The hordes of the Demonastery encroach closer each day, yet we shall not falter. Ready your swords, your shields, your bows, for we stand together, against the test of time. Heed our tale, of a bold student chosen by the Light…
The year is 2021, and whispers of what secrets could possibly be revealed in Monarch are spreading among Flesh and Blood players like wildfire. We were starving for something mind-blowing, and Prism didn’t fall short of expectations. Our first introduction to the Illusionist class came as a complete surprise, having been saved for last during preview season.
A small child who spent their days reading ancient tomes within the Great Library of Solana, Prism was inspired by the stories of old, much like many of us. As she grew, so did her affinity with the light, until one day she took up the mantle of an Illusionist. Beckoning glimmering constructs of the Heralds, Prism used her knowledge and skills to defend Sol and its people.
Mechanically, Prism was next level. Gone were the days of resolving disputes with fisticuffs, now we could run circles around our foes with the power of smoke and mirrors. One of my favourite aspects of Flesh and Blood card design is when effects and abilities resonate with stories and lore. Phantasm is a perfect example - something that seems giant and monstrous, but when poked (in this case, with a 6-power card), vanishes in a puff of hopes and dreams.
Spectra was another mechanic introduced with Prism that has been at the center of many, many discussions. Players quickly figured out that slower decks would struggle to remove these spectra cards, especially when you couldn’t effectively utilize go again to clear the arena. This janitor clean up duty roleplay was polarizing for some, while others reveled in picking apart the carefully constructed board state, piece by piece.
Prism pushed the boundaries of what was possible in a game like Flesh and Blood, bringing an entire extra dimension to resource management, card advantage, and mid-game tactics. Her signature weapon, Luminaris, introduced a dire sense of urgency to every game, ticking down her opponent’s health each turn like a doomsday clock.
Phantasmaclasm
Merciful Retribution
Luminaris
It wasn’t long before our shining bookworm took over the Flesh and Blood competitive scene, winning several premiere events and placing in top cuts across the globe. Always present in the metagame but never outright dominating it, Prism would claim her first major victory at the 2021 Calling: Las Vegas in a thrilling finale against another Monarch debut, Chane, Bound by Shadow (more on this dark and stormy figure later).
Prism played an important role in the Everfest carnival, as the sworn enemy of Bravo, Star of the Show. The Elemental retrain of the classic Guardian had crushed the meta in his titanic grip, but Prism held her own, annoying Bravo time and time again with sticky auras. She crafted a reputation for being tricky to learn but rewarding to master, rising to the top ranks of the Living Legend Leaderboard, yet painstakingly shying away from crossing the threshold.
As more aggressive heroes entered the arena, Prism started to skip to the far corners, attempting to shield herself from walls of flame or barrages of runes. But she was far from gone. Prism was just waiting, biding her time until she could shed light upon the path that would lead to victory. Her final send-off arrived at the Calling side event at Pro Tour: Lille, where she won first place only a day before she was scheduled to retire.
Gone, but not forgotten. Although Prism had surpassed Living Legend, her army of loyal fans clamored for her return. And in a surprise twist, a Light Illusionist comeback was indeed on the books. Prism was to return in Dusk till Dawn, this time as the Advent of Thrones, and subsequently, the Awakener of Sol!
To celebrate her return and the 10th set milestone, ten serialized, hand drawn, artist sketch, cold foil Prism, Sculptor of Arc Light will be hiding in the beautiful stained glass packs, just waiting to be opened.
The Heralds are also back and stronger than ever! Calling down the fury of the angels, Prism is primed to vanquish the darkness and bring glory to Sol. But like a true Illusionist she keeps an aura of mystery around her. What exactly is a figment? Is it even real? Can it hurt you? You’ll find out soon enough…
