Narset

Narset
Details
Race	Human Formerly Planeswalker
Birthplace	Tarkir
Lifetime	Mending Era
Colors
Center: [1] Currently: [2]

Narset is a human monk and former planeswalker from Tarkir. In an alternate timeline, she was her clan's khan.

Description

Narset is a master of martial arts and mental discipline with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Following her years of mystic and martial arts training under Dragonlord Ojutai, Narset can nullify the magic used against her as well as intensify the magic of others.^[3]

The most important part of Narset's character is her amazing mind, which is central to her potential as a powerful planeswalker and as a pursuer of knowledge — but it happens that she processes information and input differently than a lot of other people. Tarkir denizens might not have a term for Autism Spectrum Disorder or neurodivergent, but those terms would correctly describe her.^[4][5]

Narset is primarily blue-aligned but secondarily white. Before the timeline change on Tarkir, she also had access to red mana, which was initially lost, but she regained it sometime later.

Biography

Original timeline

Khan Narset of the Jeskai Way was a master martial artist, sage, and scholar with great destiny on Tarkir.^[6] She was known to have a brilliant mind, always committed to furthering her knowledge, but this intense curiosity meant that she often found it hard to concentrate on a single matter. She also noticed that she processed information and other types of input differently from other people. She had "seen" imaginary worlds in her childhood that returned in visions while she meditated. She slightly resented the rigidness of the Jeskai Way but forced herself to fulfill her duties as Khan. Narset seemed to have some friction with the Jeskai elders who had plans and agendas of their while seeking to make her a puppet leader and conducting operations behind her back (sending assassins after the rogue monk Taigam, her former pupil). Even her bodyguard, Shintan was more loyal to the elders than her and reported her actions to them.

Narset was fascinated by the dragons of the past and of Ugin in particular. She hoped to find a way to use Ugin's runes to somehow stop the bloodshed on Tarkir.

Nearly ten years after she became khan, Narset was approached by a Kirin which guided her to the suffering Sarkhan Vol.^[7] She could sense the echo of Ugin's spirit around Sarkhan. Sarkhan eventually told her of the secrets of planeswalkers and the existence of Nicol Bolas. She confided in him that Ugin was Tarkir's soul and with his death, the plane was thrown out of balance. She helped to calm his mind and provide him some peace before agreeing to bring him to Ugin's Tomb. At the tomb, they were attacked by a maddened Zurgo Helmsmasher who attempted to kill Sarkhan. Narset fought off Zurgo and injured him before urging Sarkhan to enter Ugin's Nexus, promising to guard his passage. At the apex of their fight, she was distracted by Sarkhan which enabled Zurgo to land a killing blow. With the last of her strength, she urged Sarkhan to keep moving into the nexus.^[8] Sarkhan Vol swore revenge against Zurgo as the orc stood over Narset's body and he made his way into the center of Ugin's Nexus.

Alternate timeline

At a young age, Narset gained the personal notice of Ojutai himself.^[9] She attracted the dragon's attention as she would often mimic the exercises performed by both the dragons and her elders, mastering them after no more than a casual glance. Ojutai recognized hers as a mind with the potential for nearly limitless growth, so she was taken on as a student. Narset quickly mastered not only the exercises but the draconic language itself. But as Narset grew, she began to feel restless. She harbored a longing, although she was unable to identify what for, and she started to question whether or not Ojutai truly knew all the answers to the questions of life.

When, in relatively short order, Narset achieved the status of master, she cared more for the autonomy that the position granted than the highly sought-after honor. She spent many a day alone, exploring the deepest and dustiest cavities in the Ojutai sanctuaries, slowly piecing together clues that illuminated the forbidden past. Her peer, Taigam, warned her of the danger of seeking out knowledge without the dragonlord's permission, but Narset saw no harm in research.

She discovered the truth of the past of Tarkir — it was not always a world ruled by dragons as the teachings of Ojutai claimed; at one time humanoid khans led mighty clans that dominated the land. Narset also learned of a powerful spirit dragon from whom all dragons were formed. It was this Ugin that most interested her. She could feel something more in the histories that described him, something similar to her wanderlust. She took to meditating in secret chambers, spending hours that crept into days and even weeks without making an appearance above.

Eventually, she was discovered and confronted by Taigam, who had hoped to use her downfall to further his stature. Narset overpowered him and made her escape, while Taigam labeled her a heretic and promised to inform Ojutai of her transgressions. Her planeswalker's spark ignited while she learned the truth about Tarkir's past and Ojutai's subjugation of the Jeskai. However, she chose not to travel to another plane and instead continued her search for knowledge on Tarkir. Eventually, she encountered her old master at the riverbed where they had first met. At first afraid of the dragonlord's wrath, Narset admitted to knowing the truth of Tarkir to him. Ojutai, sensing the same need for discovery that consumed her as his student, gave her his blessings and encouraged her to continue seeking knowledge and enlightenment.

When Sarkhan finally found her, Narset was on her way to Ugin to find more answers. She also planned to visit the Atarka lands, where she expected to find more ancient secret stories, carved in mammoth ivory. Although aware of her new abilities, she didn't plan to leave Tarkir again, soon.^[10]

Kamigawa

At certain moments Narset seeks peace at Kamigawa, where she has become part of fellow planeswalker Tamiyo's Story-Circle.^[11]

War of the Spark

Narset was lured to Ravnica by the Interplanar Beacon and immediately became trapped there due to Bolas's use of the Immortal Sun. Alongside many other planeswalkers and Ravnicans, she fought against the Eternals of Bolas' Dreadhorde.^[12]

During the invasion, the trapped planeswalkers (including Narset) got together with Ravnican leaders to strategize. It's not clear if Narset fled Ravnica when Chandra disabled the Immortal Sun or stayed to help the Gatewatch in their fight against Bolas.

Ikoria

Narset spent some indeterminate amount of time on Ikoria, to move past her confrontation with Bolas.^[13] She sought enlightenment in this world where the mana combined in ways similar to her former clan. She bought books at Skysail,^[14] but was mostly seen around Raugrin.

Phyrexian Invasion

During New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse, Narset returned to Tarkir before losing her spark in the Great Desparkening.

Trivia

• In the D&D campaign released with Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms via Magic Story, Narset was given a character sheet representing her as a multi-class monk and wizard, emphasizing a devotion to study and dedicated practice to develop powerful martial arts and spellcasting skills, respectively. Her alignment is Neutral Good representing generally heroic behavior. As a wizard, she specializes in abjuration (protective magic), and her spell selection includes several mental and magical manipulation and defensive effects. She also knows the Dragon's Breath spell, presumably referencing her origins on Tarkir. Her monastic tradition is the "Way of the Astral Self", a philosophy holding that the mortal body is just an illusion and one's true self can be brought out through advancement as a monk.^[15]
• In the video game Magic: The Gathering Arena, Narset is voiced by Judy Alice Lee.^[16]
• The what-if card Narset, Parter of Veils (Imagine: Courageous Critters) depicts Narset animal-shifted into a red-wattled lapwing on Bloomburrow.^[17]

Planeswalkers met

Planes visited

Gallery

• 
  Narset khan of Jeskai Way in the original timeline of Tarkir.
• 
  Quiet Contemplation
• 
  “In the disarray of battle, an enemy’s attack may be your most convenient weapon.”
• 
  Narset participates in the War of the Spark.
• 
  Channeled Force
• 
  Narset Ikoria Comic art
• 
  “Mindless violence withers in the face of a master’s skill.”
• 
  In Ikoria Narset (re)connects to red mana.
• 
  Desparked on Tarkir.
• 
  Secret Lair Drop Series: International Women's Day art

Story appearances

In-game references

Represented in:

Associated cards:

Depicted in:

Quoted or referred to:

Trivia

• In previous apparences Narset's design was evocative of Buddhist monks. In Dragonstorm her clothes are instead more inspired by Daoist priests.^[21]

References

v t e Planeswalkers   Planeswalker Types Ajani Goldmane Aminatou Angrath Arlinn Kord Ashiok Basri Ket Nicol Bolas Calix Chandra Nalaar Comet Dack Fayden Dakkon Blackblade Daretti Davriel Cane Deborah Thomas Geyadrone Dihada Domri Rade Dovin Baan Elspeth Tirel Estrid Freyalise Garruk Gideon Jura Grist Guff Huatli Jace Beleren Jared Carthalion Jaya Ballard Jeska Kaito Shizuki Karn Kasmina Kaya Cassir Kiora Koth of the Hammer Liliana Vess Lukka Nahiri Narset Niko Aris Nissa Revane Ob Nixilis Oko Quintorius Kand Ral Zarek Rowan Kenrith Saheeli Rai Samut Sarkhan Vol Serra Sivitri Scarzam Sorin Markov Tevesh Szat Tamiyo Teferi Akosa Teyo Verada Tezzeret Tibalt Tyvar Kell Ugin Urza Venser Vivien Reid Vraska Vronos Will Kenrith Windgrace Wrenn Xenagos Jiang Yanggu Mu Yanling Crossover Bahamut Ellywick Tumblestrum Elminster Lolth Minsc Mordenkainen Tasha Zariel Non-eternal Abian B.O.B. Byode Duck Dungeon Master Ersta Inzerva Luxior Svega The Wanderer You Related By Format Venser Scale   Lore Planeswalkers in lore only Ā The Adventurer Altair of Coloni Arzakon Azor Baltrice Bo Levar Bolar Boragor Brand Chaney Crucius Daria Demonic Leviathan Draktha Dyfed Embereck Eskil Faralyn Fatima Feroz Garth Gerheart Greensleeves Grenfell Mor Grinth "Icy" Isona Maive Kenan Sahrmal Kento Khazi Krim Kristina of the Woods Kuthuman Leshrac Liana Manatarqua Masrath Meshuvel Mezlok Mindrel Parcher Platon Rafthrasa Ramaz Ravi Sengir Ravidel Sandruu Slobad Sifa Grent Sylvene Taishiar Taysir of Rabiah Tempé Tessebik Thomil The Thorn The Traveler Tyreus The Unluckiest Vaash Vroga Vram Worzel Yawden Affiliations Ancients Gatewatch Infinite Consortium Nine Titans Sages of Minorad The Three Tolgath Events Great Magus War Igniting Mending Desparkening Colorshift Planeswalker War War of the Spark Related Spark Aetherspark Multiverse Universewalker