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'''Enemy colors''' are two opposed colors of the [[color pie]]: {{ | '''Enemy colors''' are two opposed colors of the [[color pie]]: {{mana|WB}}, {{mana|BG}}, {{mana|GU}}, {{mana|UR}}, and {{mana|RW}}. Philosophically, these pairs tend to have stronger internal conflict than allied colors in their union. Enemy colors naturally repel and are often [[hosers]] against each other. Historically, this used to manifest in having weaker mana fixing and less prevalent [[dual land]]s, but the modern design has moved away from this as it develops poorly constructed environments. | ||
Several sets have centered around enemy-colored cards. These include ''[[Strixhaven: School of Mages]]'', ''[[Eventide]]'', and five of the [[Ravnican guild]]s. Due to drafting considerations, enemy colors are the backbone of [[wedge]]-based sets, such as [[Apocalypse]], [[Khans of Tarkir]], and [[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]. | |||
Several sets have centered around enemy-colored cards. | |||
==White / Black== | ==White / Black== | ||
===Life drain=== | ===Life drain=== | ||
:''Target player loses life and you gain life.'' | :''Target player loses life and you gain life.'' | ||
Since white is the color of gaining life and black is the color of losing life, life drain is a common mechanic of white-black, particularly among cards of the [[Orzhov Syndicate]]. | Since white is the color of gaining life and black is the color of losing life, life drain is a common mechanic of white-black, particularly among cards of the [[Orzhov Syndicate]]. Example cards include <c>Debt to the Deathless</c> and <c>Agent of Masks</c>. This manifests itself in the mechanics [[lifelink]] (<c>Divinity of Pride</c>) and [[extort]] (<c>Kingpin's Pet</c>), as well as several white-black effects that hinge on a player's life total. | ||
===Exiling=== | ===Exiling=== | ||
White and black combine to be the colors most capable of [[exile|exiling]] permanents of any kind. | White and black combine to be the colors most capable of [[exile|exiling]] permanents of any kind. Examples of this include <c>Unmake</c>, <c>Castigate</c>, and <c>Identity Crisis</c>. A number of these spells, such as <c>Merciless Eviction</c>, also serve as [[board wipe]]s. | ||
=== Enchantments === | |||
White and Black tend to interact with [[enchantment]]s regularly, often getting some rather complementary effects and enchantments-matter cards between the two of them. | |||
===Multicolored examples=== | ===Multicolored examples=== | ||
*<c>Death Grasp</c> - combines black X dealing damage spell with white's gain life onto | *<c>Death Grasp</c> - combines black X dealing damage spell with white's gain life onto very efficient sorcery. | ||
*<c>Mortify</c> - combines white's disenchantment ability with black's creature destruction onto one card with no drawback (i.e. cannot target black creatures). | *<c>Mortify</c> - combines white's disenchantment ability with black's creature destruction onto one card with no drawback (i.e. cannot target black creatures). | ||
===Flavor=== | |||
White values morality and selflessness, while Black sees morality as a construct and thus puts more value on self-indulgence. Theirs is a conflict of priorities in life. | |||
This color pair is represented by the [[Orzhov Syndicate]] and [[Silverquill]] college. | |||
==Black / Green== | ==Black / Green== | ||
===Reclamation=== | ===Reclamation=== | ||
Black-green cards have strong interaction with the graveyard, with many effects allowing cards to be returned from the graveyard to your hand (<c>Desecrator Hag</c>) or to the battlefield (<c>Bloodbond March</c>). | Black-green cards have strong interaction with the graveyard, with many effects allowing cards to be returned from the graveyard to your hand (<c>Desecrator Hag</c>) or to the battlefield (<c>Bloodbond March</c>). This is supported by mechanics such as [[dredge]] that combine reclamation with "self-mill" effects. | ||
===Exiling from the graveyard=== | ===Exiling from the graveyard=== | ||
A recurring theme among black-green is exiling creature cards from graveyards. | A recurring theme among black-green is exiling creature cards from graveyards. These can be either from your graveyard or from an opponent's. This effect is often accompanied by some positive effect, such as creature tokens (<c>Necrogenesis</c>) or +1/+1 counters ([[scavenge]]). | ||
===Regeneration=== | ===Regeneration=== | ||
Fitting in with the theme of death and revival is [[regeneration]]. | Fitting in with the theme of death and revival is [[regeneration]]. Examples in black-green include <c>Odious Trow</c> and <c>Lotleth Troll</c>. | ||
===Permanent destruction=== | ===Permanent destruction=== | ||
Since black is good at destroying creatures and lands | Since black is good at destroying creatures and lands and green is good at destroying enchantments and artifacts, permanent destruction is a minor theme of black-green. Examples include <c>Putrefy</c>, <c>Maelstrom Pulse</c>, and (as a board wipe) <c>Gaze of Granite</c>. One way that black-green is particularly good at destroying creatures is with the mechanic [[deathtouch]]. | ||
===Multicolored examples=== | ===Multicolored examples=== | ||
*<c>Consume Strength</c> - combines green's "pump" effect with black's "weakness" effect onto a very efficient instant | *<c>Consume Strength</c> - combines green's "pump" effect with black's "weakness" effect onto a very efficient instant | ||
*<c>Putrefy</c> - combines green's dislike of artifacts with black's creature destruction onto one card with no drawback (i.e. cannot target black creatures) | *<c>Putrefy</c> - combines green's dislike of artifacts with black's creature destruction onto one card with no drawback (i.e. cannot target black creatures) | ||
===Flavor=== | |||
Black believes in free will, while Green believes that all things are subject to an inherent role by fate or nature's design. Thus, their conflict is regarding how individuals can behave. | |||
This color pair is represented by the [[Golgari Swarm]] and [[Witherbloom]] college. | |||
==Green / Blue== | ==Green / Blue== | ||
===+1/+1 counters=== | ===+1/+1 counters=== | ||
Green's penchant for creatures combines with blue's "mad scientist" tendencies to create large creatures (often mutants) that have lots of +1/+1 counters. | Green's penchant for creatures combines with blue's "mad scientist" tendencies to create large creatures (often mutants) that have lots of +1/+1 counters. In Ravnica, this is achieved with [[graft]], [[evolve]], and [[adapt]]. Examples include <c>Nimbus Swimmer</c>, <c>Lorescale Coatl</c> and <c>Fathom Mage</c>. | ||
===Card drawing=== | ===Card drawing=== | ||
| Line 45: | Line 56: | ||
*<c>Winged Coatl</c> - combines the [[Evergreen]] mechanics common to green - [[deathtouch]] and blue - [[flash]], [[flying]] onto one creature efficiently | *<c>Winged Coatl</c> - combines the [[Evergreen]] mechanics common to green - [[deathtouch]] and blue - [[flash]], [[flying]] onto one creature efficiently | ||
*<c>Yavimaya's Embrace</c> - combines blue's "stealing" creatures from opponents with green's creature boosting "pump" effect and [[trample]] | *<c>Yavimaya's Embrace</c> - combines blue's "stealing" creatures from opponents with green's creature boosting "pump" effect and [[trample]] | ||
===Flavor=== | |||
Green believes in nature, while Blue believes in nurture. Theirs is a conflict in regards to how life is defined. | |||
This color pair is represented by the [[Simic Combine]] and [[Quandrix]] college. | |||
==Blue / Red== | ==Blue / Red== | ||
===Instants and sorceries=== | ===Instants and sorceries=== | ||
Blue-red has strong interaction with instant and sorcery spells. | Blue-red has strong interaction with instant and sorcery spells. A number of effects (<c>Cloven Casting</c>, [[replicate]]) allow the color combo to copy instant or sorcery spells. Other blue-red cards (<c>Blistercoil Weird</c>) have effects that trigger upon casting of instant or sorcery spells. Blue-red also has several cards (<c>Nucklavee</c>) that allow the reclamation of instant or sorcery cards. | ||
===Looting=== | ===Looting=== | ||
Red-blue has | Red-blue has several cards that allow the drawing of cards at the price of discarding cards. | ||
===Artifacts=== | |||
Blue and Red are the two colors most likely to interact with [[Artifact]]s of all kinds, with Blue [[Tutor]]ing, duplicating and enhancing them, while Red takes a more direct, often destructive approach, sacrificing or tapping them to gain some desired effect. | |||
===Multicolored examples=== | ===Multicolored examples=== | ||
*<c>Magefire Wings</c> - combines red's power enhancing effect with blue's flying onto one enchantment efficiently | *<c>Magefire Wings</c> - combines red's power-enhancing effect with blue's flying onto one enchantment efficiently | ||
*<c>Schismotivate</c> - combines red's power enhancing effect with blue's power reducing effect | *<c>Schismotivate</c> - combines red's power-enhancing effect with blue's power reducing effect in a very efficient instant | ||
===Flavor=== | |||
Blue believes in careful logic, while Red believes in following your heart. Theirs is a conflict on how to live one's life. | |||
This color pair is represented by the [[Izzet League]] and [[Prismari]] college. | |||
==Red / White== | ==Red / White== | ||
===Combat=== | ===Combat=== | ||
Red-white finds most of | Red-white finds most of their synergy through [[combat]] abilities, especially in the [[Boros]] guild of Ravnica. Many red-white creatures have [[first strike|first]] or [[double strike]] (<c>Boros Recruit</c>, <c>Boros Swiftblade</c>). Red-white creatures receive bonuses when attacking together, such as through the [[Battalion]] mechanic. Other cards (<c>Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran</c>, <c>Akroan Hoplite</c>, <c>Duergar Assailant</c>) pump attacking creatures, and still, other cards allow the player to run red-white to make determinations about whether his opponents' creatures can attack or block. | ||
==="Weenies"=== | ==="Weenies"=== | ||
More than any other two-color combination, red-white is the combo for small but powerful creatures. | More than any other two-color combination, red-white is the combo for small but powerful creatures. | ||
===Multicolored examples=== | ===Multicolored examples=== | ||
*<c>Cerodon Yearling</c> - combines the [[Evergreen]] mechanics common to red - [[haste]] and white - [[vigilance]] onto one creature efficiently | *<c>Cerodon Yearling</c> - combines the [[Evergreen]] mechanics common to red - [[haste]] and white - [[vigilance]] onto one creature efficiently | ||
*<c>Lightning Helix</c> - combines red's <c>Lightning Bolt</c> with white's life gain of <c>Healing Salve</c> onto one card that does the same as two mentioned | *<c>Lightning Helix</c> - combines red's damage inflicting <c>Lightning Bolt</c> with white's life gain of <c>Healing Salve</c> onto one card that does the same as two mentioned | ||
===Flavor=== | |||
Red believes that individuals should be free to do as they please, while White argues for a well-governed society. Their conflict, therefore, is one of how people govern themselves (or inversely how they don't). | |||
This color pair is represented by the [[Boros Legion]] and [[Lorehold]] college. | |||
==''Apocalypse''== | ==''Apocalypse''== | ||
The Enemy color theme was especially strong in the ''[[Apocalypse]]'' set. It featured: | The Enemy color theme was especially strong in the ''[[Apocalypse]]'' set. It featured: | ||
*Enemy color [[ | *Enemy color [[pain land]]s | ||
*Enemy color [[split | *Enemy color [[split card]]s | ||
*Cards with enemy color [[kicker]] costs (i.e. <c>Orim's Thunder</c>) | *Cards with enemy color [[kicker]] costs (i.e. <c>Orim's Thunder</c>) | ||
*Cards with two enemy color kicker costs (i.e. <c>Anavolver</c>) | *Cards with two enemy color kicker costs (i.e. <c>Anavolver</c>) | ||
*Cards with abilities requiring an enemy color (i.e. <c>Angelfire Crusader</c>) | *Cards with abilities requiring an enemy color (i.e. <c>Angelfire Crusader</c>) | ||
*Enchantments which gave bonuses if you | *Enchantments which gave bonuses if you controlled cards of an enemy color (i.e. <c>Ana Sanctuary</c>) | ||
*[[Multicolored]] cards with enemy color casting costs | *[[Multicolored]] cards with enemy color casting costs | ||
==External references== | ==External references== | ||
*{{ | *{{DailyRef|hate-enough-2002-02-19 |Hate Is Enough|[[Mark Rosewater]]|February 19, 2002}} | ||
*{{ | *{{DailyRef|making-magic/enemy-mine-2002-02-18|Enemy Mine|[[Mark Rosewater]]|February 18, 2002}} | ||
*{{ | *{{DailyRef|feature/enemies-harmony-sorta-2008-08-06|Enemies in Harmony... Sorta|[[Doug Beyer]]|August 06, 2008}} | ||
{{Colors}} | {{Colors}} | ||
[[Category:Magic slang|Enemy color]] | [[Category:Magic slang|Enemy color]] | ||
Latest revision as of 00:13, 20 September 2022
Enemy colors are two opposed colors of the color pie: 
, 
, 
, 
, and . Philosophically, these pairs tend to have stronger internal conflict than allied colors in their union. Enemy colors naturally repel and are often hosers against each other. Historically, this used to manifest in having weaker mana fixing and less prevalent dual lands, but the modern design has moved away from this as it develops poorly constructed environments.
Several sets have centered around enemy-colored cards. These include Strixhaven: School of Mages, Eventide, and five of the Ravnican guilds. Due to drafting considerations, enemy colors are the backbone of wedge-based sets, such as Apocalypse, Khans of Tarkir, and Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.
White / Black
Life drain
- Target player loses life and you gain life.
Since white is the color of gaining life and black is the color of losing life, life drain is a common mechanic of white-black, particularly among cards of the Orzhov Syndicate. Example cards include Debt to the Deathless and Agent of Masks. This manifests itself in the mechanics lifelink (Divinity of Pride) and extort (Kingpin's Pet), as well as several white-black effects that hinge on a player's life total.
Exiling
White and black combine to be the colors most capable of exiling permanents of any kind. Examples of this include Unmake, Castigate, and Identity Crisis. A number of these spells, such as Merciless Eviction, also serve as board wipes.
Enchantments
White and Black tend to interact with enchantments regularly, often getting some rather complementary effects and enchantments-matter cards between the two of them.
Multicolored examples
- Death Grasp - combines black X dealing damage spell with white's gain life onto very efficient sorcery.
- Mortify - combines white's disenchantment ability with black's creature destruction onto one card with no drawback (i.e. cannot target black creatures).
Flavor
White values morality and selflessness, while Black sees morality as a construct and thus puts more value on self-indulgence. Theirs is a conflict of priorities in life.
This color pair is represented by the Orzhov Syndicate and Silverquill college.
Black / Green
Reclamation
Black-green cards have strong interaction with the graveyard, with many effects allowing cards to be returned from the graveyard to your hand (Desecrator Hag) or to the battlefield (Bloodbond March). This is supported by mechanics such as dredge that combine reclamation with "self-mill" effects.
Exiling from the graveyard
A recurring theme among black-green is exiling creature cards from graveyards. These can be either from your graveyard or from an opponent's. This effect is often accompanied by some positive effect, such as creature tokens (Necrogenesis) or +1/+1 counters (scavenge).
Regeneration
Fitting in with the theme of death and revival is regeneration. Examples in black-green include Odious Trow and Lotleth Troll.
Permanent destruction
Since black is good at destroying creatures and lands and green is good at destroying enchantments and artifacts, permanent destruction is a minor theme of black-green. Examples include Putrefy, Maelstrom Pulse, and (as a board wipe) Gaze of Granite. One way that black-green is particularly good at destroying creatures is with the mechanic deathtouch.
Multicolored examples
- Consume Strength - combines green's "pump" effect with black's "weakness" effect onto a very efficient instant
- Putrefy - combines green's dislike of artifacts with black's creature destruction onto one card with no drawback (i.e. cannot target black creatures)
Flavor
Black believes in free will, while Green believes that all things are subject to an inherent role by fate or nature's design. Thus, their conflict is regarding how individuals can behave.
This color pair is represented by the Golgari Swarm and Witherbloom college.
Green / Blue
+1/+1 counters
Green's penchant for creatures combines with blue's "mad scientist" tendencies to create large creatures (often mutants) that have lots of +1/+1 counters. In Ravnica, this is achieved with graft, evolve, and adapt. Examples include Nimbus Swimmer, Lorescale Coatl and Fathom Mage.
Card drawing
Blue and green are the two strongest colors in terms of card drawing, and blue-green has both powerful draw spells (Biomantic Mastery) and creatures with repeatable card drawing effects (Cold-Eyed Selkie, Fathom Mage).
Multicolored examples
- Winged Coatl - combines the Evergreen mechanics common to green - deathtouch and blue - flash, flying onto one creature efficiently
- Yavimaya's Embrace - combines blue's "stealing" creatures from opponents with green's creature boosting "pump" effect and trample
Flavor
Green believes in nature, while Blue believes in nurture. Theirs is a conflict in regards to how life is defined.
This color pair is represented by the Simic Combine and Quandrix college.
Blue / Red
Instants and sorceries
Blue-red has strong interaction with instant and sorcery spells. A number of effects (Cloven Casting, replicate) allow the color combo to copy instant or sorcery spells. Other blue-red cards (Blistercoil Weird) have effects that trigger upon casting of instant or sorcery spells. Blue-red also has several cards (Nucklavee) that allow the reclamation of instant or sorcery cards.
Looting
Red-blue has several cards that allow the drawing of cards at the price of discarding cards.
Artifacts
Blue and Red are the two colors most likely to interact with Artifacts of all kinds, with Blue Tutoring, duplicating and enhancing them, while Red takes a more direct, often destructive approach, sacrificing or tapping them to gain some desired effect.
Multicolored examples
- Magefire Wings - combines red's power-enhancing effect with blue's flying onto one enchantment efficiently
- Schismotivate - combines red's power-enhancing effect with blue's power reducing effect in a very efficient instant
Flavor
Blue believes in careful logic, while Red believes in following your heart. Theirs is a conflict on how to live one's life.
This color pair is represented by the Izzet League and Prismari college.
Red / White
Combat
Red-white finds most of their synergy through combat abilities, especially in the Boros guild of Ravnica. Many red-white creatures have first or double strike (Boros Recruit, Boros Swiftblade). Red-white creatures receive bonuses when attacking together, such as through the Battalion mechanic. Other cards (Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran, Akroan Hoplite, Duergar Assailant) pump attacking creatures, and still, other cards allow the player to run red-white to make determinations about whether his opponents' creatures can attack or block.
"Weenies"
More than any other two-color combination, red-white is the combo for small but powerful creatures.
Multicolored examples
- Cerodon Yearling - combines the Evergreen mechanics common to red - haste and white - vigilance onto one creature efficiently
- Lightning Helix - combines red's damage inflicting Lightning Bolt with white's life gain of Healing Salve onto one card that does the same as two mentioned
Flavor
Red believes that individuals should be free to do as they please, while White argues for a well-governed society. Their conflict, therefore, is one of how people govern themselves (or inversely how they don't).
This color pair is represented by the Boros Legion and Lorehold college.
Apocalypse
The Enemy color theme was especially strong in the Apocalypse set. It featured:
- Enemy color pain lands
- Enemy color split cards
- Cards with enemy color kicker costs (i.e. Orim's Thunder)
- Cards with two enemy color kicker costs (i.e. Anavolver)
- Cards with abilities requiring an enemy color (i.e. Angelfire Crusader)
- Enchantments which gave bonuses if you controlled cards of an enemy color (i.e. Ana Sanctuary)
- Multicolored cards with enemy color casting costs
External references
- Mark Rosewater (February 19, 2002). "Hate Is Enough". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Mark Rosewater (February 18, 2002). "Enemy Mine". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- Doug Beyer (August 06, 2008). "Enemies in Harmony... Sorta". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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