What Happens in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty? 

Hey friends! Thanks for watching my video. I just wanted to say a few things now that you're all here: 1. Wow, y'all crushed that 8k goal for LIKES in just four days! My previous best-liked video only had 7,900 after over a year, so I thought this would take a bit longer to reach. Thanks for proving me wrong! I will get started on "Who is Kaito?" and should have that ready for you in a couple of weeks...but that better get 10k likes! 2. Growing up, it was a coin-flip if someone was going to call me Ryan, or Bryan. I got used to it. I realized it was never an intentional mistake, and even though it was annoying at times, I didn't take it personally. I realized the important part was that everyone knew who we were talking about (sorry to all the Bryans out there for stealing your drink at Starbucks, though.) With that said, I do apologize for not getting "Kyodai" correct, and will strive to be more accurate in the future. 3. With that said, the first few comments calling me out on my pronunciation were plenty. Every additional one feels like a dog-pile, and to be honest, I was scared to attempt any sort of Kamigawa video for fear of exactly this. I knew that I wouldn't get all the names perfect, and I suspected that people consuming my (free!) content wouldn't be sympathetic. So while I appreciate each and every point of engagement with my fans, I ask that you please check prior comments before bringing up something - especially if that thing is a 'negative.' I'm fine with criticism and feedback, I just don't need to lay in bed at night unable to sleep because I'm dreading reading RU-vid comments the next morning. Thanks for understanding, and thanks again for watching "What Happens in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty." It was a fun video to make and hopefully raises the bar for future episodes. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a deal to uphold!

Honestly, Jin Gitaxis needs to sell, like, a single Mirran artifact to the futurists and his bank account is set to do whatever the hell he wants to do.

To be fair, it's been established since her introduction that the Wanderer's unstable planeswalking allows her to do feats other walkers cannot. When the beacon was down during War of the Spark she was zipping in and out of the plane as a means of short range teleportation, which would have exhausted any other walker.

I am interested in how other characters will react to tamiyo. Especially narset and ajani who were part of her book club

Love how all the phyrexians are evolving and you can see personalities in them, whith vorinclex being the killing machine, jin being the brains and elish norn more like a keeper of the acord, but even though they are different they all want to make phyrexia bigger

PERFECT timing on this video. Just catching up on the lore. Sometimes people don't have time to read the online stories. And the anime trailer really brought this game to life. I feel like we need more than just stories and cards now.

I feel like all new planes need to be introduced on 2 or 3 set blocks. We both need to acclimatize/learn about the new plane, and see the story/events and how they are affecting the plane, and that cannot be done well in just a single set. And Kamigawa being so different than the original block definitely feels like a new plane altogether.

The biggest ramification of Kamigawa Neon Dynasty is Tamiyo's compleation because for the longest time planeswalkers were the only known entities to be completely immune to phyrexian taint aside from Melira. In fact Venser giving Karn his planeswalker spark was what allowed him to break free from the phyresis coursing through him. Planeswalkers being immune to phyrexian taint is one of the best tools that allowed them the power to fight properly against the corruption, and now that they have lost that advantage, Phyrexia is even more dangerous than ever. edit: To add to this it took the combined efforts of multiple old-walkers, millenia long eugenics programs to produce the perfect anti-phyrexia soldiers, the creation of tolarian academy to further magical research and the creation of a full set of extremely powerful artifacts (some like the Titans, world ending) plus what would have probably been the single largest source of white mana ever to defeat Phyrexia and completely erase Yawgmoth from existence. Modern planeswalkers are sorely outgunned by the new Phyrexians, and their one saving grace is now gone.

I suppose its a good thing there were so few side stories in the War of the Spark lore, its almost the perfect alibi. If ever we don't want to waste time expositing how two established walkers know one another, they can just say, "oh we worked on a group project on Ravnica, ... awhile ago." Its the perfect "a wizard did it" catch all for the lore, and the wizard was also an evil elder dragon.

On Kaito's impatience despite being blue: the way I understand it, having certain colors in your identity doesnt mean you'll always act in accordance, and if you have two colors it may be even more so. I think in this instance, Kaito's selfishness (his black aspect) overwrote his patience (a blue aspect).

Ryan: talks about not knowing what The Reality Chip is supposed to actually do in story and card representation The Reality Chip: Reality can be whatever I want it to be

I REALLY miss two set blocks! Why can't we have more of them? Moving so quickly to and from, while only lightly exploring, each world is so frustrating!

Thanks for another fantastic video! So fascinating as always 🤩 An advice from a native Japanese speaker on how to pronounce these cards! A is pronounced Ah (like in father) E is pronounced Eh (like in extra) I is pronounced E (like in eel) O is pronounced O (like in so) U is pronounced OO (kinda like in foot) Everything in Japanese is pronounced a set way! And a bit of extra advice! Double consonants require a pause in pronunciation (you almost hold your breath) and then pronounce the rest (i.e. with Isshin you pronounce the I, pause, then pronounce the rest (shin)). And lastly any letter followed by -yo or -yu (i.e. Ryo, Kyo, Ryu) is pronounced almost like one character. Kyodai is pronounced kyo-da-i (btw this word is not to be mistaken with kyōdai which is sibling; in this case Kyodai means gigantic)!

i really appreciate how you show the cards in screen as you narrate it really helps to solidify the story for me especially after looking at all the cards already from drafting. makes it way easier to follow for me

I guess the metal controlling abilities are shown on like "Metallic Rebuke", so it's not 100% out of nowhere, but reasonably slim I agree

30:25 The Future Sight ability of the Chip might be related to the visions it gave to the Emperor. Also, I just put together that Tezzeret is the cause that Vorinclex appeared in Kaldheim, since the Planar Bridge only works with inorganic matter. And after the Bolas arc, it feels a little too repetitive that the "new" bad guys are also hunting artifacts from across the multiverse (Tyrite and now the Chip). Great video as always!

Thank you so much! Without you I would know nothing about the story of Magic sets.

Hey Ryan! Just wanted to say I really enjoy how you're not just recounting the story but actually comment on and critique some of the flaws and inconsistencies. I think like this the video gets infinitely more interesting than if you were just doing a summary and nothing else. Also, kind regards from Europe!

Also I feel the Two Set visit could be used on nearly all of the recent new plains. Kaldhiem, Strixhaven, Kamigawa, Ikora and even Throne feel like there is so much potential, but it's all hurried along so fast. There may be returns, but there's no attachment! It all feels like "eh here's your new obligatory standard update" rather than "hey here's a cool story, and look, here's some cool cards showing said story!"

Kaito is the character-definition of playing flash spells in your main phase. Change my mind.

I'm sad for Tamiyo but I've always felt like she was pulling her punches in previous stories. If being compleated means she's willing to whip out all those scary scrolls then I bet she'd be as big an asset to Phyrexia as Tezzeret, probably even more, and I'm excited to see what that might mean. Maybe she can put Teferi in a moon somewhere and we can breathe for a set

HOORAY!! I always look forward to story time with Magic Arcanum. A great way to start the day!

This has been amazing to listen to. Please do one of these for the next set, I’d love to crack my box while listening to this! Going through all my pulls while you talk about it really helps being the story more alive.

I like your idea of how the plot should go a lot more. The shortcomings of the set's fiction somehow sting a lot harder now. Why even create this incredible, nuanced and stylish world only to present it in such a hasty, sketchy fashion?

Hey Magic Arcanum Thanks for pretty much being the cliff notes to the story its been really helpful to understand Magics Lore.

Ryan - Tamiyo "using one of her binding scroll" for the phyrexians Me - Having flash-backs from eldritch moon's ending 0_0"

Once again thankyou so much for reading all the material for us!

I am so happy that I found your channel. I love your story recap and will be listening to every one!

Loved the extra glitch effects on the cards in this one. :) Thanks for your work!!

Absolutely fantastic critiques and quips throughout your storytelling 😂 Top notch, Ryan and Nicole!

"populated, but not important" is the perfect way to describe it. It felt like the entire plane was basically a Potemkin village in the story. Great video dude, loved it!

YES! I was just looking on RU-vid yesterday to see if anyone did a video on the new lore yet. Killin it again my man.

Thank you for the timely release. I love your content.

Hot take and hear me out: the reality chip, by anchoring the emperor to Kamigawa, let her perform the exceedingly powerful planeswalking feats she does in the story. For example the cards Future Sight and Precognition Field allow you to play the top card of your library, so when it was attached to her it allowed her full access to planeswalk wherever she wanted within the plane (even places she had never personally been). She just has no experience planeswalking of her own volition before so she needed help.

First off, great video love the work you and your team do to bring these indepth yet simplified story retellings and explanations. That aside i believe during Kaito's first encounter in the Present portion of the story, Tezzerat makes acomment along the lines of: so you're the one who has been inquiring about me throughout the planes. It may have also something only stated during the manga, however I am at work whilst typing this and cannot currently cite this qoute.

I feel like they are setting up Nashi to become the character that MIGHT be able to reverse phyrexian compleation. They do mention he has an interest in cybernetics and now since his adoptive mom is compleated, maybe he becomes interested in trying to reverse the process to get him “mom” back? Idk thats just my “out of nowhere” theory of the day

Fun fact, Ninja didn't use Kunai or Shurikan as weapons, rather they would throw Shurikan in wood or insert the Kunai between rocks to create footholds that only they knew of. (Black steel is REALLY hard to spot in the dark, especially if not looking for it) This is from an actual Ninja, as apposed to a videogame, show, or movie.

You tell the story so well I can’t stop listening! Great video!

Catching Tamiyo first and using her to undo the spell on Emrakul to possibly do more experiments has me hopeful and excited for a big reveal at some point.

Thank you a lot for helping me getting a good order for the story cards in the sets - I love to collect them and arrange them properly :D

Can be said that kamigawa neon dynasty is the clímax of the prelude of the new phyrexia arc, also a huge plot twist that Jin gitaxias can complete planeswalkers

Some thoughts: I took a short break from MtG, but I think that new flaming background behind the spotlight cards on screen is absolutely rad, along with the transitions that I lack the words to properly describe. Have a like towards those eight thousand. My latest prediction is that the New Phyrexia cards will gain bonuses for how many poison counters their controller has, considering how Mirrodin is fully corrupted. I honestly think Kaito's smokebomb and the draconic mech that chases Kaito could have easily replaced the ninja's kunai and thundersteel mech cards from the set. Just replacing the kunai's damage ability with bouncing what it's equipped to, and the name and art of the mech would be enough. I appreciate that Wanderer's Intervention isn't enough to actually kill Jin-Gitaxias in story, but forces him to retreat, much like how you would pull back and protect him when your opponent casts it on him in play, with something like spell pierce, which he is noted to use in the flavor text. I think that Kaito vs Tezzeret is a really cool means of exploring two of the sides of the Blue/Black pairing. They both have Blue's affinity for technology, and Black's belief in doing whatever it takes to get the job done, but approach it in different ways. Kaito is single-minded and unwavering in his cause of getting back the emperor (Blue, an attribute also seen in Teferi and his desire to bring back his home), and willing to do whatever it takes to get her back (Black), opposes the central authority and think people should be able to have all the tech they need for themselves (Black again), and is generally not the most accepting of other's help (also Black). Also, getting caught up in the rush for the mission (usually mad science) without thinking of the consequences is a very Blue thing of him to do. Tezzeret is even more obsessed with tech (Blue), believes in acquiring all the knowledge he can (Blue), using any means no matter how cruel (Black), and follows the Phyrexians, who have most likely promised him some more power or knowledge in exchange for his service, which is a very Blue/Black kind of thing. I actually like how the two realms of Kamigawa merging isn't a massive plot point, it gives the sense there is more happening in this world than what's going on with our heroes. The emperor being able to use planeswalking to teleport with help makes sense, as she seems to planeswalk far more frequently, and concentrates far more closely on planeswalking than other planeswalkes. In comparison, most planeswalkers seem to stick to a small set of planes and not travel between worlds as often or pay too much attention to honing their skill with it. Considering how the black portion of New Phyrexia is the closest to the original one, I'm guessing that we'll be meeting up with Sheoldred trying to revive ancient war machines on Dominaria, or at least recover a few pieces of their design. I mean, one of the last times we visited Dominaria we got a card named "Phyrexian Scriptures," so it may be Elesh Norn considering how she tends to represent the religious side of New Phyrexia. I definitely predict Karn's appearance in Dominaria, potentially alongside the golgothian sylex mark 2. The final thing I notice is that Tamiyo isn't as outwardly mutilated or deformed as other Phyrexians. This means she could potentially trick or at least get the drop on the heroes. I'm picturing a scene where she makes her appearance in deep shadows and our heroes experience growing alarm before she steps into the light and the extent of her compleation is revealed.

Just today, I realized the complete story had been published, so I read it and wondered when you would make this video. What a nice coincidence.

Perfectly summarized! I feel less lost now. Thank you a million times over

What an amazing video. Thank you so much for these I’m always looking forward to the next one! It’s a great break from reality for just half an hour so again thank you very much sir know you are doing all of us a wonderful service!!!

Super sad that Pompon-Chan didn’t get a card. Especially like you said how prevalent it seemed to be. Maybe we will get an OP card of it in Modern Horizons 3, similar to Ragavan. 😂 Also, thank you for this video. Great summary!!

Once again thank you for doing the work so we can better enjoy! I really like your story tweak ideas to involve more of the Kamigawa factions/entities and having Jin selling etherium to futurists.

Thank you for the fabulous story!

Finally! Thank you so much guys ❤️

I REALLY hope we get back to Lorwyn. I really enjoyed that plane

I was waiting for this video :) great as always

Thx for the story. I just realized that Tamiyo might have something of far greater danger then the forbidden scrolls. Knowledge of the whereabouts of a certain imprisoned eldrazi titan. Emrakul. Emrakul told Jace that she was incomplete and that Innistrad should welcome her not reject her. Well if Pherexian Oil can now affect planeswalkers with an active spark, what could Pherexia do with an imprisoned titan.

Finally someone, who explains the whole stories of all those sets. I’m slowly getting lost in this maelstrom of stories. Keep up with that great work! Liked and subscribed!

Funny how they keep making references to the Agents of Artifice book. That village that was burned down by Baltrice, a planeswalker minion of Tezzeret back when he still led the Infinite Consortium (she never got a card). Jace was there too. The fire was because of a failed negotiation with the people of the village.

With this level of entertainment I could listen to you analyze the ingredient list and nutritional facts in a box of cereal. I liked the visual touch for the story spotlight cards too!

I just noticed (probably a coincidence) that Tamiyo, the first compleated PW, matched the colors of the praetors we know working on this new project, Jin Gitaxias and Vorinclex. As more praetors (probably) get involved, will we see more Compleat Walkers with increasing colors until we pass Atraxa and reach the ultimate WUBRG, or will most of the Compleat Walkers match their intended identities?

Great stuff brother!

It feels like we are just visiting these worlds, not actually *exploring* them.

Loved your mustache minute. It hit the nail on the head. There was so much potential within the cards and the lore, much of which did not matter at all for the story

I tried looking for the video about Phyrexian planes walkers and the significance, but couldn’t find it. Love what you do by the way. Magic is fun, has great art, but also (usually) a great story, and you help break it down. Outside of spoilers, when a new set is dropping, I most look forward to your videos on the lore!

Tezzeret’s arm is etherium, a liquid metal from Alara, and can reconfigure his own body with that not to mention any other goodies he got on Kaledesh, so his controlling metal sheets? Yeah, kinda fits.

I don't understand why The Wanderer and Kaito didn't set up a rendezvous point before she left. Like, "Meet me on Ravnica at the coffee shop on Tin Street." It seems that while the Wanderer randomly planeswalks if she isn't concentrating on staying put, there have been times in the story where she intentionally traveled to a particular plane. So I think she could go to Ravnica on purpose.

I read it all this time. I love your take. Content is king, but internal consistency makes empires.

Whispers: “make sure you like and subscribe” 🤣🤣🤣That actually made me auto subscribe!🤣🤣🤣

The worst part for me was when Tamiyo had to remind "Kaito"--who I believe is a ninja--about the element of surprise...

Man, this set really would have been perfect for a 3-block set. I wish they had more time to flesh out the story and stretch out the changing cards.

Magic just wouldn't be the same without magic arcanum. Great work.

Tamiyo is my favorite planeswalker so im a little distraught seeing her end up like this but at the same time it does mean that she will continue to be a big part of the overall story...perhaps she may even be able to reverse or overcome her compleation

YESSS BABY!!! so stoked to watch today!!! I tried to read the stories but i prefer getting it straight from the gossip king himself - plus ur added commentary is great lol

never stop with the Star Wars references I love the content as always ;)

It's simple: being able to look at the top card of your library & potentially play that card is perfect gameplay reflection of what a McGuffin should do.

Tameshi's dying words at 9:20. 😆Brilliant.

5:30 8k likes achieved! Keep up the great work Ryan and Nicole..

I feel you're right about the possibilities and how the story developed, maybe they lost a good chance for making it bigger and better... But you got a great vid, thanks as always for the great work! Have a great weekend!

If a compleated Tamiyo is bad enough, remember that Ashiok is actively searching for the Phyrexians and an infected Tibalt running amok in the multiverse. Not to forget that Vorinclex got some "magical sap of immortality" after beating a literal goddess to a pulp.

Great video!

The plot-points in these stories have me shaking and puking, but you made it more digestible, so thx

Btw, Tezzeret can control metal, not just machines, canonically: see the flavortext of Tezzeret's Simulacrum "Tezzeret's command of living metal has nothing to do with intricate gearcraft or aether supplies."

Makes me wonder when Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty would be converted into a splatbook for Dungeons and Dragons being that Wizards of the Coast attached D&D and Magic: The Gathering by the hip a few years ago.

"they make quick work of the draft chaff" I lol'd

The Wanderer was one of my favourite planeswalkers from war of the spark. it was just so mysterious, a new planeswslker just appearing out of nowhere, getting her own side cards as well (the wanderer's strike) and she has had me wondering ever since. bizarre how so many sets later, everything comes back together now

It's here!! I've been waiting for this one since Neon Dynasty was announced. Such a cool setting, Wizards really nailed this one.

28:33 to be fair Kaito did not know Tezzeret name until later in the story and there has to be more than one person will a metal arm

Great video, it's nice to know magic's lore

Despite the somewhat underwhelming execution I quite liked the new characters in this set. I hope they do more with them, specially with the emperor. Really like her design and I think her character has potential.

Weird that Jin Gitaxias presence hasn't infected the plane like Vorinclex in Kaldheim or the oil on Mirrodin. Also, all planeswalker should try kill Tezzeret on sight wild that Tamiyo was ok with a tiral

Kaito is written like a good grixis character and I enjoyed it. Really needs some red in his next card

Neon Dynasty must take place at one of the poles, considering how much night time there is compared to day time.

The Aether Hub has a very interesting theory stating that the visit to "The Brother's War" is actually a time travel story in which the Phyrexians are attempting to change history

I kinda like the story. In my opinion, Emperor's teleporting doesn't even come close to Kaya's planeswalking or Jace's pinpoint planeswalking to a moving vehicle ahahah

I love this content, congrats, keep up the great work 👌👌👌🎉

“Only 3 or so planeswalkers are in danger” … One year later…

I think its funny Kaitou somehow managed to avoid the War of the Spark

love your passion for star wars and your videos are great

Really looking forward to "Who is Tezzeret?"

Kaito is a really cool protagonist. He's just, like. Red/white. Maybe red/black? MAYBE red/black/blue, at most, but that's unlikely. He seems to be blue entirely because ninjas are blue black and it would be weird that you couldn't use the ninja planeswalker in a ninja commander deck.

I like the idea of studying Kami to compleat Planeswalkers. Previously, Phyrexians couldn't be Planeswalkers because compleation removes your soul which the spark is attached to. Kamis though are all ethereal spirits that aren't of the physical world but still interact with it through their very existence. They embody concepts and ideas and as we see in the new set, can become enchantment or artifact creatures where they either bless physical beings or possess machinery. By studying the soul and how it affects the physical world you can find a way to compleat beings without desparking them. EDIT: also it shows really interesting new thinking because the first instance of Phyrexians ever took place during The Thrane, where Yawgmoth believed there is a specific gland in Dyfed that he could dissect to obtain the power of Planeswalkers. New Phyrexians are evolving and better understanding how beings outside of themselves operate.

I bet Jin Gitaxias concocted the Kamigawa equivalent of NFTs, that’s how he was able to pay the goons!

11:52 - holy shi-- so thats who the wanderder was! I'm glad I decided to get back into magic and update on lore because I was wondering that back then.

Haha I was just wondering if tehre is a video on Kamigawa uploaded already and here we are =D