Planeswalker

Biodata

Name	Planeswalker
Alias(es)	Shíkōng Lǚfǎshī (时空旅法师); interplanar traveler
Species/Race	Varies; a Planeswalker is a wielder of a Spark rather than a distinct race
Occupation/Role	Interplanar traveler, collector and creator of magical cards
Status	Active across multiple planes and universes
First Appearance	2

Power Progression

Documented progression of Zuo Si, a representative Planeswalker.

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Planeswalker LV2 / Spark LV2	2	Mana pool reaches 100; advancing further requires crafting a Land Card.
Planeswalker LV3 / Spark LV3	30	Mana capacity rises from 100 to 150, unlocking the crafting and drawing of LV3 cards.
Planeswalker LV4 / Spark LV4	96	Possesses one active Land Card and a 200-point mana pool.
Planeswalker LV5	133	Advances after absorbing magical and life energy from fallen dire wolves; energy-absorption range expands.
Planeswalker LV6 / Spark LV6	171	Mana pool reaches 300.
Planeswalker LV7	182	Can use cards such as Echo It to copy spells up to the ninth circle with reasonable success.
Planeswalker LV8	208	Reached after the Starport campaign; creates the Underground City of Ley Lines Weave Node Land Card.
Planeswalker LV10	258	Gains follower-card crafting and the ability to forcibly draw ley-line energy; considered beyond the novice stage.
Spark LV25	555	Uses high-level cards to restore the ecosystem around Sodannisla and the Tree of Life.

Background

Planeswalkers are rare individuals whose dormant Sparks ignite, usually amid danger or extreme pain. Zuo Si estimates that only one person in ten million possesses a Spark, and most never realize it exists. Once ignited, a Spark permits its bearer to travel between planes, crystal walls, and even universes. 360

A Planeswalker's perspective changes through exposure to different worlds, civilizations, technologies, and magical systems. Their individual abilities are shaped by their experiences, knowledge, home environment, and affinity for particular forms of mana; no two develop in exactly the same way. 384 851 932

The previous owner of Zuo Si's inheritance left behind a book formed from an unextinguished Spark. The book stores cards and properties created during that Planeswalker's life, awarding Zuo Si card draws when he completes its guiding tasks. 3

Abilities & Characteristics

Spark-Based Travel

Planeswalkers can teleport across time and space by thought alone, without incantations or preparation. Their travel normally ignores conventional restraints such as Dimensional Anchor and Spatial Lock. 2 311

• A Spark records the coordinates of worlds visited; a Planeswalker's home plane is normally the first coordinate recorded upon ignition. 311
• Active Land Cards can also serve as coordinate points for travel between worlds. 311
• This mobility makes permanent kills difficult: unless a target is killed before they can react, they can generally escape. 311
• Certain artifacts, notably the Eternal Sun, can suppress Spark-based travel and trap Planeswalkers on a plane. 311

Card Crafting

Planeswalkers convert magic, creatures, equipment, and other items encountered during their travels into permanently effective cards. Once activated, a card manifests its effect, creature, or item regardless of the magical rules of the current world. 2 193

• The five broad card categories are Land, Spell, Creature, Artifact, and Enchantment cards. 193
• Crafting requires detailed personal understanding of a card's magic and energy principles; novice Planeswalkers must continually learn from other worlds to create stronger cards. 13
• The maximum level of cards a Planeswalker can craft or draw rises with their Planeswalker level. 30
• Card-based magic can be activated without normal chanting or casting gestures, allowing rapid responses that conventional spellcasters may struggle to interrupt. 132

Creature and Follower Cards

Creature Cards preserve a summoned being's consciousness rather than creating a simple puppet. 79

• Willing conversion — a creature that completely trusts the Planeswalker may become a loyal summoned creature while retaining its thoughts and personality. 79
• Forced conversion — targets can also be subdued through power or deception and sealed into cards against their will. 79
• At LV10, a Planeswalker can craft Follower Cards from willing targets or convert an existing Creature Card of at least LV6; converted creatures restart at a lower initial level while retaining part of their former qualities. 258
• Followers can learn, train, and absorb mana, but their growth cap is determined by the card's level. 258

Land Cards and Mana

Land Cards create a stable channel through which magical energy is continuously supplied to a Planeswalker across planes, crystal walls, and universes. Possessing one is described as the threshold for becoming a “true” Planeswalker. 3

• The lowest-level Land Card requires at least 100 generic mana, or twice that amount of colored mana, to create. 3
• Land Cards provide mana and may function as teleportation coordinates. 3 311
• The number of Land Card links strongly affects a Planeswalker's available energy; older Planeswalkers often possess more links due to their longer travels. 665
• Ancient Planeswalkers possess rare, generally single-use methods of clearing an opponent's active Land Cards, sharply reducing that opponent's access to mana. 850

Forcibly Drawing Ley-Line Energy

At LV10, a Planeswalker can draw nearly unlimited energy from a world's magical source for up to half an hour. 258

• The energy can be used for instantaneous, unrestricted casting of mastered spells and abilities. 258
• It cannot be stored, used for card crafting, card upgrades, or class advancement. 258
• Afterward, the Spark enters a lengthy dormant state, disabling interplanar travel, the card system, and active Land Cards. 258

Individual Spark Powers

Every powerful Planeswalker eventually develops a personal power system suited to their own nature and understanding of the multiverse. 258

• Jace Beleren specializes in psionic magic; Teferi in time magic; Nissa Revane in nature magic; Chandra Nalaar in fire magic; and Liliana Vess in necromancy. 851
• Nahiri channels power through geomancy and stone-shaping, while Sorin Markov combines life creation and destruction. 296 384
• Nicol Bolas developed a universal, non-elemental energy system through research into matter and energy. 296
• Some Planeswalkers favor transformation and close combat over spellcasting, including Sarkhan, Gideon Jura, and Ajani Goldmane. 851

Limitations

• Planeswalkers depend heavily on mana, Land Card connections, and access to their cards; loss of magical energy can render their normal cards and mimicked spellcasting classes unusable. 312
• A Land Card's energy supply can be disrupted or cleared by rare ancient techniques and artifacts. 850
• Powerful external seals can suppress or interfere with Spark teleportation. 384
• Although Planeswalker travel is exceptionally reliable, it is not a guarantee against artifacts designed specifically to restrain Sparks. 311

Notable Planeswalkers

• Zuo Si (Soth) — A human Planeswalker with two Sparks, an abnormal condition that grants exceptional potential but carries unknown risks. 3 384
• Nicol Bolas — Elder Dragon Planeswalker whose power and knowledge make him one of the multiverse's most dangerous figures. 665 974
• Ugin — Elder Dragon Planeswalker able to transform matter into energy and associated with the sealing of the Eldrazi. 850
• Nahiri — Ancient geomancer specializing in lithomancy, sealing techniques, and Land Card-based power. 384 850
• Sorin Markov — Ancient vampire Planeswalker skilled in life, death, and close-quarters combat. 318 851
• Nissa Revane — Elf Planeswalker whose nature magic can alter the course of large-scale battles. 310
• Jace Beleren — Psionic Planeswalker known for memory reading and mental control. 312 851
• Xenagos — A red- and green-aligned Planeswalker who abandoned his Planeswalker identity in pursuit of godhood. 657 658

Story Role / Major Arcs

Zuo Si's Inheritance and Escape

Zuo Si ignites his Spark, inherits a dead Planeswalker's card archive, and seeks to create a Land Card so he can escape the collapsing floating city where the necromancer Astar controls him. 3

Zendikar and the Eye of Ugin

Planeswalkers gather around the Eye of Ugin, whose seal can be opened through the Dragon Scroll and the combined presence of three Planeswalkers. Zuo Si intervenes in the conflict involving Nissa, Chandra, Sarkhan, and Jace. 311 312

Rise Beyond the Novice Stage

After reaching LV10 during Athkatla's demon invasion, Zuo Si gains the ability to create Followers and forcibly draw ley-line energy, entering a stage where Planeswalkers can begin to challenge deities and other major powers. 258

The Spark War

Nicol Bolas uses the Eternal Sun and a Hyper-dimensional Beacon to draw Planeswalkers to Ravnica, intending to gather their Sparks for the Elder Spell and ascend to godhood. 967 968

New Phyrexia's Expansion

New Phyrexia develops techniques to compleat Planeswalkers while preserving their Sparks, allowing captured Planeswalkers to retain their powers while becoming absolutely loyal to Zuo Si's regime. 491 693