How Many Eldrazi Are There? A Deep Dive into Magic: The Gathering’s Cosmic Horrors
The question of how many Eldrazi exist in the Magic: The Gathering multiverse is complex and doesn’t have a simple numerical answer. The core of the Eldrazi threat, and what most players and lore enthusiasts recognize, revolves around the three Eldrazi Titans: Emrakul, Ulamog, and Kozilek. However, the broader Eldrazi concept includes not just these titans but also their spawn and other lesser beings. Therefore, while the answer to the question of how many Eldrazi Titans is a clear three, the number of all Eldrazi is effectively unknown and potentially vast. Let’s delve into the nuances.
The Three Eldrazi Titans
The most significant and well-defined Eldrazi are the three Titans:
- Emrakul, the Aeons Torn: Often considered the most powerful, Emrakul warps biology and is known for her ability to twist and mutate life forms. She is renowned for her game-breaking power as a card and her significant impact on the lore, particularly on the plane of Innistrad.
- Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger: Ulamog is associated with the consumption of mana and physical matter. He represents a relentless force of annihilation, stripping planes bare of their resources.
- Kozilek, the Great Distortion: Kozilek’s influence is centered on manipulating reality itself. He warps and twists the fundamental structures of a plane, creating bizarre and unpredictable effects.
These Titans are not bound by traditional concepts of physicality. They exist outside of planes, within the Blind Eternities, and manifest on planes through physical avatars. These avatars are powerful in their own right, but only represent a fraction of the titans’ overall power.
Eldrazi Spawn and Lesser Beings
Beyond the Titans, there is a multitude of smaller Eldrazi that act as their spawn or servants. These Eldrazi vary widely in size and power, ranging from small, insect-like creatures to monstrous behemoths. These Eldrazi spawn are extensions of the Titans’ influence, serving as probes, resource gatherers, and instruments of destruction.
It’s essential to note that many of the Eldrazi we see in the game are not the Titans themselves, but these manifestations and spawns. For example, creatures like Thought-Knot Seer, Reality Smasher, and Zhulodok, Void Gorger (who is of Ulamog’s lineage), are all examples of these lesser Eldrazi.
The exact number of these lesser Eldrazi is impossible to quantify. They are generated by the Titans, and potentially emerge as needed. As the Titans are capable of reshaping entire planes, their ability to create or spawn these servants is likely vast and uncontrolled.
The Unanswered Questions
The lore also strongly suggests the possibility of other Eldrazi Titans, despite what was stated by Ugin during his first meeting with Nahiri and Sorin about there being only three titans in the Multiverse. It is unknown whether more titans exist elsewhere in the multiverse, with this statement keeping the door open for future Eldrazi encounters. This uncertainty contributes significantly to the mystery and cosmic horror surrounding the Eldrazi. The fact that these entities live outside the planes and consume them lends to their inscrutable nature.
Therefore, while we know of the three specific Eldrazi Titans, the number of Eldrazi spawn and other beings is effectively infinite and the number of Eldrazi titans is potentially more than the current known three, and thus not a fixed number.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Eldrazi
What are the Eldrazi?
The Eldrazi are ancient, colossal beings from the Blind Eternities, the space between planes. They are not bound by conventional concepts of physical forms and are more like forces of nature than creatures. They are known for their ability to consume and alter entire planes.
What is the Blind Eternities?
The Blind Eternities is the space between planes in the Magic: The Gathering multiverse. It’s a chaotic and dangerous realm where the laws of physics and magic are unreliable. The Eldrazi exist outside the planes, originating from and residing in the Blind Eternities.
Are the Eldrazi Evil?
Not in a conventional sense. The Eldrazi are more like forces of nature than actively malicious beings. They are inscrutable and operate on a scale far beyond mortal comprehension. Their actions, though often destructive, are driven by their need to consume and recycle planes for their own unknown purposes.
How many Eldrazi sets are there?
There are five sets that introduced new Eldrazi cards to Magic: The Gathering: Rise of the Eldrazi, Battle for Zendikar, Eldritch Moon, Modern Masters 2015 and Oath of the Gatewatch
Which Eldrazi are dead?
Currently, Ulamog and Kozilek are believed to be dead, destroyed on Zendikar after the Gatewatch bound and burned them using leylines. Emrakul is not dead but is currently trapped within the moon of Innistrad.
Is Ulamog truly dead?
The death of Ulamog was the destruction of its physical manifestation on Zendikar. Whether its true essence can truly be destroyed is unknown. It is possible that Ulamog’s essence exists in the Blind Eternities, and he could potentially return in some form in the future.
Who is the weakest Eldrazi Titan?
Ulamog is often considered the weakest of the three Eldrazi Titans. While still immensely powerful, Ulamog lacks the reality-warping abilities of Kozilek or the life-altering power of Emrakul.
Who is the strongest Eldrazi Titan?
Emrakul is widely regarded as the most powerful Eldrazi Titan. Her ability to warp and mutate life makes her a terrifying force. This power is reflected in her status as a banned card in the Commander format.
How were the Eldrazi imprisoned?
Millennia ago, three planeswalkers – Sorin Markov, Ugin, and Nahiri – bound the Eldrazi Titans to Zendikar using a network of stone hedrons and leyline magic. The purpose was to trap them on Zendikar to prevent the destruction of other planes.
Why were the Eldrazi freed?
Nissa Revane, desperate to save Zendikar from its decay, released the Eldrazi from their imprisonment, hoping they would leave her plane and spread across the Multiverse, therefore removing their presence from Zendikar.
Why are the Eldrazi colorless?
Eldrazi creatures are colorless to emphasize their alien nature. This distinguishes them from the colored mana associated with the five colors of magic, showing that they transcend the usual magic of the planes. This also helps signify them as being otherworldly.
What is the purpose of the Eldrazi?
The Eldrazi are often seen as a kind of cosmic cleanup crew. They consume and recycle dying or depleted planes, transforming them into new ones. Their method is destructive, but their purpose might be considered a necessary part of the multiverse’s cycle.
Are Eldrazi stronger than Phyrexians?
The Eldrazi pose a threat on a scale far beyond the Phyrexians. While Phyrexians are about corruption and infection of life, Eldrazi consume the entire plane itself, making them more of a threat to the multiverse. They attack the plane itself, rather than the organisms living on it.
Did the Eldrazi create vampires?
The vampires of Zendikar were created by a magical infection that originated from Ulamog’s influence. With the Eldrazi imprisoned, the vampires slowly gained their own independence and built their own civilizations.
What is the best Eldrazi card in MTG?
While opinions differ, Emrakul, the Aeons Torn is widely considered the most powerful and impactful Eldrazi card due to its game-ending potential and unique abilities. Other notable Eldrazi cards include Kozilek, the Great Distortion and Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger.
By understanding the scope of the Eldrazi menace and acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding their numbers, we gain a greater appreciation for the cosmic horror they represent within the Magic: The Gathering universe. The Eldrazi continue to be a captivating force within the game, and their mystery adds depth to the rich lore of Magic: The Gathering.