MTG Lore: The Praetors 

The game is at LEAST twice as fun when you know the lore

What's interesting about Urabrask is that he embodies how red is sometimes a morally superior colour to white. Ironically, red's unpredictability and opposition to any sort of restriction makes it more consistent and stubborn in its views, which is what prevents it from being utterly corrupted and subdued, like white was in the Machine Orthodoxy. A lot of people think that white and red are both linked to empathy, but I would said that white is not empathetic at all. White does what is right (most of the time) because it KNOWS what is right. It doesn't relate to those it's helping; it protects the weak because it's the right thing to do. That is not empathy, and it also explains why white's morals can be twisted and subverted in a way red cannot. White relies on what it thinks it right. Thus, it can be mistaken and lied to, essentially. Red does not do the right thing for the sake of doing good; it does it because it feels what others are feeling. Because of this, it is much more difficult to subdue red - especially in the example of New Phyrexia - because it is easier to change what people think than what people feel. Maybe I should go outside.

I LOVEE Elesh Norn's art. The perfect mix of pure white and blood red made her clean while still impersonate the phyrexian. She truly represent the "white side" of the the phyrexian. I need it now xD!

Seems hard to walk through doors with this giant head plate

I feel like Urabrask is the least inherently "evil" of the praetors... His "living is the moment" philosophy clearly makes him the least reliable or loyal to his cause in a sense. He also seems like the praetor you'd most want to sit down and drink with.

Sheoldred is my favorite Praetor, always will be. I do hope we revisit New Phyrexia again in the future, I'd like more insight as to what's going on there.

Although I love all the Praetors I remember seeing someone opening a Jin Gitaxias at prerelease and felt deeply in love with it. There's something so badass about it's design. I thing it's because it bears so much ressemblance to the xenomorph, I don't know, but I was so jealous of the dude that oppened the blue Praetor

Almost feel like each Praetor deserves their own lore video. Is there really not much else lore to them other than what you covered?

i found your channel 3 days ago and ive already watched every lore video

Although I love Elesh Norn, I think Urabrask is my favorite of the praetors.

I remember when I started playing hearing how much of a powerhouse elesh norn was. I didn't think much of it at first, but as I continued playing and understanding the mechanics, this single creature became a reminder of how a simple card can do wonders in a deck and be a nightmare for your opponent(s)

Gotta say: Urabrask is by far my favorite character in MtG.

Anorexia is no joke.

Any one else get a giant chill when you see these guys

Oh man.... I REALLY wish i got into magic sooner. I would love to have experienced Scars of Mirrodin set so much!

New Phyrexia is one of the best sets wizards ever printed. I hope to see a return some day

All Praetors are the stuff of nightmares...

phraxia vs eldarzi. I want to see this so badly!!! Elish Norn vs Ermrukl

I think this might be my new favorite magic related channel. You help me learn so much about the lore of this awesome game!

I do like how all the praetors fight among each other with different philosophies about how phyrexia should be. I never really thought about it. Interesting lore today!

Urabrask is my favorite card/character in general :D

i love the way you pronounce synthesis

Called it! Well, I doubt I was the only one. Anyway, I did not play during this block, so thank you for catching up on all the lore. My friend did play during it, but he sort of phased out during Theros block. He complained that he did not like the use of the god subtype, but I responded that I think the praetors are more powerful and terrifying than any of the Theros pantheon.

The Phyrexians make great villains. I look forward to joining the Mirrodin resistance one again in the far future.

brought mirrodin into bean evil bean known as yawgmoth pray-uh-turs the great thin-thi-this the vicious warm shear-ul-dred thranes

Wow, buying all 5 of them are about $70 XD

Elesh Norn is my favorite of the Praetors! Sleek in design with the pure white armoring plates stained by the very much organic blood. It's just such a good display of the contrasts new Phyrexians have over the old ones designs.

As someone, who started Magic back in the days of Mirrodin and left the game shortly after the first Ravnica-block, I am fascinated by the events of New Phyrexia. Loving the lore-video,thanks for retelling the story.:)

The Grand Thynthethis. XD Sorry. Love your channel.

one of my friends has this card and it makes my life a nightmare

Thank you for continually making lore videos I speak for myself and probably others when I say you have made Magic the Gathering an easier subject to get into.

Scars of mirrodin block, M12, and innistrad block will always have a special place in my heart from when I first started playing. I had a really shitty blue white control deck at the time using a bunch of cards I packed out. Although I know how to make decks now I wouldn't trade those days away for anything.

My first pack of the set I opened a Vorinclex, but I never opened Elesh. Go figure.

Elesh Norn... Grand pain in my ass...

THANK YOU SEIBEN!!! This is exactly what I wanted this Halloween

I enjoy the way you present your material. Just waiting for a good break in my schooling to binge on most of the videos I've missed.

Showing my age; My favorite Praetor= Ebon Praetor (Easter bunny wedding!). P

would love to see them again

I asked for this topic almost a year ago and you finally did it! New Phyrexia is still one of the most intriguing stories in Magic tbh.

Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite is one of my favorite Praetors. I've even used this card in a Mono White splash of Colorless Deck including Artifacts

what's the name of the song in the video

I can understand the red mana rebellion of the phyrexia cause red mana is passion freedom things crush under the normal hierarchy of phyrexia

The Praetors and New Phyrexians were the reason I started playing magic but I never got a hold of any of the preators sadly. Great video seiben!

My favorite Praetor is Elesh Norn as I am fan of white/black cards... very strong for Orzhov!

soul of new phyrexia is of the white faction correct? (I am new and like the white phyrexian's and bought soul of new phyrexia as it is my favourite artwork so far I have seen in MTG)

I really enjoy all the videos. Love the lore; you're doing a great service for the community. My only criticism is that you're always mispronouncing stuff ... regular English stuff. I don't mind the way anybody pronounces words created by WotC, but normal English words are a different matter. Maybe it's not your native language (which is cool, not trying to hate); I don't want to seem like an elitist jerk, but just being a minor RU-vid celeb and providing a service for the MTG community, ya know... just some friendly criticism. And again, thanks for all the videos, I do really enjoy watching all these to complement the cards I play with.

I have always loved the art on this card, how the white and red mixes is just plain (*ba dum tss*) stunning. To learn that Elesh Norn has some awesome lore to follow along just makes the card so much more awesome than it really is.

I never knew much about the praetors and no other sources provide the information. I really appreciate it.

Elesh Norn is pretty hot tbh

You didn't follow WUBRG. That displeases me.

As you could probably tell by my profile picture, I love New Phyrexia. It was my firsts, first set to know, first set to get the lore of, first set to gape in awe at. I am surprised that there was never a strong alliance between Jin-Gitaxias and Elesh Norn; they have the closest ideals, and could work very well together.

I love the Praetors they are such an interesting set of bag guys and I can't wait to see what has become of them while we're all off fighting the Eldrazi. I really hope I get the Elesh Norn she's the last one I need to complete my collection of the Praetors.

Are praetors stronger than your average planeswalker?

phyrexians? more like necrons

I knew about Karn but I never knew anything about the Praetors or Phyrexia. It sounds like their existence and presence in life is so twisted. I feel like I have a new respect for their cards. Knowing what they are all about realm changes the gameplay for me, I like making decks that stay true to the stories (like not having a deck with Eldrazi and inhabitants if Zendikar in it) I really want to go through what little cards I have from that set with this background in mind.

:p I've been meaning to collect playsets of all the praetors because I thought they all looked cool and always wondered what their background was. So this came at just the right time!

Just saw that card for the first time. Was looking for stuff for my EDH deck/s. Very cool channel, I plan on watching all the videos. Thanks!

Elesh Norn is my favourite commander. She is so strong and a good attacker as well. I love your videos, keep continuing with your channel, because I learn so much about mtg lore. Thanks!

Elesh Norn looks freaking awesome and the card doesn't disappoint as well.Also i like how every praetor has the personalty that represents their color very well.

One of the first decks I ever built that I was proud of was a Sheoldred golgari deck that involved me tossing my creatures to the grave and summoning them endlessly back. Elesh Norn is a good choice for the giveaway though because she is probably the more well known Praetor.

Now that I am getting closer to being the last video of this series I hope next year you will do the same thing! It is really nice to watch these videos... Oh and a Elesh Norn, dam yes :).

I've started with Mtg, with Mirrodin Besieged and this Set is really iconic for me. And I didn't thought, that it was notably scary, but I understand it now. And the lore of Elesh Norn is really like fighting for the distopia of a Mind Police :-D

I was expecting Urabrask to be the give away, but you're going all out on this on with Elesh. Well done, great choice.

I started playing for few months now, & I wanted to know more about it, & Wow. There is a whole lot! Thank you for these lore Videos

Urabrask isn't so much "pissed off" at the other phyrexians as he is conflicted. While most people see red as the colour of rage and anger, it actually is the colour of emotion and individualism. Something that is basically forgein to phyrexians. He allows the Mirrans to take refuge and commands his forces to ignore them because despite being a vicious killing machine, his red allignment makes him feel empathy, which drives him mad and causes his mood swings. Urabrask does JUST enough for New Phyrexia to not make the other factions suspicious about him (Except Jin-Gitaxias of course, who is paranoid about his antics.) You can see his detatchment in many of the cards and artwork - the picture of the "Grand Compilation" shows the red mana orb floating at a much greater distance to the rest and the creature Atraxa (Basically a phyrexianised Platinum Angel) lacks the red mana allignment because Urabrask outright refused to help creating the ultimate enforcer of Phyrexian rule.

The Praetors are unique, It'd be interesting to see a return to seeing if the Phyrexians are going to try and spread out more beyond Mirrodin

I'm kind of interested in the Thranes' stories from the black Phyrexians. Old Phyrexia has some of my favorite art and definitely makes for a fantastic villain, and Sheoldred's faction would be fun to explore more of.

Elesh Norn the Bane of all tokens. One if my favorite looking MTG character.

I love Elesh I hope to be the fortunate! Siebenlore, AWESOME video as the rest, I didn´t expect this topic though. It was very interesting to know about the Praetors, they still rule eternal formats!

I love urabrask he is a leader in the coolest race in mtg and is a decent guy. Seeing how in the new phyrexia story red is the colour of the heroes and white is the villain colour there is a chance he could flip SO COOL!!!

Can't wait to see the rest of these tales! Really appreciate these well-spoken lore videos

This channel is exactly what I have been wanting from the magic community. Who doesn't love the lore. Loved this video, was the first one of yours I watched. Always enjoy listening something about the Phyrexians and Phyrexia. Keep on putting the content out I'm subscribed and look forward to seeing more from your channel.

I would definitely go for the machine orthodoxy ! I really love Elesh's style !

Urabrask might've been made by, or even is, Slobad. He lost his spark to save Gissa so he's definitely corruptible, and he seems somewhat kind to the Mirrans. It's quite possible that he embraces the rage, but also the freedom of red mana. While he definitely seems to be Phyrexian, he doesn't seem to want suffering or extinction on the Mirrans, though obviously it's not as if he'd want them to outnumber him.

I would love to build a theme deck around Elesh Norh. You pick good cards to give away as well and is much appriciated as a loyal follower of your work.

I love the flavor of the praetors giving your forces immense power at the expense of the suffering of your foes

elesh norn doesn't seem like much at first glance but when you play with it or against it, you will feel its true power

Elesh Norn have like the most graceful but scary art in magic cards that i had ever seen

It's funny, I hear Cenobite and immediately think Hellraiser. Though I can see Elesh Norn fitting in quite nicely with Pinhead and company.

I loved the new phyrexia block. It brought me back into magic. The phyrexians are definitely some of the most terrifying villains in all the multiverse

Was searching for sheoldred whispering one lore Glad I find this She is my favorite black legendary creature since I started playing mtg She really looks like a queen

That card is great in any deck. No matter what the strategy. It might also make a good commander if not for the high mana cost

Seems like every praetor has its own take on buff and debuff at the same time

Praise Karn, god of machines. But seriously, i like that you talked about each one. And im glad you chose Elesh Norn over the others. Lets be honest she looks the kolest and is one of the better ones (not that any are 'bad' per say)

i found this channel a while ago and have been spreading the word ever since! thanks boss!

Every morning I start off by listening/watching your 13 nights of magic videos. Keep up the good work.

Its always fun to imagine how creatures and beings from diferent planes would interact with one another! What would the great Machine Orthodoxy think of the Eldrazi? Would Vorinclex admire them, or attempt to destroy them?

i really liked learning about the preators, sheoldred was my favorite

Elesh norn: Brothers sister thank you for coming on such short notice. Jin-Gitaxias: This better be good, sister the engine has to attended to constantly what could possibly require most of the praetors to attend to. Sheoldred: Frankly I'm surprised Norn reached out to us, we've all maintained our factions with little issue so the question is do you want something from us sister? Elesh Norn: Something like that. Jin-Gitaxias: WELL GET ON WITH IT SOME OF US HAVE DELICATE WORK THAT NEEDS... Vorinclex: Calm down chrome dome its not like your septic minions cant keep your engine running while your gone. Jin-Gitaxias: Says the barbarous mongral who churns out horrors and beasts with not purpose! Vorinclex: Survival and evolution is all the purpose the swarm and myself need. As of which is why you came so quickly sheoldred not many would dare attack you in the company of such marvels as ourselves. Sheoldred: Oh brother, you read me like a book Elesh norn: ENOUGH! Elesh norn: Tell me has the oil brought forth nothing but mono phyrexian? Jin-Gitaxias: Yes it has at an accelerated rate as of recently... why? Elesh norn: our ideology our grand orthadoxy details how we evolve and perfect the weak but with out doing so our selves... Sheoldred: Where are you going with this? (Norn motions to the balcony) Elesh norn: An angel molded and remade with our oil the best we ever made but it needs a finishing touch... 3 finishing touches. Vorinclex: You want us to add our essence to this creature? Elesh Norn: Yes the progress engine, the machine of othadoxy, the great swarm. and the steel thranes all powerful in their own right but what if we blended them together? Jin-Gitaxias: A Phyrexian like that... would have no equal a living juggernaut. Elesh Norn: An a symbol of phyrexian evolution; its time we took the next step to perfection. Norn holds out her hand gesturing to the angel The praetors all clip a sliver of their essence and inject it into the vessel The vessel twitches and stirs Sheoldred: What will you call this... thing Elesh Norn: From this day forward i dub her Atraxa Praetor's voice

I love Phyrexia, they’re like the Borg, but with their cold logic replaced with insane fanaticism.

Phyrexia vs Eldrazy has to be a block, it would be amazing to see the multiverse's two greatest antagonists fight to the death.

The praetors were always interesting cards. I'm glad they have equally interesting lore :)

Some of the most powerful and terrifying creatures I've ever played with/against.

I've always wanted to learn more about some of the major characters of New Phyrexia and this definitely helped! Great job with the serires!

I love the art for the praetors and phyrexians in general. They remind me so much of clive barker and hr giger type art I love it.

Aether Hub: "the phyrexianized elf, Glissa" RU-vid's autogenerated captions: "the fraction eyes delft glitter"

If I had to choose a favorite Praetor, I would choose Urabrask. reason i think Urabrask has the coolest art

This would be a great card to get, thanks for giving it away. At one point I owned Vorinclex but traded it away because I would get hammered up on in the multiplayer matches I typically play, lol

Braids, Cabal Minion. I would like to hear her backstory due to her being the Original Black female Planeswalker prior to the Mending. Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite was and still is one of the Creatures I would choose to reanimate in a Sultai Canadian Highlander deck.

Praetor's Councel is awesome. A green card that gives you your graveyard and no max hand? Yes please! Check out the flavor text too. My guess is Karn might return as a Black Planeswalker.