May 22, 20233 min read

Legends & Lore - Elesh Norn

Elesh Norn is the leading Praetor of New Phyrexia, having risen from the white sun of Mirrodin to lead the Machine Orthodoxy. Known as the Mother of Machines or Grand Cenobite, she authored the Argent Etchings and is the mastermind behind the Phyrexian invasion of the multiverse. Norn inspires a kind of religious fanaticism within her followers, aligning her teachings with those of a once-infected Karn when he was Father of Machines, prior to his return to the light via Venser’s spark.

Norn seeks to dominate all life and convert them to Phyrexians, beginning with the other Praetors of New Phyrexia and eventually the whole multiverse. During her rise to power, she cowed all the other Praetors except for Urabrask. Norn would add to her legion following the formation of New Phyrexia when she compleated the former Mirran angel Atraxa, turning her into a trusted lieutenant and leader of her armies.

Elesh Norn’s plans for a multiverse-spanning invasion began to take shape when she was approached by the planeswalker Tezzeret, who was looking to save himself after combining with the Planar Bridge. It had begun to consume him, and he believed that the only way to save himself was to gain a body made of Darksteel. Knowing that Elesh Norn could offer this to him in the form of compleation, he offered his services and the use of the Planar Bridge.

Tezzeret’s help allowed Elesh Norn to send Vorinclex to Kaldheim to capture a piece of the World Tree, which would later be grown into Realmbreaker, and send Jin-Gitaxias to Kamigawa to discover how to compleat a planeswalker. She then sent Sheoldred to Dominaria to begin the battle and ultimately capture Karn and return him to New Phyrexia. With Realmbreaker growing into the means to send Norn’s Machine Legions to invade the planes, along with completed planeswalkers Ajani and Nissa at her command, the invasion began.

The compleated planeswalkers and Atraxa led legions of Phyrexians across the multiverse, ensuing in pitched battles with legends from across the span of Magic’s stories valiantly leading the defense of the planes. A last-ditch effort, led by the planeswalkers Koth, Chandra, and Wrenn, infiltrated the inner spheres of New Phyrexia and to the base of the Invasion Tree. Almost stopped in their tracks, the planeswalkers only survived due to the timely interference of Elspeth, now an archangel and Norn’s most feared adversary.

Elspeth was able to combat Elesh Norn and then fall back to assist with the attack on Realmbreaker. This allowed Wrenn to combine with Realmbreaker and swap the plane of Zhalfir with New Phyrexia, unleashing the Zhalfirin army upon the Phyrexians. To Norn’s dismay, Jin-Gitaxias used this opportunity to turn on her, allowing the Zhalfirin forces to easily defeat the Phyrexians.

PLANESWALKER & LEGENDARY CARDS