Playing D&D’s Tomb of Annihilation in MTG’s Ixalan Setting

The worlds of Magic: The Gathering are ripe for the plundering for D&D. For years, I’ve wanted a big setting book of MTG for D&D, and we’re finally seeing it. I’ve been really happy to see Wizards of the Coast releasing a series called Plane Shift, which focuses on different MTG worlds to play D&D in. Each PDF focuses on a different plane, with a few stats, some setting information, and new races to play as. So far, they’ve released Amonkhet, Innistrad, Zendikar, Kaladesh, Their current setting is Ixalan, a Central and South American-themed setting, full of dense jungles, pirates, conquistadors, dinosaurs, and ancient cultures.

Looking at the new Plane Shift: Ixalan booklet by James Wyatt, I’m really excited to give Tomb of Annihilation a try in Ixalan.

To begin with: Where is Chult in Ixalan? Well, if we check out the map above, you can see there’s an area called The Inner Sea. Lots of islands around there. It’s perfectly conceivable that there’s another island there, relatively unknown to the Sun Empire and the Brazen Coalition. Only now is it being explored. Alternatively, you could have it in the Stormwreck Sea, but I like the idea of people coming from all directions to trade with this newly discovered island of Chult.

What is the threat? Stop here if you want to avoid spoilers. In Tomb of Annihilation, Acererak, an ancient lich, is powering the Soulmonger, a magical construct which consumes souls. The whole land is devastated by the Death Curse, making it harder for people to resurrect, and making death saves super deadly. The heroes must venture through the jungle to find the Tomb of Annihilation and destroy the Soulmonger and Acererak himself.

So, let’s look at making some changes. First: Who should replace Acererak? There are a few options.

Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver: Ashiok is known for travelling the multiverse in search of designs for the perfect embodiment of fear. Ashiok believes that fear is the great equalizer. In a world of resurrection magic, where people with means have lost the fear of death, Ashiok reawakens that fear among those who can afford resurrection. Now everyone can die.

Liliana Vess: Master of Necromancy, she is cunning, deceptive, and evil. She seems likely even to have taken Acererak’s work, killed him, and is now working on making the Soulmonger even stronger.

Ob Nixilis: Ob Nixilis is a powerful demonic planeswalker who seeks only destruction. He could make a terrifying entity. Perhaps he is channeling the souls into the Soulmonger to create some new powerful destructive entity.

Any of these planeswalkers would be a perfect foil for the heroes. What other elements could we add into the game to give it a distinct Ixalan flair?

Definitely use the creatures in the Planeshift book to their fullest extent. Have merfolk in the rivers on the island, make sure to utilize all the dinosaurs, and absolutely make sure to use Gishath (on page 32), perhaps within the City of Omu near the end of the adventure.

I’ve decided that in my campaign, there will be a whole conquistador force of the Legion of Dusk, led by Sorin Markov, also searching for the Tomb. They’ll regularly encounter the players, causing lots of problems along the way. If the players can figure out how to stop or kill the conquistadors, it will help them in their quest.

Also, for my own campaign, I’m going to suggest that all players be brand new planeswalkers themselves. Each player will choose a color, and will be required to go with whatever magical option is available to their class. Arcane Trickster, Eldritch Knight, Arcane Archer; whatever the class’s magical option is, if they aren’t already magical, will be their focus. The characters, instead of arriving by ship, planeshift into Port Nyanzaru at the beginning of the adventure.

Have fun! I know I will!