The Multiverse consists of a tremendous number of separate planes inMagic: The Gathering’s expansive lore. Each one is unique and operates on different natural laws. Each has also been the site of epic battles wagged by Planeswalkers, elder dragons, and mortals of infinite kinds.
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Dominaria has an exceptionally interesting history that stretches over thousands of years. Most of the storylines forMTG’s early sets, and a few modern ones, take place on this plane. It was at one point the Nexus of the Multiverse, meaning that it was once the center of the universe.
10Era Of The Dragons
Near the beginning of Dominaria’s known history, it wasruled by dragons. Their might was so grand that one, in particular, sought to use his strength for conquest. Nicol Bolas, one of the elder dragons, betrayed and battled his own kin, seeking to gain control over the whole world. He was close to bending the Dominaria to his will but the return of Spirit Dragon Ugin from his Planeswalker adventures prevented this.
In a rage, Nicol’s Planeswalker spark ignited and he left the realm in fury. The entire conflict lasted thousands of years, and many humans upon Dominaria suffered greatly for generations.
9History of Conflict
After Nicol Bolas left the plane, other dragons rose up andsubjugated the planet. The group that did so were known as the Primeval Dragons. Though, their reign did not last as they were eventually overthrown by human wizards known as the Numena, who shortly after fought among themselves and perished from history. Following this, there is a huge gap in Dominaria’s recorded knowledge.
8Rise And Fall Of The Thran Empire
After this gap in time, the Thran Empire expanded out of the east anddominated most of the world’s landmasses. They thrived for many years until unrest arose between two social groups. The Artificers were a group who believed in using magical mechanisms and healing to solve all of life’s issues. At odds with them were the Eugenicists, who favored surgery and germ theory to remedy such matters.
The divide between these two groups became so great that it sundered the empire, resulting in the death of the Artificers' leader and the exile of the head of the Eugenicists.
7Era Of Legends
When the Thran Empire fell, so did the wealth of technology on Dominaria. The continents then developed in their own radically different ways. In the east, on the Terisiare isles, where the Thran once had the seat of its empire, ancient artifacts were found, though only a few islands in the area had the magic required to use them.
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Also, the supercontinent of Jamuraa saw the founding of the nation Zhalfir, who were the only humans to truly master magic during this era.
6Argivian Reckoning
As civilization rose on the Terisiare isles, two noble brothers were born into a prominent family in the kingdom of Argive, who warred with each other for most of their lives over control of the land. During the conflict, the peoples here had begun to discover more and more artifacts. One day, they fished one out of the oceans that became known as the Golgothian Sylex, which took the unassuming form of a shallow, painted copper bowl. Upon this bowl was scribed powerful runes heraldingthe end of the world.
At the pinnacle of the conflict between the two Argivian brothers, one had their spark ignited and gained the clairvoyance to see how their war had ravaged the islands. In sorrow, he activated the Sylex, which set off a cataclysm that sent Dominaria into a dark age.
5Era Of Darkness
The blast that erupted from the Sylex completely decimated the island of Argoth in the east of the world and sent out colossal tidal waves. This blast affected the climate as well, causing a shift that led Dominaria to growever colder.
There is very little recorded history from this time, as many civilizations were unable to cope with the global changes and began to go extinct. Some, however, made it through to the next frigid era.
4Era Of Ice
Once more, strange happenings took place as magic on the Terisiare isles reemerged. Towards the end of the ice age, the land of Kjeldor and the barbarians of Balduvia were doing battle, as everyone seems to do on Dominaria, but stopped to join forces against thefoul necromancerLim-Dul.
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During this altercation, many Planeswalkers found themselves involved in the evil sorcerer’s plots, which concluded with the realm-travelers joining forces to cast the World Spell. This ended both the wrongness brought about by Lim-Dul’s actions as well as the ice age.
3Era Of The Sea
The World Spell caused the ice to melt and the seas to rise greatly, warming all of Dominaria. This allowed new civilizations to rise and expand. As the climate grew, so did the plane’s population, heralding the beginning of the world’s modern era.
Kingdoms like Benalia and Yavimaya arose from the ruins of old nations. Life and knowledge began to spread until Dominaria flourished once more.
2Modern Era
A large quantity of the stories found in theMTGuniverse takes place during this epoch as many significant wars unfolded. On the island of Corondor, a conflict between various Planeswalkers broke out that left the isle devastated. On the northwestern part of Jumaraa, the burning warlock Kaervek sought to conquer the land but was eventually imprisoned in amber.
There was yet another war, this time on the northern island of Aerona where wizards and mages fought each other because of a mysterious and mighty artifact. There seems to be a trend throughout the various eras of Dominaria’s history.
1Ending The Contract
Between the continents of Jumaraa and Terisiare, there is a long, thin continent known as Otaria. Here, a cult worshipping Kuberr, one of the Numena who slew the Primeval Dragons, desired to bring their god out of the past and into the present. Though, by mistake, they summoned the elder demon Belzenlok, who proceeded toterrorize the world.
However, this demon had once made a contract with the Planeswalker Liliana Vess, who had now come to end things once and for all. Together with her fellow Planeswalker Gideon Jura, they ended the demon’s reign by slaying him with his own mystical, soul-drinking sword.
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