Magic: The Gathering – What to Know About Innistrad’s Mighty Vampires – CBR – Comic Book Resources

The vampires of Innistrad were born out of necessity, and now they roam the plane keeping the human population in check one bite at a time.

Vampires are a common fantasy trope, and inMagic: The Gathering's multiverse, these bloodsuckers absolutely dominate the Gothic horror world of Innistrad.

The vampires of this plane are arguably the most powerful race. But curiously, they are not actually native to this plane. Vampirescome from the likes of Dominaria, Zendikar, Ulgrotha and even Kaladesh, but the vampires of Innistrad were artificially created many years ago by a certain Edgar Markov, grandfather of the famed vampire planeswalker Sorin Markov. The newly born vampire race was the solution to a problem.

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Many centuries ago, the humans of Innistrad faced a serious problem, on top of regular werewolf and zombie attacks, there was a famine. This dreadful famine gripped the entire plane, and there was no clear solution in sight. Until, that is, Edgar Markov turned to the demons in desperation with a creative solution in mind. He was enchanted with powerful dark magic,which turned him into an immortal being, one that feeds on humans rather than on crops and livestock. He became Innistrad's first vampire, and many more followed, including his grandson, Sorin.

The idea was that vampires would thin out the population of humans, ensuring that there would be enough food for the survivors. If cropscouldn't be increased, then the number of mouths to feedwould be dropped, and that's where the vampires would come in. And, of course, each human who became a vampire would no longer put any strain on the food supply, because the people themselves would become the food supply. This solution proved a success, and the human race recovered. However this meant humanity hada new monster race to contend with in the darkest of nights.

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The vampires of Innistrad boast not only the superhuman strength and speed of other vampire races, but also a variety of unique magics. Over time, the vampire diaspora spread across Innistrad's four provinces, but the strongest ones remained in their native province of Stensia. Four major vampire families towered above the rest: Falkenrath, Markov, Voldaren and Stromkirk, each with particular abilities.

Most of these vampires, like bloodsuckers in other works of fiction, can use seduction magic to entice any human target into liking them and thus lowering their guard. Additionally, the vampires of the misty Nephalia province can convert their bodies into mist to safely travel undetected, even sneaking into people's homes this way. Many of Stensia's vampires can turn themselves into bats or similar animals, and the Falkenrath and Voldaren vampires can fly even without turning into bats first.

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The vampire population is the result of discretion; that is, they do not reproduce the way people do. New vampires are chosen, and existing ones can pick and choose "worthy" humans to convert into new vampires. In this way, vampires loosely represent "survival of the fittest," and a vampire can consciously bite a human target to convert them rather than feed on them. With the exception of Edgar Markov, all vampires have bite marks on them leftover from where their "parent" vampire bit them to begin the conversion process. These bites are usually done on discreet parts of the body.

Vampires also have a few vulnerabilities, and are always looking for ways to avoid them. Stakes made of fresh, living wood are highly effective against them, so the vampires of Nephalia encourage constant shipbuilding to use up all the local wood. Vampires are also susceptible to moonlight reflected on running water, and fire and silver. And, of course, the magic and symbols of the Church of Avacyn are effective against them. Vampires meet their match when they face the Church's strongest inquisitors and cathars (holy warriors).

Vampires were born out of desperation to save the human race, and now both races arelocking in an eternal, deadly dance to keep the other in check across Innistrad.

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I graduated high school in Kansas City in 2009, then earned my Associate's in Arts in 2011 at MCC Longview, then my BA in Creative Writing at UMKC in 2013. I have a passion for creative fiction and I've studied and practiced my craft for over ten years. Currently, I'm expanding my resume and skill set with jobs such as SEO writing and journalism.

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Magic: The Gathering - What to Know About Innistrad's Mighty Vampires - CBR - Comic Book Resources