Ugin

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Ugin was a spirit dragon planeswalker from Tarkir aligned with colorless mana, like the breath of Ugin, an invisible flame he is known for.

History

Ugin is a native to the plane of Tarkir, where his magic, the transmutation of energy into matter, is responsible for the elemental dragon storms that once raged through the plane, giving birth to its dragons. This magic was derived from the study of the energetic patterns of entire planes—their creation, destruction, and renewal—and he has applied these universal principles to creating his own form of magic.

Ugin was the mastermind of the trio of planeswalkers, including Sorin Markov and Nahiri, that lured the Eldrazi to Zendikar to imprison them within the Eye of Ugin. Over the course of 40 years, the planeswalkers prepared Ugin's plans, creating a massive network of stones known as hedrons, powered by leylines and coded by draconic runes. When the Eldrazi finally arrived on Zendikar, Ugin's part was to combat the Eldrazi with his own colorless magic, the magical key to unlocking the Eye.

Ages after the Eldrazi were sealed, another conflict found the spirit dragon. The elder dragon, Nicol Bolas tracked down Ugin and the two planeswalkers waged a titanic battle across the skies of Tarkir. Eventually Bolas was the victor and dug deep into Ugin's mind for information about the Eldrazi and their prison. His purpose accomplished, Bolas departed, leaving the grievously wounded Ugin to die. However dead, the dragon's spirit had not departed, and seemed to haunt Sarkhan Vol. Sarkhan was plagued by whispers in his head 1,280 years after Ugin's death. This was later found to have been Ugin's psychic plea across time and space for help.

Ugin's Return

Sarkhan Vol was drawn back to his homeplane of Tarkir by the whisperings of Ugin's spirit in his head. While there, he was able to travel back in time 1,280 years using Ugin's Nexus to when Ugin fought Nicol Bolas, and now Sarkhan's decision of either save him or not will forever determine Tarkir's future.

Breath of Ugin

The Breath of Ugin, also known as the Ghostfire, is an invisible colorless flame. It was used by Ugin against the Eldrazi and, along with the presence of three planeswalkers, it is the key to activating the Eye of Ugin.

The spell was recorded on the Dragon Scroll that Chandra Nalaar stole from the Sanctum of Stars on Kephalai.

A clear depiction of Ugin's stature.

Trivia

• Matt Cavotta wrote a short story entitled "How Many Eyes?" inspired by Ghostfire, in which Ugin emerges from a time rift, implying this character's alternate reality origin. It is doubtful this story has any real bearing upon Ugin's true appearance as this was written some time before the Eldrazi plotline had been created.
• Doug Beyer believes the fact that he transcended color in his magic is the reason why he became a "spirit" dragon.

In-game references

Represented in:

• Ugin, the Spirit Dragon

Depicted in:

• Crux of Fate
• Fierce Invocation (Ugin's Fate)
• Formless Nurturing (Ugin's Fate)
• Mastery of the Unseen (Ugin's Fate)
• Reality Shift (Ugin's Fate)
• Soul Summons (Ugin's Fate)
• Sultai Emissary (Ugin's Fate)
• Tormenting Voice
• Ugin's Construct (Ugin's Fate)
• Wildcall (Ugin's Fate)

Quoted or referred to:

• Bitter Revelation
• Eye of Ugin
• Fearsome Awakening
• Ghostfire
• Ghostfire Blade
• Perilous Vault
• Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
• Ugin's Nexus
• Witness of the Ages
• Write into Being (Ugin's Fate)

References

Template:Neowalkers

Sources

• Awakenings