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'''Coupling''' is a [[R&D]] [[List of Magic slang|slang term]] used for the action of combining two [[creature type]]s in [[rules text]] | '''Coupling''' is a [[R&D]] [[List of Magic slang|slang term]] used for the action of combining two or more [[creature type]]s in [[rules text]]. | ||
{{TOCright}} | |||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
[[ | [[Typal]] coupling provides synergy and broader applicability. In concept, it is very similar to [[batching]].<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/675688461546766336/the-ninja-rogue-and-samurai-warrior-cards-are|title=Please continue to do these double tribal cards|February 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/675810176481345537/can-you-start-batching-snakes-and-naga-if-theyre|title=Can you start batching Snakes and Naga if they're going to remain separate tribes?|February 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/688970414726234113|title=I've having a hard time telling the difference between "batching" and "tribal coupling".|July 5, 2022}}</ref> While many cards refer to their own two creature types, it comes across as a sharing of types, whereas deeper usage of typal coupling takes two or more types that otherwise don't have or wouldn't have enough representation in the set. Often coupling is used when the flavor distinction is to be preserved. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
===[[ | ===Djinni and efreets=== | ||
The first cards to make a typal coupling were the cards related to the [[Arabian Nights]] story of [[Suleiman]], where both {{Card|King Suleiman}} and {{Card|Suleiman's Legacy}} destroyed Djinni and Efreet creatures. There was no particular mechanical distinction between them at the time, suggesting a general flavor motivation, and set-based typal themes stuck to single-type effects until the border change in ''[[Mirrodin]]''. | |||
===Soldiers and knights=== | |||
{{Card|Auriok Steelshaper}} from ''[[Mirrodin]]'' combined [[Soldier]]s and [[Knight]]s due to the lack of Knights at the time; {{Card|War Falcon}} from [[M13]] did as well, but seemed to do so more for flavor reasons. | |||
===Warriors, berserkers, and barbarians=== | |||
{{Card|Lovisa Coldeyes}} from ''[[Coldsnap]]'' boosted [[Warrior]]s, [[Berserker]]s, and [[Barbarian]]s. | |||
===Saprolings=== | |||
<c>The Mycotyrant</c>, {{Card|Pallid Mycoderm}} and {{Card|Sporecrown Thallid}} batch Saproling with Fungus, and {{Card|Verdeloth the Ancient}} batches them with Treefolk; Verdeloth was one of the rare old-border typal batches due to the low number of Treefolk and the lack of Saprolings as cards. | |||
===Wolves and werewolves=== | ===Wolves and werewolves=== | ||
[[Wolf|Wolves]] and [[Werewolf|werewolves]] were first combined on three cards in [[Innistrad block|''Innistrad'' block]]. The concept of coupling these creature types was expanded upon in ''[[Shadows over Innistrad]]'' (four cards), ''[[Eldritch Moon]]'', [[War of the Spark]], ''[[Core Set 2020]]'' (one card each), ''[[Innistrad: Midnight Hunt]]'' (seven cards), ''[[Innistrad: Crimson Vow]]'' (eight cards) and ''[[Alchemy: Innistrad]]'' (two cards). In most cases the coupling enabled | [[Wolf|Wolves]] and [[Werewolf|werewolves]] were first combined on three cards in the [[Innistrad block|''Innistrad'' block]]. The concept of coupling these creature types was expanded upon in ''[[Shadows over Innistrad]]'' (four cards), ''[[Eldritch Moon]]'', [[War of the Spark]], ''[[Core Set 2020]]'' (one card each), ''[[Innistrad: Midnight Hunt]]'' (seven cards), ''[[Innistrad: Crimson Vow]]'' (eight cards) and ''[[Alchemy: Innistrad]]'' (two cards). In most cases, the coupling enabled typal werewolf synergies without needing a high density of the space-limited double-faced cards typically seen on Werewolves. | ||
===Undead=== | ===Undead=== | ||
An occasional theme across top-down designs | An occasional theme across top-down designs collects some combination of Vampire, Zombie, and/or Skeleton as "[[undead]] creatures". {{Card|Death Baron}} combines Zombie and Skeleton together; {{Card|Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet}} and {{Card|Blazing Torch}} combine Vampire and Zombie; and {{Card|Death-Priest of Myrkul}} and {{Card|Undead Slayer}} combine all three. | ||
Related to Undead batches, three cards in ''[[Innistrad]]'' ({{Card|Slayer of the Wicked}}, {{Card|Elite Inquisitor}}, and {{Card|Victim of Night}}) combined Werewolves, Vampires and Zombies as "creatures of the night", creating the main threats towards humanity on Innistrad; as expected for a horror plane, the undead are a major aspect. | |||
=== | ===Angels and humans=== | ||
Due to the mechanic being a counting mechanic, four cards combined the | As the polar opposite to the undead, three Innistrad cards ({{Card|Herald of War}}, {{Card|Bladed Bracers}} and {{Card|Bruna, the Fading Light}}) combine Angel and Human on the same side of the Innistrad conflicts. <c>Sigarda, Font of Blessings</c> is also from Innistrad, but from an age far further in the timeline. | ||
===Demigods and gods=== | |||
{{Card|Altar of the Pantheon}} batched Gods with Demigods, and added legendary enchantments, largely as a nod to the fact that the Therosian Gods won't have types when "inactive". <c>Invasion of Theros</c> added Auras, as neither God nor Demigod was particularly prevalent as something to tutor for. | |||
===Clerics, warriors, wizards and rogues=== | |||
Due to the [[Party]] mechanic from ''[[Zendikar Rising]]'' being a counting mechanic, four cards combined the types of Cleric, Warrior, Wizard, and Rogue in their text for referencing them outside of the battlefield. Four more were printed in the next use of party, ''[[Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate]]''. | |||
===Ninjas and rogues=== | ===Ninjas and rogues=== | ||
| Line 25: | Line 41: | ||
Ten cards in ''[[Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty]]'' and one card in ''[[Alchemy: Kamigawa]]'' combine [[samurai]] and [[warrior]]s, allowing for backwards-compatibility, especially with [[party]] cards. | Ten cards in ''[[Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty]]'' and one card in ''[[Alchemy: Kamigawa]]'' combine [[samurai]] and [[warrior]]s, allowing for backwards-compatibility, especially with [[party]] cards. | ||
===Serpents, | ===Goblins and Orcs=== | ||
''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth]]'' features cards that benefit both Goblins and Orcs, on theme for the forces of Sauron. One adds Army to allow Amass compatibility. | |||
===Serpents, octopuses, leviathans and krakens=== | |||
Eight cards over seven different sets batch together [[Serpent]]s, [[Octopus]]es, [[Leviathan]]s, and [[Kraken]]s as a "huge sea creature" collective, each of which is too rare to have typal effects on their own. One added Merfolk for flavor. | |||
===Dragons, demons, and angels=== | |||
[[Kaalia]], in both forms ({{Card|Kaalia of the Vast}}, {{Card|Kaalia, Zenith Seeker}}), batches the three iconic races together. {{Card|Baneslayer Angel}} uses Demon and Dragon as a flavorful opposition effect, and {{Card|Power Word Kill}} adds Devil to the list of mythical beings it can't affect. | |||
===Demons, devils, imps and tieflings=== | |||
{{Card|Ob Nixilis, the Adversary}} couples Demons and Devils, {{Card|Rakdos, the Showstopper}} adds Imps, and <c>Raphael, Fiendish Savior</c> from ''[[Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate]]'' and <c>Tiefling Outcasts</c> from ''[[Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate]]'' add [[Tiefling]]s. | |||
===Spellcasters=== | |||
{{Card|Mentor's Guidance}} batches the five spellcaster classes ([[Cleric]], [[Druid]], [[Shaman]]s, [[Warlock]]s and [[Wizard]]s, plus planeswalker) which generally are not recognized as a collective in mechanics. <c>Robe of the Archmagi</c> (''[[Baldur's Gate]]'') equips [[Shaman]]s, [[Warlock]]s and [[Wizard]]s, and {{Card|Harmonic Prodigy}} batches Shamans and Wizards. | |||
===Kaheera and Ikoria's species=== | |||
Each of the five triomes of [[Ikoria]] has a signature species, and as an animalistic foster-carer, {{Card|Kaheera, the Orphanguard}} boosts Cats, Elementals, Nightmares, Dinosaurs, and Beasts. | |||
===Varied real animal species=== | |||
Two cards batch a series of invasive or nuisance species, with Spider and Insect appearing on both lists: {{Card|Blex, Vexing Pest}} (also Pests, Bats, and Snakes) and {{Card|Swarmyard}} (also Rat and Squirrel). Tangentially, {{Card|Animal Sanctuary}} groups Birds, Cats, Dogs, Oxen, Goats, and Snakes. {{card|Tawnos, the Toymaker}} and <c>Radagast, Wizard of Wilds</c> groups Bird and Beast. {{card|Kibo, Uktabi Prince}} groups Ape and Monkey. | |||
===Outlaws=== | |||
''[[Outlaws of Thunder Junction]]'' introduced the term '''[[Outlaw]]''', which [[Batching|batches]] [[Assassin]]s, [[Mercenary|Mercenaries]], [[Pirate]]s, [[Rogue]]s and [[Warlock]]s. Previously, a portion of these were batched on {{card|Mari, the Killing Quill}} from the [[Streets of New Capenna/Commander decks|''Streets of New Capenna'' Commander decks]], referring only [[Assassin]]s, [[Mercenary|Mercenaries]], and [[Rogue]]s. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Magic slang]] | [[Category:Magic slang]] | ||
[[Category:Miscellaneous mechanics]] | [[Category:Miscellaneous mechanics]] | ||
{{Creature types|selected=related}} | |||
Latest revision as of 06:02, 27 March 2024
Coupling is a R&D slang term used for the action of combining two or more creature types in rules text.
Description
Typal coupling provides synergy and broader applicability. In concept, it is very similar to batching.[1][2][3] While many cards refer to their own two creature types, it comes across as a sharing of types, whereas deeper usage of typal coupling takes two or more types that otherwise don't have or wouldn't have enough representation in the set. Often coupling is used when the flavor distinction is to be preserved.
History
Djinni and efreets
The first cards to make a typal coupling were the cards related to the Arabian Nights story of Suleiman, where both King Suleiman and Suleiman's Legacy destroyed Djinni and Efreet creatures. There was no particular mechanical distinction between them at the time, suggesting a general flavor motivation, and set-based typal themes stuck to single-type effects until the border change in Mirrodin.
Soldiers and knights
Auriok Steelshaper from Mirrodin combined Soldiers and Knights due to the lack of Knights at the time; War Falcon from M13 did as well, but seemed to do so more for flavor reasons.
Warriors, berserkers, and barbarians
Lovisa Coldeyes from Coldsnap boosted Warriors, Berserkers, and Barbarians.
Saprolings
The Mycotyrant, Pallid Mycoderm and Sporecrown Thallid batch Saproling with Fungus, and Verdeloth the Ancient batches them with Treefolk; Verdeloth was one of the rare old-border typal batches due to the low number of Treefolk and the lack of Saprolings as cards.
Wolves and werewolves
Wolves and werewolves were first combined on three cards in the Innistrad block. The concept of coupling these creature types was expanded upon in Shadows over Innistrad (four cards), Eldritch Moon, War of the Spark, Core Set 2020 (one card each), Innistrad: Midnight Hunt (seven cards), Innistrad: Crimson Vow (eight cards) and Alchemy: Innistrad (two cards). In most cases, the coupling enabled typal werewolf synergies without needing a high density of the space-limited double-faced cards typically seen on Werewolves.
Undead
An occasional theme across top-down designs collects some combination of Vampire, Zombie, and/or Skeleton as "undead creatures". Death Baron combines Zombie and Skeleton together; Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet and Blazing Torch combine Vampire and Zombie; and Death-Priest of Myrkul and Undead Slayer combine all three.
Related to Undead batches, three cards in Innistrad (Slayer of the Wicked, Elite Inquisitor, and Victim of Night) combined Werewolves, Vampires and Zombies as "creatures of the night", creating the main threats towards humanity on Innistrad; as expected for a horror plane, the undead are a major aspect.
Angels and humans
As the polar opposite to the undead, three Innistrad cards (Herald of War, Bladed Bracers and Bruna, the Fading Light) combine Angel and Human on the same side of the Innistrad conflicts. Sigarda, Font of Blessings is also from Innistrad, but from an age far further in the timeline.
Demigods and gods
Altar of the Pantheon batched Gods with Demigods, and added legendary enchantments, largely as a nod to the fact that the Therosian Gods won't have types when "inactive". Invasion of Theros added Auras, as neither God nor Demigod was particularly prevalent as something to tutor for.
Clerics, warriors, wizards and rogues
Due to the Party mechanic from Zendikar Rising being a counting mechanic, four cards combined the types of Cleric, Warrior, Wizard, and Rogue in their text for referencing them outside of the battlefield. Four more were printed in the next use of party, Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate.
Ninjas and rogues
Four cards in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty combined ninjas and rogues, allowing for backwards-compatibility, especially with party cards.
Samurai and warriors
Ten cards in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty and one card in Alchemy: Kamigawa combine samurai and warriors, allowing for backwards-compatibility, especially with party cards.
Goblins and Orcs
The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth features cards that benefit both Goblins and Orcs, on theme for the forces of Sauron. One adds Army to allow Amass compatibility.
Serpents, octopuses, leviathans and krakens
Eight cards over seven different sets batch together Serpents, Octopuses, Leviathans, and Krakens as a "huge sea creature" collective, each of which is too rare to have typal effects on their own. One added Merfolk for flavor.
Dragons, demons, and angels
Kaalia, in both forms (Kaalia of the Vast, Kaalia, Zenith Seeker), batches the three iconic races together. Baneslayer Angel uses Demon and Dragon as a flavorful opposition effect, and Power Word Kill adds Devil to the list of mythical beings it can't affect.
Demons, devils, imps and tieflings
Ob Nixilis, the Adversary couples Demons and Devils, Rakdos, the Showstopper adds Imps, and Raphael, Fiendish Savior from Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Tiefling Outcasts from Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate add Tieflings.
Spellcasters
Mentor's Guidance batches the five spellcaster classes (Cleric, Druid, Shamans, Warlocks and Wizards, plus planeswalker) which generally are not recognized as a collective in mechanics. Robe of the Archmagi (Baldur's Gate) equips Shamans, Warlocks and Wizards, and Harmonic Prodigy batches Shamans and Wizards.
Kaheera and Ikoria's species
Each of the five triomes of Ikoria has a signature species, and as an animalistic foster-carer, Kaheera, the Orphanguard boosts Cats, Elementals, Nightmares, Dinosaurs, and Beasts.
Varied real animal species
Two cards batch a series of invasive or nuisance species, with Spider and Insect appearing on both lists: Blex, Vexing Pest (also Pests, Bats, and Snakes) and Swarmyard (also Rat and Squirrel). Tangentially, Animal Sanctuary groups Birds, Cats, Dogs, Oxen, Goats, and Snakes. Tawnos, the Toymaker and Radagast, Wizard of Wilds groups Bird and Beast. Kibo, Uktabi Prince groups Ape and Monkey.
Outlaws
Outlaws of Thunder Junction introduced the term Outlaw, which batches Assassins, Mercenaries, Pirates, Rogues and Warlocks. Previously, a portion of these were batched on Mari, the Killing Quill from the Streets of New Capenna Commander decks, referring only Assassins, Mercenaries, and Rogues.
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 9, 2022). "Please continue to do these double tribal cards". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 9, 2022). "Can you start batching Snakes and Naga if they're going to remain separate tribes?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 5, 2022). "I've having a hard time telling the difference between "batching" and "tribal coupling".". Blogatog. Tumblr.
