Which Legend Has the Most Badass Epithet?
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
- Almost every legendary creature has a title next to its name. These are called epithets- and there's a lot more to them than you think. In this episode, I explore their various forms, then use that history to crown a winner.
0:00 Introduction
0:35 Cognomens
1:15 Bynames
2:05 Sobriquets
2:48 Epithets in Worldbuilding
3:33 The Most Badass Epithet in Magic
4:09 Conclusion and Credits
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Search Your Library is a series of video essays exploring Magic: the Gathering from an academic perspective. It features summarizes of historical literature and interviews with the next generation of scholars.
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Song Credits
Music Credit: Lakey Inspired
Track Name: Fast Lane
License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Available at: / lakeyinspired - Hry
It's not legendary but I really like "It that betrays". The name reflects how we cannot quite grasp what eldrazi are but we are witnessing in the present what horrors they are capable of.
I like most of the eldrazi names. "All Is Dust" is a statement, barely a gesture. yet it has more devastating outcome than most deliberate actions we can make.
@@yargolocus4853also like how disconnected and matter of fact it sounds
"Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth" is one that always stuck out for me
Class video, and the 50% opacity Cena is a cracking gag xD
Thanks! Was hoping someone would catch that :D
Really digging the purity and simplicity of Urza, Planeswalker. It really clarifies how much more he is than post-mending planeswalkers we know today. He is THE Planeswalker.
i like how nicol bolas didn't have one initially, but has gained a few since. "the ravager" springs to mind, but "God-Pharaoh" is also pretty solid
God-Pharaoh is solid, it’s similar to the divine epithets in Theros but also connected to the way Egyptian Pharaoh’s were referred to.
“Who Smiles at Death” is one of my favorites too!
But “The Promised End” has to take the cake for me. It’s already memorable and fitting, but the way the EMN story uses it just elevates it further. Emrakul’s “response” when Jace asks her what she is was haunting. And the final chapter of EMN being called The Promised End really just felt perfect. It all combines to make it so the sobriquet makes me shiver every time I think it or hear it.
Great video!!! I’d love to see more from you.
There’s a reason I chose it for the thumbnail- The Promised End is probably my second favorite! I also love how definitive it felt during its standard, really felt like an epic ending to a game (if a bit too powerful)
I like "The Last Hope". Basically, by turning to Liliana for help, we're admitting that we're the most fucked we are, and even she can't screw it up any more.
Yo Rhystic Studies, you can hire a voice actor, but we can all still tell this is a second channel.
I love Massacre Girl, Known Killer. "Known Killer" evokes a sense of fear, but also respect. Certainly someone you don't mess with
I just collected 3 versions of her.
came here from spice8rack's tweet. great video!
I have to say my favorite epithet would actually be on a land (which is actually a tree): Boseiju, Who Endures, with Boseiju, Who Shelters All a close second.
Haven't even finished the video yet, but there is so much information value this far that it warrant a like and comment
Great video! Ones with "who" are always punchy, like Oyubi, Who Split the Heavens, or the recent Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset. Hard to beat Emrakul, in either version. Even if "the Aeons Torn" doesn't really mean much, it sounds badass as hell.
Yeah, Nissa, Who Shakes the World is also great!
The wanderer / wandering emperor is my personally fovorite not only because it's both evocative and mysterious but the fact that it's the only planeswalker without a name printed as a type (even Bahamut has one while hiding his true identity) makes it even cooler.
I appreciate you foreshadowing the answer for your favorite epithet with Savai Triome, the one that matches Alesha's colors.
Thanks! Was hoping someone would catch that :)
One of the most metal things on magic, gotta love all this black metal band names
I've always been a fan of Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset but I might have to give it to Jace, the Mind Sculptor; one of the most well known cards in the game, literally sculpts your mind mechanically, and also just a cool name.
i think just for magic history reasons my favourite epithet is Blackblade. the name goes with the sword, and travelled all the way from legends to be the focus of dominaria and a (albeit unimportant and underused) piece in war of the spark
Shorikai, Genesis Engine is one of my favorites. Such a cool card and name!
The not-so-subtle reference is pretty excellent!
One of my favorites (though I agree that Alesha is better) is from a weird little kamigawa legend. Akuta, Born of Ash. Kamigawa had a lot of good ones, but that one is a favorite of mine. Man, I love epithets.
I’ve always wondered about this topic myself. Something about the epithets has always drawn me in to think about naming characters. I really enjoyed this video, keep up the great work!
Thank you so much! I think most of my videos are for people who’ve wondered about something off hand in Magic, haha
Great video! As a writer, I appreciate your close attention to language.
(My favorite? Kozilek, Butcher of Truth.)
Thanks! Though I regret not featuring that one elsewhere, Butcher of Truth is another excellent one.
Literally came here to say this one. You are indeed a man of culture.
A nitpicky thing to mention, because I had to look it up to make sure, is that you don't sacrifice to the legend rule, but you put it in the graveyard.
Not magic related, but Elden Ring's characters have some great epithets as well
Just discovered this insanely high quality content. You deserve a lot more views, hang in there!
Thank you so much!
Two comments for you. You mentioning Gilgamesh title was great
the butcher of truth is epic
"Of the Closed Fist"
Sheoldred the Apocalypse
I mean, aeons thorn is pretty based... But in a world were everyone has a "nickname", the more impactfull will aways be the ones that need none. My pick almost ever goes to progenitus. (His flavor text is also amazing btw)
This is a wonderful video, perfectly coinciding with me falling down the interest rabbit-hole of language/etymology! I'll absolutely be revisiting it a lot, and it's making me excited to just go on a scryfall binge to categorize every legend I see! I do agree that the best are the ones that synergise with their flavour-text and mechanic: Grumgully, the Generous is one that always makes me smile in that regard.
Curiously, I find that Magic's importance on legends having epithets makes their absence something of a statement in their own right; Admiral Beckett Brass and The Raven Man come to mind.
Personally been a big fan of the name Akul, the Unrepentant as of late. That single word has so much bite and wholly encapsulates who they are and what they're about. It's both astonishingly eloquent and harshly blunt in its simplicity.
Shame neither the character nor the card live up to the name. It's tough when game mechanics, artwork, and an entire new setting and story are given to you, just for it all to fall short of three words, the first of which isn't even real and the second of which is "the."
Amazing video!
Gonna throw a mention here to Thraximundar, whose whole name is an epithet (and a pretty badass one in my opinion!).
Hot damn that’s metal, didn’t think to look in flavor texts for epithets. Hope he doesn’t make me sacrifice a creature for the exclusion!
Great video! Would love to watch a lengthier version :)
Thank you! Wanted to try out something short form but promise a longer one for you next time :)
Awesome vid!
My favorites are the Dog Epithets. Ever Faithful, Ever Loyal
The Aeons Torn, Butcher of Truth, The Infinite Gyre, The Ceaseless Hunger... It's hard to beat the Eldrazi titans at epithets.
Kenpachi, Who Smiles at Death.
Loved the vid. Someone already said “the butcher of truth” , so I’ll throw out “progress tyrant”
New sub, ty spice for the reccomandation
I’m always a fan of epithets that give some indication of where a character is at in terms of their story or personal journey/development. Unfortunately none are currently jumping to mind for me right now, but I’m sure you can probably think of plenty ;P
Most planeswalkers have one for each version they have. Though not a sentient character, Boseijus epithets (Who shelters all, and Who Endures) really channels the setting they come from to mind by just saying them.
I just realized that all the members of the cycle of Elder Dragons from strixhaven don’t have an epitheth in their names, just like the original cycle of elder dragons.
Traxos, Scourge of Kroog.
wort the raidmother has always been one ive liked
Its not one card but I personally like how omnaths epithet changes which each new iteration to reflect its changing role in the story as well its new color.
The nost badass one has to be tyramet the murder king, although the card is really bad xD
The Eldrazi titans probably have the best Epithets imo
I think my favourite epithet is actually not present on a Legendary creature. It of the Horrid Swarm is an extremely evocative name among the Eldrazi's many evocative names.
I'm unsure it counts, but it's my answer nonetheless.
That one is great! There was also “It that rides as one”; Eldritch Moon really knocked it out of the park with the lovecraftian name schemes.
I do like Slimefoot, the Stowaway. Just a little mushroom dude who doesn't belong there.
Honestly, the newer Epithets kinda suck.
I see much more “Profession” based one now than before.. and those sound extremely boring