Mirrodin, the perfect metal world created by Karn, is corrupted. A Phyrexian infection, dormant for centuries, awakens and begins to transform the plane. What was once a paradise of silver and steel becomes a nightmare of fused flesh and black oil.
This episode tells the story of the fall of Mirrodin and the birth of New Phyrexia.
[lore_illustration url="https://images.ctfassets.net/s5n2t79q9icq/4ZxQlHVzaUAoqWCGuqIAU4/f8f8f8f8f8f8f8f8f8f8f8f8f8f8f8f8/new-phyrexia-plane.jpg" alt="New Phyrexia: the metal world corrupted by black oil" caption="New Phyrexia: Phyrexian corruption transformed Mirrodin into a mechanical hell. Art: Wizards of the Coast" ]Karn's Legacy
When Karn created Mirrodin, he didn't realize he carried within him the seeds of destruction. Phyrexian oil — the corrupted substance that transformed organic life into mechanical horrors — had contaminated the golem during his travels through Phyrexia.
This oil, invisible and patient, had infiltrated the very heart of Mirrodin. For centuries, it had waited, slowly spreading, infecting the mycosynth — the living metal that formed the foundation of all life on Mirrodin.
The First Signs
The inhabitants of Mirrodin first noticed subtle changes. Metal creatures developed bizarre organic growths. The mycosynth took on grotesque shapes. A black, oily substance appeared in the dark corners of the world.
Then came the Phyrexians themselves — creatures born from the nightmarish fusion of metal and flesh, driven by a single will: to transform everything that exists into their own image.
The Awakening of the Praetors
From the corrupted heart of Mirrodin emerged the Praetors — five entities of terrifying power, each embodying an aspect of Phyrexian philosophy:
- Elesh Norn (white) — The Orthodox Machine, preaching unity through conformity
- Jin-Gitaxias (blue) — Progress, seeking perfection through experimentation
- Sheoldred (black) — Survival, ruling over the pits where the weak were recycled
- Urabrask (red) — The Forger, the only praetor to tolerate the Mirran resistance
- Vorinclex (green) — Predation, believing that only the strongest deserved to survive
The Mirran Resistance
Not all of Mirrodin's inhabitants succumbed to the corruption. A resistance formed, led by heroes determined to save their world:
Koth of the Hammer, a geomancer capable of manipulating the mountains themselves, became the leader of the resistance. His unwavering determination inspired others to keep fighting even when all seemed lost.
The resistance allied with planeswalkers from other worlds — including Elspeth Tirel, a warrior who had already faced Phyrexian horrors in her youth.
The Fall of Mirrodin
Despite the efforts of the resistance, the Phyrexian corruption was too deep, too widespread. One by one, the Mirran strongholds fell. The heroes were killed or corrupted. The metal sky became a ceiling of pulsating flesh.
Melira, a sylvok born without the ability to fuse with metal, discovered that she was naturally immune to Phyrexian oil. Her existence represented a fragile hope — perhaps a cure was possible?
But before a cure could be developed, Mirrodin fell. The plane was renamed New Phyrexia — and the praetors began to look toward other worlds to conquer.
Karn Liberated
At the heart of New Phyrexia, Karn was a prisoner — his mind corrupted by the very oil he had brought himself. The Phyrexians worshipped him as their "Father of Machines", a cruel irony for the golem who had wanted to create a perfect world.
Venser, a former planeswalker who had once helped save the Multiverse, gave his life to free Karn from the corruption. His sacrifice transferred his spark to the golem, giving him the power to escape — but also overwhelming guilt.
Karn escaped from New Phyrexia, vowing to find a way to save what he had created. But the praetors had their own plans — and their gaze was already turning toward other planes of the Multiverse.
In the next episode...
Episode 8d: Original Innistrad
Innistrad is a world of gothic darkness, where vampires, werewolves, zombies, and spirits torment mortals. But a fragile balance keeps humanity alive — a balance that rests on the archangel Avacyn. When she mysteriously vanishes, evil is unleashed.
In the darkness of Innistrad, even faith can become a curse...
Sources
- MTG Wiki: New Phyrexia — The fall of Mirrodin
- MTG Wiki: Praetors — The five Phyrexian leaders
- Scars of Mirrodin (Magic expansion, 2010) — The beginning of the infection
- Mirrodin Besieged (Magic expansion, 2011) — The war for Mirrodin
- New Phyrexia (Magic expansion, 2011) — The Phyrexian victory
