The X-Men have been through a lot, especially after Dawn of X and Power of X completely rewrote their status quo. With the new crossover X of Swords, however, the team has been thrust into a very different battle (think Highlander with mutants!) Now that the X-Men's champions have been chosen, they must fight to the death to defend their home island, Krakoa.
Krakoa's sister island Arakko has re-emerged along with Apocalypse's real original four Horseman, both of whom Apocalypse left behind a long time ago. Now the X-Men might battle the Swordbearers of Arakko, thanks in part to some behind-the-scenes machinations from Opal Luna Saturnye, the Omniversal Majestrix. Now each side will draw ten champions, who will do battle with their own unique sword, with each corresponding to a different part of a prophecy.
As it stands, the X-Men's champions include Magik, Cable, Cypher, Storm, Wolverine, Betsy and Brian Braddock, Gorgon, and Apocalypse himself. There is supposedly a tenth champion still shrouded in mystery. To make things even more interesting, if someone dies in Otherworld, their very essence is corrupted, as the X-Men found out with the unfortunate young mutant Rockslide. The Five tried and arguably succeeded in resurrecting Rockslide, but the result was an unstable aberration at best, meaning anyone who dies in X Of Swords will effectively be receiving a hard reboot, completely altering the mutant in the process. This also means if a champion is defeated, another mutant might be called to take their place in the ongoing tournament, so there may still be other X-Men called to refresh their numbers.
All and all, X of Swords shaping up to be an intriguing entry into the X-Men lore. It's long been known that it was only a matter of time before Apocalypse's endless manipulations and terrifying history would bring trouble to the X-Men's doorstep, and well, that time seems to be now. The event allows for yet another place for fan-favorites like Wolverine, Storm, Magik, and Cable to shine, while also giving lesser-known characters like Brian Braddock, Cypher, and Gorgon some time in the spotlight.
This also calls into question the X-Men's long-controversial practice of mutant resurrection. After all, what good is it in resurrecting a loved one if everything that that made that person - including their memories, personality, and appearance - has been permanently corrupted? Is it really even worth the effort at that point? Most mutants would probably agree, and it's likely these resurrections probably won't go over very well in Krakoa, as the Rockslide's teammates must already adjust to a very different version of their friend. However, doing so keeps the balance of mutant power in the world, so Professor X and the Quiet Council may continue no matter the cost to the mutants or the morale, with potentially devastating results.
Ultimately, it seems there is more at stake in X of Swords than ever before.