Welcome back, Lore Seekers! Today I'm looking at March of the Machine: The Aftermath! I know I'm a smidge late, but honestly, there was so much to cover after March of the Machine that I'm amazed I got to this at all, thankfully the most recent set wasn't canon to Magic: The Gathering so I personally don't need to cover it. While this is only sort-of a Flavor Gems article, I'll be covering story stuff that isn't in the set this time around, hence no Flavor Gems in the title. With that out of the way, let's dive in!

Spark Rupture and Omenpaths

Open the Way by Livia Prima

The Spark Rupture is one of Aftermath's two big status quo shake-ups for the multiverse. As the multiverse heals itself in the wake of the invasion, many, if not most, planeswalkers have lost their sparks. The how and why isn't fully explained, but historically big shake-ups to the multiverse can have repercussions beyond just those involved. After all, the Mending affected everyone even though it took place on Dominaria and only about a dozen planeswalkers were involved.

We learn of the second big shake-up from Nissa, Resurgent Animist's story, She Who Breaks The World, in which the now-desparked elf faces off against a creature from another plane (in Animist's Might), discovers she's not left helpless (in Leyline Immersion) and eventually decides to travel home through the mysterious new Omenpaths with the still-sparked Chandra Naalra (in Open the Way).

Meanwhile Nahiri, Forged in Fury, after losing her chance to regain her spark in her side story Beyond Repair (also in Reckless Handling), takes steps to prevent planeswalkers from harming Zendikar ever again (in Nahiri's Resolve).

As for the rest of the desparked walker cards, there's not much to say about them just yet, so here's a quick list on where they ended up:

• Kiora, Sovereign of the Deep has been desparked on Zendikar.
• Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin has been desparked on Capenna.
• Calix, Guided by Fate has been desparked on Theros.
• Samut, Vizier of Naktamun has been desparked on Amonkhet.
• Narset, Enlightened Exile and Sarkhan, Soul Aflame have been desparked on Tarkir.
• Tyvar the Bellicose has been desparked on Kaldheim.
• Karn, Legacy Reforged has been desparked and currently resides on Zhalfir.
• Gold-Forged Thopteryx implies either Huatli or Saheeli, or both, have been desparked.
• The Royal Scions (Will and Rowan Kenrith) were confirmed to be desparked in a preview panel for Wilds of Eldraine.

So... what exactly does this mean for these characters? There are a few things to keep in mind here. First, the presence of Omenpaths ensures none of these characters are 'stuck' in one place, although the reality of the modern era is that outside a handful of characters, most planeswalkers only ever appear on the planes they're associated with (the exception being War of the Spark).

Second, while there are on average only a couple planeswalker card slots per set, there are dozens of slots of Legendary Creatures. Having your favorite characters now be a Legendary Creature means there are more opportunities for them, not fewer.

And third, honestly you're just going to have to wait and see how this new interconnected multiverse shakes out. It's been 15 years since the Mending and Magic's last big status quo shake-up, and while "Bradywalkers" were derided for years by the enfranchised lore fans at the time, it led to an era where Magic's story was more popular than ever.

Other Planeswalkers Status

While Aftermath gives us a glimpse at many desparked planeswalkers, let's talk about what we know after the Aftermath stories that might not be on the cards:

Ajani, Sleeper Agent has been healed from the Phyrexian corruption and retained his planeswalker spark in the process. The Aftermath stories make it clear that while his body has been healed, he's going to bear the scars of what he'd done under Phyrexia's thrall for a long time.

Ajani's old friend Archangel Elspeth has ascended as an angel, taking her place as one of the multiverse's greatest defenders. How Elspeth adjusts to live as an angel, and how she handles the Deification she might be getting on different planes, will be interesting to see.

Jace, the Perfected Mind is missing in action. The last we saw of the compleated mind mage, he was off on a mysterious mission for Elesh Norn. We'll just have to wait and see if that has any negative consequences in the future. I'm sure it will be fine!

Koth, Fire of Resistance has been desparked and currently resides on Zhalfir along with the other Mirran Survivors. Teferi Akosa of Zhalfir is also desparked and on Zhalfir, his greatest mistake now mended. Although it isn't exactly what they might have wanted for Zhalfir, positioning Zhalfir as its own plane, rather than a sub-section of Dominaria, means that a return won't have to battle for space like everything on Dominaria does. Wrenn and Realmbreaker were incinerated by her flames, but Teferi has planted her 'acorn' on Zhalfir.

Quintorius, Loremaster has become a planeswalker, his spark igniting in the climactic moments of the Strixhaven side story. How and where we see him next, I think we can all agree it's going to be great to see him on other planes. Tamiyo, Compleated Sage was killed by The Wanderer, but a 'story spirit' version lives on with Nashi, Moon's Legacy to help guide him.

Vraska, Betrayal's Sting was apparently killed by Ral Zarek in the Ravnica side story, but her body was never recovered. Ominous!

Plane-by-Plane Breakdown

We've gotten small glimpses into what's happening on individual planes of the multiverse, so let's check-in on what we know. I'll be tackling a lot of story-only information or things covered in Aftermath.

Arcavios

A big chunk of the staff was compleated during the invasion, with extensive damage to the Biblioplex. While the Invocation of the Founders restored the central campus, the rest of the plane, including the five colleges, is a wreck. We see some of that being repaired in Campus Renovation.

Nassari, Dean of Expression and Shaile, Dean of Radiance were completed (A Radiant Heart). Nassari was healed from compleation, as seen in Plargg and Nassari, however it's not clear if that's due to their proximity to the Invocation of the Founders as it was cast (they were just knocked off the platform where it was being cast) or some other reason.

Capenna

Rocco, Street Chef by Bram Sels

Park Heights has been destroyed, dropped onto Atraxa in the Mezzio to kill her. The Maestros have effectively been eradicated, with their new leader Anhelo, the Painter having been compleated and killed in the demolition of Park Heights.

However, efforts to Rebuild the City continue, with the benevolent side of some of the families showing in things like Rocco, Street Chef feeding those impacted by the invasion. With the families weakened, we see in Metropolis Reformer that the angels are finally reestablishing themselves as a force for good.

Dominaria

The New Coalition was able to fight off the worst of the Invasion, having already organized a global response following Sheoldred's infiltration. The Tolarians are rounding up the Phyrexian sympathizers from the Society of Mishra in Tolarian Contempt. Elsewhere in the world, we see Vesuvan Drifter and Urborg Scavengers finding a way forward with the wreckage of invasion left behind.

Danitha, New Benalia's Light has taken over as head of House Capashen following the death of her father. Meanwhile, Rona, Tolarian Obliterator, Moira and Teshar were compleated.

Eldraine

The Kenriths' Royal Funeral by Manuel Castanon

The Courts of the Realm have fallen, and Kenrith, the Returned King and Linden, the Steadfast Queen are dead as shown in The Kenriths' Royal Funeral. Ayara, Furnace Queen was compleated, and took much of Locthwain with her. However, Ayara's Oathsworn shows that Locthwain persists even without its queen. Those knights who remain prepare using Phyrexian corpses as target practice (in Training Grounds).

It was not the Realm but the Wilds that defeated Phyrexia here, with a sleeping curse used on the Phyrexians to mitigate their damage before it could spread. Rankle, Master of Pranks was either killed or put to sleep with the Locthwain Phyrexians in an absurd act of heroism. Chulane, Teller of Tales's fate is unclear, but was implied to be compleated by Ayara.

Ikoira

After Drannith fell to Lukka, the people were forced to flee toward Lavabrink. Coppercoat Vanguard plans on retaking places like the Drannith Ruins first from the monsters that have inhabited it since the fall. Jirina, Dauntless General continues to lead her people.

Meanwhile, it's not clear what will happen to the monsters' crystal adaptations, and we know that the Ozolith, the Shattered Spire is reforming.

Innistrad

Sigarda, Font of Blessings by Justyna Dura

We get surprisingly little on Innistrad after Gisa and Geralf of all people helped save the day. Markov Baron shows life goes on for the vampires. Sigarda, Font of Blessings's role as the protector of humanity has probably largely been cemented at this point, I would be surprised if the Avacynian holdouts didn't focus on Sigarda after this.

Ixalan

Recovery is ongoing on Ixalan as Harnessed Snubhorn shows the Sun Empire clearing the wreckage of the battle for Orazca, repurposing tools of war for rebuilding. Meanwhile the River Heralds are busy trying to Filter Out the inert glistening oil from the continent's waterways. Tranquil Frillback shows nature is reclaiming what wreckage was left behind.

We know from the story that the Sun Empire and Dusk Legion have both suffered heavy losses during the invasion, and were forced to work together to fight off the invaders at Orazca. Etali, Primal Sickness was compleated and killed by Zacama, Primal Calamity.

Kaladesh

Pia Nalaar, Consul of Revival leads recovery efforts on Kaladesh. The capital of Ghirapur was devastated, with the ground war mostly lost and the resistance largely happening in aerial battles above the city. Skysovereign, Consul Flagship was destroyed in battle, and Baral, Chief of Compliance escaped his imprisonment and was pardoned for his role in fighting off the Phyrexians. How Pia feels about that remains to be seen.

Kaldheim

Arni Metalbrow has a new Phyrexian trophy alongside his troll horn, making him one of the most hard-headed humans in the multiverse. Cosmic Rebirth shows the World Tree is recovering from being immolated to stave off the Phyrexians, and Feast of the Victorious Dead shows that those that died have excellent stories to tell in the afterlife.

The Cosmos beasts Toski, Bearer of Secrets, Sarulf, Realm Eater, and Koma, Cosmos Serpent were completed by Phyrexia and have been lost.

Kamigawa

Towashi took the brunt of the invasion, with Boseiju, Who Endures getting split in half. Blot Out shows that reckoners who attempted to leave their lives of violence following the invasion having a difficult time of it. Meanwhile, after Hidetsugu and Kairi opened the doors on Oni escaping from their realm, Death-Rattle Oni cements that the plane is no longer safe from their interference.

Seizan, Perverter of Truth is stated to have fought on the side of the invaders, but it's unclear if that means it was compleated or just enjoyed killing mortals.

New Phyrexia

New Phyrexia and Zhalfir have swapped planes, with New Phyrexia now locked in the phased-out pocket of reality that Zhalfir once occupied. The process destabilized the physical foundations of New Phyrexia, and the plane was collapsing as it phased out.

The praetors Elesh Norn, Jin-Gitaxias, and Vorinclex were killed as the Zhalfirns rescued the remaining Mirrans. Sheoldred and Urabrask were executed by Norn as traitors. Seven, Wrenn's bonded tree, was killed here by a compleated Nissa.

Ravnica

Niv-Mizzet, Supreme by Joshua Raphael

While Ravnica was heavily damaged, Niv-Mizzet, Supreme remains as the apparent Guildpact. The Golgari were the most heavily impacted, while the Izzet and Simic were close behind. New Prahv and the Chamber of the Guildpact were significantly damaged. The compleated Golgari's assault on the surface created a Undercity Upheaval, exposing huge swaths of the Undercity to the surface for the first time.

Shandalar

The Onakke are stirring after the power of the Chain Veil seeped back to them (from Onakke Javelineer).

Tarkir

Kolaghan Warmonger shows that some places are appropriating Phyrexian tech in different ways; in this case, it has become armor. It's unclear what the status of the Dragon clans are after dragon riding became a thing during the invasion.

Theros

Theros was incredibly impacted by the invasion, with many, if not most, of the gods fallen to Phyrexia. Heliod, the Warped Eclipse was confirmed to be killed Kaya, while Erebos, Nylea, Thassa, and Purphoros are implied or outright shown to be compleated. Cymede (of Anax and Cymede) was also compleated, and as she was claimed by Keranos in the original Theros story, it's likely that Keranos also fell. Polukranos, Engine of Ruin and Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos were compleated, and Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger was freed from its prison.

Humanity's bulwark was Ephara, Ever-Sheltering, who defended Meletis against the invasion, even fighting off her fellow gods. Deification shows us that some places may be turning to Elspeth worship as their savior in the wake of the invasion.

Zendikar

Much of Tazeem has been blighted (again), and Sea Gate has fallen (again). The Emeria Skyclave has crashed into the ground on Tazeem, and Omnath, Locus of All was compleated during the Invasion. How poor Tazri, Stalwart Survivor is going to fix all this is anyone's guess, but I suppose she got plenty of practice after the Eldrazi.

Zhalfir

Jolrael, Voice of Zhalfir by Ernanda Souza

Zhalfir now occupies the physical space New Phyrexia once did, inheriting the five suns of New Phyrexia in the process. Wrenn's acorn has been planted there, and the Mirran survivors have been welcomed by the Zhalfirins. Jolrael, Voice of Zhalfir is confirmed to still be around and alive, and Kaervek, the Spiteful has escaped from the Amber Prison. I'm sure that won't have consequences in the future!

Looking Forward

That's all I have time for today, I'll be working on some fun building for flavor decks for our desparked planeswalkers in the coming weeks, before diving into Eldraine!