The Hour of Devastation has come to Amonkhet and it’s time show you the final reward of the God-Emperor and his “gifts” for his devoted and champions of the Trials. Yes Nicol Bolas has returned to Magic: The Gathering and to Amonkhet. The wrath of the god-emperor has been unleashed on the mortal and the once immortal but their stories live on in those who learn of them. Let’s glimpse the exquisite art and delve deeper into the immense lore of Amonkhet and the Hour of Devastation that can be found in the pages of The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Amonkhet.

The people of Amonkhet can start earning their place in the promised afterlife as early as the age of five. Their journey begins as acolytes and those that enter their training in the same year form a group known as a crop. Each crop will adopt a name and many will be tasked with the construction of a ceremonial obelisk. Once completed, acolytes can ascend to the Ceremony of Measurement when the two suns align and earn the role of initiate, marking the start of their journey through the god’s trials.

Spring shows us the hope and possibility of the life ahead, while Mind highlights just how far Bolas’ scheme reaches.

The life of an initiate is one of rigorous training and fueled by a determination to complete the five trials. Each god oversees a trial. Oketra and the Trial of Solidarity has all initiates enter together and test their ability to work as a group. From here they scatter and proceed individually. Kefnet and the Trial of Knowledge tests their mental and magical skill. Rhonas and the Trial of Strength sheds initiates of their weakness. Bontu and the Trial of Ambition reunites 10 cropmates to test their determination by having them sacrifice each other in order to succeed. Finally, the Trial of Zeal places the initiate into a free-for-all battle, often culminating with friends and crop-mates pitted against each other, for only one remaining victor can be deemed worthy by Hazoret’s trial.

Unwavering Initiate shows the sacrifices and scars trial goers endure and how trials are accepted and viewed by the community as a way of life on Amonkhet.

Upon Amonkhet are many species and one of note are the Khenra. Tall and with the appearance closely resembling that of a jackal, the Khenra’s most unique feature is that they are born as twins. Those that are born alone are believed to have slain their twin in the womb and perceived to be natural initiates. As they share similar features of the god Hazoret, they frequently seek her favor. Those that do not tend to adopt the teachings of Rhonas, finding a kinship in his lessons in strength and resilience. As the perils of the trials ensure that only one twin will survive, the Khenra ultimately will endure a tragedy that few others will comprehend.

Samut of the Tah crop is renowned for leading her crop to great success. Passing three trials without a single crop-mate falling, she’s determined to lead them all to the final Trial unbroken—until she encounters the cruel reality of the god Bontu’s Trial of Ambition. When faced with the choice to endanger her crop-mates, she refuses and is branded a dissenter. Judged unfit to be granted reward of the afterlife, Samut is encased within a sarcophagus and her punishment displayed to all as a warning to others who would repeat her behavior. Freed from her imprisonment by Gideon and Chandra, she reveals the truth of the trials to the Gatewatch. As the Hour of Devastation rings, Samut rescues Hazoret from an untimely end from the scorpion god, and finds herself cast into the Blind Eternities as her spark is ignited.

Djeru is determined to complete the final trial and pursue its end at great cost. Within the Trial of Zeal, he conquers many beasts and even takes the lives of his crop-mates, all so he can be granted his wish. As victory draws near, and his goal to be rewarded by Hazoret, to be granted death by her spear, looms over him, the recently freed Samut comes to his rescue. Gideon stands before Hazoret’s descending spear and shields Djeru from its thrust as Samut ushers Djeru from the god’s fury. Gideon’s intervention spares Djeru from a tragic end, as the Second Sun finds seat between the horns of the God-Pharoh’s monument, and the Hour of Revelation strikes upon the whole of Amonkhet.

From the revelation by Ajani Goldmane of the dark scheming of Nicol Bolas upon the plane of Amonkhet, the Gatewatch came to end this threat to the multiverse once and for all. Liliana Vess came to free herself of Razaketh’s demonic pact. All was going according to plan until the hours came. With them three gods came and ruin followed. The final hour came to Amonkhet to deliver the promised return of the God-Emperor, and that he did. Bolas came to Amonkhet, not to keep his promise, but to keep it all. For Amonkhet is his. As Foretold.

Learn more about the plane and story in The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Amonkhet by James Wyatt, featuring art from Amonkhet and the Hour of Devastation.