“ | I was old before this world was even born. I watched my brothers rule for a thousand years until little worms like you overcame them. But I am not my brothers. I am older than they are, greater. I have devoured stars and shattered worlds. I have sired whole races, populated entire planes, and then hunted them to extinction for my amusement. | „ |
~ Nicol Bolas |
The official discord link if you wish to join the discord: https://discord.gg/j5RKwCvAFu
The background art comes from Cherylann1960.
User:Cerberusleuth/sandbox
“ | While my foes are legion, these 5 are potentially... problematic. A noble predator, he believes himself to be. This Garruk Wildspeaker, brutal, savage, nearly a merciless killer. His impatience is my virtue. Jace Beleren's greatest strength is his greatest flaw. The supremely powerful mind incapable of perceiving how he could rule all - a keystone in an unfathomable plan. So utterly filled with power, so wholly lacking in restraint and vision. Seeking freedom, will Chandra Nalaar rise above personal retribution, or will her fury consume all? A dark power commanding the dead, Liliana Vess inspires terror. In debt to demons, entranced in a pursuit of unobtainable desire, as ruthless... as myself. Reinforcer of life, light, in strength in our lives... a contemptible blight. Should we cross again, I'll snuff Ajani Goldmane's spark consigning him to an endless night. They are but obstacles, part of a grand design. Fight them endlessly, they'll likely prevail. However, should you prove to be a duelist of measure, having defeated these opponents with skill, consider your fate, for if you dare face me... destroying you will be my pleasure. | „ |
~ Nicol Bolas in the M13 trailer |
“ | Everything here exist or perishes on my whim - including you, Gatewatch | „ |
“ | IT WAS ALMOST TOO EASY. SPREAD THE WORD THAT THE BLACKBLADE KILLED AN ELDER DRAGON. MAKE IT JUST DIFFICULT TO FIND THE THING, SO THAT THEY APPRECIATE ITS WORTH. GIVE THEM ONE OF LILIANA’S DEMONS TO KILL WITH IT, SO THAT THEY BELIEVE IN THE UNCONQUERABLE STRENGTH OF THEIR ULTIMATE WEAPON. BELIEVE IN IT ENOUGH SO THAT THEY NEVER BOTHER TO SEARCH IN ANYTHING ELSE. AND WATCH AS THEY COMMIT EVERYTHING THEY HAVE FOR AN ATTACK THAT ABSOLUTELY DEPENDS... ON THE ONE WEAPON WE ARE THROUGHLY PREPARED TO REPEL.
YES, THE BLACKBLADE ONCE KILLED AN ELDER DRAGON. AND BECAUSE OF THAT ONE FACT, WE MADE DAMN SURE MILLENNIA AGO THAT IT COULD NEVER. KILL. US. LET BOTH STOMP THE GROUND UNTIL NOTHING MOVES BENEATH THEIR UNDEAD FEET. WE’VE HAD OUR FUN, NOW WE GROW WEARY OF THE IMPERTINENCE OF ANTS. |
„ |
~ Nicol Bolas upon ascending to Godhood |
Background
Powers and Statistics
Tier: At least 8-A | 4-A physically. 2-C with the Conflux. Would eventually become 1-C, possibly higher with the Elderspell | At least 1-C, possibly higher
Name: None (After the War of the Spark Ugin stripped him of his name and all of his titles, and as such he is now nameless, only known as "mortal dragon") Nicol Bolas (Bolas when referred to by one name), The Forever Serpent, "Sensei Ryu", "Lord Nicholas", Dominaria's Most Ancient Evil, The God-Pharaoh, the Deceiver, the Ravager, the Arisen, Dragon God, Master Venati, The Second Sun
Origin: Magic: the Gathering
Gender: Male
Age: 30,000-50,000 years+ (Is referred to as one of the oldest beings in the Multiverse. Is as old as Ugin, as a twin of him)
Classification: Planeswalker, Elder Dragon, Multiversal Tyrant, Power-Hungry Dragon
Attack Potency: At least Multi-City Block level (As an Elder Dragon, he should be comparable to that of Niv-Mizzet, who destroyed city blocks) | Multi-Solar System level physically (Kruphix states that if Bolas were to set foot on Theros, none of the gods would be able to stop him, making him vastly superior Heliod, who can shake the entire plane). Low Multiverse level with the Conflux (The conflux can split Alara into five planes, and then re-combine them). Would eventually become at least Complex Multiverse level, possibly higher (With the complete Elderspell, Bolas would begin his ascension to godhood, regaining his former power. Stated that once he ascends to godhood, he will become a threat to the multiverse and be able to remake it into his image) | At least Complex Multiverse level (His casual attacks created rifts in the multiverse, all of which are able to reach the infinite time streams that exist, each of which an extra space-time continuum on top of the already existing space-time continua in each plane across the multiverse, all of which contains an uncountably infinite amount of planes, and these rifts were eventually going to tear apart the multiverse. His mere presence on Dominaria, the nexus of the multiverse, was going to collapse it), possibly higher (As his status as the strongest dragon in existence, he should embody a great amount of The Ur-Dragon)
Dimensionality: 3-D | 3-D, would eventually become 8-D, possibly 9-D with the Elderspell | 8-D, possibly 9-D
Travel Speed: Speed of Light (As an Elder Dragon, he should be one of the strongest dragons in the multiverse, being superior from that of the Dromoka brood, who can breath literal light) | Speed of Light (Shouldn't be any slower than before). Would eventually become Extra-Temporal with the Elderspell | Extra-Temporal (Has to willingly create an avatar to enter a plane, completely unaffected by Teferi's time magic, such as slowing down, speeding up, stopping, and erasing time, as well as manipulating the time rifts)
Reaction Speed: Speed of Light | Speed of Light. Would eventually become Extra-Temporal with the Elderspell | Extra-Temporal
Combat Speed: Speed of Light | Speed of Light (Attacked the gods of Amonkhet with light attacks). Would eventually become Extra-Temporal with the Elderspell | Extra-Temporal
Striking Strength: At least Multi-City Block Class | Multi-Solar System level. Would eventually become at least Complex Multiversal, possibly higher with the Elderspell | At least Complex Multiversal, possibly higher (His casual attacks can create rifts in the multiverse)
Durability: At least Multi-City Block level (Is one of the survivors of the Elder Dragon War) | Multi-Solar System level. Would eventually become at least Complex Multiverse level, possibly higher with the Elderspell | At least Complex Multiverse level, possibly higher (Would likely survive remaking potentially the entire multiverse in his image)
Stamina: Unknown, likely vastly superhuman | Varies, essentially limitless (Depends on where he anchors himself, usually on a plane with endless mana) | Limitless (Showed no signs of exhaustion prior to the mending, but after his spark ignited)
Range: Hundreds of Meters with Magic | Universal+ with Magic (His powers can effect the entire plane), Low Multiverse level with other spells (Such as the Conflux or Planar Bridge), up to Low Complex Multiverse level with preparation (The Planar Beacon can summon planeswalkers across the multiverse. Upon ascending to Godhood, many people across the multiverse had nightmares) | Complex Multiverse level, possibly higher
Powers and Abilities:
All previous powers to a greater extent, Dimensional Travel and Teleportation (Can teleport to different planes via planeswalking, emitting light or smoke in the process), Non-Physical Interaction, Telekinesis (Shown here), Information Analysis (Via Deep Analysis), Fear Manipulation and Voice Mimicry (Can invoke fear as well as mimick voices from several long gone predators), Clairvoyance (Via his orb), Avatar Creation (Can create imp-like avatars of himself), Power Nullification (Stated to be able to crush magic), Soul Manipulation, Life Manipulation, and Death Manipulation (Via a card literally named Soul Manipulation, the flavor text is Bolas saying "Life and Death are both reversable". Can absorb souls, becoming more powerful), Void Manipulation (All planeswalkers can reach into the Blind Eternities, a void that seperates all planes. Superior to that of Tezzeret, who pulled Jace Beleren out of the Blind Eternities), Fate Manipulation (Via Crux of Fate, the battle between him and Ugin would determine the fate of dragons on Tarkir), Immortality (Types 1, 3, and 8; Would likely have survived being killed similar to how he did Pre-Mending, implied by Ugin) Mind Manipulation, Death Manipulation, Transmutation, and Corruption (Type 3; While invading Amonkhet, Bolas cast a spell that killed every adult on the plane, and then wiping out the mind of five gods, then corrupting the other three, transforming their bodies. Described to be the "Mind-Ripper" and "Being able to bring death with a touch"), Power Bestowal (Acted as a broker of Liliana's contract, that after she kills her four demons who she made the contract with, she would become more powerful and become immortal again. In Truth, Bolas made the contract and controls it, able to dissolve Liliana into fire if she should break it. Bestowed power onto the corrupted gods. Bestowed Precognition to Yasova Dragonclaw of a future of Tarkir with no dragons. Granted Liliana Vess immunity to Jace's Mind Manipulation), Shapeshifting (Took a form of a human while recruiting Ral Zarek), Healing (Presumably healed Tezzeret from his wounds), Resistance Negation (Pierced through Gideon's Invulnerability), Damage Reduction (Can prevent damage via Delight in the Hunt), Summoning (With the Planar Beacon, he can summon all planeswalkers to one plane. Not combat applicable), Deconstruction (Can deconstruct Liliana if she should defy Bolas. Also shown here, also via Make Yourself Useful), Fire Manipulation (Superior to Chandra, also shown here, also seen in My Laughter Echoes), Electricity Manipulation (Shown here and here), Plant Manipulation (Summoned dark plants to attack Nissa), Telepathy (Shown here, and can use this ability), Magma Manipulation (Via Magmaquake), BFR (Can force beings into different planes), Blood Manipulation (Via Blood Reckoning), Perception Manipulation and Body Puppetry (Via Know Evil) Madness Manipulation (Tormented Ugin with his magic via Tormenting Voice, also via My Laughter Echoes), Transmutation (Spat fire at a rock, transforming it into a statue of himself) Regeneration (Likely Mid-Godly; Ugin implied if Bolas shall be killed, he would revive akin to a way prior to the mending), Power Nullification (With the Immortal Sun, he can prevent planeswalkers from planeswalking), Necromancy (Of himself and others, superior to Liliana), Extrasensory Perception (Can sense every move on the plane of ravnica), Resistance Negation (Destroyed all of Jace's mental resistances), Resistance to Mind Manipulation, Void Manipulation, Death Manipulation, Reality Warping, Non-Physical Interaction, Existence Erasure, Corruption (Type 3), and Transmutation (Able to resist the effects of the Blind Eternities), Fire Manipulation and Plant Manipulation (Ignored Chandra's flames and Nissa's vines), Mind Manipulation (When Jace entered Bolas's mind, it was completely empty and erased, and then crushed it), Soul Manipulation (Survived even after Ajani Goldmane used his soul against him), Pain Manipulation (Calls pain "a delusion of the weak")
All previous powers to a massively greater extent, Absorption (Absorbed a leviathan's power), Non-Physical Interaction (Can interact with other Oldwalkers), Summoning and Acausality (Type 3; Via using time-rifts, if Bolas should be killed, his essence can easily summon another one of him from the past or a different multiverse of the infinite that exist), Non-Corporeal and Abstract Existence (Type 1; All Oldwalkers have no true form, as they are embodiments are their own will), Fate Manipulation (Oldwalkers can "Forge their destiny"), Shapeshifting (Can take any form, such as "Sensei Ryu", due to him having no true form), Power Mimicry (Has all the abilities of everything on the plane), Regeneration (Mid-Godly: Regenerated even after both his essence and his body was destroyed), Dream Manipulation and Fear Manipulation (As he ascended to godhood via the Elderspell, he passively caused a lot of people across the multiverse to have nightmares), Immortality (Types 1, 3, 6, and 8: All Oldwalkers are ageless embodiments of their own will, and can take any form they want. Even after being erased, due to rifts existence, Bolas came back. Was alive even after Leshrac disposed several of his limbs), Creation and Law-Physics Manipulation (All Oldwalkers are capable of creating planes on their own will, as well as being able to alter it's laws and physics), Higher-Dimensional Existence, Sealing and Essence Absorption (Sealed Leshrac in a rift, and stole his essence), Large Size (Type 8), enhanced Time Manipulation and resistance to it (Overpowered Teferi while controlling the infinite timestreams that exist, being completely unaffected by this magic in the process), Power Nullification and Magic Absorption (Can steal mana from an opponent, preventing them from casting spells of that color), Resistance to Death Manipulation and Power Nullification (After obtaining the real Myojin of Night's Reach, he countered Leshrac's deathtouch power despite having all of the black magic removed from him),
Standard Equipment: | Body Armor, Gem of Becoming, Dreadhorde Army, Gem of Becoming, The Immortal Sun, Planar Beacon, His Citadel. More in Notable Attacks and Techniques | As before, Myojin of Night's Reach
Intelligence: Vastly Intellgient (Elder Dragons are born knowing their names) | Vastly Supergenius (Superior to that of Tezzeret, who built the Planar Bridge, an artifact that can transport inorganic objects to other planes. Superior to that of Jace and Ugin, who both know of the higher-dimensional true forms of the Eldrazi, and the former devised a plan to exterminate them both by pulling them into the plane. Ever since he lost his former power, he stopped at nothing to get it back, including culling an entire plane and killing everyone old enough to remember anything, and made the entire plane essentially worship him. Also apparently knows how to use the Chain Veil without negative side effects) | Nigh-Omniscient (Stated to have knowledge being near that of Omniscience. Viewed an infinite amount of time streams, each having their own multiverse within them)
Standard Tactics:
Notable Attacks/Techniques:
*+3 (Planeswalker): Destroy target noncreature permanent.
- -2 (Planeswalker): Gain control of target creature.
- -9 (Planeswalker): Bolas deals 7 damage to target player. That player then discards 7 cards, and then sacrifices 7 permanents.
- +2 (God-Pharaoh): Target opponent exiles cards from the top of his or her library until they reveal a nonland card. You may play that card without paying its mana cost until end of turn.
- +1 (God-Pharaoh): Each opponent exiles two cards from his or her hands.
- -4 (God-Pharaoh): Bolas deals 7 damage to target opponent or creature they control.
- -12 (God-Pharaoh): Exile each nonland permanent his opponents control.
- Static (Dragon God): Bolas has every ability of each planeswalker on the battlefield
- +1 (Dragon God): Draw a card, then each opponent exiles a card from their hand or a permanent they control.
- -3 (Dragon God): Destroy target creature or planeswalker.
- -8 (Dragon God): Each opponent who does not control a legendary creature or planeswalker loses the game.
NOTE: Abilities from the Arisen only applies to Oldwalker Bolas
- +2 (The Arisen): Draw two cards.
- -3 (The Arisen): Bolas deals 10 damage to a creature or a planeswalker.
- -4 (The Arisen): Put a creature or planeswalker card from a graveyard on the battlefield under your control.
- -12 (The Arisen): Exile all but the bottom card of target opponent's library.
*Angel of the God-Pharaoh: A 4/4 angel with flying. It cost 4 generic mana and two white mana to cast. It can be cycled (discarded to draw another card) for two generic mana.
“ | The angels did not deceive. From the start, they were clear their allegiance was to the God-Pharaoh and to him alone. | „ |
- Augur of Bolas: A 1/3 merfolk wizard that that cost one generic mana and one blue mana. Upon being summoned, looks at the top 4 cards of the owner's library. The owner chooses an instant or sorcery spell from among them and puts it into the owner's hand, the rest on the bottom in any order
“ | There is no future save the one my master wills. | „ |
- Disciple of Bolas: A 2/1 human wizard that cost three generic mana and one black mana upon being summoned, sacrifices another creature. The owner gains X life and draws X cards, where X is the power of the sacrificed creature.
“ | Lord Bolas has shown me how each miserable little life holds untold resources. | „ |
- God-Pharaoh's Faithful: A 0/4 human wizard that cost one white mana to play. As long as it is in play, the owner will gain one life for each black, red, or blue spell they cast.
“ | This is the final trial! Rejoice, for the God-Pharaoh soars among us! | „ |
- Aven Mindcensor: A 2/1 bird wizard that cost two generic mana and one white mana to play with flash and flying. As long as it is in play, if an opponent would search their library, instead that opponent searches the top four cards of their library.
“ | The only question we need to ask is how best to fulfill the will of the God-Pharaoh. | „ |
- Sphinx of the Second Sun: A 6/6 flying sphinx that cost six generic mana and two blue mana. At the beginning of the owner's postcombat main phase, there is an additional beginning phase (The beginning phase includes the untap, upkeep, and draw steps.)
“ | He watches in silence as the shadows shift, bringing Amonkhet ever nearer to the Hour of Revelation. | „ |
*Commence the Endgame: An instant spell that cost 4 generic mana and two blue mana to play. It cannot be countered. The controller draws two cards, then Ammass X, where X is the number of cards in their hand. To Amass, put a number of +1/+1 counters on an army you control. If you do not control an army, create a 0/0 Zombie Army Creature Token with the +1/+1 counters on it.
“ | Even gods shall kneel. | „ |
- Tyrant's Scorn: An instant spell that cost a black mana and a blue mana. It has two modes to choose from; One is to return a permanent to it's owners hand, and the other is to destroy a creature with mana value 3 or less
“ | The hero with the magic sword slays the dragon? Not this time. | „ |
*A Reckoning Approaches: When you set this scheme in motion, look at the top six cards of your library. You may put a creature card from among them onto the battlefield. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
“ | The gates open to my new era. | „ |
- Behold My Grandeur: When you set this scheme in motion, if you control six or more lands, you may search your library for a card with converted mana cost 6 or greater, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
- Choose Your Demise: When you set this scheme in motion, look at the top four cards of your library and separate them into a face-down pile and a face-up pile. An opponent chooses one of those piles. Put the cards in that pile into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
- Delight in the Hunt: When you set this scheme in motion, create a 3/3 black Horror creature token and prevent all damage that would be dealt to creatures you control this turn.
“ | Pain is a delusion of the weak. I'll demonstrate. | „ |
- Every Dream a Nightmare: When you set this scheme in motion, each opponent discards a card. You draw a card for each land card discarded this way.
“ | Let me unburden you of these fatuous hopes. | „ |
- For Each of You, a Gift: When you set this scheme in motion, for each opponent, create a 3/3 black Horror creature token that attacks that player each combat if able.
“ | My generosity blesses you all, even the undeserving. | „ |
- Know Evil: When you set this scheme in motion, until your next turn, up to one target opponent can't attack with creatures, up to one target opponent can't cast creature spells, and up to one target opponent can't cast noncreature spells. You can't choose any player as a target more than once.
- Make Yourself Useful: When you set this scheme in motion, destroy target creature an opponent controls. If a creature is destroyed this way, you gain life equal to its toughness.
“ | To think you've spent years honing your body only to die like this. | „ |
- No One Will Hear Your Cries: When you set this scheme in motion, each opponent chooses a creature they control, then sacrifices the rest.
“ | Your companions were lucky to have died first. | „ |
- Pay Tribute to Me: When you set this scheme in motion, each opponent sacrifices a creature. If you control six or more lands, each opponent sacrifices another creature.
- Power Without Equal: When you set this scheme in motion, draw three cards. You have no maximum hand size until your next turn. If you control six or more lands, you may cast up to three spells from your hand without paying their mana costs.
- The Mighty Will Fall: When you set this scheme in motion, choose an opponent with the highest life total among your opponents. That player loses 7 life.
“ | Cry out for your comrades so that they may join you in misery. | „ |
- There Is No Refuge: When you set this scheme in motion, it deals 3 damage to up to one target creature. Create a 3/3 black Horror creature token.
“ | The dunes smell spilled blood. | „ |
- This World Belongs to Me: When you set this scheme in motion, draw two cards. You may play an additional land this turn
“ | Little insects, I have created entire worlds and extinguished twice as many. | „ |
- What's Yours Is Now Mine: When you set this scheme in motion, gain control of target creature an opponent controls and untap it.
“ | Vow your allegiance to true power. | „ |
- When Will You Learn: When you set this scheme in motion, each opponent exiles the top card of their library. You may cast any number of spells from among cards exiled this way without paying their mana costs.
“ | Don't fret, infants. It wouldn't have worked anyway. | „ |
*Because I Have Willed It: Spells you cast cost 1 less to cast. At the beginning of your opponents' end step, if they cast four or more spells this turn, abandon this scheme.
- Bow to My Command: As you set this scheme in motion, choose an opponent. Creatures the chosen player controls can't attack you or planeswalkers you control. At the beginning of your opponents' end step, they may tap any number of untapped creatures they control with total power 8 or greater. If they do, abandon this scheme.
- My Forces Are Innumerable: At the beginning of your end step, create a 3/3 black Horror creature token. At the beginning of your opponents' end step, they may sacrifice two creatures. If they do, abandon this scheme.
- My Laughter Echoes: Whenever you set a non-ongoing scheme in motion, you may abandon this scheme. If you do, set that scheme in motion again.
“ | Groveling already? I'm just starting to enjoy myself. | „ |
Weaknesses: Nicol Bolas is notorious for being extremely arrogant, viewing almost every other being in the multiverse as a mere "ant", never admitting to weaknesses, and thinking highly of himself and lowly of others. It should be pointed out that it is stated that while Bolas may be arrogant, he is not an idiot. Witnessing a lesser being killing one of his kin will terrify him, though he will not admit it. Bolas cannot cast most of his spells if he does not have any plane to anchor onto
Key: Elder Dragon | Neowalker | Oldwalker
Gallery
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Core Set 2019 banner
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Omniscience
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Damnation
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Bolas's pre-mending power fleeing
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Bolas vs Ajani
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Core 2019 banner (again)
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M13 banner
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Behold my grandeur
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Torment of Hailfire
Others
Notable Victories:
Notable Losses:
Inconclusive Matches: