Battle for Zendikar as Told by Flavor Text

The last hedron slotted into place, locking Ulamog in an infinite loop of binding energy.

"I will secure my revenge on Zendikar one soul at a time."—Ob Nixilis

"No more fear. No more failure. No more death. No more!"

As the soldiers beneath her raised their voices, the angel spread her wings, their span seeming to cover the sky.

"Zendikar will triumph this day, and our armies will fly with angels."

Divining the future is easy when you hold the power to sway it.

The continent of Bala Ged was ravaged by massive Eldrazi of Ulamog's lineage, its lush jungles and cascading rivers reduced to dust.

Terrible fury. Excellent aim.

"They come because I call. They stay because I listen."

"Whiptails can sense a traveler's footsteps from a great distance. Measuring that distance has been . . . difficult."—Jalun, Affa sentry

Once, water ran here. Now only dust and ash fall from the clifftops.

"We came to a place where the skin of Zendikar was peeled back and its bones lay bare to the sky."—Greenweaver Mina

The land is dying, but it will not go peacefully.

"When a limb is gangrenous, you cut it off. This is no different."—Greenweaver Mina

A blisterpod's corpse is a scion's cradle.

"Let the vampires join us. In this war, we no longer have the luxury of choosing our comrades."—General Tazri, allied commander

Vastly outnumbered, the Zendikari found creative ways to even the odds.

"There are some who have lost everyone and everything. They actively seek out the Eldrazi, eager for the smallest measure of vengeance."—Munda, ambush leader

There are more sights on Zendikar than the eyes can see.

The tenderness of a mother. The pity of a mantis.

The native creatures of Zendikar have adapted to live under rocks and crawl through underbrush in order to avoid the most voracious predators. The Eldrazi have yet to make such adjustments.

Ulamog's progeny swarm the land, draining Zendikar's mana to feed the titan's insatiable hunger.

The continent of Murasa lies beneath a blanket of dense vegetation, its enormous branches tangled so thickly that some inhabitants never see the ground.

"Later we will mourn those we have lost. First we must end their suffering."—Drana, Kalastria bloodchief

With a single act of bravery, she went from expendable to indispensable.

On the volcanic continent of Akoum, bizarre vegetation clusters around gas vents, and jagged mountain peaks rise high into the air.

Though losses run high among the scouts of the Stone Havens, they never flinch from their duty.

When Emeria's worshippers learned that she was no more than a twisted memory of Emrakul, they abandoned their temples to the god. The deserted shrines now serve as breeding grounds for the mantas.

"We returned to the field and found poor Len, every detail of his final moment perfectly cast in that awful dust."—Javad Nasrin, outrider captain

"She knows every step of this coastline, both above and below the surface, and she has hideouts all along the way. She will get you there."—Jori En, expedition leader

"Sea Gate has fallen. Survivors are on the move. Will send another griffin when we find refuge. Stay hidden. Stay safe."—Message from Tars Olan, kor world-gift

"The seas are no less imperiled than the dry lands. This fight is mine as much as it is yours."—Kiora, to Gideon Jura

Silence rules Bala Ged, broken only by the skittering of Eldrazi.

"Quiet now, you dreadful vermin."—Noyan Dar, Tazeem roilmage

"Over and over it rose. Over and over we fell."—Ganda, Goma Fada deserter

"Despite their bravado, mortals are fragile. If Zendikar is to endure, its lords must save it."—Drana, Kalastria bloodchief

"Take what solace you can in the knowledge that you will not be here to witness Zendikar's demise."—Ob Nixilis

"With precise coordination and enough blood spilled, one can be driven off, even brought down. But two . . . that's a lot of blood."—Munda, ambush leader

"I said we should destroy the Eldrazi. Ugin wanted to return them to stasis. Ugin's arguments were . . . unconvincing."—Jace Beleren

"This world will be ruled by its rightful sovereigns, not these hideous pretenders."

"I will not live as a slave. If you would be free, then fight alongside me."

"The taste of freedom is sweeter than blood."

The only traces it leaves are silent gusts and prodigious amounts of wreckage.

When Malakir's surgeons failed, its death-shamans took over.

"No matter how big your champion, theirs is bigger. No matter how great your numbers, theirs are greater. No matter how voracious your appetite, they are hungrier. That is why the Eldrazi will win."—Kalitas, thrall of Ulamog

It embodies all possible meanings of the word "infinite."

The Eldrazi may be ruthless, but Zendikar is relentless.

"I can't control its mind—I'm not even sure it has one. But I can dominate its will."

The unofficial motto of every expedition house is "ready for anything," a phrase whose significance has been amplified since the emergence of the Eldrazi.

Every Eldrazi in Ulamog's lineage is an extension of the titan's will.

Felidars that make it through their first year of life can easily live to see a hundred years more.

It surveys the withering landscape, waiting for a victory only it can see.

"Come on, you twisted things! Don't you want to get acquainted?"

"While we delay, they're on the move. They will not wait as we bicker. We are losing this war by moments as our goal slips beyond our reach."—Gideon Jura

The refuge's defenses allow new recruits to see lesser Eldrazi up close, steeling their stomachs for what's to come.

Mystics of the Stone Havens call upon the spirits of fallen heroes to defend the refuges.

"I always thought the great insects of Tazeem were frightening until I saw the Eldrazi. Now I welcome the sight of mantises perched in the treetops."—Ryza, Oran-Rief scout

"Suddenly, Gideon was there with us, clearing the way so that we could escape."—The War Diaries

"The Eldrazi may not be intimidated, but if it boosts the goblins' confidence, I see no reason to discourage it."—Jalun, Affa sentry

As the hand closed, there was first terror, then numbness, and finally nothingness.

"The land will not wait for the enemy to arrive."—Nissa Revane

"The seedlings scream for us to loose them upon the Eldrazi, and we shall oblige."

Though Gideon arrived at Sea Gate too late to prevent the massacre, he still had enough time to lead its survivors to relative safety.

"It's hard to find their weak points, but I very much enjoy the discovery process."

"Quiet the waves? Why would I want to do that?"

"You've begun to understand the hedrons' true purpose," said Ugin. "The Eldrazi can be imprisoned.""And how did that work out last time?" asked Jace.

"Some Eldrazi, their purpose is obvious: suck the life out of the land, birth new Eldrazi. Others aren't so obvious, and those are the ones that make me really nervous."—Chadir the Navigator

"They seek to break us. Let us show them our strength!"

"We are nothing but dust to them—our bodies, our actions, even our words."—Jori En, expedition leader

The touch of an Eldrazi brings life and death in turn.

"Zendikar has given us the weapons to wage war on the appropriate scale."—Najiya, leader of the Tajuru

"For the lands you have lost and the beauty that remains, for freedom and the future, we must hold nothing back!"—Gideon Jura

On Murasa, even the trees grow trees.

"Time and again, I have demonstrated my skills as a healer. Why, then, are you so ill at ease?"

"Kalitas may have returned to mindless servitude beneath the Eldrazi, but we say never again."—Drana, Kalastria bloodchief

"The wind in one's hair, the sun on one's back, the joy of open skies . . . the next generation of kor must know this kind of peace."

The high-pitched whirl of a hook is the only battle cry she needs.

"He told us not to worry, and he walked into the cavern. The swirling mass of Eldrazi parted to admit him, then closed in his wake."—Akiri, kor line-slinger

"We came into this world together. We fight for this world together. We'll leave this world together."

"In the dark places of our world, something horrible is growing. I fear our foes may be more numerous than we had imagined."—Nissa Revane

It moves through the tunnels as slowly and surely as the shifting stones.

Hedron lanterns fend off more than just the darkness.

Goblins were first to see the potential of hedrons in the fight against the Eldrazi, for the magical stones came ready-made with pointy bits.

"The land is not dead, merely sick. I will nurse it back to health."

"Even in the hands of amateurs, Nahiri's hedrons can harm the Eldrazi."—Ugin

Working with his noble mount, he notices every form on the horizon, every scent in the air, every tremor in the earth.

After a battle, it breaks the hillsides into manageable pieces to prepare for next time.

"They are deadly, and they are loyal. We can spare them a little blood."—Harak, Malakir bloodwitch

They came from all walks of life, from every part of Zendikar, and they returned with one unifying cause.

It consumes any dreams of victory.

The wastes spread as quickly as the wind.

"Some detours just aren't worth it."—Raff Slugeater, goblin shortcutter

"If you're not prepared to fight, you'd best be prepared to die."

If you can see it, it's too late.

"Zendikar will not surrender, and neither can we."

Nirkana assassins craft incurable concoctions by mixing basilisk marrow and deathwillow sap with the vital fluids of a dozen other poisonous species.

Her connection to the plane restored, Nissa felt the power of Zendikar surge through her.

After many years as a lullmage, Noyan Dar turned his talents from allaying Zendikar's fury to the considerably easier task of rousing it.

The Eldrazi hunger without limit and consume without pause.

"Put a minotaur at the head of an army and suddenly all the soldiers act like they have horns."—Gideon Jura

"May your horns get lodged in an Eldrazi's bony face, ornery brute!"—Bruse Tarl, Goma Fada nomad

Whatever it is searching for, it will stop at nothing to find it.

"The world was not hostile to us—we were beneath its notice, and presented no danger."—The Invokers' Tales

Everyone who could still lift a weapon had a part in retaking Sea Gate.

As the Eldrazi spread, no secret that could give Zendikar's defenders an advantage was considered too dangerous to seek.

Also called "pathway stones," hedron shards can immobilize Eldrazi on contact.

Each time it is sent to find a safe haven, it takes longer to return.

"It might fight the Eldrazi, but don't mistake it for a companion, Gideon. It's not interested in your concept of strength through unity."—Najiya, leader of the Tajuru

The elf's blade carved deep into the Eldrazi drone's fleshy lattices. Without a sound, the drone lost equilibrium and tumbled from the sky.

The continent of Ondu is a vast plateau crisscrossed by deep trenches and meandering rivers.

Ulamog's processors trail behind him, converting ruined matter into furious energy.

The fires of Zendikar are always hungry, and there is much on which they can feed.

"You have a family. Mine died at Sea Gate. You go to yours, and I'll go to mine."

"This world tires of its long occupation."—Nissa Revane

"Great steel is born in the hottest forges. Great soldiers are born in war."

"We can use their hunger to lead them into danger. If we're already prey, we may as well be bait!"—Yon Basrel, Oran-Rief survivalist

Weather on Zendikar is unpredictable—unless you're the one telling it what to do.

"Zendikar is always angry, though I've never seen that anger so precisely directed."—Nablus, North Hada trapper

"If I die, feed me to a shambler. At least that way I'll be doing some good."—Ryza, Oran-Rief scout

The Eldrazi continue to sweep through the wastes, compounding destruction that already seemed absolute.

"Our people and our very lands disappear as if they never were. We no longer fight for glory, or honor. We battle now for the right to exist."—General Tazri, allied commander

Eldrazi are not the leopard's preferred prey, but they are better than no prey at all.

"In my downtime I used to paint the vistas. Now the vistas disappear faster than my downtime."

"I can give you strength, but you'll have to bring your own courage."

A few bands of kor sought refuge from the Eldrazi in Zendikar's vast cave networks, relying on their ability to survive in harsh vertical landscapes.

Saved from certain death by the kor, he considers himself bound to them by an unbreakable blood oath.

The gods known to the merfolk as Ula, Emeria, and Cosi were nothing more than false memories of a monstrous trinity: the Eldrazi titans Ulamog, Emrakul, and Kozilek.

"I watched it pass at a distance. When I looked back to my companions, Najet was dead."—Akiri, kor line-slinger

As the great scourge passed by, Zendikar shivered, then lay silent.

"It may be unconventional, but I'll take any steady mount in a storm."

Neither subtle nor pretty.

After watching the kor in battle, Gideon understood the difference between working together and working as one.

The continent of Guul Draz is a geothermal swampland reeking of heat and decay.

All of Zendikar's beings sense the upheaval that accompanies the Eldrazi.

Young Eldrazi crawl forth from the dust, compelled by a greater will.

"These days, soldiers never stick around long enough for a proper healing. They just want me to knit them up so they can hurry back to the fight."

Akoum can make any intruder look small.

On the continent of Tazeem, rushing waters plunge through narrow canyons into mist-cloaked lakes.

To survive imminent doom, it sometimes takes a foolhardy soul who acts first and fears later.

The Eldrazi rampaged across Zendikar in a tide of chittering, heaving flesh.

"Nissa is not the only one with a deep connection to Zendikar's primal elements."—Kiora

"As long as there is a single shred of life, there is hope."—Nissa Revane

"My mount needs neither reins nor bridle. We both share a common purpose."

"In its time of hardship, all of Zendikar cries out in pain. Are you listening?"

Her rallying cry reaches far beyond the Tajuru elves, inspiring all those who hear it.

In times of infestation and war, Zendikar favors the blades that strike in unison.

It knows nothing of Eldrazi or Planeswalkers, just that there are new intruders in its territory.

It didn't do much, but the residents of Sea Gate gave it a wide berth all the same.

Having gone to the trouble of stealing a bident from a god on another world, Kiora was eager to test its capabilities.

Dust and memory are all that remain in Ulamog's wake.

Some wounds never heal.

"Fear of the unknown can be a wonderfully innocent thing, relatively speaking."—Anowon, the Ruin Sage

As Ulamog's brood reduces the earth to dust, geopedes burst from their tunnels in search of solid ground.

"No, don't! Nal, it's me—"

"You speak to me of the threat of Ulamog. But do not forget: they came as three."—Ugin, to Jace Beleren

A force as voracious as time itself.

The kor's pride in their independence has given way to a strong sense of community that embraces all of Zendikar.

The battle served as a grim reminder of what a final victory for the Eldrazi would mean.

"As long as we have walked this world, we have known it as a harsh and unforgiving place."—The Invokers' Tales

"Whatever volcanoes dream of, it seems like they always wake up grumpy."—Raff Slugeater, goblin shortcutter

For vampires, blood carries more than life. Memories long eroded from the minds of bloodchiefs can be reclaimed from the veins of their sired kin.

Emrakul has not been seen in months. Though her brood's numbers have dwindled in her absence, each drone is still a deadly threat.

The Eldrazi don't merely extinguish life—they supplant it.

"Have you ever seen a world fall to its knees? Watch, and learn."—Ob Nixilis

Like a living organism, Zendikar rids itself of infection, and it does so abruptly and ruthlessly.

"These days, there's no shortage of food for the nulls of Guul Draz."—Drana, Kalastria bloodchief

"Do you see? All of Tazeem strains at its tether."—Noyan Dar, Tazeem roilmage

"The elements understand better than anyone that actions speak louder than words."—Gideon Jura

"A hedron holds magic for a thousand years—or less, if need be."

"Eldrazi? Ha! Try walking through Zulaport at night with your pockets full. Now that's dangerous."