The Story of Karn | Magic: The Gathering | MTG Lore

[@zebrasmith]

As someone who just got back into magic over the past couple years I don't know why but I thought Karn was dead. Thanks for the vid

[@TheSandwhichman108]

Karn despite being an artificial being is probably the most human character in mtg and an example to us all.

[@alphaomega938]

More than human 😢

[@TheSandwhichman108]

@@alphaomega938 Karn is literally the Optimus prime of mtg. He has immense strength and power but reframes from using it most of the time unless he has no other choice. Instead he tries to look for a more peaceful option that benefits everyone in the long run. Literally only Optimus prime himself could do better in my eyes. If you’re going to be a hero, then be a real hero… Don’t be one of those fake Hollywood hero’s yelling and screaming… Be strong enough to be gentle. Any wise words of wisdom can boom over any war cry.

[@alphaomega938]

@@TheSandwhichman108 You GOT THE TOUCH !!

[@nacvgc2600]

Karn has always been my favourite planeswalker and this was an awesome retelling of his story! He has suffered so much yet he perseveres and strives to liberate the planes from Phyrexia! What an incredible being

[@The_Loreseeker]

An excellent retelling of Karn's character and story! Well done!

[@TheLorebrarians]

Thanks, appreciate it!

[@shortbuspimp]

Agreed!

[@mikewagner5207]

Another well told story covering parts even I was fuzzy on. Thanks for the hard work you all put into these. It shows in each one.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed and that the passion/effort shows

[@pkn4lyfe]

Thank you for covering Karn in a lore video, one of my all time favorite planewalkers! Well done!

[@TheLorebrarians]

You bet, glad you enjoyed!

[@samuelbucher5189]

While I don't know the entirety of Magic's lore, I have a feeling that Karn suffered more than any other plainswalker.

[@OttermanNathan]

And he didn’t even know it for so long. I can’t imagine what it was like getting his memories back, to remember his friend dying again.

[@realmsofroleplaying]

Karn is the first one of these planeswalker story videos that you've done that I knew pretty much nothing about. Now, I know quite a bit! Thank you!! I didn't realize he was so involved in the War of the Spark. To be honest, I don't really know much about WotS. That was when they stopped doing the blog stories on the MTG website, so I fell out of the Lore Loop. I should really look into that more.

[@ginatruiolo]

I absolutely love all of these back stories!!!! They are so important to the lore of magic. It makes me love or lothe the characters. 😁

[@TheLorebrarians]

Glad the videos help bring MTG characters to life!

[@gallantduke6393]

You guys should redo your Teferi lore video! It’s one of your older videos and he deserves an incredibly in depth and lengthy video such are your newer content. This Karn video is perfection.

[@Bibspagush]

I really appreciate the work and dedication you put into these videos. Looking forward to your rise in popularity, I have never once payed attention to mtg, but now I am hooked!

[@TheLorebrarians]

Wow, I'm always excited to hear when my content sparks new interests or passions in others. Appreciate it and so glad you enjoyed!

[@Bibspagush]

@@TheLorebrarians It's so good and the writing is great, I spent my last week just consuming almost all of your videos at work ahah and it really helps me with creativity as a DM for d&d, just imagining the possibilities and the way to craft intricate characters and plot hooks! I never knew I would like the world of magic so much !

[@LeviathanSteamworks]

Gods I love Karn. He's by far my favorite planeswalker and has been my favorite character in Magic since WAAAAAAAAAY back in the day. Alas, Karn has easily gotten one of the worst ends of the stick in Magic history and while I know shit's going to go DOWN when we eventually go back to New Phyrexia and Karn is probably going to end up sacrificing himself to save everyone somehow, I just hope he goes out in a dignified manner. I want a proper end to what I believe is the longest running character story in all of Magic history

[@Loem]

tried to listen to this while falling asleep now i’m on the verge of tears for karn

[@christianespinal9913]

You know you have the best MTG lore breakdown on KZbin, right? Keep it up man.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Thank you, I put a lot into these and I'm glad to hear they are appreciated

[@lonsunocook]

I can see Karn actually going back to the slivers and seeking there aid against the phyrexian scourge.

[@TheLorebrarians]

I would love to see a sliver vs phyrexia war. They have some interesting similarities

[@lonsunocook]

@@TheLorebrarians and it would be cool to have Karn return to Mirroden to end the war and finds Venser completely corrupted after giving his spark to him...

[@eliasfett8165]

Awesome video. I have the Karn Liberated and always wanted to know more of his story. I knew he was a part of the older sets I played as a kid involving Urza and the phyrexians, I was very curious of the details of his story though. Thanks a bunch buddy. Keep up the good work.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Of course, glad I could shed some light! And karn liberated is such a great planeswalker

[@xavierdeabreu1991]

That bit of lore where karn lived with the viashino was awesome thanks for that ‼💪

[@DeCode343]

Sooo... Planeswalker can't bring living tissue other than themselves when planeswalking. Nicol bolas had to coat his zombie army, so they can be brought through the portal. Memnarch: "Well I really don't know what your all's problem is. So many races, from so many worlds"

[@ofrund]

I have a question. How come the Oil only starts to work and "leak" only after Karn's ascension and travels. Why didn't Urza or Barrin or anyone else noticed it during the Weatherlight Saga? Is this ever explained?

[@honeyandlocusts1475]

I was curious about this too.

[@stefanfranke1724]

I'm very happy that I found your Channel, the Video was excellent - Karn is my favourite Character/Planeswalker ever since I read the Brothers War Novels as a Kid, I always felt so bad for him but liked how he approached any Problem so drastically different than any one else...with Kindness and Respect for Life. I always thought he could summon Constructs at will, but he is probably just really good in building them or just animating any Artifact at an instant. Which is way better! :-D I think - or hope - that he will show up in the next Set after the Kamigawa Neon Dynasty , since Phyrexia is on the Move and he might help to "un-compleat" phyrexian Planeswalkers.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Thank you and welcome to the channel! Yes, I love karn as a character and it seems as though he'll play a large role against the phyrexians

[@erayhaselton]

Another excellent video on perhaps my number 1 favorite character in mtg. Amazing work, these are always masterful.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Glad you enjoyed

[@TheTroygarg]

One of my favorite characters! Primeval dragons next?

[@TheLorebrarians]

Appreciate the suggestion!

[@Hundo_Mo]

5:42 I cant help but think that Emrakul being sealed in the silvermoon of Innistrad has something to do with time travel

[@kalebgray1050]

Oh noooooooo that sounds bad.

[@FrawanDePot]

Great video, I'd love a video about Urza. I've looked on KZbin and solid lore videos about him aren't easily available. Seems like an interesting character to explore!

[@TheLorebrarians]

Yes, I've got Urza's Saga and the Phyrexians to come as we approach dominaria united and the brothers war!

[@AKru-hc9tp]

The Karn video is live woo woo

[@Nathan_Coley]

Patreon first?

[@AKru-hc9tp]

@@Nathan_Coley I'm not Patreon, I just have been anticipating this video since he announced it.

[@Nathan_Coley]

@@AKru-hc9tp ah okay, good to know.

[@robcrgr5233]

I knew NONE of this and now I want to know EVERYTHING! Great video!

[@TheLorebrarians]

Glad I could help enlighten the details!

[@karndrogo]

I found MTG through googling my nickname out of curiosity, at first I just liked how we share the names but now I’m happy to know that he’s the kind of man I’d want to be, love his story. PS: my name is an English version of a Thai name, my parents have no idea the card game existed

[@TheLorebrarians]

Wow, what a coincidence. I'm glad the MTG Karn is a character you approve of!

[@antivalidisme5669]

That was incredible. It's not an easy task to give justice to such a unique, complex, gruesome and very often full of despair/ bad vs worst choices arch. Dominaria will be key this year, so will be the Phyrexians I suppose, especially since we've been spotting them on other planes in 2021, so I'm pretty sure Karn will be a key part in the very next archs. See you soon silver Planesurfer! cheers

[@TheLorebrarians]

Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. Yes, I'm very excited for the upcoming dominaria and brothers war sets. Phyrexians have a great history I'd love to explore soon

[@hennebux]

I really enjoy your videos and am subscribed to your channel. I recognize you are packing in a ton of info within a fixed period of time. However, if I may offer a small suggestion from those of us who are getting on in years and not hearing as well as we once did. Please pace like 1/8th more slowly so we can follow along more effectively.

[@merrisshines5182]

Good video. Excellent music selection.

[@Kattywagon29]

I knew all of this stuff, but it was nice to hear the story told again. Great video as always.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Glad you enjoyed

[@Kattywagon29]

@@TheLorebrarians Always!

[@mcruz604]

Thank you for bringing us magic’s great lore!

[@TheLorebrarians]

So glad you enjoyed!

[@zanesrg299]

10/10 video. would love to see a whole video or series about everything phyrexian.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Appreciate the suggestion! Urza's Saga and the Phyrexians are two big upcoming projects of mine so stay tuned

[@avatarkc]

Great video, a great way of connecting with the flavour and art of the cards!

[@TheLorebrarians]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tmain1320]

Love this! Would love to see Teferi!

[@TheLorebrarians]

I'll have to do a new Teferi video soon. I had one in the past but it's an older video and quite short

[@BalldoTM]

As a person who only started playing during the Ixilan, Dom, Guilds of Rav era the vague references/appearances of karn INSTANTLY grabbed my attention as it seemed to be the only "artificial" planewalker and I was much more intrigued by that then any of the other superpowered or magic goodguy badguy "heroes" that the others fell into as he was sort of the Ultron in Magic's take on the MCU in my opinion (but im not even close to being an expert in either) LOL!

[@redmangoose182]

Id say more like Vision if anything. But with Ultron nesting deep inside him at one point.

[@spicytrashpanda]

"Jhoira is my friend-my best friend. We met at the original academy, before the accident drove us from Tolaria. She named me. Karn, from an old Thran name. She said it meant strength." - Karn, only wanting to remember

[@-titantuman-4377]

Thanks!

[@Muramasa_sama]

Another amazing video told in story format.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Appreciate it

[@FrozenSpector]

Chainer, Dementia Master next? Anyone from the Mirari Saga is fascinating.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Thanks for the suggestion, the odyssey/onslaught blocks have great characters I'd love to cover!

[@vichuang1480]

Great stuff!

[@jamie6174]

I love it when the planeswalker karn says “I am Karn”

[@painmerchantgaming5193]

I would love the hear about Merit-Leige

[@ingloriousday8811]

With dominaria united and the brothers war later this year, and mtg’s 30th anniversary next year, i think 2023 might be one of the craziest story years the game has seen in a long time. I just hope karn survives the inevitable conflict with new phyrexia

[@TheLorebrarians]

It's getting set up to be quite the wild ride for the Multiverse. My hope is that Karn is finally able to defeat phyrexia for good

[@josephgarcia9111]

Great work

[@magic713m]

Karn is the prime example of the importance of thorough hygeine

[@RealJohnnyAngel]

In general I am the mtg player who gives zero shits about the lore. But these videos are well organized and genuinely entertaining to me.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Appreciate it, hopefully I can convert you to the vorthos side

[@AsmodeusMictian]

Thank you for the amazing video. I just recently discovered your channel, and have been trying to watch all of the M:tG ones that you've made. RELALY well done stuff!

[@TheLorebrarians]

Welcome to the channel and thank you! Always great to hear when people appreciate the content

[@asrieldreemurr1988]

This was very good

[@juliomorales3139]

Muy bueno! Muchas gracias !

[@simonnice9030]

Excellent to have in my ears whilst coding at home :D.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Appreciate it!

[@piratecpnjack]

Next do Urza. I would love an extended video of the life of Urza

[@TheLorebrarians]

Appreciate the suggestion. Urza's Saga and the Phyrexians will be a big project for the channel in the coming months

[@piratecpnjack]

@@TheLorebrarians As a fellow Lore nerd on MTG, I eagerly await your video

[@cardgames2]

Do you have any videos on the story of yawgmoth? I've looked but I can't seem to find any.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Not yet, I'm working on outlines for urzas Saga and then yawgmoth/phyrexia later this spring

[@cardgames2]

@@TheLorebrarians awesome! I can't wait to watch those when they come out! Thanks for the great videos!

[@zackjohnston-watson4874]

Karn is basically Arnold in Terminator 2

[@monkeygaming2859]

I really hope we see more of karn with the brothers war this year

[@TheLorebrarians]

Same, he didn't get as much of the spotlight in the Dominaria set. I have a feeling he'll be front and center for the upcoming war with New Phyrexia

[@NatesLegend]

This was a great video and I don’t know if it was just a me thing watching it on a big screen but for some reason my eyes trying to focus on the blurry pictures moving kind of strained them, like I couldn’t focus on it. Would it be possible to use full focused pictures when you’re doing the camera pan effect over art depicting what you’re talking about? 😢 Again sorry if it’s just a thing with my eyes but in case it made others strained too I figured I’d mention it. Nevertheless it was a fantastic video!

[@TheLorebrarians]

Appreciate the feedback, and I've been working on the presentation style un newer videos. Always looking for improvement!

[@csoul725]

Awesome video as always!

[@TheLorebrarians]

Appreciate it!

[@arcisle5162]

What do you think about doing one on the OG Kamigawa Block to set up the new one that just came out?

[@TheLorebrarians]

Yeah, I hope to add kamigawa to the Plane Explained series soon. It's a plane rich with lore and stories

[@Torriotorres]

I was a longtime fan by the time of mending. You think, story had an amazing ending and mtg great potential for storytelling. Now its all starbucks branded mtg cards. I can just carry on because I was there, and can shit all over current state of mtg.

[@michaelsauls3674]

I never realized that Karn was from so early in magic's history

[@dirtyhippy2966]

Excellent! Well done as always. Ragavan next? jk

[@jimcharles1479]

great video man

[@TheLorebrarians]

Appreciate it

[@jimcharles1479]

@@TheLorebrarians yeah sorry if i missed a few vids i just get magic out and need a break, don't know how you do it.

[@TheLorebrarians]

@@jimcharles1479 no worries, I took a 3 week break from content over the holidays. And my next project is going outside MTG, trying to spice things up

[@YumaNanami]

I kinda wish we got a Phyrexian Karn Card, but great story as always

[@Anthony-kd4rz]

Your wish might come true

[@chrisvaldez5437]

Great story

[@michaelallison87]

This is a very good video I like how you explain

[@TheLorebrarians]

Appreciate it!

[@Iloveyusomuch]

This is going to be goooooood

[@TheLorebrarians]

Hope you enjoyed!

[@torrentthom4734]

This was really good. Could you recommend any MTG books which have some of the lore you've mentioned in this vid plz?

[@TheLorebrarians]

Of course. The artifacts cycle of books covers much of this story as does the invasion cycle. Time streams is when Karn is first created (the 3rd of the artifacts cycle)

[@corvaxblackfeather6529]

YES ^^ Thats exactly what i needed now :) COol Vid thanks ^^

[@TheLorebrarians]

You bet, glad you enjoyed

[@DexterityYTC]

Ok but how the hell are all of the Weatherlight crew members and Jhoira even still alive by the end of Urza’s war with the Phyrexians, let alone current day Dominaria? I get Jhoira was in a slow time rift for awhile, but she was rescued from that before Urza’s war ended.

[@khuumeleon1457]

Where can I find the original works of magic lore?

[@drvinylscratch1936]

and now in kamigawa tamiyo a planeswalker is compleat. karn be slacking

[@NotAllWhoWanderAreLost641]

Where can I learn more about Greven ?

[@TheLorebrarians]

Th novel Rath and storm has some of the weatherlights journeys and greven appears

[@newnamesameperson397]

I think karn will become the new leader of the phyrexians. At this point phyrexians aren't necessarily evil, there more a force of nature without yawgmoth. Maybe karn can lead them in a less destructive path, they are his babies in a way

[@gathererofmagic5350]

This needs an update alot has happened lol.

[@Lobomaru02]

I hope for Karn's sake that he can be dissuaded from unleashing the Golgothian Sylex on Mirrodin. The Multiverse should never bear witness to that kind of devastation again.

[@TheLorebrarians]

Hopefully there is a mirrodin left to save. I'm excited to see how the resistance is fairing against New Phyrexia

[@genius11433]

There are a few things that sound screwy to me. If Karn's heart harbored glistening oil, then how come it did not corrupt him prior to his first ascension to the status of planeswalker? And furthermore, if the issue is that he seeds every world he goes to with glistening oil, then shouldn't he remain in exile on Argentum/Mirrodin/New Phyrexia? Why is he still planeswalking? Wouldn't planeswalking simply be setting up the Multiverse's most unfun game of whack-a-mole?

[@Ricardo-zo1ti]

I'm pretty sure he's no longer dripping oil, Venser changed the heartstone for his own heart, so Karn is now with a "human" heart and spark, planeswalking free of the corruption. The first point is definitely a plot hole, although you could argue something like "phyrexian oil started trying to corrupt other planes only after old Phyrexia was destroyed", kind of like a failsafe

[@TheTroygarg]

It could have started back then but the spark sort of kept it at bay, similar to Cable's metal arm if you follow X-Men. As far as seeding other planes in the beginning he didn't know, once he did he tried to exile and things got way out of hand. " I can handle this all on my own" mentality.

[@onixnavarro3160]

I love it!!!

[@msakiblab]

Can you do a lore video on Ugin.

[@jasperowens1669]

So karn is the actual sad robot

[@AmberPanda382]

Can u do Ugin next?

[@TheLorebrarians]

Appreciate the suggestion! Ugin is my favorite planeswalker but since his story is so closely tied to Bolas and I covered most of it, he might not get his own video sadly

[@eqqaia3856]

Praise the great creator!

[@aceundead4750]

I think Arty Shovelhead fits Karn better than Karn.

[@Torriotorres]

The weatherlight crew was not rescued from Volrath. Such a joke. Ertai, Mirri, Rofellos, and Crovax, all didn't make it. Such a troll.

[@heybaeuwb8888]

im starting to see a trend with planeswalkers they always messing with stuff and then pay a huge price most of the time its they're life.

[@tenebrae1191]

👏👏👏

[@spooky_zen]

do a star wars legends video

[@TheLorebrarians]

Appreciate the suggestion! Star Wars is such a great universe but might be too large of a project to tackle right now

[@spooky_zen]

@@TheLorebrarians your quality is really good if you made like top 10 strongest sith ever kinda video i think it would pop off

[@Torriotorres]

I love magic, but I hate magic people. Most don't shower, exercise, or have real social skills.

[@lostmana]

Some feedback, the long pause on blurred background pictures hurts my eyes while I'm trying to listen, really bothersome, couldn't watch the video, I had to listen to it like a podcast.