The Fate of the Compleated: What Happened to Phyrexian Planeswalkers?

The Phyrexian invasion left an undeniable scar across the Magic: The Gathering multiverse, and perhaps no group suffered a more dramatic and tragic fate than the planeswalkers who fell victim to compleation. These powerful beings, once beacons of hope and agents of change, were twisted into monstrous mockeries of their former selves, serving the will of New Phyrexia until its ultimate demise. In short, most were either killed during the final conflict, trapped in crumbling structures, or reverted, in a few rare instances, back to their previous selves, albeit often permanently changed by the ordeal. This process robbed them of their free will, and their connection to the spark.

The Rise and Fall of Phyrexian Planeswalkers

The storyline surrounding the compleated planeswalkers reached its zenith during the March of the Machine storyline. Before then, compleation was a concept teased and dreaded, but the invasion brought the full horror to bear. Key figures, iconic heroes, fell prey to Elesh Norn’s insidious influence. Let’s delve into the specifics:

Identifying the Fallen

Seven planeswalkers were successfully compleated by the Phyrexians:

• Vraska, Betrayal’s Sting: This assassin was turned into a ruthless weapon for Phyrexia.
• Tamiyo, Compleated Sage: The first compleated planeswalker, Tamiyo’s fall was a harbinger of the horrors to come.
• Nissa, Ascended Animist: Once deeply connected to Zendikar, Nissa became a twisted champion of Phyrexian corruption.
• Lukka, Bound to Ruin: Lukka’s impulsive nature made him an easy target for Phyrexian manipulation.
• Nahiri, the Unforgiving: Nahiri’s burning desire for vengeance was warped into a tool for Phyrexia’s conquest.
• Jace, the Perfected Mind: The powerful mind mage was transformed into a Phyrexian engine of thought and strategy.
• Ajani, Sleeper Agent: This shocking betrayal saw Ajani become a sleeper agent of Phyrexia, spreading their influence from within.

The Nature of Compleation

It’s crucial to understand that compleation wasn’t merely a physical transformation. It involved a complete overhaul of a being’s identity. As stated in the source article, these weren’t “the characters we knew and loved, they’re Phyrexians wearing their skin.” Their memories and skills remained, but they were subservient to the Phyrexian hive mind and driven by its single-minded goal of universal compleation.

The Fates of the Compleated

During the final battles, the compleated planeswalkers met varied and mostly grim fates:

• Tamiyo: Killed by the Wanderer, a planeswalker whose unique abilities proved crucial in the fight against Phyrexia.
• Lukka: Teamed up with Vadrok to be killed by Vivien.
• Nahiri: Trapped within the Skyclave as it crumbled.
• Tibalt: Although not explicitly listed in the initial sources, Tibalt, who assumed the identity of Valki, God of Lies, was compleated and presumably killed by Tyvar Kell.
• Vraska and Jace: Their specific fates are not explicitly detailed, but given the widespread destruction of Phyrexia, it’s implied they ceased to function as Phyrexians following Elesh Norn’s defeat.
• Nissa: In the final fight of the invasion, Nissa was knocked out by Elspeth and brought to Zhalfir by Chandra. There, Koth, Karn, and the Zhalfirin healers removed as much of the Phyrexian metal from her body as they could. However, Nissa’s spark was lost as a result of the Phyrexian invasion.
• Ajani: Ajani was one of the few that retained his spark after purification. After New Phyrexia was destroyed, Ajani was frozen solid and brought to Zhalfir, and restored to health.

The Loss of Sparks

The Phyrexian invasion had a profound impact on the planeswalker community. The energy released during the invasion and the use of the Invasion Tree resulted in many planeswalkers losing their sparks, severing their ability to traverse the planes. While some, like Ajani, were fortunate enough to retain their sparks, the event marked a significant shift in the balance of power in the multiverse. You can learn more about the influence of such events by visiting Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. They explore how games and stories affect learning.

Hope for Redemption?

The question of whether the compleated planeswalkers could be saved was a major point of contention throughout the story. While some characters, like Ajani, were successfully purified, the prevailing narrative suggests that compleation is, for the most part, irreversible. The compleated planeswalkers were essentially “dead,” their original identities overwritten by the Phyrexian programming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Were all compleated planeswalkers killed?

   Not all of them, but the majority either died during the events of March of the Machine, or were left without a spark. Ajani was restored to health and retained his spark.

2. Is compleation reversible?

   Generally, no. Ajani’s case was an exceptional one, and the narrative strongly suggests that most compleated individuals are beyond saving.

3. Did Tezzeret get compleated?

   No. Tezzeret managed to navigate the Phyrexian hierarchy without undergoing compleation, maintaining a degree of autonomy.

4. Why did some planeswalkers lose their sparks?

   The events of the Phyrexian invasion, particularly the energy released during the invasion of the Invasion Tree, caused a cosmological event that severed the sparks of many planeswalkers.

5. What happens to a planeswalker when they lose their spark?

   They become effectively mortal, losing their ability to travel between planes. They are bound to the plane they are currently on.

6. Are all the Phyrexians dead now?

   With the destruction of New Phyrexia and the defeat of Elesh Norn, most Phyrexians ceased to function. However, the fate of Urabrask remains unknown, and it’s possible that pockets of Phyrexian influence persist in the multiverse.

7. Was Tamiyo the first compleated planeswalker?

   Yes, Tamiyo, Compleated Sage was the first planeswalker card to feature the Compleated mechanic.

8. What is the Compleated mechanic in Magic: The Gathering?

   The Compleated mechanic allows players to pay either mana or life to cast a spell with the Compleated cost, representing the Phyrexian willingness to sacrifice life in pursuit of their goals.

9. Who was the most powerful planeswalker to be compleated?

   Jace, the Perfected Mind, was arguably the most powerful, given his immense mental abilities. His compleation represented a significant loss for the forces opposing Phyrexia.

10. What is the Invasion Tree?

    The Invasion Tree was a massive Phyrexian structure that allowed them to invade multiple planes simultaneously, accelerating their conquest of the multiverse.

11. Why did Nahiri summon Emrakul?

    Nahiri summoned Emrakul to Innistrad as an act of revenge, believing the plane had wronged her. She used Innistrad’s leyline energy to bring Emrakul and lay waste to Innistrad.

12. Did Gideon die in the War of the Spark?

    Yes, Gideon sacrificed himself to save Liliana from Bolas’s contract, absorbing the lethal effects and dying in the process.

13. Is the Wanderer compleated?

    The official lore does not explicitly state that The Wanderer is compleated.

14. What role did Karn play in the Phyrexian conflict?

    Karn, who was created by Urza using Phyrexian metal, was immune to Phyrexian corruption. Karn played a crucial role in the fight against Phyrexia, using his unique properties to combat the Phyrexian threat.

15. Are the stories of Phyrexian planeswalkers over?

    It’s difficult to say definitively. Magic: The Gathering is known for its complex narratives and surprising resurrections. While most compleated planeswalkers met grim fates, the possibility of their return in some form, or the exploration of the lingering effects of compleation, remains open. Even the concept of learning in games can be complex, as seen in the Games Learning Society. It is always possible that lessons can still be gleaned from this catastrophic event.

The story of the Phyrexian planeswalkers is a dark chapter in Magic: The Gathering lore, a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of power and the enduring struggle between free will and forced obedience. While the fate of these characters is largely tragic, it serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made in the fight against evil and the enduring hope for redemption, even in the darkest of times.