Nicol Bolas
The Elder Dragon Planeswalker who served as the first official archenemy.
Nicol Bolas is a former villain of the Magic story, having been defeated and stripped of his spark during War of the Spark, trapping him in the Meditation Realm. He was the first 'official' archenemy in the 2017 Archenemy: Nicol Bolas set. As an Elder Dragon Planeswalker, he served as the big bad in the three-on-one format, facing off against the Gatewatch, the very force that ultimately brought him down. The set was designed to let players immerse themselves in the roles of the heroes or villains they were adopting, with preconstructed decks for both the archenemy and the three players facing him down.
- Status
- Sparkless, trapped in the Meditation Realm
Lore & Background
Nicol Bolas was the primary villain of the Magic story leading up to War of the Spark, where he was finally defeated and had his spark removed, trapping him in the Meditation Realm. Prior to that, he faced the Gatewatch in Hour of Devastation (released July 2017), where he defeated them, not the other way around. As the first 'official' archenemy in the 2017 Archenemy: Nicol Bolas set, he is the god-pharaoh who commands three types of mana to wield against his opponents. The designers wanted Archenemy to be a more focused and tailored experience, so they started with Nicol Bolas as the villain and assembled preconstructed decks for not only the archenemy, but also for the three players facing him down. This allowed them to curate a much more balanced out-of-the-box experience than the original Archenemy.
In Their Own Story
Nicol Bolas, the Elder Dragon Planeswalker, is the current villain of the ongoing Magic story. He is set to face the Gatewatch in battle in July's Hour of Devastation. In the Archenemy: Nicol Bolas set, players take on the roles of the heroes or villains they are adopting, with the Gatewatch opposing Bolas as the force standing against him in the story. The set includes preconstructed decks for both the archenemy and the three players facing him down, creating a curated and balanced experience.
Reader's Guide
Nicol Bolas is the first 'official' archenemy in the 2017 Archenemy: Nicol Bolas set. As an Elder Dragon Planeswalker, he commands three types of mana to wield against his opponents. The set includes preconstructed decks for both the archenemy and the three players facing him down, allowing for a much more balanced out-of-the-box experience than the original Archenemy. Two of the three planeswalkers on the hero side break with Magic tradition and offer decks built solely around a single type of mana and play style, rather than the traditional two, making it key to work together as a team to dish out damage while fending off Bolas' crippling attacks. In a major change from the 2010 rules, players can now choose to block an attack on their teammates using their own creatures, which both strengthens the feeling of co-operation and helps to even the odds.
Did You Know?
- Nicol Bolas is the first 'official' archenemy in the 2017 Archenemy: Nicol Bolas set.
- The set was designed to let players immerse themselves in the roles of the heroes or villains they were adopting.
- Nicol Bolas commands three types of mana to wield against his opponents.
- Two of the three planeswalkers on the hero side offer decks built around a single type of mana and play style, while the Ajani deck is green-white, not monocolor.
- In a major change from the 2010 rules, players can now choose to block an attack on their teammates using their own creatures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nicol Bolas?
He is an ancient Elder Dragon Planeswalker known as the first official archenemy in Magic's storyline. As a godlike entity, he seeks to consume planes and claim ultimate power for himself.
What are his powers and role?
Bolas possesses immense magical abilities that allow him to manipulate reality and dominate entire worlds. He serves as the primary antagonist facing off against the Gatewatch in a three-versus-one conflict.
How does his story end currently?
Following his defeat by the Gatewatch, Bolas was cast out of existence and is currently exiled in time. This imprisonment prevents him from interfering directly with the Multiverse for the foreseeable future.
Why is he important to the lore?
He is one of the oldest living beings in the Multiverse, having shaped history through manipulation and conquest for millennia. His actions drive major conflicts that define eras like the Theros block and War of the Spark.
What was his role in the Archenemy set?
The 2017 Archenemy product featured him as a preconstructed deck designed for one player to battle against three opponents representing heroes. This format allowed fans to physically play out the narrative dynamic of facing his overwhelming power.
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