Twas a week before Christmas and throughout the plane, The whole place was stirring with dangers quite untamed. When low and behold a mage doth appeared, To tell us a story of an Elf we all hold dear.

Everyone always asks “Who is Nissa?” But never “How is Nissa?”

On Zendilar Nissa opened up the presents early and the eldrazi escaped. Then she sent the christmas tree to fight Nicol Bolas. Then after all that, she tried to fight a snowman named Nahiri. Best and worst elf.

Duuuude, a "Who is Tibalt?" would be sick leading up to Kaldheim. Thanks again for the serotonin :D

"What better time to talk about the most famous elf in all of magic" Me: oh a llanowar elves episode "Nissa!"

"And she has made Chandra sweat" was a brilliant line. Thank you for that

"A bond that is nearly unbreakable" Louder for the Kelman at the back, Ryan!

The Nissa and Yahenni interactions were some of the best parts of the Kaladesh story.

If we can get a “Who is Tibalt” after Kaldheim’s story is released I think we will all be happy

When it came to to Tamiyo. All I know is that she is a moonfolk but it would be great to have “Who is Tamiyo” to have a better understanding about a planeswalker that played a role in innistrad.

What would y’all think about doing an episode on “almost planeswalkers”? Characters like Radha who COULD have become a walker, but either never did for some reason or lost the ability to do so.

Ryan connecting the dots I didn't even notice were there and standing up for what's right story-wise is why I'm always excited for story time! :D

Oh damn! Is it story time? I love when its story time.

Nissa would imo actually have been an interesting character to explore as her 1.0 version. Having a planeswalker who believes elves are superior to all other races would be interesting to explore, as she'd travel to places like Ravnika and such and seeing a world that doesn't hold her racist values. They could through such a character also explore the difference between Nationalism or Patriotism, and Racism or Xenophobia. Though on further reflection, she'd most likely be used as a clumsy civil era racism analog and thus alienate all non-American readers.

Evangeline Lilly has to play Nissa, there is no other choice.

Dude, that story between Jace and Emrakul in his mind is my favorite in all of the MTG lore! I really hope Emrakul gets some love again, that she can dialogue with Jace another time, and maybe influence Nissa in keep using blue mana

I love your little jabs at their relationship XD

I'm amazed every time how good you are as a storyteller. My 22 minutes just flew and I had a great time enjoying your video!! I just love how you formatted the video. Thank you Ryan

I only play Commander, I love landfall decks, and "Draw a card" is my favorite phrase in all of MTG, so Vital Force is my absolute favorite version, and Nissa on Kaladesh is my favorite point in her story, so yeah.

Within 5 minutes this time!

Honestly, I would have found Nissa much more compelling if they had kept the flawed origin. Growing her character and forcing her to confront the reality of the multiverse is much more impactful than simply retcon-ing her to be an apple-cheeked idealist from day one. Character development makes for more interesting characters.

super wild story guess - nissa is turned into a phyrexian somewhere in the story (having become a target etc) but an interaction with chandra taps into her core being where she ends up doing something like sacrificing herself to save everybody else. if that doesn't happen I still expect at least one planeswalker to be phyrexian-ized or killed when they're brought back as the primary villains again.

I know you mentioned the event but let's not forget that the one who coached Nissa through the trial on Amonkhet was none other than Emrakhul herself. Or at least is who it's implied to be. I'm hoping the angel of Zendikar continues to tinker with the story and Nissa in the future. That juxtaposition between unknowable eldritch nightmare and earnest tutor was teased twice and I need more of it.

Yes, Nissa is such a good character and you tell all of the stories so well, thank you!

I love this video, one because Nissa is one of my favourite planeswalkers, and two because it sticks to the original love-interest in Chandra story

I do love all planeswalkers videos, I would love to see a Sarkhan Vol and a Rals Viceroy video!

The full art Steward of the Elements was my first Nissa card so I've got a soft spot for it.

I can’t wait for the Jace episode. There’s a lotta content there

Nissa is an elf planeswalker that used to be a hardcore Nazi, but WotC quietly shifted her away from that.

So Nissa Steward of Elements is like her ''grad'' photo on Amonkhet? :)

i would like a "what is plane?" the planes are like characters

Now we get to know more about zendikar and more about nissa

Great storytelling as always. Great character, one of my favorites.

I was just watching the who is liliana and chandra videos not even 20 minutes before this came out lol

I hope we get a red/green spotlight card featuring Nissa and Chandra called, like, "big sm00cherino" or something.

Such a great episode. Been wanting this one for a long time!

I just love how you can always see he's having so much fun making these videos. It always makes my day

this channel has been nothing but entertaining and informative since I’ve subbed a few weeks ago. Thank you for what you all do

Now there is the magic arcanum I know and love. Keep up the good work :).

Such a great episode, as always! She does have a long & intriguing story to be told

Great video, you two!

Loved this video... favorite card? All of them! Nissa is one of my favorite characters too! Greetings Ryan and Nicole! Love you guys! P.S.: Evangeline Lilly IS Nissa... There is no other option. 🤭

So after doing some zendikar drafts and looking for some background lore I stumbled upon the channel. After a couple of videos I start to think to myself "this Ryan fellow sound and looks familiar" turns out we went to the same high school. Small world ain't it.

Man, I do so love this channel

I swear your videos keep improving. Cup time and mustache minute are what I live for. The Phyrexian prediction was well thought out & backed with facts. Long live Arcanum!

Great as always.

Shout out to Duals of the planeswalkers. Loved it.

Oh yes a new video from my favourite youtube channel. Just pure Lore Epicness.

Ahhh a week late, but man is this appriciated! As always, great job. Keep it up.

So happy you finally did Nissa, she's my favorite!!!

awwww, I want Planeswalkers to have subtypes so bad If Karn was considered an artifact, or Ugin a dragon, things would get nuts XD

Nissa, is my favorite Planeswalker. Green is my favorite color in Magic, and Nissa is really powerful in a lot of her different cards.

i have been an elf player since i began in Legions, so watching Nissa enter the scene was like watching a queen take an empty throne. My loyalties to her has lost me more games than I care to admit, which in turn made me look inward. i discovered the blue and black mana ties within and began to tinker, but almost as soon as i became more comfortable in this state, Steward of Elements reminded me, that no matter where I went, so long as the heart of an elf beat inside my chest, there Nissa would be also. I found citizenship among the Golgari while Nissa was absent, there I happily tasked for Vraska, amidst my elven kindred. (while experimenting with and being experimented on by Simic). When Shadowed Boughs was revealed however, I knew she had once again found me as I am, and now, in this hour, my only wish, is to see her newfound nature unified, and to see a Sultai Nissa gracefully emerge, one who finally knows what she wants, and has the knowledge to take back what (and who) it is she really desires.

Not all heroes wear capes, sometimes its just a sweet tshirt and a mustache. #nissaandchandra

There isn't enough love for my guy Ajani, I wonder when we are going to hear more from my favorite Leonin...

Great video, Ryan & Nicole! Merry Christmas, y’all!

Idk who Kelman is, but I love these asides at him! They make me laugh! So, Kelman, keep nitpicking! The rebuttals are like adorable commercials in these fantastic, well-told, stories.

i hope we get a blue,black and green Nissa one day

I like her Zendikar's Rising incarnation, I am learning to use it, but it's an fair and strong card.

I thought the sword of the animist was her showing off that she could turn a stick into a knife. Staff-sword works too.

Combination of World Waker and Shaker of the World. Untapping 4 Forests and then tap the for two mana each is very sweet.

Another great and in-depth video! I'd love to see your prediction about Nissa and the Phyrexians come true, though I'd love it if we could have that story beat without also having a "shakes the world" level impact on the metagame.

Another great video! Loved all the call outs against Kelman! I would really enjoy more video(s) about Theros and it's stories because I am going to run a D&D campaign on Theros and want to get more information about the world. I have the D&D Theros setting book, but retain info from your videos much better than from reading it

Nissa has been one of my favorite planewalkers of all time. I love how she's more in tune with lands, but also still an elf. I made a whole commander deck based around Steward of Elements, and it has quickly became my favorite deck to play.

My first Novel of the MTG universe began with Nissa and Anowon. Brilliant.. Thank you for bringing her to light!

This is excellent.

what, no Flavor Win for this episode? I was stoked to see a BG deck showcasing Nissa and piloted byt his beautiful mustached man

according to the mtg timeline on the wiki (mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline), the mending was like 60 years ago, and knowing that Nissa is a post-mending walker, she can't be older than that. If elves work as they do in and Planshift: Zendikar, Nissa is a literal child.

Great vid as always! I always think of planeswalker characters as "already sufficiently badass", so it was quite surprising to see the depth of Nissa's zero to hero arc as told by the cards and story! I think Shadowed Boughs has to be my favourite, the landfall ability feels like a very clever way to keep her relevant past casting her on curve, and menace is a FAR less obnoxious keyword than vigilance for 3/3 lands. *cough*

Centered in green, splashed enemy colors. Real crazy magic going on in there

I got really into the game from duels of the planeswalkers and elves became my favorite tribe. Very nostalgic beginning for me :)

Yay! 😀 Story time. Edit: My Nissa, Vastwood Seer "Unbridled Growth" +1/+1 counter tribal EDH deck is my favorite. I really like her character, and she's also a great commander. And there are a lot of (even efficient) cards which feature her in one way or another, so it's a pretty flavorful deck too.

My first thought for Nissa was Kate Beckingsale. She can really portray the PRIMAL brutality that Nissa is so used to. But also the elegance and insight needed to ascend to become a better fighter for her home.

Now just getting around to this video, and have to say... Flip Nissa is easily my favorite card to play in games. Sleek and simple. Usually survives in EDH games where I only use her to “draw” cards.

After seeing this, I went stright to historic to make a Ramp deck

The Nissa v Phyrexian thing would be such a great twist.

Wizards: cancels mtg movie Ryan: fine, I'll do it myself Edit: Thanks Ryan and Nicole, y'all made my day

Yes! Nissa was the first planeswalker I played with.

Thanks Nagic Arcanum for the story. I didnt follow Amonkhet story. I assumed Jace was the one to teach Nissa how to use blue mana to supplement her green mana since the plane had such a weak worldsoul.

After years of not playing, I got back in with Origins, and got A weird, double-sidedd card with a cool looking legendary elf on one side (neat!) and a planes walker on the other (they're cards, now?), which I didn't even know it worked. I learned, and I fell in love with this character. She's my first planeswalker, and my favorite. I've built more decks around her than anyone OR anything else. Your video is great, and I can't wait to see if you're right about her role against the Phyrexians.

Great video. I'm waiting for Ajani and Gideon.

Ryan is always right in his predictions. Phyrexians, here we come! (circa 2022....)

Canon: Nissa is not gay The entire fandom: That's where your wrong bucko

I Finally found your account again😆

My favorite Nissa is Shadowed Boughs; clearly not nearly as strong as STW, but I'm a sucker for Golgari, and she plays well with ramping reanimators.

I really like Nissa and her cards

I would also love a who is Ashiok video!

There’s a Tumblr post somewhere that pointed out a number of quotes from the books and stories all leaning towards the implication that Nissa may also be on the spectrum. And as a fellow Green-aligned Lesbian Planeswalker who’s on the spectrum, I just absolutely adore Nissa. Wondering if WOTC will pair her with another anytime soon? (My favorite is Nature’s Artisan)

Nissa 1.0 - interesting character, risking doing something interesting Nissa 2.0 - generic elf Nissa 2.1 - A personality blossoms and Nissa makes Chandra sweat Nissa 2.2 - generic elf again Nissa 2.3 - Nissa gets another dimension added to being an elf that loves a good tree hug [Nissa 2.4 - Visits Phyrexia, gets another personality amputation]

How about a "Who is" of the og badassess... Urza, Serra, etc

Ah yes Nissa, Queen of Retcons. Probably the most polarizing of the Planeswalkers for sure.

Nissa who shake the zrwaaaaadooooo

“She has made Chandra.... sweat.” I freaking died.

Keep posting content

Magic Arcanum, I got to say that you dissapointed me here with a little something missing... Where is the Golden Mustache Minute!!... As for the details and narration of the story, perfect as always, hope to see you soon in another video.

"nissa who shakes them worlds" ^^

I kind of liked Nissa as an Elf supremacist, felt like a bit of Merica in the MtG setting. I can understand how that was effecting her standing as a protagonist though. Nissa, Who Shakes that Booty is definitely her most powerful card BTW.

20:28, Oh boy, do we tell him?

It genuinely took my ass a full minute to remember how "Christmas" and "elves" are related concepts.

Love the content! I'm down a rabbit hole learning all kinds of things. Thank you Do you ever consider follow ups to character content like Nissa in light of recent events?