Who is Sorin? | Magic Arcanum 

This is one of the most interesting stories of magic I've heard so far. I really liked it

"Why do you want to save the multiverse anyway? " - Nahiri "Because I'm one of the idiots who lives in it! " - Sorin

Sorin is basically the epitome of "that's a problem for future me to deal with"

I really wanted a Sorin in a wall legendary land in War of the Spark

There's a key thing you missed. When Sorin trapped Nahiri during their initial battle, it was to prevent Avacyn from killing her, as she sensed that Sorin was in danger and immediately went after his attacker. Yes, it was a stupid and rushed decision, but not one out of nowhere.

Sorin a comfirmed member of High School Musical. 🎵We're Sorin, flying and deathtouch🎵

"...Sorin always starts with good intentions, but his methods could use some peer review." Never chuckled this loud before.

of course Sorin is a grey character, he is black And white.

To the question "Is Sorin good or evil" I would give the answer "No".

I'm a little sad you didn't go more over his relationship woth Avacyn. I honestly felt like he was very emotionally distraught at her unmaking.

Avacyn: "I am your creation. You are responsible for everything I am capable of. I was made for a purpose, and your purpose was impure. Sorin Markov, I condemn you as the greatest evil of this world."

Sorin is actually a good example of a Byronic Hero. He definitely wants to do good even if for somewhat selfish reasons but his own flaws, such as his arrogance and inability to admit his own faults, keep getting in the way in a way that screws him over majorly in the end. The fact that he’s native to a plane based on gothic literature definitely helps too.

From what I remember, Innistrad block lore explained that to "sire" a new vampire, they would bite a human and drain only a little blood, instead of actually feeding on them (which was basically always fatal). The human would become infected by vampirism and die within a day, but if they bit the vampire BACK during that time, they would stabilize into a full-fledged vampire themselves. Zendikar vampires were Eldrazi Spawn that got cut off when the titans were imprisoned, and evolved into sentient beings themselves, with the Eldrazi drive to consume everything turned into vampirism. Possibly this was affected by the fact that Sorin's part in imprisoning the titans was using his blood magic to more or less put Ulamog, Emrakul, and Kozilek to sleep so they didn't resist the hedron field being put into place.

"Why would you want to save the Multiverse?" "Because I'm one of the idiots who lives in it!" -Not Starlord

I like the logic why he saved the universe. its basically "I dont save my own house to benefit the spiders that live in its corners, but because its my house."

As I recall, sorin was also the one who taught nahiri how to be a planeswalker, and was essentially his adopted daughter.

So he's tough guy Drinking people's blood guy, Sealing friends in vault guy, Chilling in the stone guy. He's a vampire, Hating on his bloodline, Watching his own world die, Killing Avacyn guy. Is he baaaaaaaad guuuuuuy?

So one thing you forgot to mention is that Avacyn's(and the rest of the angels') madness was brought on by the cryotoliths warping the leylines. As creatures of pure mana, the change in the plane's mana patterns changed their behavior significantly. Kind of a tangent but you mentioned both Avacyn's madness and the cryotoliths so I thought it was a bit of an important details to have missed

Who is sorin? "a WEEB" - Spice 8 Rack

Five bucks? I give you five cents. Hey, I wanna thank Nicole and you for doing this series abut Magic characters and the lore. Now that the story kind of dissapears behind a pay wall I hope you keep us updated. Thanks again, Ryan. You are awesome!

Best way to start a Friday? With Ryan (and Nicole) ofc!

@TCGplayer: He helped trapped the Eldrazi on Zendikar. He created the Archangel Avacyn. He has a sword called the Parasite Blade. He Beat Up Tibalt. He fought Nahiri but lost to a wall. He is the most interesting Vampire in the Multiverse. Stay thirsty my friends.

My favorite Sorin quote is from Zendikar's "Day of Judgment" flavor text: "I have seen planes leveled and all life rendered to dust. It brought no pleasure, even to a heart as dark as mine." This shows that he's clearly a black-aligned character, but he isn't a stoic nihilist.

18:42 I like how Chosen of Markov immediately becomes a dominatrix after turning into a vampire.

OK here's my thoughts on my favourite planeswalker. In the conclusion of Emn and the beginning of Sorin's Wall Era Olivia stole the Parasite Blade, Sorin's blood-drinking sword, from him. By War of the Spark, not only is he free of the wall, but he's got the Parasite Blade back. This would indicate it wasn't like the Interplanar Beacon pulled him out of the wall and dumped him straight onto Ravnica, the implication is that Sorin freed himself or someone else freed him and during the time between EMN and WAR he regained the Parasite Blade from Olivia. You can discuss how much Nahiri, Sorin, Avacyn and Innistrad's people have all suffered as a result of the rift between the two, but I have no doubt Olivia Voldaren has suffered more. I don't want to imagine which agonies Sorin inflicted upon Olivia as revenge for abandoning him and taking the Parasite Blade. She probably wished Emrakul could have corrupted her. Also vis a vis Sorin's morality: I think he wants to be heroic in his own way (doing the best he can for the people he cares about) but he really doesn't know how and has no interest in going out of his way to learn how. He's very much the dark echo of Gideon: both of them had traumatic experiences involving bizarre and ancient magic that lit up their sparks and both of them see themselves as protectors out of necessity, but Gideon's more heroic because he's spent time around people who recognise that heroism and have illustrated to him how important it is to be selfless. Sorin's never had anyone to back him up, to thank him or tell him when he's gone too far so he doesn't recognise that to be the best protector he can be he has to be willing to sacrifice his own interests for the greater good. Maybe if he had friends beyond a professional relationship with Ugin and Nahiri he'd grow to care enough about them that he'd be willing to sacrifice things for them and learn to be a proper hero that way.

Wait, you have the Markov family photo album? And you DIDN'T share the embarrassing baby photos??

You say his home is under the control of Olivia (20:40). In the story, she relieved him of the parasite blade and proclaimed herself as the new Lord of Innistrad. In the artwork for Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord, he once again has his famed Parasite blade. Olivia is no longer in control of Innistrad. The mighty Voldaran's came down with a sudden and fatal case of being-in-the-way-of-a-millennia-old-vampire.

A very important detail that is missing here is that Nahiri assumes Zandikar to be destroyed by the eldrazi in her absence ( her being sealed away and all) and with the knowledge that sorin would not help. Being eternal she lived many life times, watched other loved ones age and die without her. Her only company and constant friend was zandikar itself. She blames sorin for dooming zandikar and in the hell vault voes to bring the same fate to innistrade, the only thing sorin has ever loved.

Sorin’s a favorite planeswalker of mine. Really loved the video. Can we see an Elspeth video in the future?

This was fascinating. I think he really embodies 'One often meets his fate on the road he takes to avoid it.' I really hope we get more characters like him!

Waking up, having a cup of coffee, and hearing Ryan talk about Sorin for twenty minutes is a nice way to start the day.

I mean, his original planeswalker card is legendary in commander for that second ability "target player's life total becomes ten". Shuts down any life gain and puts them in stabby range.

In a way, Sorin is very similar to Urza. Both are powerful planeswalkers who will stop at nothing to protect their home plane.

Suggestions for future topics: Who is Karn? (Karn found the Golgothian Sylex during the Dominaria storyline, so there may be a return to New Phyrexia in the future?) This leads to: Who are the Preators? and What happened on New Phyrexia? Phyrexian mana is one of my favorite mechanics in terms of both simplicity and elegance (even though it is so, so broken) and the Pretty Deece video on it is one of my favorites, so make it happen!

In regards to the Sorin vs. Nahiri debate I'm on team "They should kiss"

Who won? Who's next? You decide!

I play morally neutral characters in D&D, and "I live there," is a valid motivator.

Definitely think Sorin is like a Chaotic Neutral type of planeswalker…. still one of my favs!

Nahiri also returned to Zendikar after escaping the Helvault to find the whole plane devastated by the released eldrazi, that led to her deciding to make Sorin’s home suffer as hers had from his lack of help. She cares for Zendikar the way Sorin cares for Innistrad, and in her mind he was indirectly responsible for her homes destruction through his neglect. Something she could not forgive.

Spoiler: "His battle with Nahiri, which, hmm, we will get to." When you realize their fight was orchestrated off screen and they settled their differences *off screen* Single combat was such a cool looking card too.

Today is my birthday and sorin is my favourite planeswalker, thank you for the amazing present guys :)

"who's in the right here?" idk Ugin seems chill

Please make a video on the New Phyrexian Praetors. I find their story and their core differences due to color influence really interesting.

Ugin: “What has the multiverse ever done for you? Why would you wanna save it?” Sorin: “Because I'm one of the idiots who lives in it!”

Yes!! I love your lore videos, They're my favorites from all the videos uploaded to the channel, please keep doing them and more often if possible!

Wow! Great retelling of this story. So detailed & in depth! Thank you!

Thanks for making this video, i am so happy right now :3

Your videos always inspire me to create more. Thanks

Oh thank God you are still doing Magic Arcanum!

Still my favorite planeswalker! Thanks for the deep dive into his entire story!

As always, a pleasure to watch. Thumbs up for Nicoles questions!

I would love to hear something about Elspeth in another Episode! Great video as always :)

Was waiting for this one for awhile :D

15 Seconds in and man, I am so freaking happy to have this video out!!!

Love story time. You do an awesome job. Thank you

Always love these videos! Sorin is such an interesting character! 😄

Really loving this series detailing some of the main players in the current lore. Looking forward to more.

More videos like these for the old generation planeswalkers would be great! This was a lot of fun.

Awesome video congrats on 100k subs :)

I wish that Magic Arcanum was still a thing, it was by far the best part of this channel.

Loved the vid! Sorin one of my favourites entities from MTG story

Superb explanation, a very clear and neat video, thank you for your amazing work, keep it up

These are always a treat

love this video type. and that you show the cards! more story's to come i hope

Congrats on 100,000 subs!!

Thanks this was awesome appreciate it. I subbed and found you after the game went to your head.😋

0:18 - WHE LOVE YOU MAN!!! One of the best content here on RU-vid, well, in my opinion of course Thanks for the Sorin lore

I do hope Sorin kept his spark and shows up again soon. He's my favorite antihero.

Bring these back!

As someone who's been playing vampires for a while.... these last few sets have made me BEYOND happy lmao

Lave your presentation style! Great video!

💢the Q&A end segment is fantastic! Definitely keep this part in to help understand more about the lore and characters. I’d like to see a segment of your possible predictions on where the lore and story will go too. Call it future predictions. Tony

Ryan and Nicole! I would really love to hear about pre and post "mending" and better understand what the Planeswalkers were, and what they are now. I feel like a lot of the stories you have told touch on or around this, and I would like to know as much as possible. Thank you for all the great content!!

Thanks for the upload ryaaaan!! XD sorin is tied for my fave planeswalker with gideon “looking forward to the gids vid btw”

Loved the video, this was the character I was expecting the most for you to make a video like this, and I really liked the last part. May be you should have talked a little more about the feelings of Sorin towards his "child", Avacyn, he really loved her and it broke him down ending her life. He even felt that watching Emrakul getting close to destroy Thraben "hurt worse than the lithomancer's stone teeth that ground their way through his insides" (quoting "Campaign of Vengeance" from magic web story) 'cause it was the place where he created her. Apart from that, awesome video.

If it wasn't for your channel and the stories and lore you provide, I don't think I would have ever been this involved in the MTG gameplay. I love having the knowledge behind the cards amd being able to create deck synergies because of it

Love Sorin. One of my top 3 favorite walkers.

I just stumbled across your videos. I love the Magic Lore, its one of my favorite parts. I would love to see more videos on the Planeswalkers, please record some more.

Cool Sorin video, Ryan and Nicole. These are great! Keep em coming. With Commander 2019 out, maybe you can make a Weatherlight video? I saw some characters from that crew in the new cards.

26 mins of Storytime? A Dream came true!

Sorin didn’t unmake Avacyn because he wanted troops. He first tried to heal her.

Sorin is my favourite planeswalker so this is definetly my favourite video and i learned the most!:)

I immediately laughed at your "pain in the neck" pun haha. Sorin was the first Planeswalker that I ever boosted.

STORY TIME!!!!! I really love these videos.

This is very relaxing, perfect for biking or trying to fall asleep, very informative but still fun, this is my go-to informational channel

I LOVED him as the Lord of Innistrad. His emblem was always impactful. Was so happy to see him in WotS and M20.

Sorin is by far my favorite planeswalker. Extremely powerful, ancient beyond comprehension, ruthlessly driven, and deeply flawed. He's trying his damned best, but has a suitably murky track record for either mucking things up or fixing a problem.

You didn’t talk about the parasite blade or the fact that Olivia Voldaren took it from Sorin when she betrayed him, yet his vengeful bloodlord card in War of the spark clearly shows that he got it back somehow.

"That's the problem with you demons. You only see good and evil, black and white. Well I need to keep things grey." Cecil Steadman This quote from Invincible seems very Sorin like to me.

"Is Sorin the good guy, or the bad guy?" Yes.

I would go ahead and say Nahiri’s *main* beef would be the 100s of years of imprisonment. I’m sure she was pissed about him not replying to her DMs too, but like you said, at least that worked out ok for her if not perfectly.

Love this series

My favorite Planeswalker - very nice

I watch every single of your videos. I love them. Keep it like that. A suggestion for future videos: Is K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth , related with Kerrick, sleeper agent?

As someone who is not to familiar with mtg and starting to get into it this was a cool easy introduction to the first plainswaker I've gotten.

More videos like this one please

This should be weekly!

Sorin - Hot Topic’s favorite patron.

God I fricking love Sorin. He is the reason I got into magic and he'll always be my favourite. He's such an edgelord and jerk. 10/10

Great video!