Jussi Pylkäs

As our exploration of Gothic continues, focusing on the three subtypes of Evil, 

, and this week, Undead, today, we stop to dig up the works of Sorcery Artist Jussi Pylkäs. 

With bold lines and comic-inspired sensibilities, Jussi’s work blends storytelling and style, evoking the pulp roots of fantasy illustration while adding his own dark humor and grit.

 our highly anticipated next set releasing December 5, Jussi brings that same energy to Stygian Archers, a moonlit vision of skeletal marksmen, spectral bows drawn and ready. It’s in his words, “just classic skeleton vibing - the dark forest, the moon, the necromanic glowy magic thingie…the good stuff.”

Art has always been a part of Jussi’s life, though his early inspirations came less from fantasy painting and more from comic books. “My style definitely has a comic vibe,” he shares. “That’s my background and what drew me into art originally.”

Influenced by Mike Mignola and Petri Hiltunen, you can see both in his work. Jussi adds, “I’m definitely still finding my own spot. You can kind of see me going back and forth in my 

work, but I kinda like that there’s some changes in style choice in there.”

While he’s still experimenting with mediums, his go-to tools remain practical and tactile. “I mostly work with markers, ink, and acrylics,” he says. “They give me better control. Oils just never seem to dry properly, though I do want to try them out more, but right now I’ve been sticking with what’s familiar.”

 staple going back to Alpha, his original entry into the realm was by chance. “Erik found me on ArtStation,” he laughs. “So, luck, basically?”

At the time, it had been years since he’d worked traditionally. “It had actually been a loooong time since I drew or painted non-digitally, so we agreed I’d make one piece as a test,” he recalls. “I guess it was good enough since I’m still here.”

That “one picture” became the start of a growing body of 

work - iconic pieces such as Battlemage, Headless Haunt, and Sugarplum Pixies.

 the goal was to complement Jussi’s earlier piece, Bone Rabble. “Erik wanted this one to match the earlier painting,” Jussi explains. “So the same color scheme and background came naturally. The most important element was the blue smoketrail - that energy rising out of the skeletons themselves.”

The connection gives both pieces a sense of continuity, as if the undead army from Bone Rabble has returned, now under necromatic command. “There’s the suggestion of them being resurrected from the same army,” he notes.

The finer details, however, took time to get right. “I did do a bit of back and forth with the bows of the skeletons,” Jussi admits. “Originally, I wanted them to be a lot more detailed, maybe engraved metal or spiny bone bows, but when I imagined the picture at card size, it just felt more pleasing to keep them simple. The glowing bows stand out from all the skeleton-y stuff.”

Even the smallest touches demanded patience. “The bowstrings were a pain,” he laughs. “I wanted them to have a blue tint, but whenever I washed color over the white base, they disappeared into the background. They’re a small part of the picture, but for some reason I was adamant about making them visible.”

That stubborn attention to detail pays off: 

 feels alive, or rather, unalive, with eerie light and motion, a quiet echo of Jussi’s first undead creation now fully risen beneath the moon.

 isn’t just the art direction, it’s the freedom. “The game itself is awesome,” he says, “but the best part is the freedom left for the artists. I get to tell my own little stories and create moments frozen in time.”

That sense of storytelling runs deep in his work. “I do think of myself as a visual storyteller,” he explains. “I always have some sort of world or scene in mind when starting a piece. It’s nice that Sorcery doesn’t have strict rules worldbuilding-wise, so I have a lot of freedom to imagine new cultures or characters.”

He laughs as he describes one example: “Okay, so this takes place in a nation of Aztec-type culture where insects are considered gods.” Even in more familiar fantasy scenes, the thought goes deeper. “For example, in Phase Assassin, from Alpha and Beta, the monarch and the advisor are just typical fantasy officials, but the assassin has more going on - protective bandaging, enchanted eyes, and equipment to move between planes. You can even see the veins on their head showing how that line of work is slowly taking a toll. Voidhopping probably isn’t something mortals should do very often.”

Blending the stark contrasts of comics with the darker atmosphere of 

Stygian Archers stands as both a haunting companion and an evolution of Jussi’s earlier skeletal works. A moonlit resurrection, simple, effective, and unmistakably his.

Tune in later this week to see the reveal of Stygian Archers as we take a closer look at the Undead, one of the three pillars of Evil in Gothic, alongside Demons and Monsters.

Bones and Ink come to Gothic: Jussi Pylkas and Stygian Archers

The realm is full of strange things sleeping in forgotten depths.

, releasing on December 5, some of those things are beginning to wake.

In places long sealed and best forgotten, Monsters stir. These creatures didn’t rise from graves or ascend from infernos. They don’t belong to the world of men or the world of the dead. They don’t belong 

 spotlight, we’re turning our gaze towards the realms' most unspeakable inhabitants: Monsters.

A tribe long undefined, fair warning: unsettling spoilers ahead!

 would be a set of wroth, ruin, and ritual, and few cards capture that better than Monsters. Many can be summoned through strange conditions, unleashed by sacrifice, and shaped by forgotten forces. These horrors don’t just arrive; they’re invited.

Let’s dive into the deep and see what should have stayed submerged.

, Undead, and Monsters, Monsters are the least orderly and the most unsettling.

They’ve always been our catch-all minion group for the strange things that don’t quite fit into the mold. But here, in the shadowy depths of 

, they’ve finally found their identity. Monsters in this set align most closely with the element of Water: the vast, unknowable abyss, a force tied to secrets, strangeness, and change.

And true to their element, Monsters don’t arrive through simple means. They can appear when the timing is just right (or terribly wrong, depending on which side of the ritual you’re on). One of the core design themes we explored in 

 was the idea of eldritch rituals. That summoning these creatures should feel more like unlocking an ancient curse than just casting a spell.

What makes Monsters so compelling isn’t just their strange anatomy or unsettling art - though there’s plenty of both. It’s the 

 they evoke: that creeping dread, that sense that something terrible lies just beneath the surface.

Take Shoggoth, capable of navigating the void and submerging out of reach. Thanks to support cards like Elder Ruins, Shoggoth can be cast not from your hand or deck, but directly from your 

, triggered by the sacrifice of a minion at just the right place and time.

That looming question, when or even if the ritual will be completed, creates the unease we want Monsters to embody in 

. They’re out there, waiting for their time to emerge within the realm.


Not all Monsters come from the deep, of course. Some begin as something familiar, until they are twisted into something else.

Through Monstermorphosis, a vile spell of transformation, the familiar can become the abhorrent. With the right vessel, you can bring forth a Horrible Hybrid or something even darker.

Mechanically, Monstermorphosis rewards players who can build pressure while leaving something behind to corrupt.  The moment your opponent forgets a seemingly harmless minion on the edge of the board… it becomes something beyond recognition. Or perhaps, you're looking to target your opponents' minions, disabling them or twisting them into something more manageable.  It’s not always about brute force, but opportunity.

Of course, not all monsters are transformed. Some are fed.

Gnarled Wendigo doesn’t twist what’s already there; it devours it. And the more you offer, the sooner it arrives. Fortunately for you, when it arrives, it’s already full!

The same can’t be said for the ever-hungry Regurgitator, revealed in person last week at PAX Aus by 

. This horror must feed its belly, driven by its unrelenting hunger, but it's unable to hold its meals down.

For all their hunger, though, Monsters know how to wait. And that's what makes them truly dreadful.

 have one thing in common, it’s this: when the rituals succeed, they are unstoppable forces that strike fear into your enemies. When they fail, well, the suspense was part of the fun.

But for players who love chaos, or calculated madness, Monsters call (albeit through bubbling voices from far beyond).

So.. will you dare? Will you call to something that should have 

Summoned from the Deep: Monsters In Gothic

 lands in Baltimore for a weekend of community celebration, artist meet-and-greets, and special rewards at 

Here's what you can expect at our second-ever SCG CON appearance.

Across the weekend, you’ll find a full slate of Sorcery events suited to every kind of player.

welcome you in with Learn-to-Play sessions, Preconstructed battles using Beta Precons, and jump-right-in Sealed. Meet new players, pick up the basics, and start earning Prize Wall tickets.

 are where tuned lists and tight lines shine. Saturday’s Constructed Crossroads is your arena to test mastery and compete for exclusive 

Every event earns Prize Wall tickets you can trade for Sorcery treasures! Play how you like, and turn your time in the realm into lasting rewards.

 Players entering a Crossroads event must submit a completed decklist before Round 1. Star City Games will have forms onsite, or you can bring a printed copy. Full Crossroads guidelines 

 artists will be in attendance, among them, 

 second-ever SCG CON appearance, Ed is doing something truly special: every Sorcery event participant, whether it's a Community, Champion, or Learn-to-Play event, will receive a 

We’re incredibly grateful for Ed’s generosity and his continued support of the 

 community, and we can’t wait for these limited prints to find their way into Sorcerers’ collections.

 mini set will be available for purchase from Erik’s Curiosa at Ed Beard Jr.’s booth each day at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, at MSRP, limit one per person per day, while supplies last.

Competing during a Champion event when sales open? You’re covered; one copy will be set aside for you to purchase, so you won’t miss out.

A powerful lineup of Sorcery artists will also be in attendance: 

Come celebrate the creators who bring the realm to life!  Buy prints, get cards signed, and share your appreciation for their artistry directly at their artist booths!

Bring a Sorcery card with a story, a first win, a lucky top-deck, a favorite artist, and swap it with the Erik’s Curiosa team for Swap, the alternate-art promo from 

Add your chapter to the community’s shared history and leave with a memento of Baltimore.

From first spells to final turns, SCG CON Baltimore is your chance to play, collect, connect, and celebrate the art at the heart of 

Bring a friend, bring a deck, and bring your stories - we’ll see you at the tables.

Sorcery: Contested Realm comes to SCG CON Baltimore 2025

Choose Your Pace, Claim Your Prizes

There Be Dragons!

That’s Not All!

Swap for a Swap (Returns in Baltimore)

See You in Baltimore

More Articles

Bones and Ink come to Gothic: Jussi Pylkas and Stygian Archers

Summoned from the Deep: Monsters In Gothic