Last week, listings on Amazon’s Brazil site leaked the face cards for two preconstructed Commander decks for Magic: The Gathering’s Phyrexia: All Will Be One.
Today, the first chapters of the set’s story debuted, with each one introducing the backstory for the same two commanders — Ixhel, Descendent of Atraxa and Neyali, Sun’s Vanguard.
The first story – A Hollow Body – introduces us to Ixhel, the daughter of Atraxa. In a unique first-person perspective, the story reveals Ixhel’s desire to follow in her mother’s footsteps. After being commanded by Atraxa to eliminate Geth, Ixhel makes her way to his domain. Upon confronting the lord of the vault, he gets into the Phyrexian’s head – provoking her with statements like “what do you have to live for”. While not enough to prevent his demise, Geth’s words did prompt Ixhel to contemplate her purpose, and leads her to create a living weapon of her own — Vishgraz.
The second story – Cinders – follows Neyali, the leader of a Mirran resistance cell whos ends up being betrayed by her comrade and lead to the clutches of the newly compleated Slobad.
Despite being a hulking mechanical abomination, Slobad tries to assure Neyali that she and her people would be safe and free to live a full, real life even after compleation, but true to her character, Neyali refuses and allows herself to be captured in place of her people being let go. Before meeting her demise, Neyali would be rescued by her trusty Phoenix – Otharri – and immediately begins plotting her retaliation.
While not yet confirmed, it is likely that Vishgraz will be the second legendary in the Abzan commander deck and Otharri for the Boros. If Otharri is the second legendary in the deck, it will be only the second legendary Phoenix ever printed, with the first – Syrix, Carrier of the Flame – having just been printed in Streets of New Capenna Commander last year.
So what do you think of Commander deck cards getting their own backstories? Are you more excited for the Abzan or Boros deck? Let us know what you think in the comments on Facebook and Twitter.
Phyrexia: All Will Be One is scheduled to release on February 10. View our official preview gallery.