“ | Any scrap of compassion that still existed in my soul was permanently snuffed out when they cast me out into the flames. | „ |
~ Mairsil, the Pretender |
“ | What do you have that I cannot obtain? | „ |
~ Mairsil, the Pretender |
Mairsil also known as the Pretender is the main antagonist of the Dark story and a major antagonist of the Ice Age block of Magic: the Gathering. He was a powerful wizard known for controlling others even after his death.
History[]
Mairsil gained notoriety when he usurped control of the Conclave of Mages from Ith and imprisoned him in a special cage below the Conclave's citadel. This cage transferred the mana from Ith to Mairsil and drove Ith mad in the process. If Ith hadn't summoned a Rag Man, the cage would've killed him. The Rag Man found the young Wizard Jodah who freed his master. Driven nearly to insanity, Ith used his immense magical prowess to destroy both Mairsil and the Conclave before Jodah restored his sanity.
Before his demise, Mairsil imbued his life into a ruby ring and he remained undisturbed for the next 2,000 years. The ring was eventually found by the soldier Lim-Dûl during Dominaria's Ice Age. Mairsil granted Lim-Dûl vast necromantic abilities which allowed him to aid Leshrac in his conquest of Terisiare until their undead forces were defeated between the Kjeldorian-Balduvian alliance. Since Jodah was still alive, Mairsil attempted to control Lim-Dûl to slay his rival. Before he could exact his revenge, Leshrac severed the necromacer's hand that held the ring leaving the Pretender in solitude once again.
In a coincidental turn of events, the ring would end in the possession of the taskmage Jaya Ballard, Jodah's trusted confidant. For the next decade, Mairsil poisoned Jaya's mind with hatred for her friend and planned on having her slit Jodah's throat. Jodah fought back and managed to ignite Jaya's planeswalker Spark with his magic mirror. The following conflagration burned the ring to ash along with Mairsil's soul.
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Planeswalkers Phyrexians Multiversal Threats Villains by Plane Mirrodin/New Phyrexia Kamigawa Ravnica Lorwyn/Shadowmoor Alara Zendikar Innistrad Theros Tarkir Kaladesh Amonkhet Kaldheim Ikoria Arcavios Unknown |