Magic: The Gathering - Artifacts Cycle novels (1998-1999)

Magic: The Gathering
Artifacts Cycle novels (1998-1999)


The Artifacts Cycle novels tells the story of The Brothers' War.
The legendary great war between the brothers Urza and Mishra that spawned after the two each found half of an ancient Thran powerstone, and each wanted both.

The war lasted for decades, devastating Terisiare, before the dramatic conclusion on the verdant island Argoth. There, Urza discovered that his brother had been consumed by Phyrexians, and activated the Golgothian Sylex. The Sylex Blast destroyed the island, activated Urza's latent planeswalker's spark.

This war caused the Dark, the climate changes which led to the Fall of the Sarpadian Empires and finally to the Ice Age. It also spawned a general dislike for magic and artifacts, because of their use in the war.
This story is the basis for the Antiquities expansion and later the Urza's Saga Block.



The Brothers’ War is the first book in the Artifacts Cycle.
It was written by Jeff Grubb and published in May 1998.

Urza and Mishra are brothers living and working in the Fallaji desert under the tutelage of their mentor Tocasia, an archaeologist. Born in the same year but on the first and last days, respectively, the brothers frequently clash but are united in their curiosity about the Thran, the ancient race that left behind the artifacts Tocasia studies.


Planeswalker is the second book in the Artifacts Cycle.
It was written by Lynn Abbey and published in September 1998.

The war between Urza and Mishra is over. Brooding on the death of his brother at the hands of extraplanar forces, Urza drifts among the planes.
But the end of the Brothers' War has transformed him into something greater. Deep within his heart, a spark has been kindled to a flame that cannot be quenched. Urza has become a planeswalker.


Time Streams is the third book in the Artifacts Cycle.
It was written by J. Robert King and was published in May 1999.

Urza Planeswalker has enlisted the most brilliant minds from across Dominaria to study at his academy on Tolaria. Together they work to bring to life the greatest artifact weapon Urza has ever devised, hoping to use it to defend their home from an imminent Phyrexian invasion. But treachery and tragedy stalk the tiny island, as Urza and his followers seek to manipulate time itself.


Bloodlines is the final book in the Artifacts Cycle and concludes the story.
It was written by Loren L. Coleman and was published in August 1999.

Urza has started the Bloodlines Project to create a mortal heir to his Legacy.
But as the project furthers his followers are divided, with some leaving the project believing it has gone too far, while others strive to go even further with their test projects.
And Yawgmoth has awakened inner circle member Croag to oversee the creation of Rath and the death of Urza Planeswalker.