The Taste of Magic the Gathering | A Video Essay on Flavour

[@Spice8Rack]

Lots of people have been asking, so here it is: The Spice 8 Rack Patreon Page, where all* your dreams can come true! www.patreon.com/spice8rack *Dreams must be limited to: Donating money to some Welsh prat who ripped off Pleasent Kenobi's intro but none of his charm

[@its2three4]

I don't know what you're talking about, of all the people I've subbed/supported via patreon or other like services you are by far the quickest I've ever been sold on supporting someone :)

[@datboy3365]

But dragons of tarkia was my favourite set

[@Dexterdud]

Why do you have Tarkir so much? Also, why is Sorin a weeb? Thank you I love your videos

[@Gottagoooooo3749t6]

DWYNEN!

[@oom-3262]

10:00 blue can interact with spells, but lacks friends.

[@blightyfrogs]

I love how no color generates salt like blue. Flavorful, both in the salty sense, and in that salt comes from oceans.

[@chazzwozzio]

@@blightyfrogs and salty as in the anguished tears of the vanquished

[@johnoliver2209]

@@blightyfrogs there's just no flavor like adding a little salt to the mix, in magic and in the literal sense

[@sunlocked5838]

Enough about the "feel" of the cards, i want to talk about the mouthfeel

[@Spice8Rack]

Hell yeah my absolute GUY #TeethGang

[@mista-khan]

Mitchell Lutey Contra and MtG I see I have found my people

[@DaPsychocat]

Why is noone ever talking about the mouthfeel ?

[@sunlocked5838]

I am pleasantly surprised that "magic lore with some leftist youtube memes" is a channel. I guess dreams do come true.

[@cutecommie]

Oh no, another Contrapoints fan channel. I thought I could get away from that creep.

[@Commander_Skullblade]

We just went from Rhystic Studies to Tier Zoo in a matter of seconds. Okay. Sure.

[@owensparker1876]

Hearing the Kirby instrumental in a 4 year old video of yours KZbin decided I should watch was very unexpected but very appreciated

[@beanistheatreman5235]

Heliod is a non grixis aligned bad guy

[@Spice8Rack]

He absolutely is and, credit to wizards, there are some great mono-white villains. However, the disproportionate vast majority of villains are usually aligned with at least one of the three grixis colours.

[@DodWilEcton]

I always liked the story of Kamigawa, and although Konda isn’t really evil, he’s definitely the antagonist.

[@bobthegamingtaco6073]

@@DodWilEcton Konda's Hound is the true masternind of that story!

[@Goggledguy]

@@Spice8Rack Bit late to the party, but Grixis, being R/U/B calls to the three types of "bad guy" Chaotic Evil (Red), Neutral Evil (Black), and Lawful Evil (Blue). The flavor of white is the *really* sneakily Lawful Evil while acting Lawful/Neutral Good is White. And Green just likes trees.

[@ashra8281]

@@Goggledguy Treeeessss!!!!

[@malibukensington3068]

OH GOD YES 0:52 . I got up and left my room after hearing that beat, subscribed just before so I can't say that I subscribed for that but fuck me man it felt good to hear that. Love what you're doing here and love to hear Aesop anywhere.

[@Spice8Rack]

I'll begin expanding the samples I use to all of the other rappers I love :D Thanks so much for subscribing!

[@davidsterling4327]

The artist credit notes how each artist has a different style that lend itself to different types of cards. For example, Noah Bradley is known for creating majestic landscapes, and so most of the cards he is given to illustrate depict landscape elements (see Approach of the Second Sun or Any of his Zendikar Expiditions), while Someone like Raymond Swanland creates visceral action centered around figures and creatures (see Wurncoil Engine or Ajani’s presence). One of my favorites, Seb McKinnon excels at the bizarre, the melancholy, the ethereal (see Archfiend of Ifnir, stasis, chronostutter). So a card like Healer’s Hawk would have a totally different feel if it was illustrated by Raymond Swanland. I use him and it as an example because of how unique his style is. Though each of these artists have specialties, there are no rules so we still get art like that on Rescue from the Underworld, which is relatively tame for Swanland, and History of Benalia.

[@bartvariumDT]

Exactly! Rhystic Studies videos (of which I saw a screenshot in a frame of this video) could help The Spice 8 Rack to get the last piece of the puzzle ;)

[@Dracinard]

True, but surely you get all that flavour from the card's art without needing the credit? If Chronostutter didn't have Seb McKinnon's credit, it'd be a travesty, but I wouldn't lose the surreal flavour of the art.

[@Estoesmusicanolootro]

And build expectations about a card from an artist that you know will condition the experience of discovering the card so I think it doesnt add flavor unless you like to have all your cards from the same artist or you build some metanarrative in your deck around them xd. I think the mana cost (cmc and number of mana simbols) also determine a lot of flavour. The mana symbols determine the level of concordance of the card with the colour phylosophy.

[@GumballMachinery]

@@Estoesmusicanolootro I completely agree! I mean, just look at the cycle of 3-drop mono-colored creatures from Dominaria. You can't get much more red in flavor and mechanics than Goblin Chainwhirler and Tempest Djinn is the epitome of blue because everyone hates it and it almost ruined the format for a little while. lol!

[@DenverEight]

Jason Rainville made his mother into a badass pirate lord.

[@phazing9]

I’m loving the look at lore combined with subtle leftube, keep this shit up, it’s honestly great

[@Spice8Rack]

I'm too much of a goon to make proper leftube content so I'll just keep doing shit like photoshopping Tommy Robinson's face onto goat tokens until the revolution happens.

[@phazing9]

I mean that's everything I really want out of life, so I'm down as hell

[@danw.1250]

"pre-established perceptions or pivot to potentially perilous perversions of practiced portrayals."this is mythic level alteration, sir. You have earned a mashing of the subscribe button.

[@Lethgorias]

The first Ravnica block had an Azorius main villain in the form of Grand Arbiter Augustine IV. Momir Vig, Rakdos,, Savra, and the Ghost Council were all secondary villains. Szadek was actually an anti-hero trying to deal with the problem without everyone else, and Argus Kos was manipulated into thinking he was a villain. Borborygmos just wanted to wreck stuff, until later on when it became Gruul's official responsibility to wreck stuff if the Guildpact was in danger of Fascism. Teysa was one of the heroes working alongside Argus Kos. The Selesnya and Izzet players all wanted to do their own thing and preferred to let the world burn if it left them alone.

[@scylloid]

came here from your MTG lore video and i am ENCHANTED by your choice in background music. it's always nice to see people who seem to share your taste in the wild! :D

[@catovt]

Amazing video dude, love the jokes and quality! Can't wait for your next video!

[@Spice8Rack]

Thank you so much for this lovely feedback, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Next week's video will be on my Top 5 bits of flavour from Ravnica Allegiance.

[@EloquentTroll]

Tireless Tracker is one of my favorite cards in Ludonarrative terms. She explores new lands to find clues (when a land enters the battlefield under your control Investigate [create a clue token] ), and as she solves the mystery she becomes stronger (sacrificing a clue, "solving" it, gives her a +1/+1 counter). The 2 pieces come together to tell the story of what she does. She's tracking the mystery through the world and putting the mystery together makes her stronger. It's a beautiful card, and she has a really cool hat (I am not a hat girl, I don't like non-hair things on top of my head [my time in the military poisoned me on it], but I would totally wear her hat). It doesn't hurt that she was low-key a bomb in a limited environment I played a lot of, and I kept getting her in drafts (way more often than probability should allow) and once I got 2 of her in one deck along with 3 of the 2/1 for 2 that flipped when sacrificed a clue. Also Clues in general were big flavor win

[@metamagic7746]

for mono green, THE BOG, is an entity in THE NAMELESS CHILD that represents mono green, and is a antogonist its a good read check it out!

[@Spice8Rack]

OOOOh I've yet to read that. I'd love to see it represented on a card some day!

[@metamagic7746]

@@Spice8Rack oh it'd be a sick card if (pls WHEN) wizards make cards to represent the key figures in (Children of the Nameless)

[@raulranma]

Oh man, I'm so glad I found your channel! Your content is amazing, please keep at it!

[@BREAKERisDEAD]

Ive been binging these videos and I needed to stop and tell you theyre great. I love them. Keep up the great work! I havent played Magic in years and its so fun to get caught up and be entertained too.

[@Entropic_Alloy]

"Hatred outlives the hateful."

[@demolisherman1763]

Rancor

[@carumsarene]

After the Scars block, I kept wanting to talk to others about V's death. Nobody wanted to, they said "Nobody cares about lore since it isn't important to the game." So now I bring up his death all the time as a running joke, I even want to get his art put on spirit tokens some day.

[@mi3kk]

Your videos are just great. Umlaut xD Keep going with this quality and humor!

[@its2three4]

Oh these videos are gold. Please continue. These videos might be singlehandedly the most uplifting and wholesome thing I've watched and/or consumed in the last few financial quarters :'D

[@GwrenNiGwari]

You've put so much work into this and it clearly shows! Fantabulous! Getting me itching to play magic again.

[@Spice8Rack]

That's so lovely of you to say! Thanks so much :D

[@ghostbreath7791]

MMMMMM THAT THICCC MAGIKARPUSEDFLY CLIP

[@sumcate8168]

was... was there a contrapoints reference? love it omg

[@sumcate8168]

AND HBOMB HOLY MOLY

[@Spice8Rack]

sum cate I’m too much of a dumb bitch to properly produce left tube content so the best I can do is make vague reference and admire them from afar!

[@sharpchivers6658]

@@Spice8Rack Honestly I just found your channel and I'm so glad that you're such an admirer of leftube. As a transgal and mtg player I'm a bit scared sometimes that the tcg envirronment might be just a bit too much dudebros and that I'd feel alienated. Knowing that a content creator I like isn't hostile to my existence is such a relief. I'm loving all of your content so far (and obviously watching your videos out of order) and this is just the icing on that flavourful cake ^^

[@Spice8Rack]

Sharp Chivers honestly? This is the reason I’m not gonna stop putting little bits of left-tube in these videos. I’m so glad that this channel is a place where you feel welcome. Thank you x

[@sharpchivers6658]

@@Spice8Rack No. Thank you for being such a great guy =3

[@martinginski2229]

You deserve way more subscribers. This is a great video.

[@Shattered_Entertainment]

This video told me one thing that had me laughing the color identity part blue is over poweered

[@koukaakiva]

On the topic of flavour: I've had a personal quest of sorts to find five cards, one of each colour, whose flavour text exemplifies that colour ever since I started playing magic. However, even though I have been at it for more than a decade now, I have only found one prime example and that is Dark Confidant representing black with its flavour text "Greatness, at any cost."

[@LainKaplan]

This was a really solid video. The structure was easy to follow, the jokes worked, the visual gags were continuous, and I felt like I both learned something and was amused at the end. A bit less linguistic prescriptivist nitpicking would have been good, though. If I had to extend this video by four minutes, I would have taken a bit more time to highlight flavor hits and failures, which is both framing for more jokes, and more practical knowledge to take away. The pace of the video was also quite fast, which is kinda necessary for the style you're using. That is, if the audience doesn't get the joke, they will probably get the next one ten seconds down the line. This is kind of a winning by volume thing, but hey, it worked for Mel Brooks. But when you are driving home your point, consider slowing down a touch. Repeat words. Take advantage of wait time. It helps audiences. Keep up the fine work.

[@rossf8616]

My new favorite content creator hands down!

[@Spice8Rack]

Thank you so much, that's such high praise and it really means a lot

[@cutecommie]

Dragons of Tarkir doesn't "suck dick". Boltwing Marauder is a creature and is therefore not beholden to the rules for instances and sorceries with Bolt in their name.

[@mikebenware854]

Aesop Rock... great musical choice! Nice approach to the subject matter too! Thanks for doing your thing!

[@jamamanoffortune6910]

IS this the best mtg channel ever created?? Holy fuck ! U are good at this

[@Spice8Rack]

Thanks Eduardo! I'm trying :D

[@LnGrrrR]

Man, I love love love that deicide artwork. I think that arc was my last enjoyable story in Magic. Also, I love you bringing up Ludonarrative. I think a lot of failures in gaming are due to dissonance. (In particular, games that require at least 5 hours to make your character.... that also encourage high lethality.)

[@Spice8Rack]

It was the story arc that I first truly followed in Magic and it has a special place for me. Although it also birthed my annoyance with Wizard's storytelling as I didn't buy the Theros novel and, as such, only found out Elspeth died at the end of that arc a year or so ago. I feel like locking essential story beats within supplemental products like that is poor practice. That's probably going to be a whole video of its own in the future. I'm genuinely considering pursuing a PhD studying Ludonarrative in the future, it honestly fascinates me so much. I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!

[@ssmmeeaarrggllee]

First time listening to your videos, just starting binging and so far so good! found you through Prof's lore video and honestly a number of fellow vorthosy player's suggestions. That been said, as an illustrator one of the main flavors for me in Magic is precisely the artist's credits, maybe one if not the most important factor that made me want to play this game was seeing someone playing it, checking a few cards and felt enamored with some very particular artwork styles, Rebecca Guay, Quinton Hoover, Kev Walker, Mark Zug, DiTerlizzi, John Avon, other names too but definitely them and most specially Rebecca went almost instantly recognizable for me, I was like searching for every Rebecca card in this guy's collection lol. And the mood she stamps is just unique to her style, want something calm, maybe even melancholic, yet still beautiful she was the one for that card. That artist matters mechanic they included in Unhinged was great, the Persecute Artist with the Rebecca Guay art and flavor was on point. Years later Lorwyn introduced other new great artists with beautiful kind of fairitaley artwork and then suddenly Wizards decided they just wanted a more homogeneous more realistic but still digitally feelsy artwork, and still plenty artists stood up and you could feel like they really picked certain artists for certain stuff, Svetlin Velinov is great for big monsters and goofy but endearing goblins, Seb McKinnon one of my today's favorites recalls that fairitaley style I loved and missed with a bit dark twist. I am lowkey mad the new crossover era coming upon us is going to break a lot of that immersion, and plenty folks say they don't care about "immersion" at all, understandable they are the less vorthosy players and everyone has a different interest and motivation for everything that's cool, but just like you perfectly said in this video, nobody would love a game with just "Card #5.02 / Effect X - Y" game, like sure some folks enjoy messing with MathLab kind of apps but certainly with Magic the majority of players even the most dedicated Spikes maybe unconsciously enjoy the fact that a time bending mage is altering the timing in the game nerfing other instant speed mages, when a card without any Teferi flavor would be totally different and way less appealing. Now Teferi against a space ship will definitely feel strange and more memey than fantasy

[@Big_Dai]

Hour of Promise kind of makes sense if you see it as the combination of the 2 sides of Amonkhet.. The Deserts and the Oasis-like city (the effects of 2 actual Lands now affecting the board?), and the creation of Zombies if there is a high amount of Deserts on your side of the field (the breach of the outside forces that were kept at bay by the Hekma)....... I guess.

[@eightywight]

+Spice 8 Rack The reason that the artist's credit/name is circled is because which artist WoTC chooses makes a huge difference on the style of a set. Compare Rebecca Guay to Phil Foglio to Todd Lockwood. Each artist has their own distinct style to the point of looking like they are from a different product. And that choice of artist's is intentional and necessary because they evoke different feels and aesthetics. Rebecca Guay reminds one of Arthurian legends. Phil Foglio reminds one of a hillarious cartoonist. Todd Lockwood reminds one of the majesty of nature and a creature's physique and musculature. The artist makes the difference.

[@vegardfurevik3946]

Being a real Spike (with a little hint of Johnny), I never realised how much the flavo(u)r of the cards have influenced the feel of the game to me, that is until now. Thank you 🕺🎉🥳

[@brianbruneck721]

When he showed a picture of a baby chewing on a black lotus, I literally, out loud grasped. I told myself it's a fake card, and is probably sleeved (maybe even double sleeved) but I still had a minor panic attack.

[@TheRealSpellstar]

14:30 I think Reckless Cohort might have my favorite flavor text in the game that shit gives me chills

[@lordnichard]

I had to reread it a few times but you're right. That's sad.

[@ich3730]

makes me cry everytime :( i also like how its text prevents it from rushing in and sacrificing themselves if you got another friend to keep them down.

[@Parodox306]

Outstanding video! I've never seen anyone capture the essence of the aesthetic cohesion of a game so thoroughly!

[@Spice8Rack]

What a lovely comment! Thanks for saying so, I'm so glad you appreciate my stuff :D

[@conorlittle2103]

9:30 serious dope knowledge condensed into a super-dense bite here

[@lordvaust5830]

Flavor text is my favorite thing about card games like this. Especially when the art is mixed with the flavor text. When the whole set of cards (give or take) comes together to create a story on cardboard that you can collect. It’s just damn fun.

[@jonathanvega4007]

Hell yeah! Aesop Rock making an appearance!

[@ExcaliburVids]

Yeah I was like oh shit the Kirby beat

[@Sharkey007x]

thank you for these!

[@J.Tarrou]

The music in this video is legitimately so good. Crosshairs slaps and Aes has been my favorite rapper since Labor Days. Love it. edit: oh shit, Driver too.

[@victorvondroom]

The flavour bit just yeeted me leaving my shoes and socks behind.

[@marekzareba8584]

Great video love the series!

[@RedMoonArcade]

I feel nothing but respect for someone that uses an image that was screen-captured on a machine that has Windows 10 and has not been activated!! Because why would you? ** As a note, if you ever want to screen-cap something, use a second monitor, as the message doesn't seem to show in it. That's what I do on my videos when necessity arrives.

[@TB317]

Discovered this channel at 4 am last night and now I'm binging everything. Its so good.

[@plaindiscourse6790]

What about Garruk? He started as mono green and moved to a black green alignment. He did start as a mono green protagonist/ villain who also became dual color.

[@Spice8Rack]

King CCG so did Glissa. The issue I have is that their shift to villainy seemingly necessitated a shift to being non-monogreen

[@midnightgod123]

Blue lacks interference flow. It has to pick a linear path of how it wants to fuck you over

[@dem7556]

Hahaha, throwing shade at my boy Dankula; awesome video, your quality is superb! While I no longer play mtg I love the lore and such, and your videos hit me in the righ spot.

[@blightyfrogs]

16:16 thought we were going to get cards borders and un-sets. Maybe next time. I would watch. Also: this is one of the best video essays I have ever watched.

[@BolshajaSvinja]

Artist credit thing is of course when Zoltan Boros does Boros Charm or other Boros themed cards.

[@Spice8Rack]

1) I think it was supposed to be suggesting how certain artists are more appropriate for certain cards e.g. Get Wayne Reynolds for chaos. 2) Your answer is so much better than my idea.

[@commiecommandermtg]

Commie Commander here, Commenting and liking. Rewatching all the content on my channel's account and shamelessly using you for research on my own video essays in the future.

[@josht2136]

Loved the Eric Andre Angel

[@Spice8Rack]

Josh T And Eric Andre Angel loves you xx

[@chazzwozzio]

He truly is

[@SweetInsanity]

I have no idea who you are but I think you are now my favorite youtuber

[@PookySeinAccount]

2:10 hold the fuckin phone, that's the symphonic version of the opening track on Fleshgod Apocalypse's king album. Well hot damn

[@Spice8Rack]

You're goddamn right it is Pooks. That B-side is one of the best things to come out of Italy.

[@PookySeinAccount]

@@Spice8Rack Hell yeah my guy

[@902496]

Spice, your taste in music is excellent.

[@roondar6141]

This video really makes you feel like Spider-Man

[@Father_Gaben4223]

Got me with the trumpet blast

[@Spice8Rack]

DOOT ❤️

[@common_cross]

This was great!

[@user_deleted5456]

Fun Fact from an American: Unnecessary letters such as u and sometimes a second L are removed because they were not necessary when printing newspapers in the 1700s, when they were charged by the letter. In short, Capitalism is the reason we have less letters. I’m not sassy I’m just giving reasons for something that most people would never ask the question to.

[@lordgzstg6181]

Oh shit I did not make the connection until you brought it up. I only saw one Harry Potter movie in full and the rest in bits and pieces. And that was ages ago. I never realized how much of a yikes those goblins were.

[@thomasmonks5715]

Love the 'hey kurbie' in the background.

[@Deloxo]

Didn't expect instrumental imaginary places to show up. Only ever heard that in Osu.

[@Lily-Exclamation-Point]

Love the busdriver sample at 7:34

[@chunhsiang5734]

The 'Queer' Instrumental gets me every time. You never expect it in fudgin' a Magic the Gathering video about ~f l a v o u r~

[@Sup3rD4ve]

6:09 - But what did Dragons of Tarkir suck? Tell us, the suspense is killing me! In all seriousness though, this stuff is great for a Magic n00b like me. Keep 'em comin'!

[@thenussix]

+1 for using Magikarps "feel" video

[@DonWanri]

Just discovered your channel it's amazing congrats from France

[@dapperghastmeowregard]

I DEMAND A 2 HOUR ANALYSIS ON WHY BOLDWYR INTIMIDATOR IS THE GREATEST CARD OF ALL TIME :P.

[@nocturnalemotions]

Imaginary Places 💕

[@ShadowSpanSpb]

Great music choices!

[@tape5921]

At 12:47, I just realized the background is My Immortal.

[@keiclera6596]

Great stuff dude

[@bignerd7683]

Damn the black and white reveal segment shocked me dude

[@emmetoleary1067]

Love the inclusion of "Queer" by Brockhampton!

[@Muspellsheimr_]

I am very upset you did not highlight Feldon of the Third Path **Everything** on that card is impeccably designed. His name, creature type, ability, flavor text, and art work flawlessly together to tell you who he is, and his place in the Brothers War narrative. My only complaint is that I feel he could have been a little stronger mechanically, with his ability costing 1R.

[@bradleydennis2371]

I love the contrapoints cameo.

[@ryuktheweeb2676]

14:44 This is how I discovered my now favorite song

[@ValyeriasCorner]

Love this video! Heard some Mrs. Muffet *cough cough* 😂😂💜💜

[@thatoneguyshawn]

I think the reason artist credits are noted on flavor analysis may come from recent cards having a note on story event cards like mastermind's acquisition from rivals of ixalan. The story spotlight cards also have the planeswalker symbol in the text box Edit: I'm not sure when the article on flavor you reference was written, or how recent the story spotlight cards are, but it's something to consider maybe?

[@Big_Dai]

What?

[@thatoneguyshawn]

@@Big_Dai after rereading my comment multiple times, I got no clue where I was going with that Haha it must have been very late for me when I wrote it

[@JamesMP]

really good video, just saw that you only have 1.5k subs and im very shocked, keep it up

[@Spice8Rack]

Jumping from

[@JamesMP]

@@Spice8Rack well im sure you will get many more in no time, you have gained 2.5k since i commented haha

[@chulumpthebigmoneywizard851]

Love the My Immortal reference at 12:46

[@zackpumpkinhead8882]

2:15 I want a commander deck that is only Eroc Andre proxies

[@Burneridentity]

I wrote my bachelor thesis on ludonarrative dissonance! Glad to see I can use that knowledge for something 😂

[@dosilysmith8520]

LOL at 0:35 yeah those "recommended Videos"

[@marcusevans6993]

Had to actualy go back to 13:19 to go over all the flavor sorces you mentioned

[@CaymenLeP]

Nice Aesop instrumental!

[@noahrobinson4242]

Dunno if you'll see this Spice Dad but I greatly appreciate the Kirby representation.

[@austingockel5552]

Thank you for putting DOOM in the background 🐭

[@nathanehrenberger4519]

Keep it up, great quality

[@christophobia6415]

Jokes on you, Selfie preservation rewards lands with trees in their art.

[@roriksavant]

Hey spicy people, can anyone tell me what card's art this is at 16:38?

[@puzzledradish8517]

12:15 Garruk

[@maxieprimo2758]

How dare you call Father Dankulus an idiot?

[@TheBaxterProject0]

I appreciate the use of Fleshgod Apocalypse

[@Pigmedog]

Mark rosewater: yeah but what if we gave red a counterspell?

[@ungulatemanalpha]

Funnily enough, I have a different take on the Hekma now, thanks to your criticism: I believe Bolas had total control over all of Amonkhet the entire time - he reforged the entire plane from nothing as part of his plan, back when he was an oldwalker (I think?) - so the Hekma isn't what's keeping the zombies out. The only thing actually stopping the zombies from killing everyone is Bolas' will, in order to harvest a better army of slaves via the trials. I don't know if 'total control over all the zombies on a smallish plane' is too powerful for a story's antagonist, but it seems quite reasonable to me, given the sort of nonsensically powerful stuff Bolas has typically done. This also explains how the Locust God supposedly destroys the Hekma with his armies of 1/1s - Bolas just lets it fall as part of the prophesied Hour of Devastation. This is part of an ongoing theme with Amonkhet, where a lot of what we're told or shown either hint at being or are fairly blatantly a lie told by Bolas to his followers - the role the 'crops' play, the Accounting of the Hours, the inscriptions on the gods' monuments - and are then revealed to be as such in Hour of Devastation. Looking back at some of the cards now, the flavor text on Dessicated Naga even supports my hypothesis: “The nature of this plane makes it almost too easy for me to command the dead.” -Liliana Vess", which sounds to me like Bolas crafted the plane with controlling the undead in mind. See also Liliana's Mastery, Splendid Agony, and in particular Winged Shepherd.

[@Big_Dai]

"Keeps them at bay" by preventing 1 damage.. the lowest number possible. It does seem like a lie, that this actually protects them from anything.