Legendary items

Magic: The Gathering's multiverse is littered with legendary items that have shaped the fate of planes, empowered heroes, and enabled the schemes of villains. These artifacts are not just powerful tools; they are characters in their own right, with complex histories and significant roles in the game's lore.

### The Legacy Weapon and the Weatherlight Saga

No discussion of legendary artifacts is complete without the **Legacy Weapon**, a collection of artifacts forged by the planeswalker Urza to fight the Phyrexian invasion of Dominaria. It was a centuries-long project that resulted in a collection of powerful tools, each with its own story:

* **The Skyship Weatherlight:** The flagship of the Legacy, this airship was a character in itself. It possessed a "Flowstone heart" that allowed it to change its shape and size, and its unique design meant it could travel between planes by opening a portal, a rare ability for a non-Planeswalker object. It was captained by Gerrard Capashen, who inherited the ship and its mission to save the multiverse from Phyrexia. The Weatherlight’s journey and battles against the Phyrexian forces are a central part of Magic’s history.

* **The Blackblade:** A legendary sword forged from the corrupted bones of a fallen dragon. It was initially wielded by the planeswalker Dakkon Blackblade, who was betrayed and his soul was used to give the sword its power. The sword was later reforged and wielded by Gideon Jura during the **War of the Spark**. It was an object of immense power, capable of harming even planeswalkers, and played a crucial role in the final battle against Nicol Bolas.

* **The Sylex:** A potent artifact that could completely erase an area from existence. It was used by Urza during the Brothers' War to end the conflict by causing a cataclysm that destroyed the continent of Argoth and plunged Dominaria into a "Dark Age." The Sylex was a reminder of Urza's reckless power and his willingness to sacrifice everything for a perceived greater good.

* **The Gilded Drake and other artifacts:** The Legacy was composed of many other artifacts, including the **Gilded Drake**, a small, cunning creature that Gerrard used to foil his enemies, and the **Mirari**, a reality-warping orb of immense magical power that was later transformed into the being Memnarch. The entire collection of Legacy artifacts was designed to be combined into a singular, devastating weapon to destroy the Phyrexian creator Yawgmoth.

### The Mirari and the World of Mirrodin

The **Mirari** was a powerful artifact created during the aftermath of the Phyrexian war. It was a sphere of pure magic that amplified the desires of those near it, often with tragic and destructive consequences. It fell into the hands of the planeswalker Karn, who had created the world of Mirrodin as a utopia. Karn, however, was unaware that the Mirari was a ticking time bomb of corruption.

* **Memnarch:** The Mirari eventually gained sentience and, through Karn's planeswalker spark, was able to create a physical body for itself, becoming the twisted lord of Mirrodin known as Memnarch. Memnarch became obsessed with gaining a planeswalker spark and trapping others on Mirrodin, using the plane's resources to create a terrifying army of metallic creatures. The Mirari's influence transformed the once-perfect world into a dark, oppressive machine plane, a testament to the dangers of unrestrained magical power.

### The Chain Veil and Liliana Vess

The **Chain Veil** is a cursed legendary artifact that has long been a central part of the story of the planeswalker Liliana Vess. The Veil is a mystical helm that grants immense power to its wielder, but at a terrible cost. It is a powerful tool of necromancy, but it slowly corrupts its user, twisting their mind and draining their life force.

* **Liliana's Bargain:** Liliana acquired the Veil as a way to increase her power and escape a contract she had with four powerful demons. The Veil was bound to her, and its power allowed her to kill each of her demonic masters. However, she was unaware that the Veil was a cursed artifact, housing the souls of an ancient race of beings known as the Onakke, and that it was slowly eating away at her. The Veil’s curse made Liliana a pawn in a larger game, and she had to fight to break free of its influence, a struggle that culminated in the events of the **War of the Spark**.

### The Immortal Sun

The **Immortal Sun** is an artifact with a very specific and powerful purpose: to trap planeswalkers on the plane where it resides. It was created by the sphinx planeswalker Azor on the plane of Ixalan as a last-ditch effort to keep the evil elder dragon Nicol Bolas from obtaining the power he sought.

* **Bolas's Scheme:** The Sun's location and power were a key part of Nicol Bolas's final plan. He hired the planeswalker Vraska to retrieve it from Ixalan and bring it to Ravnica, where he used it to trap a gathering of planeswalkers. This allowed him to harvest their sparks and become a god. The Immortal Sun's power was so absolute that it prevented all planeswalkers from leaving Ravnica, setting the stage for the climactic battle that would decide the fate of the multiverse.

### The Swords of a Master

The **Swords of X and Y**, a cycle of equipment that grant protection from two colors and a bonus when dealing combat damage, are also steeped in lore.

* **Sword of Fire and Ice and Sword of Light and Shadow:** These are the most well-known of the original five swords. They were part of a collection created by a master artificer on the plane of Mirrodin. The swords were meant to be a set, each with its own unique powers, and were a source of great power for anyone who could wield them.

* **The Complete Cycle:** Over the years, more swords were added to the cycle, culminating in a full set of ten, each with its own unique combination of protections and abilities. These swords are a testament to the power of legendary artifacts in the multiverse, and their lore is a running thread that connects various planes and stories.

These are just a few examples of the legendary items that have been a part of Magic: The Gathering's expansive lore. From the world-ending power of the Sylex to the subtle corruption of the Chain Veil, these artifacts are as much a part of the story as the planeswalkers and creatures who wield them.