Will and Rowan Kenrith are a pair of siblings from the Magic: The Gathering universe, specifically from a realm called Eldraine. They aren’t ordinary twins. For a while, they shared what’s called a planeswalker spark, a rare trait that lets them travel between worlds. That bond shaped much of their story and gave them a unique place in the game’s lore.
Some people see them as heroes who want the best for Eldraine, even when they disagree on how to achieve it. Others think they’ve become symbols of the plane’s tragedy, especially after the invasion that cost them so much. Regardless of where you stand, these twins have captured the imagination of many fans and have inspired a handful of potent cards in the game.
Their background is filled with trials that would break most folks. They faced family betrayals, curses, and a realm teetering on the edge. Yet they keep pushing forward, each in their own way. Some people root for Will’s cautious leadership, while others are drawn to Rowan’s unstoppable ambition. In my opinion, that tension is what makes them stand out.
Early Life and Family Ties
They were born into Eldraine’s royal family, but their birth wasn’t the smooth, joyous event it should have been. Their mother, under a twisted desire for life extension, harmed them when they were just infants. It’s a grim part of their story that set the tone for everything that followed. Their father, Algenus Kenrith, managed to free himself from the witch’s enchantment and rushed to save the newborns. Queen Linden, Algenus’s wife, sacrificed part of her own power to resurrect them. That act bound them as her children. It’s a bit of a tangled family tree, but it defined the siblings’ place in Eldraine’s royal household.
They grew up under the guidance of two strong parental figures, though that peace wouldn’t last. Eventually, their father was cursed by a mischievous planeswalker named Oko, and the resulting conflicts set the stage for the twins’ adventures. They discovered they had planeswalker sparks, granting them the ability to explore other planes. Some folks never get to see more than their homeland, but these two ended up with a multiverse of possibilities. It was both a gift and a burden.
Different Personalities and Powers
Will is deliberate. He thinks things through before he acts, and his magic matches his mindset. He specializes in ice and cold spells, using them to keep enemies at bay or to protect allies. He can freeze threats in place, and in game terms, his abilities often revolve around control and card advantage. That approach works well with a strategy that needs time to build up a defense or set the board state in your favor.
Rowan, by contrast, is all fire and thunder. She likes to charge ahead, channeling electricity through her sword and hurling bolts of lightning. She’s bold, maybe too bold for some. And yes, that can lead to reckless choices. But her combat prowess and raw magical strength are undeniable. She doesn’t want to stand back and watch an enemy approach; she wants to strike first and ask questions never. It’s part of what makes her cards feel so direct and potent in the game.
I believe these differences mirror many sibling relationships. One is careful, the other fearless, yet they share a bond that nobody else can truly break. Even though they’ve been pulled apart by recent events, you get the sense that they still care about each other. They just disagree on how to save their home.
Key Adventures Across the Multiverse
The twins first found themselves thrown into danger when they tried to save their father, who had been transformed into a stag. That quest forced them to travel across Eldraine, confronting tricksters, monsters, and illusions. Each challenge taught them more about themselves. Will learned how to think on his feet; Rowan discovered the value of teamwork, though she didn’t always stick to it.
Later, their spark took them to Strixhaven, a massive school of magic on a plane known as Arcavios. This place tested their abilities in entirely new ways. Will was drawn to the more scholarly side of spellcasting, perfecting his control magic. Rowan gravitated toward the raw power of spellcraft, pushing her limits in a way that sometimes worried her instructors. Strixhaven wasn’t just a place to learn new spells, though. It also introduced them to other planeswalkers, some of whom shared knowledge of the greater multiverse and its lurking threats.
Those threats became very real when the Phyrexians launched an invasion that reached Eldraine. The twins’ home plane was caught up in a horrifying conflict, one that cost them both of their parents. In that moment, their sense of safety was shattered. They were no longer just students or heirs to the throne. They were leaders, forced to step up in the face of an unrelenting foe. Unfortunately, the strain of that invasion and the trauma they experienced ended up severing their shared spark, grounding them back on Eldraine.
A Home in Crisis
After the invasion, Eldraine was wrecked. Many people were lost, the realm’s leadership was in chaos, and a strange curse known as the Wicked Slumber started to haunt the survivors. Those affected by this curse were trapped in a nightmare-like sleep, unable to wake up. Will, now High King, wanted to use diplomacy and cooperation to find a cure. Rowan, on the other hand, felt that time was running out and believed in taking desperate measures. She dabbled in dark magic with the help of a witch relative named Eriette.
This family schism left Will and Rowan on opposite sides of a bitter argument. Will insisted on unity and tradition. Rowan believed that sometimes you have to do whatever it takes, even if it involves dangerous spells. Their conflict is still playing out. Some see Rowan’s move as a betrayal, while others admire her willingness to do the dirty work that nobody else will do. It’s hard to say which approach is right, though I lean toward thinking both are needed in some form. Maybe one day they’ll reconcile, but right now, it’s not looking likely.
Popular Cards for Will and Rowan
Over the years, the game has featured several versions of Will and Rowan. Each card captures a piece of their personalities and abilities. They’re not just random characters slapped on cardboard. They come with mechanics that reflect their style, and some of these cards are quite good in the right deck.
Will Kenrith (Planeswalker Card)
The first six-mana version of Will Kenrith is all about control. He can temporarily weaken opposing creatures, let you draw cards, and reduce the cost of your spells. His ultimate emblem doubles your instants and sorceries. That synergy can be devastating in a spell-heavy build. It’s not the fastest planeswalker out there, but once he sticks around for a turn or two, you can gain serious momentum.
Rowan Kenrith (Planeswalker Card)
Paired with Will in some sets, Rowan has her own six-mana planeswalker card. She forces opponents’ creatures to attack, then punishes them with a damage ability that hits tapped creatures. Her ultimate emblem copies activated abilities, which can lead to explosive plays if you have a board full of creatures that love to use their abilities. She’s more aggressive than Will, so she fits decks that want to disrupt opponents and take them down quickly.
Rowan, Scholar of Sparks and Will, Scholar of Frost
These double-sided versions show the twins during their time at Strixhaven. Rowan’s side reduces the cost of your instant and sorcery spells, then deals incremental damage to opponents. Will’s side also lowers spell costs, but he focuses on defense, card draw, and an ultimate that replaces multiple permanents with large tokens. Both sides let you choose which sibling you want to cast, so you can adapt to the board state.
Rowan’s Talent
This aura enchantment gives a planeswalker extra abilities. It can ping opponents for damage every turn, and it lets you activate the planeswalker’s loyalty ability as soon as the aura lands. In a deck built around planeswalkers, that’s a strong effect. And thematically, it captures Rowan’s approach: immediate and powerful, not patient or subtle.
Strategies and Synergies
If you want to build a deck around Will and Rowan, it often pays to focus on spells. Both siblings have abilities that reduce costs or copy spells, especially when you’re playing their Strixhaven versions. Consider loading up with efficient instants and sorceries, from counterspells to direct damage to card draw. Having them both on the battlefield can turn a modest spell into something game-changing. For example, if Will’s emblem is active, your Lightning Bolt might become double the trouble. Combine that with Rowan’s synergy to reduce costs, and you can chain multiple spells in one turn.
On the older six-mana versions, there’s also a subtle synergy where Rowan makes your opponent commit their creatures to attacking, then punishes them if they tap. Will, meanwhile, can give you time to build up resources by turning those creatures into harmless 0/3s. Together, they can lock down the board state. It might not be the fastest plan, but if you like controlling the flow of the game, these twins can do the job.
In Commander, a popular casual format, you can sometimes run both planeswalkers in the same deck if your colors allow it. People love pulling off combos that take advantage of Will’s discount and Rowan’s forced attacks. They might not be the most oppressive pair out there, but they can still hold their own. And let’s face it, playing with two sibling planeswalkers can be a fun thematic choice.
Conclusion
Will and Rowan Kenrith have become central figures in Eldraine’s ongoing drama. Their story started with tragedy, saw them rise to become planeswalkers, and then forced them into leadership when their homeland was nearly destroyed. Will tries to be the calm, steady king, drawing on ice magic and methodical thinking. Rowan charges into battle, crackling with energy and a willingness to take big risks. They’ve grown a lot through their travels, from their quest to save their father to their studies at Strixhaven. Now, with Eldraine under a strange curse, they stand on opposite sides of a heated moral divide.
For those who enjoy Magic: The Gathering, the cards based on Will and Rowan can offer some interesting gameplay opportunities. Will’s cards excel in control and card advantage, while Rowan’s versions bring aggression and spell amplification. They might not be the top tier in every format, but used wisely, they can lead to memorable strategies that reflect the twins’ bond and rivalry.
It’s anyone’s guess whether they’ll find common ground again. If there’s one constant in this story, it’s that they care deeply about Eldraine, even if their methods look incompatible. Maybe that care will bring them back together one day, or maybe it’ll drive them further apart. For now, they remain two sides of a very complicated coin—frozen caution and electric impulse, each powerful enough to change the fate of a kingdom. And that tension makes them some of the most compelling characters Magic has to offer.
