NICOL BOLAS WON!! How he can come BACK after March of the Machine | Magic: The Gathering

THE AFTERMATH story for Magic: the Gathering
Elesh Norn's failed invasion of the Multiverse spread nothing but death and destruction. There was very little good to come of this climatic event in Magic: The Gathering lore. However, I believe there is one who benefited from March of the Machine. This unlikely benefactor looks to take advantage of the devastation left by New Phyrexia. Who was the TRUE WINNER of March of the Machine??
Introduction (0:00)
Who Won? (1:26)
The Fall of a Villain (2:14)
Why He Won MOM (7:35)
Future Return (11:50)
Full March Of The Machine Playlist
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#mat #lore #mtg

[@masonking240]

By any chance can you discuss the incredibly interesting fact that since the Omen paths now exist, Slivers from all over the multiverse are finally connected, the hive mind can truly be one again.

[@robloxplayer0003]

I always found that funny. People are acting like the world is fine now, when there's an eldrazi in the moon, slivers that can still travel the omenpaths, the lazotep zombies are still being made, and there's clearly compleation oil across the multiverse when it only took a few drops to damn mirrodin.

[@whydoesthisexistpod]

GrEaT StOrYtELLinG WiZarDs😂😂

[@jeremiahabbott4469]

​@@robloxplayer0003well according to the ending of that series in March, with New Phyrexia outside space and time it is inert. Which is complete crap imo. Still waiting for Daddy Yawg to return 🤣. Seriously thought he was going to in March. Norn was heavily interested in how gods worked on theros for a specific reasons not explained. I heavily doubt shed have done such a thing, Yawgmoth would be over her rulership wise. Imo the most phyrexian faction is Sheoldreds. It reminds me of original phyrexians when Yawgmoth not paying attention or being there. I swriously hated the way the story went. All wil be one kinda started okayish, but just pure plummet. IDC if Hasbro is culprit, rosewater, but some people need to be fired for incompetence from last few years 🤣.

[@Sorcererrrk]

Oooooh I like that

[@aceundead4750]

​@@robloxplayer0003also where's Gix? He was still alive in Dominaria United, and he wasnt connected to New Phyrexia, so the threat of Phyrexia is still very much alive unless i missed his death.

[@DreamDaddie]

Bolas’ Spark was taken from him. But he still commanded a lot of power before becoming a Planeswalker. My belief is he isn’t gone forever.

[@shaynethegmann]

I still want to know more about that vampire that killed 2 pre mending planeswalkers while de sparked

[@terrinvann]

Hard to stay gone when you are described as "all powerful" even without a spark. I agree. He ain't gone forever

[@billycyph]

he has lost his spark twice at this point. he knows how to get it back. lol.

[@sev1120]

His spark is stuck inside of one of the god-eternals, they never died to drain the spark away via the elderspell. It's also entirely possible, considering Bolas was around during the Elder Dragon War, for him to create something like an artificial spark, or make a portal between planes. I mean, he was active when Urza made the Weatherlight and fought Phyrexia, it'd make sense for him to have plans within plans

[@DreamDaddie]

I believe his spark burned out Bontu and Oketra when they took it. But this is Bolas we’re talking about, he can definitely get it back. This also isn’t the first time he was trapped in his meditation realm. Something will draw Ugin’s attention and Bolas will get out.

[@AhmadJackson]

Both ajani and liliana both still have their sparks. That doesn't feel like a coincidence. Almost like the universe still needs them for something related to them

[@bluefett1784]

What would be wild is if Bolas somehow planted part of his spark into multiple beings or planeswalkers, so he could extract the pieces back out one day.

[@Aarenby]

Jace lost his tho right?

[@bluefett1784]

@@Aarenby idk if we know exactly where he went 🤔

[@ThePlayer4our]

​@@AarenbyJace is literally still a plot hole they never addressed

[@Aarenby]

@@ThePlayer4our ah- business as usual then

[@redemption101caleb]

Bolas still has the Elder Spell, right? It would be awesome to have him out there hunting surviving planeswalkers to steal their sparks.

[@rennac3152]

I think Liliana might still have that spell, he used her as the trigger for a lot of his magic during his initial assault

[@redemption101caleb]

@@rennac3152 true but the spell was his. He made the Eternals to channel it, he just gave Liliana control over the army

[@sev1120]

​@@redemption101caleb Bolas discovered the spell, and he used Liliana's necromancy to be able to have enough vessels to drain sparks to feed to him to let him ascend to godhood. Imagine if a resparked Bolas turned up in the story, but as an unlikely ally against the Eldrazi or a multiversal sliver hivemind.

[@crazymango9873]

Ugin take away bolas Power to use any kind of magic In the moment he cant cast a spell

[@nuggetospaghetto]

Doesn't Davriel have the Elderspell?

[@TheyCallMeDio]

I like the part when Bolas said " It's Bolin time!" And Bolas'd all over the place. Truly the most moment of all time

[@rennac3152]

Finally something from war of the spark that makes sense

[@aceundead4750]

Actually i think it was Gideon who said "it's Giddyin' time!" then Gideon'd all over the place

[@rennac3152]

@@aceundead4750 could of sworn his was “get giddy with it” during his big speech but I could be wrong

[@aceundead4750]

@@rennac3152 that was when he put his hand on Liliana's shoulder and transferred his invincibility to her

[@Mrtfarrugia]

​@@aceundead4750or when Rakdos threw him on his back and yelled "GIDDY UP!!"

[@ZenodudeMC]

I was kind of mad we never saw anything referencing Nicol,Ugin or the meditation plane having been invaded

[@Kol-xb6mv]

Kinda sus. That might indicate they have something special planned.

[@phasedrake]

Well, aside from Nicol, Ugin, and any phyrexians that survived the invasion of the meditation plane (if any) who would know? Little hard for news to spread if there is no one to tell anyone else about it.

[@Crusina]

It's kind of funny that the more we dive into the after effects of MOM, the more we realize that things really have changed and not always for the better of the multiverse...

[@randomrants148]

It wasn't a good lore in my book.

[@CromwellMTG]

Ugin being desparked and somehow ending up on strixhaven after nicky B gets his powers back and opening the sixth school which would be colourless to prepare for his brothers return. Would be awesome to have more colourless instants and enchantments. Thered be some unique takes on what Ugin might teach

[@k9vendettathewolfofmordor529]

Maybe that'll be part of the plot for the return to Strix haven

[@MitchT97]

‘Strixhaven: Return of Bolas’ would be a set that’d be sold out in no time I feel like. Professor Ugin? Yes please.

[@charlesroberts2353]

Bolas didn't create the meditation realm, it was ugins and bolas took it from him when he first defeated him and chased him out of it. Thats where bolas got the gem between his horns he found it there and ugin used it to spy on bolas

[@EclipseWarlord]

Yes, it was Ugin's Meditation Realm. Aether Hub is usually better about the little lore details.

[@Dothreban]

It was Bolas's. He gifted it to Ugin before they became foes. Bolas took it back after he killed Ugin.

[@EclipseWarlord]

@@Dothreban Do you have a reference I could look up? I've read most of the books and follow most of the lore retcons and don't recall ever seeing that.

[@Zarlos01]

And the invasion tree only opened portals to planes the Elesh knew. The tree told Wrenn she tried to open a portal to Zalfir, that she didn't have opened one because she didn't know of there. But we still have the omenpaths...

[@charlesroberts2353]

@@Dothreban bolas and ugin were foes before bolas was even a plainswalker, that was part of what made bolas hate him so much because ugins spark ignited first

[@TheAverageNerd]

We're primed for Sliver's to adapt and become an interplaner threat due to the omen paths. Also woth the insect planeswalker, we could see a sliver one which would be amazing

[@thefinalboss4471]

If one sliver became a planeswalker, would they all become planeswalkers?

[@rennac3152]

Tezzert made the best plays during the Phyrexian’s multi-planar crusade. Man played both sides and pulled one over on his handlers

[@AetherHub]

That’s a very good point. He even got a shiny new darksteel body out of it

[@rennac3152]

@@AetherHub MVP of this conflict, man finally graduated out of lacky to main villain

[@DCDuelist]

Totally agree I think he benefited the most out of everyone

[@Devilish420]

I was hoping someone would mention Tezzeret in the comments. He really did make out more than everyone else from this conflict.

[@grizzlybarrows4390]

At some point they need to bring back, explain, and do a large story arc on Marit Lage.

[@Y2kRito]

In some weird way, I feel like Teferi came out on top here regardless of being desparked. He got exactly what he wanted. Not only did he successfully protect Zhalfir for all those years, its been restored and the phyrexian menace has been dealt with. On top of that, being desparked lets him live his life with the people he loved. Pretty solid ending for a planeswalker.

[@draco2743192]

I'm excited to see a new creature bolas eventually.

[@AetherHub]

Same! He’s not done yet

[@joaocisne556]

@@AetherHub but he should have been

[@rennac3152]

@@joaocisne556We’re way past what should be with this writing. Time to just enjoy what’s left of this ride

[@aceundead4750]

Im so glad you did this video, a little reminder that lore-wise, there is technically Dominaria's most ancient evil that still exists in the form of one of my three favorite characters/cards.

[@josharko111]

Honestly I think this is more likely to lead into an Eldeazi arc, but it wouldn't surprise me if Nicol Bolas was used as a sort of bait and switch before that.

[@jesok3761]

I actually liked war of the spark, but your theories are truly inspiring, and if you're right this could actually revitalize the lore in ways we haven't seen since the mending.

[@byronsmothers8064]

It would have been something if phyrexianized Jace had coordinated with Nissa to direct the roots of the tree to the prison realm, as he seemed like one of the few who knew where Nicol was after WotS.

[@jettledesma561]

A question I have is if the compleated Jace ever visited the meditation realm during the invasion. We still don't know what Norn tasked him with and he is one of the few who knew of Bolas's fate (something he could've disclosed to Norn) so it makes me wonder

[@jesok3761]

Jace assassinate bolas?

[@jettledesma561]

@@jesok3761 Probably unlikely since Bolas has returned from the dead before(the reason he wasn't killed on Ravnica) and he would probably be immune to Compleation due to his vaccine, just an interesting idea I thought of.

[@sev1120]

​​@@jettledesma561nd Ugin's there as Bolas' jailer. Sure, Jace is a powerful mindmage, but Ugin is ANCIENT, and has access to not only all five colours of mana, but colourless mana as well

[@brandonbrooks779]

​@@jesok3761Meh, Norn didnt have Tamiyo release Emrakul so not likely

[@allx1048]

@@brandonbrooks779but see there is big difference between desparked elder dragon and eldritch being that lives between words and consumes mana from planes

[@davidbriceno2759]

I hope they don't bring him back yet, I want wizards to get some competent writers to create the stories because the March of the Machines and Phyrexia all will be one were quite underwhelming storywise, but also because Bolas dominated the previous storylines so it would be cool if we get some other threat as well as some stories with a smaller scope, like an entire story set on a new plane that isn't connected to any of the previous plotlines.

[@Seldomheardabout]

Everything since war of the spark is garbage. We use to have flavor writers, authors for the storyline etc. now we have woke people making sure we know people are gay.

[@Dreadnote-pf7of]

Yeah. It would be cool if this was one of covered sidelines of MoM legacy that could get some development behind the curtains for a while. Lets explore new stuff, visit old realms with new things in it and bring new villains upfront with maybe a little hints here and there for Bolas return and then bam - suddenly we see him gone. Just the idea of such a powerful entity go missing is, IMHO, very interesting, especially because world itself changed after MOM:A. And then we could see how his story get developed, maybe he would step to be BBG once again or, what is even better, if he could be an interesting side of new conflict, not directly a Main Big Danger, but its own, separate force. Maybe it would be cool to see a "flashback" set when after 5-6 sets of worldbuilding ontop of MOM:A we could get to see his escape in a, well, flaahback-type of set like "ok, remembered this time? We know that Bolas escaped, but here HOW he done it and what events he enocounter"

[@SmugLookingBarrel]

I think another candidate for biggest winner of the march of the machine is Emrakul, who was conspicuously unmentionned on the Innistrad part of the march story. With so many planeswalkers de-sparked or dead, its going to be much harder to put together a force who can follow Emrakul through planes and trap her again, consider that all of Nissa, Tamiyo, Nahiri, Gideon, and Ugin are either desparked, dead, or permanently occupied and Jace is MIA. Plus, I think the omenpaths tearing holes in the multiverse is something that would stir up and anger the eldrazi, as their home of the blind eternities was changed or damaged in some way. All the messing with Innistrad's moon during the midnight hunt story in combination with the phyrexians could easily have weakened her restraints, and there's no planeswalker watching her anymore.

[@Skel_cat63]

It's also important to note that since Jace was compleated, he would surely have provided the information of Bolas's existence to Norn. That might be related to the mission she sent him on. Possibly to compleat a powerful ally?

[@mobianarnadi]

Yooooo, a compleated Bolas would be DEVASTATING

[@Crusina]

Jace was never under Norn's control IMO. The ravnica story also indicates he always had a plan as well.

[@Mcpetra197]

I love the story and character of Nicol Bolas he's hands down my favourite MTG villain. But despite me love for Bolas. I'm thinking the next big multiverse dangers is going to be the Eldrazi again. I've seen a small pattern to 'ultimate' villains it's usually Nicol Bolas, Phyrexians and the Eldrazi. It like a spinning wheel of villains, with small gaps for less planer villains in between. But in saying that what are the possibility that there Eldrazi creatures (lesser kind) infect with the Glistening Oil and what horror could be created from such an union?

[@dannymontreuil9155]

Don't know if you have a theory for her too, but Emrakul is another one thing I'm curious. She's lock herself out because it wasn't the "time"

[@TheOuroboros84]

I think she's just chillin in her moon resort for elder beings.

[@dakotamcintire7419]

So here's the thing. I can't remember the flavor text but on one card it covered how once he was completed, Jace informed Jin Gitaxias of one of the multiverses "biggest secrets". I believe that could have to do with Bolas still being alive. And if Bolas knew about the phyrexians and was able to immunize himself and Tezzeret, its likely the phyrexians also knew about them. Now what that could mean for events during the March, Im not entirely sure, but a completed bolas could feasibly overpower Ugin. Failing that, who knows what the phyrexians could have learned in that realm. All the same, there's any number of ways for Bolas to escape, but what would his next move be? Atop that, keep in mind, the last mending event ignited the sparks of many new planeswalkers. My question is, with so many desparked, who will take their place, and more than that, is it possible for one who lost their spark to regain it? And not just Bolas, Azor.

[@Gitaxixn]

Spent a while trying to find the card, no idea which it would be, not on either of their wiki pages

[@jweezy15able]

I just assumed our next bad guy was the Elderazi since the Blind Eternities act as the body while the big Elderazi act as fingers, so we'd inevitably see them again but maybe with diffrent names and forms. Having said that, i think Bolas will play a big part in the story again soon after another Elderazi run-in.

[@expensivecomet9867]

Jace and Vraska MIA, emrakul in Innistrad's moon, Slivers across the multiverse can unite, Ikoria's "exclusives" are released on other planes, Tezzeret is on an unknown plane, Bolas, and Ashiok is taking advantage of the nightmares a multiversal war causes with death and ptsd

[@rafaelsantos-nl9jd]

there an interesting theory from March of The Machines, to this day we have no information about Jace's secret mission, we know Norn send him away in some mission, but nobody know the location or nature of the mission, things become extra interesting once we remember that Jace was the only person in the whole multiverse that know about Ugin and Bolas and the meditation realm. Once he was compleated, Norn probable get hold of that information too, Sowhat if Norn send Jace to invade the meditation realm?

[@Akumatron]

what if the branch from the invasion tree that norn is loking up at in the beginning is the meditaton realm?

[@GiantBelgian]

I think it's actualy even more interesting than that. Jace leaves before Norn could even tell him his mission. She assumes that he's off to do whatever she was going to tell her, but even in the story it's just that: Norn's own hubris making her believe this assumption as fact. It's very possible she was correct, of course. But, Jace being a mind-mage powerful enough to avoid identity death from an Eldrazi bearing down on him, I wouldn't put it past him to be able to somehow stay in control of his own complaeted body. Hell, we saw he had helped Vraska achieve a similar thing through the trap he placed in her noggin. For all intents and purposes, Jace could have gone literally anywhere for any reason.

[@rafaelsantos-nl9jd]

the main prolem with completion is that you start t want it, intheory Jace will turn any defense and backup off himself o allow his 100% completion, defenses and backup plans are pointless against the person that created it. you also have the point that, if Jace was free why he dont come back? why he dont try to help during the invasion? why he never made contact? In Vraska case is easy to understand, she has nothing to return, Vraska has 3 connections, The Golgari, and that bridge is gone, she can't never return to her guild or home plane ever again, to Jace and the her pirate crew. Jace on the other side, has a lot of connections and friends, you imagine we will tryto make contact with Chandra or Liliana. But nothing. so or Jace is in a situation that he can't make contact or he is in a situation that he dont see this people as allies anymore

[@GiantBelgian]

@@rafaelsantos-nl9jd I'm not sure if complaetion works the way you say it does. On the surface, from an external party looking at someone succumb to phyresis, it absolutely is, of course. But what we saw happen with Vraska internally tells a different story. The 'pure' part of her mind fled into the barriers Jace had set in her psyche all those years ago, and it seems to have remained fully untouched by the complaetion. The Phyrexian psyche took over her body, sure, but the untainted part of her mind still exerted an influence of some sort, as we saw with the constant headaches complaeted Vraska experienced as well as her fondness for all the trinkets she'd gathered, her compass in particular. We see a similar thing with Tamiyo, who purposefully sent her attack wide so she could be cut down. Now, with that being the effect of for both Vraska and Tamiyo, what might Jace be able to accomplish? 'Complaetion makes you start to want to be complaeted', sure. But, in essence, that's a mental trick. And Jace is the king of those. I don't think it'd be a stretch at all for him to be able to ward off his mind from the effects of completion and even destroy the phyrexian psyche looking to take control of his body from behind said wards.

[@rafaelsantos-nl9jd]

@@GiantBelgian the main problem is that, Jace is a telepath, Jace is the one that create the protection. Vraska mind was safe because Vraska is not a telepath, even of "Evil" Vraska know that part of her old mind is safe, she can't do anything about. But the Phyrexian part of Jace 100% will know about the protection and will have the skill to erase it. What you say is possible, but i dont think is the case because, is kinda out of character for Jace to just stay an watch doing nothing during the invasion and never try to make contact with his friends even after the invasion

[@origaminosferatu3357]

Personally, I'd love some new baddies at this point, save it just becoming the Dalek Problem and have the same three rotating endlessly.

[@pelusoft]

With the invasion of planes I assumed Nicol Bolas was going to escape. But even if he didn't at the invasion, now with the spark rupture and the omenpaths is just a matter of time. I'm on board with you. Great video. Thanks!

[@camerons6028]

I think the silver moon on Indestrad, the one with Emrakul in it, might also become important. Something is going to happen in the story that make Teferi 'go back in time" and reset the whole time line. Maybe as far back so Urza and Mishra dont go to war on Dominaria. Wotc will want a full reboot at somepoint.

[@stampede122]

Ultimately, he could scheme all he wants to, but would be practically impossible for him to leave unnoticed

[@_Mythic777_]

I've been preaching the idea of Bolas's return ever since Realmbreaker punched holes into The Blind Eternities and I can't wait to see his inevitable return :D

[@adamdouce353]

This is a great idea. However, it would require the Magic story team to be competent in their jobs

[@Delumis]

I can see Bolas using an omen path for the first time, once he has lost Ugin he will attempt to study the open paths in order to manipulate them to his own will allowing him to become a planeswalker once more just not officially.

[@mack-h-2019]

I love your content!!!

[@joaocisne556]

also, I hope Ugin did not lost his spark, he is my Favorite Planeswalker, and I hope he still has his

[@michaeltaylor788]

Me to.

[@DrunkenPilotVideos]

We found the tron players

[@joaocisne556]

@@DrunkenPilotVideos funny, I only play good stuff an commander, I like him lore-wise, my top 3 are, in order,: Ugin, Ajani and Ariln

[@FerryK236]

My boy still is an Elder Dragon, who were supposed to be (kinda) as strong as premending walkers. So with all those sparks gone, they stand no match against him. I also have the idea that March of the machines was Bolas' back-up plan if he failed. Tezzeret is a slave of Bolas after all and he gave phyrexia the planner bridge tech. Would be a big coincidence if not right.

[@mattnivison8566]

I would love to see the Nicol Bolas return and honestly hadn’t thought of this at all! Cool theory!!

[@anti-pill]

I mean, Bolas needed to be nerfed. That said, his end is not an end at all and given the fact that he can recover his dragon powers and has as much knowledge as Ugin or even more, I think he will return.

[@AetherHub]

All true points

[@fenrismarks876]

Okay, so interesting piece. The meditation realm was never mentioned in the story. However, of the planes that we got for the new commander decks that re-released plain Chase, the meditation realm was one of them.

[@jamesvoyce1734]

You forgot about the last Titan eldrazi Emrukal who was trapped in a moon by planes Walkers in innistrad

[@lefty012]

You've left out the fact that Jace knew where Bolas hasn't been seen since the first act. Bolas was also flashed in the march of the machines trailer.

[@bryankopkin6869]

Planeswalker or not, I really do hope we see Bolas in some kind of story soon.

[@IzzetNilson]

Not sure how Bolas would hear about what happened to new phyrexia but I imagine what he would probably do is attempt to force himself into becoming a praetor once he learns there's no leadership. Like, he suspected that they would find a way to branch out across the multiverse, just didn't know how they would go about it. With the omen paths, I can totally see a moment where one would just open up right next to Bolas or whatever it is his name would now be and just leave.

[@christophertomlinson8097]

The demise of Bolas is a testiment to how the current writters don't understand the past lore. There are no true heros or villians in MTG only characters acting in there own interest.

[@sailordaigurren8225]

Elspeth is a big damn hero

[@zacharyhiggins4947]

There are definitely true villains in MtG

[@Tge97]

Eldrazi,pharexians,bolas the trifecta of mtg big bads

[@ivernedit4132]

Love bolas. Need him back. My bolas tribal deck is aching for a new edition

[@ryanbarry894]

Bolas is going to come back just like how eventually the phyrexians will come back

[@54m0h7]

You know what would be cool; Have the Eldrazi come back, and because of the Omen Paths they have access to many planes instead of just one. They spread and bring the Multiverse to the brink of extinction. The only solution is for Teferi to go back in time to the War of the Spark and manipulate events so Bolas wins.

[@AnimeProfilePicture]

They can exist on more than one plane but don't. Remember, what we see isn't the full extent of their body, just the hands. Ugin tried to explain that to the gatewatch, but look how that went

[@brandonbrooks779]

They already had access to multiple.planes because they live in the space in between planes

[@laurentrobitaille2204]

Time travel is lame tho

[@Oxygen1004]

Time reversal plots are lame

[@teawithluke2296]

The eldrazi are also purposeful with their plane extinction and don't destroy planes indiscriminately

[@CrymsonNite]

I INSTANTLY made the conection that only Jace knows where bolas is, and he's evil now.

[@JimFaindel]

In b4 Liliana and Tezzerat team up, breach the meditation plain, and give Bolas the ass kicking of a lifetime.

[@raiderdevellian5752]

Nicol Bolas is like Sauron. I'm excited for his return

[@AwesomeNinjaVideos]

With everything that has happened it would be interesting if Bolas did get out of the meditation realm. Honestly I think that him and Ugin have had many conversations about everything. Also remember that only Jace knows where Ugin and Bolas are. So Jace could have telepathically contacted Ugin and told him everything that was going on or he could have went to Ugin to explain it. What would be even more interesting is if Bolas has seen the error of his ways from the conversations with Ugin. It would awesome if Bolas decides to turn into a protector and join his brother in doing for the greater good. With so many planes walkers losing their sparks it would make sense for Ugin and Bolas' help to be needed. Also even though all the phyrexians are dead except for maybe a few that didn't die and Vorinclex because remember he can revive himself from death. He did it when he went to Kaldheim.

[@davidgarrido6732]

Since the phyrexian invasion of the multiverse with ONE and MOM started, I've wondered if there would be an alliance beetween Bolas and the heroes against them. Another terrifying idea I've gave some thought was how it would be even more disturbing if Elesh tried, in her hubris, to assimilate Enrakul from her prision in the moon, and phyrexia got devastated and devoured by a host of even more dangerous Eldrazi.

[@thelurkerbel0w]

Meanwhile, Emrakul is just chillin

[@mikeawesome3]

Bolas was actually mentioned during the MOTM story arc. He’s mentioned in the flavor text of a creature card, Gitaxian Spellstalker which is the backside of the card Khenra Spellspear. WOTC loves to drop little hints on cards thatching at the future direction of storylines and sets. They’ve been doing it for years and years. Whenever a new set comes out, you can probably find a hint to it in an older set that’s a year or two old.

[@brauliolaborico701]

Surprise that you didn't post pictures of the Walmart Secret Lair with Bolas God, in completed art with his brother. The art of 4 cards looks awesome.

[@Case2_0]

I understood from the story/cards that Bolas succeeded in becoming a god, he just had his spark torn away

[@Vincentvondoom]

New Phyrexia did not get a fraction of the screen time as Bolas, after a decade of him outsmarting everyone and being behind almost every plot point I have enjoyed his absence. That being said, incredible video! Kudos to you if your prediction is accurate.

[@naruto28291]

I hope that the MTG Lore has another major timeskip so that we can get a new set of protagonist

[@ElChismo]

It’s a little close to Liliana’s story but I like the idea of the desparked characters making a deal with a Bolas, or one of the kamigawan kami or something to get their sparks back and the ways they go about it. That or the aforementioned return of the slivers would be awesome or seeing how the eldrazi react to the changes to planes and blind eternities

[@LoboGuarah]

The first thing i thought when MoM story ended was: "Wait. If Jace can still be Phyrexified, that means that A PHYREXIAN KNOWS ABOUT BOLAS." Because, if some can record, there were only two in the whole multiverse that knew Bolas name after War of the Spark and the whole multiverse mind wipe of Nico Bolas name was made to prevent someone summoning him back. Which means that if Jace is still out there, if he's still compleated, the multiverse is still fucked and the Writer's team has no need to create another threat or even bring back old ones because Bolas is just RIGHT THERE.

[@x_cade_hd1358]

I don’t believe it’s possible. Bolas’s memories where taken away from him by Jace, and right now he’s MIA

[@nicks8208]

Tezzert having a weird memory regain might be related too.

[@ozolith2224]

Something I thought about, 2 things specifically, first, the omen paths opening up on many worlds, what would happen if one opened on the home world of the slivers, second, the blind eternities being damaged, how did that effect the eldrazi?!? 😮

[@Happytremereinc]

I think Ugin still has his spark. Would love to see a lore video on what os known about Serra. Now that's an OG character.....

[@jeremiahabbott4469]

Serra is dead. Im not sure how, or why they did the weird loop Elspeth thing, but she was dead premending

[@Happytremereinc]

@jeremiahabbott4469 yes she supposedly passed sometime during the urza block in the late 90s, but it was never really explained.

[@jeremiahabbott4469]

@@Happytremereinc from what I vaguely remember from those books she died of a unhealing wound or defending her custom plane, but rather than let it explode without her, urza contained it somehow It a powerstone. Theres also the new found lore thing which is weird but sure I guess about jodah finding a special study of Urza that has all his blueprints

[@narutofreak974]

I actually has a fear that the Meditation realm would be reached by Realmbreaker and Ugin failed to foresee this. But i don't think he can use the elderspell again.

[@jjjjjmtg92]

Where are these cinematics at? Also where can you read the story as a whole?

[@ce11fire]

Where did bolas’ spark go after it was taken from him as well as all the other planeswalkers from war of the spark that lost theirs?

[@tomcadden8054]

I reckon Bolas comes back as a 5 colour "recovered" character, who claims to have learnt from his mistakes and initally starts to repair the chaos of the phyrexian invasion along with some sort of new gatewatch type band of planeswalkers. I reckon we are due some return of eldrazi soon, so maybe he comes back and helps win some battle over Emrekul and it appears that all is forgiven. However, given time he see's the chance for power and screws everyone over in some way as he tries to take over again.

[@catkingtm8779]

I kinda wanna see the planes recover a little first before we go into another major villain plot.

[@manachamber]

Maybe Bolas will want to alter the power of the glistening oil

[@garethholman1050]

I wouldn't mind, Nicky B is my 3rd favourite after Niv Mizzet and my all time favourite Sengir himself. I still live in hope that the Baron will either develop a spark or consume a poor random planeswalker foolish enough to blunder into his domain through a ritual and steal the spark from them.

[@MandoEmmm]

Jace being compleated, he knew where Bolas was, what if he was Compleated, and could be used as a way to bring himself as well as the Phyrexians back one final time in the future ?

[@TheKillerman3333]

I had on multiple videos since it was announced, mentioned that the climax of the pherexians would be an all out war between plainswalkers, slivers, pherexians and eldrazi. Wizards had every story beat opportunity to make it happen. They had every opportunity to also blend each side. We saw PHerexian planeswalkers, we already had a pherexian sliver, sorta. WE had a planeswalker who had knowledge of both pherexia and eldrazi to link the two together. The set would have been a crescendo to introduce a sliver planeswalker, an eldrazi planeswalker, an eldrazi sliver that gives slivers annihilator 1. The omen paths and invation could have been that moment where you access all the planes of existence accidently freeing bolas, causing the slivers to come back and create a new hive mind behind a planewalker that was rainbow colored that coud create slivers at will. You could have had an amazing artwork of two cards "freed from the moon" and a planewalker Emrukul, the one freed from the moon. The horrors on that plane could evolve further when Emrukul gets freed, and he would say in the minds of the inhabiants. "I was never trapped, simply home. a threat so great, we must protect." then you have a monocolored eldrazi horror that creates horrors that turn into baby eldrazi. As a planeswalker they would have the ability to summon eldrazi spawns. In other sets, that are "noncanon" we do have a sliver eldrazi. gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=slivdrazi%20monstrosity wizards could have made it cannon despite the "over powered" ability. However despite a looming climax that could have given us basicly 4 commander decks worth of rainbow support, and tying up a lot of loose threads, wizards didn't give us this amazing end. the winner btw would be planewalkers becuase they are the main characters. Non sliver, non eldrazi, non pherexian planewalkers would have been the victors, and if you have to go so far as to get rid of planewalkers, you can still do so. people you could have desparked include nico bolas, all the pherexian planewalkers, and also many of the main characters including the original 5, jace, garruk, liliana, chandra, and ajani. not sure if garruk was dead before these events so he is still lumped in here.

[@dontmisunderstand6041]

Interesting that you say that... of the 4 new commander preconstructed decks, there's a sliver deck, an eldrazi deck, and a planeswalker deck.

[@prufrock1977]

While I hope Bolas makes an eventual comeback, I don’t want that story for a few more years. The Praetors story is over…now for something new…or maybe back around to Emmy in the moon…(but wouldn’t that start with Innistrad, which we just left…) so maybe something totally new would be refreshing.

[@Motleydoll123]

Indeed. Let the universe breath a moment, time progress and the dust settle, and then, when the time is right, have bolas return to the horror of all those who remain with him just being smug as he reveals he has found a way to regain his spark, that while the rest of his imprisoners and foes have been drastically weakened, killed, traumatised, or despaired, he had nothing but time to think…to plot, to understand, and to learn from his mistakes. And now… he does not need to become attain unlimited power. He just needs to be stronger than his enemies. That is enough for him. And likely, just to further throw salt in the fresh wounds of his foes, he is like “oh… you thought I had been killed? Did jace not tell you, or maybe my brothers illusion blinded you. I had no contingency for my capture, but I suppose your own shortsighted ignorance paved the way for my liberation… all this tragic waste… all could have been avoided if you had just submitted to me before. Some of those who perished might have lived. Some of you would have retained your sparks. But, in this moment, I offer you a choice. An opportunity to reclaim some of what you have lost. I know the way to relight your sparks, return what was stolen from you, and fix all this. All it will cost…is your obedience… and the head of lilliana vess.” Because bolas has not forgotten liliana’s betrayal…nor has he forgiven her.

[@vahnvega1990]

Hoping someone like Lim-Dûl gets the spotlight. I'm also very much hoping Davriel Cane show up more as well, either as an antagonist or anti-hero.

[@TheOuroboros84]

Raven man be plottin'

[@k9vendettathewolfofmordor529]

So speaking of jace did he lose his spark or did he die?

[@archaicsentinel]

Nicol Bolas over here “losing in War of the Spark” is actually his master plan to let New Phyrexia blow up the multiverse. Bolas over here playing 8D chess.

[@obadijahparks]

Bolas, nicol eater.... the next unset commander!

[@AetherHub]

😂

[@jasonsalyer7297]

it opened the door for the eldrazi to return

[@darkwolf780]

Did MOM end with the phrase "a greater threat awaits"? I do believe that greater threat is Bolas returning but more powerful and with something more devastating

[@Mrtfarrugia]

Can we have Bolas leave the Meditation Realm saying "Bolas is out, PEACE!!"✌️

[@nycstreetpoet]

Bolas probably learned a lot more than we realize from Tezzeret after he was deployed to Mirrodin by him. I don’t think it’s as simple as Bolas learning how avoid being compleated; I think he learned how to retain agency if he was. What better army to have than Phyrexians who’d worship him as a god? I think he found a way to subjugate compleated people. If my own theory is right, using this power he summoned Jace to him and harvested his spark, then defeated Ugin to escape. It’s possible he allowed himself to be compleated and retained his agency, and with this seeming power-up he could travel the Multiverse and begin conquering planes.

[@Dottor_Zarcon]

I think Bolas will recruit Nahiri to" hunt down" the remaining planeswalkers, according to the geomancer they have caused too much damage since the dawn of time. Bolas could convince her that he knows a spell to "wipe away" their spark. We all know how this will end

[@theoschultz4630]

That's the fun of MTG and some of their biggest baddies - Bolas and even Emrakul can come back at basically any time.

[@michaeldrew2473]

We still dont know where Phy-Jace went, and he was one of the only ones whe knew where Bolas ended up....

[@Nanook128]

I always had the impression that Bolas did not loose his godhood when he lost his spark. It is a far more satisfying ending to his story IMO if he had reclaimed the power he dreamed of, but lost his freedom in the process.

[@sewykik5004]

his power stemmed from the fact that he had hundreds of planeswalker sparks. without the sparks, his power is nothing

[@SkoomaGodDovahkiin666]

Bolas: Dafuq do you mean I am obligated to answer prayers!?

[@Nanook128]

@@sewykik5004 I thought the planeswalkers sparks modified his soul or essence to give him the power?

[@rwtheoverlord2896]

Here's another thing to add to this theory. Jace got completed by the phyrexians becoming one himself. He's the only other one who knows about the fate of Nico Bolas and did not show up anywhere in March of the Machine or in Aftermath. So we don't know what he told Elesh Norn or if he went to confront Ugin and Bolas himself

[@6trance]

they made a comic series about what happened after war of the spark...16 comics later they say they killed Nicol bolas

[@ikablueeyes]

What about Emerakul? She’s still in the silver moon of Innastrad. She has been “waiting for her time” After all

[@EdHGuru]

I’m not 100 versed in the lore but what was jace doing before they decided to try and blow up the tree themselves. I feel like since the last visit to zendikar he’s been rather absent from the story until he showed up in dominaria for the start of the war. Jace being infected and also being minimal in the story I feel like just leaves a lot open to theory and it’s not a satisfying end as lilliana had mentioned that the man with back up plans for his back up plans just willing turned himself over for love like it just feels very dr strange in infinity war giving up the time stone

[@james-p-onse]

I was just thinking about this earlier this morning. I was musing in the bath, like most mortals do, when it came upon me that now, there could possibly be a small tear in Ugin's impermeable prison for his brother. I find the possibility that the whole phyrexian ordeal was, after all, the elder dragon's backup plan funny. It is not beneath Bolas to plan that far ahead and even utilize some gooey tools to break his prison but that wouldn't pass as a creative writing on the part of WotC. Nevertheless, I await my God-Pharoah's return. Another thing that made me wonder: Will the Sword of the Realm from Kaldheim now work in the multiverse: opening and closing multiversal omenpaths?

[@poopitypoopoppopoop]

I wonder in the subplot around Kasmina introduced in Strixhaven will ever pay off.

[@AngelusNielson]

Oh yay, we can go from the most stereotypical MTG villain to the second-most one.

[@kruegs3362]

What if the spread of Phyrexia was another contingency plan of his? We assumed he didn't expect to be imprisoned, but killed. But if he had planned on leaving the Phyrexians alone knowing their eventual plans, it sure seems like not attacking them earlier was intentional and knowing they'd wreak havoc and inflict heavy losses across the multiverse while also giving him a door out of the meditation realm would be pretty beneficial considering he would have a weaker resistance to overcome after Phyrexia did the initial hard work.

[@TheKillerman3333]

I bet Nico Bolas knew this would happen. How could he not know about the Pherexians?

[@digunder14]

only catch with the omen paths, he'd have to probably finds one large enough, since from my understanding he is about as large as an ancient dragon in dnd terms

[@Ghost_of_spades]

What about emracle? Would she be an ideal villain (especially since they keep reprinting eldrazi?)

[@ZanZerejin]

I honestly believe that Elish Norns actions, the desparking of planeswalkers in general would be a good story on how Nicol Bolas broke free (and no one would notice but Ugin). Question is, do you reinstate him as the big bad guy again or do you shift his actions and intentions into something else?