CREATURE GROUPS - Putting a broad variety of creature types under 1 larger "Group"
CREATURE "GROUPS"
This game has an extremely large and broad selection of creature types.
But only so much room on each card for the rules, it can be a challenge
with MTG in so many languages!
I'd like to help make your lives a little easier.
CREATURE GROUPS
Creature groups are a "game rule" which is subject to change much like
card erratas, and new sets. The main idea is so that a lot of similar (or even related) species can all fit under the same subtypes so that it is easier to have cards that effect/benefit from all those groups under the same heading.
Once you see the lists.. you'll get the idea.
This lists a massive, but... how cheap are they to print off onto a printer?
Plus games stores that sell your product can be encouraged to make up to date copies of these and hand them out when people buy product!
Shapeshifters are all creature types, but they do not benefit/suffer from all groupings. Groupings tend to be about the soul, or true heritage of the creature.
Shapeshifters are not listed on: Eternal, Asyssal, The Elements and Undead.
A Legend usually has at least one creature type or class to go on for these.
Legend only appears on: Crafting, and Party.
FEY ~ "When nature calls."
(Mainly woodland, animal and forest creatures. Just to slap them all under the same heading, and to be attractive to those who love fey and mythical creatures of this heading. Also creatures that obey any nature spirits &/or gods of nature. This is the largest creature type list, of all!)
Antelope, Ape, Archer, Aurochs, Badger, Basilisk, Bat, Bear, Beast, Bird, Boar, Brushwagg, Cat, Centaur, Cockatrice, Crocodile, Druid, Dryad, Elephant, Elf, Elk, Faerie, Ferret, Fox, Frog, Fungus, Halfling, Hamster, Hippo, Horse, Hyena, Insect, Kavu, Kithkin, Leech, Lizard, Mole, Mongoose, Monkey, Mouse, Naga, Noggle, Nymph, ooze, otter, Ouphie, Ox, Pest, Plant, Rabbit, Raccoon, Ranger, Rat, Rhino, Salamander, Saporling, Satyr, Scorpion, Serpent, Shaman, Shapeshifter, Sheep, Squirrel, Spider, Spike, Treefolk, Troll, Turtle, Unicorn, Werewolf, Wolf, Wolverine, Wombat, Worm, Wurm, Yeti, Zubera!
ETERNAL
(This is the heavens and the gods, not always good mind you. Divine, and not necessarily lawful, or good. But up there. servants of the gods make this list as well.. barely. The souls of dead mortals also make this list.)
Angel, Archon, Avatar, Cleric, Demigod, Eldrazi, God, Inquisitor, Monk, Myr, Naga, Nephilim, Pegasus, Phoenix, Primarch, Sphinx, Spirit.
ABYSSAL
This is all that used to be eternal and was cast down. Or the evil powers that oppose most if not all the gods. Demons, devils and all manner of nasty servants that are brothers in darkness. Most of these creatures feed off mortal flesh &/or souls. Basically if evil calls, do they answer?
Beholder, Cleric, Cyclops, Dauthi, Demon, Devil, Eye, Gargoyle, Goblin, Gorgon, Graveborn, Gremlin, Harpy, Hellion, Horror, Inquisitor, Lamia, Manticore, Masticore, Minion, Minotaur, Monger, Mutant, Necron, Nightmare, Nightstalker, Orc, Spawn, Specter, Spirit, Tiefling, Thrull, Troll, Vampire, Warlock, Wraith, Zombie.
THE ELEMENTS
Depending on the plane there are 4 elements or 5. Earth, air, fire, water, and wood. But some planes there might even be more.
Many of the elements are even a mixture of 2 or more. Immortal, but also bound to different rules, or no rules. Plus some of these creatures can cast spells that control the elementals, and or weather.
Don't read too much into these groupings, a lot of these creatures are also natural enemies!
Aetherborn, Atog, Avatar, djinn, efreet, Eldrazi, Elemental, Fractal, genie, Hellion, Inkling, merfolk, Kirin, Kraken, Praetor, Sculpture, Sand, Spawn, Shaman, Siren, wierd, wizard. (Plant, and Treefolk maybe?)
HUMANOID
Usually anything human, or similar to humans enough for certain equipment, spells, tactics and benefits or attacks to work for or against them. All that matters is if they are about human sized, not to big, or too small. Some magic items just don't change size for the wearer!
Plus some training and skilled tool use makes the cut.
Vampires are undead, but often use and wear humanoid arms and armor.
Plus they still sleep, during the day. Werewolves and most shapeshifters need magic items that can change size with them. Zombies are just undead people, they can still use the weapons easily.
Advisor, Aetherborn, Ally, Archer, Army, Artificer, Assassin, Barbarian, Bard, Berserker, Citizen, Cleric, Clown, Construct, coward, Dryad, Dwarf, Elf, Employee, Flagbearer, Gamer, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Homarid, Human, Illusion, Inquisitor, Kithkin, Knight, Kobold, Kor, Mercenary, Merfolk, Metathran, Minion, Minotaur, Monger, Monk, moonfolk, Mutant, Myr, Mystic, Naga, Nightstalker, Ninja, Noble, Noggle, Nomad, Nymph, Ogre, Orc, Peasant, Primarch, Ranger, Rebel, Rogue, Satyr, Samurai, Scarecrow, Soldier, Surrakar, Survivor, Thrull, Tiefling, Vampire, Viashno, Warrior, Zombie. Shapeshifter.
GOBLINOID
Most of these share goblin blood, or have enough of it to benefit from certain equipent, enchantments, lands and spells.
Goblin, Ogre, Orc, Orgg, Troll, Shapeshifter.
GIANTS
Giants, titans, often even distantly related to the gods, or vice versa.. depending on the pantheon or plane.
Cyclops, Giant, Ogre, Orgg, Titan, Nephalim, Shapeshifter.
UNDEAD
A very broad term, be it a dead body, or a dead spirit or both that you are now facing.
Some magic items can only be used by those that are cursed, soulless, dead.. and some all 3!
Some items and spells also target this grouping, mainly clerics and angels making them miserable or turning them to ashes. For example an instant or sorcery that deals 2 damage to all undead &/or abyssal in play. Makes sense!
Army (maybe), Banshee, Graveborn, Homonculus, Horror, Inkling, Scarecrow, Shade, Skeleton, Specter, Spirit, Vampire, Warlock, Wraith, Zombie.
CANINE
Dogs, or very doglike. mostly.
Dog, wolf, werewolf, kobold, gnoll, shapeshifter.
FELINE
Cats, or very catlike.. mostly.
Cat, Sphinx, Manticore, Masticore, Shapeshifter.
EGG
A simple list of many reptiles, insects and fish that come from eggs.
Usually they become adults later, but start out as some kind of egg.
Most pyrexians are from an egg, a cocoon of some sort even if it's a very tiny one as a parasite in the flesh, or metal of it's host.
Many "egg" enchantments or artifacts or incubators will recover egg creatures from the graveyard to your hand, or to the bottom of your deck as part of the "cycle". Some have things to do with hatching counters, or +1/+1 counters and such. Many shapeshifters are born from eggs, or hide amung other offspring.
Or tap an artifact or pay a casting cost to seek an "egg" group card.
Basilisk, Bird, Cockatrice, Crab, Crocodile, Chimaera, Dinosaur, Dragon, Egg, Fish, frog, Gorgon, Gremlin, Imp, Griffin, harpy, Hippogriff, Hydra, Wurm, Wyvern, Shapeshifter, Merfolk, Mite, Naga, Octopus, Oyster, pegasus, Pest, Phoenix, Phyrexian, Salamander, Scorpion, Serpent, Shark, Sliver, Insect, Slith, Slug, Snake, Spider, Starfish, Turtle,
CRAFT
A minor subtype, mainly that have a hope of crafting legendary magic items like forging rings in the world of rings books. Many of the gods and monsters that crafted such items.
This is the only creature group list that mentions : Legend, although the party expanded list will be treated similarly to a groups. But just an expanded creature type selection for that 1 mechanic.
This would probably be some kind of forge (artifact or land) that is tapped for mana.. but if you control 1 or more craft group permanents it produces more. Or to seek equiment if you have enough of them on the battlefield, and so on.
Dwarf, Elf, Demigod, God, Cyclops, Artificer, Angel, Demon, Giant, Titan, Legend.
PARTY (optional)
Party origionally was the 4 character classes as a creature type.
Maybe under this system now "party" can be expanded to include some other classes or creature types!
If new ones are added ANY 4 of the accepted class/creature types will work!
Even if you have more than 4, 4 is all you need for a full "party".
The bonus options are mainly due to classic tales, legends and books like lord of the rings where the party included similar classes, Or some very bizarre ones!
This is the only grouping where "Legend" is actually listed!
This might do well in sales in asia, where someone might want to make a party with a monk, ninja, samurai and something else! Plus in many stories a druid, spellshaper or bard might fit in very well. Demigods just get thrown into grand adventures once they hit adulthood it seems.
Keep in mind MTG Arena has tens of millions of players worldwide, with some careful choices that will grow significantly. Particularly if many old legends are honored, or represented!
For example greek/roman gods, norse gods, many pantheons of old.
Plus there are so many RPG's nowadays, this system will help cover your butt in terms of classical usage.
ORIGIONAL 4
Cleric, Rogue, Warrior, Wizard.
POSSIBLE BONUS
(many of these might be a no, but we'll see!)
Ally, Archer, Artificer, Assassin, Barbarian, Bard, Berserker, Demigod, Druid, Flagbearer, God, Shapeshifter, Knight, Mercenary, Ninja, Rebel, Monk, Pilot, Pirate, Samurai, Scout, Shaman, Hunter, Soldier, Legend. Djinn, Efreet, Genie. Hero, spellshaper.
More than anything I hope "creature groups" will give you more room to make cards that fit into a broader category of benefits, at times.
Plus you have more options, you could say:
All green creatures, or all fey group creatures.
It depends on what seems best.
Also with seek being a mechanic, some groupings that might be awesome.
Seek 1 humanoid card. Or seek 1 goblinoid card.
Plus you can make recovery effects that recover creature groups to the bottom of your arsenal. This makes a lot more sense for egg, humanoid, undead, etc.