| The Simic Combine | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alternative Names | |
| The Biomancers | |
| Lore Information | |
| Parun | Simic |
| Guild Leader |
Momir Vig (Ravnica block; deceased) Zegana (Return to Ravnica block) |
| Guild Champion |
Experimental/Project Kraj Vorel (Return to Ravnica block) |
| Guild Hall |
Novijen (Ravnica block) Zameck (Return to Ravnica block) |
| Game Information | |
| Colors |
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| Mechanics | {{{mechanics}}} |
| Featured Sets | |
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Dissension Gatecrash | |
| Signet Flavor Text | |
| "For the Simic Combine, its sigil serves not as an emblem of honor but as a trademark. Its familiar image on any biological commodity attests to superb craftsmanship, ingenious innovation, and higher cost." — Simic Signet | |
| Scryfall Search | |
| watermark:"{{{search}}}" | |
The Simic Combine is a green/blue guild from the plane and city of Ravnica. [1] The original purpose of the Simic Combine was to preserve the health of all Ravnican life-forms. They were devoted to the study of life, medicines, and biomancy. But just as life can adapt, so did the Combine. Momir Vig, the Simic guildmaster, was dissatisfied with this original purpose and formed a new purpose: to improve upon life-forms of Ravnica.
With the fall of Momir Vig, the Simic were left in desrepair, until Ravnica's subterranean merfolk emerged, and with them the new guildmaster, Zegana. The new Simic have returned to their holistic, druid-like roots, embracing the Upwelling/Holdfast principles.
History
Ravnica block
Background
The emotionally distant relationship that the Simic biomancers have with the rest of Ravnica's society makes the common man wary of the guild, thinking of them as crazy mutant makers. Even so, the Simic make up the physicians of Ravnica and so injuries and illness are taken to the reputable doctors.
Novijen is the genetics laboratory where the Simic design and perfect their biological experiments. It is a hybrid of living matter and sculpted stone held in place by thick cables designed to keep it isolated from the surrounding structures.
Cytoplasts
Cytoplasts are a bio-magical invention, of Momir Vig's design. Cytoplasts are small masses of living tissue, magical in nature, appearing as blue-green globules. [2] These globules convey genetic information to and from any life-form they come into physical contact with. For example, if a cytoplast in contact with a giant is transferred to a human, the cytoplast then begins to incorporate into the human the physical strength of the giant. Cytoplasts also tend take on the physical characteristics of their hosts somewhat camouflaging themselves.
Originally, cytoplasts were grafted onto hosts using surgery and magic. Momir Vig developed newer versions, however, that only needed to come into contact with a host in order to bond with it, but he did so planning to use them in his Project Kraj.
Return to Ravnica block
With the reemergence of the guilds and the rediscovery of Ravnica's long gone oceans, through the sinkholes known as Zonots, the Simic were remade from scratch. Embracing long-gone spiritual and holistic concepts, they rejected Momir Vig's corrupted philosophy, focusing on advancing nature through purely magical means. Because of their focus on the oceans, their new philosophy revolves around principles applied to sea-life: the Holdfast, the anchoring, isolationist motion; and the Upwelling, the expansive, upwards-going motion. With this, they form a compromise between isolation and influence on Ravnican society, preserving nature and allowing at least one spot of access to the underground oceans.
Zegana is the guildmaster and speaker of Zonot One, the first to open. The seven Zonots are the focus of Simic activity, with Zonot Zeven being home to Zameck, the guildhall. Where other cultures are divided by species, caste or role, within the Simic Combine, members are divided by Clade. A Clade is a group that's focused on a specific aspect; for instance the Hull Clade focuses on protection, defense, and durability while the Gyre Clade focuses on cyclical patterns to redirect or nullify magic. [3]
Trivia
- In Magic the Gathering, Cytoplasts are oftentimes represented as +1/+1 counters, symbolizing the strength given to those which the Cytoplasts have bonded with.
In the game
Guild mechanics
Dissension: Graft
The Graft mechanic is indicative of cytoplasts; specifically, the "newer" ones of Momir Vig's design. A creature with the Graft keyword comes into play with +1/+1 counters and can later transfer them on to other newly-played creatures.[4]
Gatecrash: Evolve
Creature types
Species and races
Species and races associated with the Simic Combine include: Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break
- Basilisks
- Drakes
- Elementals
- Elves
- Faeries
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- Humans
- Merfolk
- Mutants
- Saprolings
- Trolls
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Template:Col-end
Notable members
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break
Template:Col-break
Template:Col-end
Gallery
Ravnica block crest.
Return to Ravnica block crest.
Sources
- Template:NewRef
- Template:NewRef
References
External links
- Dissension: Simic Combine Minisite [dead link] — Wizards of the Coast
- Return to Ravnica: Simic Combine Minisite [dead link] — Wizards of the Coast
- Gatherer watermark search for Simic, Gatherer — Wizards of the Coast
- Rei Nakazawa (August, 2006). "Simic Fiction: Life is Beautiful". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
