Brandon Sanderson has unveiled the first canonical artwork for two of the most mysterious figures in his Cosmere universe, the Shards known as Devotion and Dominion, and it's all thanks to a brand-new card game.
In his latest weekly update video, Sanderson announced that his team at Dragonsteel and game partner Brotherwise Games needed to produce official art for all 16 Shards of Adonalsium for an upcoming card game called Shards of Creation. Most of the Shards already had established canonical art, but two did not: Devotion and Dominion.
"We did not have Devotion and Dominion from Elantris," Sanderson said in the video. "The very first Shards of Adonalsium that we interfaced with and interacted with and so because of that we are now revealing our art for them."
The illustrations, created by artist Medusa Dollmaker, are the first time fans have ever seen an official, canon visual representation of these two ancient cosmic figures despite them being among the earliest Shards introduced in Sanderson's fiction.
Devotion and Dominion get an official look for the first time
To understand why this reveal is a big deal, a little Cosmere background helps. At the heart of Sanderson's shared universe is an entity called Adonalsium, essentially the God of the Cosmere. At some point in the distant past, a group of conspirators killed Adonalsium, shattering its power into 16 fragments called Shards. Each Shard represents an aspect of divinity including concepts like Preservation, Ruin, Honor, Odium, and yes, Devotion and Dominion.
The people who picked up these Shards became their Vessels, and traveled to different worlds across the Cosmere, shaping those worlds' magic systems.
Devotion was held by a Vessel named Aona, and Dominion was held by a Vessel named Skai. The two Shards traveled together to the planet Sel, the world featured in Sanderson's debut novel Elantris and the novella The Emperor's Soul. Their combined influence changed Sel's many unique magic systems.
However, neither Devotion nor Dominion survived long in Cosmere history. Long before the events of Elantris, both were hunted down and "Splintered" by Odium, the Shard of extreme passion and one of the primary antagonists threading through the entire Cosmere narrative. Odium shattered their power and trapped it in the Cognitive Realm (the spiritual dimension of the Cosmere), where it became a chaotic mass of energy known as the Dor. This Dor is the source of all magic on Sel including the AonDor system used by Elantrians.
Because Devotion and Dominion were killed so early before any of the major Cosmere books take place, they have never actually appeared "on the page" in any meaningful way. Fans know them almost entirely through references and lore discussions. That's why it's the first time these two godlike figures have been given a face.
As a fun lore note, Sanderson has confirmed that Devotion's Intent can also be described as "Love," and that the pairing of Devotion and Dominion was loosely inspired by the concept of yin and yang.
Details of the Shards of Creation game
The art reveal is tied directly to the launch of Brandon Sanderson's Shards of Creation, a new trick-taking card game developed by Brotherwise Games and designed by Hayden Dillard.
Sanderson explained that in order to make the game work, where each player takes on the role of a different Shard, the team needed complete canonical artwork for all of the Shards featured. That creative necessity is what finally pushed the reveal of Devotion and Dominion's visual identities.
The game itself is designed to be accessible to non-gamers. Sanderson was explicit about this in his update, saying he wanted something people could learn in five minutes and play with family. Think less "three-hour strategy epic" and more Hearts or Skull King. The game supports two to four players, runs about 30 minutes and is recommended for ages 12 and up.
Here's how it works. The deck is divided into eight suits, each representing a Shard of Adonalsium (Autonomy, Cultivation, Devotion, Dominion, Honor, Odium, Preservation, and Ruin). Each suit plays differently with the personality and "Intent" of that Shard. Players win by collecting enough of the right Shards to dominate a sphere of influence. A second set of eight Shards is planned for a future expansion.
The game is illustrated throughout by Medusa Dollmaker, and the deck shuffles differently each game. Sanderson described it as exactly what he'd asked Brotherwise for: something to pull out at a friend's house and have fun with in under an hour.
Where and when to get it
Shards of Creation open for pre-order on May 22, 2026, directly through Dragonsteel's store. The retail release is set for June 24, 2026, with a retail price of $24.99.
For fans in the UK, Sanderson will be bringing demo copies and giveaways to MCM London (Forbidden Planet Mega Store pop-up, May 2026). You won't be able to buy it there just yet as it isn't packaged for sale but you can get a look at the cards and chat with the Dragonsteel team about what to expect.
For longtime readers, this reveal closes a small but notable gap in the visual canon. Devotion and Dominion are arguably the most historically significant Shards that fans know the least about.
They are the very first casualties of Odium's campaign across the Cosmere responsible for the magic of an entire planet, yet never seen. Now, thanks to a 30-minute card game, they finally have faces.
Whether you're a Cosmere veteran or a newcomer curious about what all the fuss is about, Shards of Creation looks like a fun and low-barrier entry point into Sanderson's universe and the art alone makes it worth a look.
Add us as a preferred source on Google