| “ | You wish to learn of Nyx? Very well. | „ |
| ~ Phenax |
Phenax is a major antagonist in Magic: The Gathering, primarily on the plane of Theros. He is the God of Deception and the realm's embodiment of blue and black mana. The lord of all lies and patron God to deceivers, schemers and many neerdowells, Phenax defines the fluidity of blue mana with the treachery and malice of black. He is also the Lord of the Returned, Theros' undead that escaped Erebos' domain, for he at one point was the very first of them before ascending to godhood.
Biography[]
Phenax is one of the few Gods of Theros to not actually have divine origins, as he was not born out of Nyx like the others. Phenax was originally a mortal man, who upon death did what was thought to be impossible; he escaped Erebos' underworld and cheated death itself. This act would infuse him with divine power, and Phenax would leave mortality behind to ascend to godhood, becoming the Theros Pantheon embodiment of blue and black mana, and with his act of deceit cementing his ascension, he would from that moment on be known to all as the God of Deception.
Phenax would become involved with Ashiok during their time on Theros. In return for destroying a city and remaking it as a city of the Returned, Phenax blessed the dark Planeswalker to be hidden from sight from the other Gods, allowing them to act without fear of detection or consequence. He was also responsible for cursing a woman for falling in love with another in the short story The Consequences of Attraction.
Personality[]
As the divine embodiment of deception, Phenax, by default, is a lying and manipulative being. While he is capable of honoring his word and upholding his end of bargains from time to time, there is a saying on Theros, "Only a fool takes Phenax for his word." More often than not, Phenax betrays, abandons, forsakes or simply outright screws over those who beseech him, and takes great amusement in doing the same to those who do not even have any business with him, enjoying the death and destruction Ashiok left behind for the other Gods. As fickle as the flowing power of blue mana, Phenax can sometimes even show outright benevolence, but this is rare, and if mortals wish to have dealings with him, they must truly ask themselves if the potential consequences outweigh whatever gain they may achieve from it, for owing to his affinity of black mana, his cruelty and malice can be truly horrific. He also, much like certain other Gods of Theros, can be quite jealous and petty of mortals in certain aspects, shown when he cursed an innocent woman and turned her into a monster simply because she fell in love with another while having the lying God's affections. Phenax however would not have such a large following if betraying those who worship him was his only method of ruling. To those who have ill intentions in their heart, and seek to deceive and cheat others, he grants them his blessing, pleased by the betrayal and mischief they sow, and obscures those who dwell in the shadows with dark secrets.
Gallery[]
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 Villains
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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 | ||