL'ZNxT^'X:FT| 'Xv_^ T^L~X:ET[8] (perfect tense) Great New Perfect world Work [was made?][8] The Great Work of New Phyrexia is complete.[12]
Scene 2
Phy NewPhyrexia 2 		N*E| V^J'ZZ"'ZO'ZVZ"VOVV| TL'ZT^| MxHX:D^LX:Xx'ZT^T^EN*FN* N^F_^Q'ZENv[8] (present tense) Machine Orthodoxy mana? new sources power[8] New sources of mana power the Machine Orthodoxy[12]
Scene 3
Phy NewPhyrexia 3 		N*ETD^HZ^T^| 'ZOZO'ZGV| ~XvGD^N* Xv_^XxN*E N*GMx| OMxX^TT^GD^GN*[8] (present tense?) Mirrodin heart Perfect race? skin [(beneath?) burns][8] Beneath Phyrexian skin, the heart of Mirrodin burns[12]
Scene 4
Phy NewPhyrexia 4 		N*E| X:N*OT^T^T^| N"EX^FXx 'ZFA`EE'ZXx| XxOYFD^Xx N^FAxX:LT^'ZEZ"[8] (present tense) Body whole is (but /present tense/) whispers mind splinter[8] The body is whole, but whispers splinter the mind[12]
Scene 5+6
Phy NewPhyrexia 5Phy NewPhyrexia 6 		V^JJ'ZZ"| TH'ZGNx| THAxEX^| 'X:L'X:L[8] Machines Father come [will][8] The Father (of Machines) is coming[12]
Scene 7
Phy NewPhyrexia 7 		T^L'X:TON*'Xv_^Z^FX^HMx[8] Work unmaker (or 'Making undoer')[8] Destroyer.[12]

Phyrexian Scriptures

Phyrexian can be found in the artwork for Phyrexian Scriptures.[13]

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent
Phy PhyrexianScripturesPhyrexian Scriptures Sketch Top row: Z'QMxZxL
Main text:
~XvGD^N*X*ENxOZ"N*| N"V"OFN*FVV |MvOZ*NxZ^FMvMv.
MxNxLZ'Nx | V^J'Z"Z_HZ'Nx | V^JJZ'Z"THZ'GNx | V^T^_L_~Z*_ET | N^FD^QN*ET.
N*V"HZxMv | MxNxLZ'NxZ^FMvMv | Z'FFN*ZxNvQZ'EZx[14] 		Top row: ??
Main text:
Phyrexia from void evolved.
Great Yawgmoth ?? Great Machine Father perfection saw.
Thus Grand Evolution began.[1] 		Top row: ??
Main text:
From void evolved Phyrexia. Great Yawgmoth, Father of Machines, saw its perfection. Thus The Grand Evolution began.[1]

Phyrexian Altar

Phyrexian can be found in the artwork for Phyrexian Altar (Ultimate Masters).[15]

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent
Phy PhyrexianAltar UMA ON*XxN*Mx +negative-skin[2] Unskin[2]
Phy PhyrexianAltar2 UMA ~ZQM^XxL

Mark Rosewater's Instagram

Phyrexian can be found in a picture posted by Mark Rosewater on its Instagram.[16]

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent
Maro Top row: (Pr)aetors
Text:
Sheoldred
Urabrask
Vorinclex[5] 		Top row: (Pr)aetors
Text:
Sheoldred
Urabrask
Vorinclex[5]

Yawgmoth's Testament

Phyrexian can be found in the artwork for Yawgmoth's Testament.

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent
EIzAGlOXUAYS5li Columns from left to right:

Column 1: Testament (of) Yawg-

Column 2: -moth

Column 3: Can that in-exile +present

Column 4: face(up) +present-and cards

Column 5: (this)turn play.

Column 6: If-would cards

Column 7: to-graveyard

Column 8: to-exile-or

Column 9: (this)turn put

Column 10: instead library

Column 11: bottom (of) put.

Column 12: 2 [unknown phoneme] Sorcery[3]

Yawgmoth's Testament


Until end of turn, you may play face-up

cards you own from exile.


If a card would be put into your graveyard

or exile from anywhere this turn, put it on

the bottom of your library instead.


2B Sorcery[3]

Phyrexian Swamp

Phyrexian is used for the card text of Swamp (Jumpstart, #58) and the lore blurb describing the Swamp.[17]

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent
Card name File:Phyrexianswamp1.jpg XxLMxX*T Swamp
Type line File:Phyrexianswamp2.jpg N"K'XvF'ZXxNxOZ^N^ XxLMxX*T Basic Land - Swamp
Lore blurb Phyrexianblurb XxLMxX*T
[...]
??? 		Swamp
+imperative [...] creature-of behold.

+present Mirrodin under-attack?

+future on-Mephidross that work completed + past make [...] watch.[2][18]
Sheoldred, Maker of Whispers[2]

Swamp
[...]
Sheoldred, Whispering One[2]

Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider

Phyrexian is used for the card text of Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider (Kaldheim, #333).

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent
Card name VorMonRaid 1 NH^D^TxN_^_*N 'ZE*M*XLXxT:N*NL^D_^_ Vorinclex, Monstrous-Raider[18] Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider
Type line VorMonRaid 2 ^NL^V"Z~X:E'Z*N ~X:G^DxN|X:*NL^VXx^D Legendary-Creature, Phyrexian Praetor[18] Legendary Creature - Phyrexian Praetor
Rules text VorMonRaid 3 Always-?, Always-fast-go?

If-would on-player on-permanent-or counters put, instead-? double put.

If-would opponent on-player on-permanent-or counters ?-put instead-? under-un-double put.[18]

Trample, haste

If you would put one or more counters on a permanent or player, put twice that many of each of those kinds of counters on that permanent or player instead. If an opponent would put one or more counters on a permanent or player, put half that many of each of those kinds of counters on that permanent or player instead, rounded down.

The Five Praetors

Phyrexian is used for the card texts of the praetors in an upcoming Secret Lair and Historic Anthology V[19]

Sample Transcription Rough word-for-word translation Known English equivalent
Card name Elesh Phy 1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
Type line Elesh Phy 2 Legendary Creature - Praetor
Rules text Elesh Phy 3 Vigilance

Other creatures you control get +2/+2. Creatures your opponents control get -2/-2.
“The Gitaxians whisper among themselves of other worlds. If they exist, we must bring Phyrexia’s magnificence to them.”

Card name Jin Phy 1 Jin Gitaxias, Core Auger
Type line Jin Phy 2 Legendary Creature - Praetor
Rules text Jin Phy 3 Always-fast-?

If-when end-make-step beginning +imp 7 cards draw.

+present opponents maximum-hand-size by? 7 reduce.

Not end-goal +present instead process: new-phyrex-world making process.[20]

Flash

At the beginning of your end step, draw seven cards. Each opponent's maximum hand size is reduced by seven.
“It is not a goal, but a process—the process of creating the perfect Phyrexia.”

Card name Sheol Phy 1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
Type line Sheol Phy 2 Legendary Creature - Praetor
Rules text Sheol Phy 3 Always-swamp-walk?.

If-when upkeep-step beginning +imp in-graveyard creature-card target? +imp-and enters-the-battlefield.

If-when opponent upkeep-step beginning, +imp creature sacrifice.[20]

Swampwalk

At the beginning of your upkeep, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature.

Card name Ura Phy 1 Urabrask the Hidden
Type line Ura Phy 2 Legendary Creature - Praetor
Rules text Ura Phy 3 +present that (you)control +present creatures always-fast-? receive.

If-would that opponent control +present creature enter-the-battlefield +imp tap.

+past when mirrodin-resistance came for-guidance +past Urabrask furnace-dwellers turned +past decree stunned: "leave-alone +imp. [20]

Creatures you control have haste.

Creatures your opponents control enter the battlefield tapped.
When the Mirran resistance arrived, the furnace dwellers looked to Urabrask for guidance. His decree stunned the others: “Let them be.”

Card name Vori Phy 1 Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger
Type line Vori Phy 2 Legendary Creature - Praetor
Rules text Vori Phy 3 Always-?-break.

If-when land mana-tap +imp 1 that could-produce +past mana-pool add.

If-when opponent land ? mana-tap ? make?-control ? land ?-un-tap-step-? ?-un-tap.[20]

Trample

Whenever you tap a land for mana, add one mana of any type that land produced. Whenever an opponent taps a land for mana, that land doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.

Other

"Ich-Tekik" roughly translates to "reap and give".[21]

References

  1. ↑ a b c d citrus_inferno. "Evidence the new Phyrexian Scripture art translates to Dark Ritual Flavor Text". Retrieved on 2018-03-14.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f Citrus_Inferno (June 23, 2020). "Partial Translation of the Phyrexian Swamp Lore". Reddit.
  3. ↑ a b c Citrus_Inferno (November 9, 2019). "A partial translation of Yawgmoth's Testament". Reddit.
  4. ↑ a b c Doug Beyer (November 24, 2010). "Continuum". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ a b c d citrus_inferno, A partial parsing of the Phyrexian alphabet, /r/magicTCG
  6. ↑ Joseph Meehan. "For my first ever tweet I'll kick it off right...". Retrieved on 2018-03-14.
  7. ↑ jankestmage (March 13, 2018). "New Phyrexian Language, comment 371". MTG Salvation.
  8. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj MOON_E (March 13, 2018). "New Phyrexian Language, comment 368". MTG Salvation.
  9. ↑ Jenna Helland (May 19, 2011). "Dark Discoveries". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ a b Savil (March 13, 2018). "New Phyrexian Language, comment 350". MTG Salvation.
  11. ↑ a b c d e f All Will Be One (Video). YouTube (2018-03-14).
  12. ↑ a b c d e f g New Phyrexia (Video). YouTube (2018-03-14).
  13. ↑ Joseph Meehan (2017). "Phyrexian Scriptures". ArtStation.
  14. ↑ Corv (March 13, 2018). "Translating Phyrexian Scriptures". MTG Salvation.
  15. ↑ Yigit Koroglu. "Phyrexian Altar". ArtStation. Retrieved on 2018-12-16.
  16. ↑ Mark Rosewater. "Mark Rosewater on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved on 2019-10-09.
  17. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (June 22, 2020). "The Lore of Jumpstart on the Cards". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  18. ↑ a b c d Citrus_Inferno (January 8, 2021). "Some observations about the new Vorinclex." Reddit.
  19. ↑ Adam Styborski (May 17, 2021). "Get Ready for Historic Anthology 5". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  20. ↑ a b c d Citrus_Inferno (May 18, 2021). "Partial deciphering of the Phyrexian Praetors." Reddit.
  21. ↑ The Legendary Characters of Commander Legends, Part 2. magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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