Subtype

Subtype is a characteristic of a card. Every card has a card type and may have one or more subtypes. These are printed on the type line.

Description

Subtypes may be named by card abilities to select or restrict what's affected by the ability. They also provide additional flavor. Several subtypes like Equipment, Aura or Saga come with "rules baggage", meaning that the game rules apply specific actions, requirements or abilities to objects with that subtype, which are usually central to how those cards work in play. Other subtypes, like Vehicle, Wall or Lesson, may be helpful as reminders for aspects of the card's gameplay but leave the actual functionality to be defined by abilities or other characteristics.

Several artifact and enchantment subtypes serve as labels for predefined tokens. This allows abilities which create tokens to simply name the subtype, and rely on the game rules to define the characteristics the token will have. However, these subtypes can also be used on a card normally without that card sharing all the characteristics of the default predefined token.

When an ability grants a card a new subtype, it loses its existing subtypes within that type category, unless the ability says that the new type is "in addition to" its original types. For instance, a Forest Dryad that becomes a Swamp becomes a Swamp Dryad, losing its Forest Subtype but retaining its creature subtype. If a card has lost the type associated with a subtype, it will not count as having that subtype until it regains the original type.

List of subtypes

The majority of all battles, creatures, planes, planeswalkers, and tribal cards have at least one subtype.

Subtypes are optional for artifact, enchantment, instant, sorcery, land and dungeon cards.

Phenomenon, vanguard, scheme, and conspiracy cards do not have any subtypes.

Artifact types

Artifact cards uses artifact types.

• Predefined artifact token types: Blood, Clue, Food, Gold, Incubator, Junk, Map, Powerstone, Treasure.
• Artifact types used in at least one premier set: Equipment, Fortification, Vehicle.
  • Equipment and Fortifications have rules defining how they may be attached to creatures and lands, respectively.
• Universes Beyond sets use the artifact type: Bobblehead.
• Other artifact types: Attraction, Contraption. These subtypes both have rules defining how they must be part of a separate supplementary deck and how they may enter and leave play.

Battle types

All battle cards have only one battle type: Siege.

Creature types

Creature and kindred cards both use creature types. These follow a race/class model. There are over 275 different creature types.

Walls and the obsolete type Legend formerly had rules baggage, but those rules were supplanted by the Defender ability and expanded use of the Legendary supertype, respectively.

• Nameless Race is the only creature with no subtypes in its current Oracle text, although it was originally printed with a creature type.
• The only other creatures printed without any creature subtypes are seven enchantment creatures which only have enchantment types: Faceless One (a Background) and six Go-Shintai Shrines from Neon Dynasty and its Commander decks.
• In early editions of the game it was customary for most artifact creatures to have no subtype, but they have all received errata to provide them with creature types.

Enchantment types

Enchantment cards uses enchantment types.

• Auras have rules defining how they must be attached to other permanents.
• Backgrounds have additional deck construction rules for Commander decks.
• Sagas have rules defining the operation of their chapter abilities via lore counters.
• Predefined enchantment token types: Role, Shard.
• Other enchantment types: Cartouche, Case, Class, Curse, Rune, Shrine.

Land types

Land cards uses land types. These are divided into the basic and nonbasic land types.

• Basic land types: Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest. These subtypes grant intrinsic abilities — the mana abilities these land types are well known for — and are the only subtypes that do so.
• Nonbasic land types: Cave, Desert, Gate, Lair, Locus, Mine, Power-Plant, Sphere, Tower and Urza's.

Plane types

Plane cards use planar types: The Abyss; Alara; Amonkhet; Antausia; Arcavios; Arkhos; Azgol; Belenon; Bolas's Meditation Realm; Capenna; Cridhe; Dominaria; Echoir; Eldraine; Equilor; Ergamon; Fabacin; Fiora; Gargantikar; Gobakhan; Ikoria; Innistrad; Iquatana; Ir; Ixalan; Kaladesh; Kaldheim; Kamigawa; Karsus; Kephalai; Kinshala; Kolbahan; Kylem; Kyneth; Lorwyn; Luvion; Mercadia; Mirrodin; Moag; Mongseng; Muraganda; New Phyrexia; Phyrexia; Pyrulea; Rabiah; Rath; Ravnica; Regatha; Segovia; Serra's Realm; Shadowmoor; Shandalar; Shenmeng; Tarkir; Theros; Ulgrotha; Valla; Vryn; Wildfire; Xerex; Zendikar; Zhalfir.

Universes Beyond sets use a number of non-canon plane types: Alfava Metraxis; Androzani Minor; Apalapucia; Darillium; Earth; Gallifrey; Horsehead Nebula; Kandoka; Mars; Moon; Necros; New Earth; Outside Mutter's Spiral; Skaro; Spacecraft; The Dalek Asylum; The Library; Time; Trenzalore; Unknown Planet.

Unlike other subtypes, plane subtypes may include spaces.

Planeswalker types

Planeswalker cards use planeswalker types. These are usually the first name of the planeswalker with a few exceptions like Bolas, which is the last name of Nicol Bolas.

• The Wanderer is the only planeswalker without a planeswalker type, which reflects her in-universe flavor that no being in the multiverse knows her true name.

Spell types

Instant and sorcery cards use spell types: Adventure, Arcane, Chorus, Lesson and Trap.

• Trap is only used on instants.

Dungeon types

Dungeon cards use dungeon types. Only one dungeon card (Undercity) has the dungeon type Undercity.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Subtype

A characteristic that appears after the card type and a long dash on a card’s type line. See rule 205.3, “Subtypes.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

• 205.3. Subtypes
  • 205.3a A card can have one or more subtypes printed on its type line.
  • 205.3b Subtypes of each card type except creature and plane are always single words and are listed after a long dash. Each word after the dash is a separate subtype. Subtypes of creature cards are one or two words and are listed after a long dash. Each word or two-word phrase, as listed in rule 205.3m, is a separate subtype. Objects other than planes may have multiple subtypes. Subtypes of planes are also listed after a long dash, but may be multiple words; all words after the dash are, collectively, a single subtype.

    Example: “Basic Land — Mountain” means the card is a land with the subtype Mountain. “Creature — Goblin Wizard” means the card is a creature with the subtypes Goblin and Wizard. “Artifact — Equipment” means the card is an artifact with the subtype Equipment.

  • 205.3c If a card with multiple card types has one or more subtypes, each subtype is correlated to its appropriate card type.

    Example: Dryad Arbor’s type line says “Land Creature — Forest Dryad.” Forest is a land type, and Dryad is a creature type.

  • 205.3d An object can’t gain a subtype that doesn’t correspond to one of that object’s types.
  • 205.3e If an effect instructs a player to choose a subtype, that player must choose one, and only one, existing subtype, and the subtype must be for the appropriate card type. For example, the player can’t choose a land type if an instruction requires choosing a creature type.

    Example: When choosing a creature type, “Merfolk” or “Wizard” is acceptable, but “Merfolk Wizard” is not. Words like “artifact,” “opponent,” “Swamp,” or “truck” can’t be chosen because they aren’t creature types.

  • 205.3f Many cards were printed with subtypes that are now obsolete. Many cards have retroactively received subtypes. Use the Oracle card reference to determine what a card’s subtypes are. (See rule 108.1.)
  • 205.3g Artifacts have their own unique set of subtypes; these subtypes are called artifact types. The artifact types are Attraction (see rule 717), Blood, Bobblehead, Clue, Contraption, Equipment (see rule 301.5), Food, Fortification (see rule 301.6), Gold, Incubator, Junk, Map, Powerstone, Treasure, and Vehicle (see rule 301.7).
  • 205.3h Enchantments have their own unique set of subtypes; these subtypes are called enchantment types. The enchantment types are Aura (see rule 303.4), Background, Cartouche, Case (see rule 719), Class (see rule 716), Curse, Role (see rule 303.7), Rune, Saga (see rule 714), Shard, and Shrine.
  • 205.3i Lands have their own unique set of subtypes; these subtypes are called land types. The land types are Cave, Desert, Forest, Gate, Island, Lair, Locus, Mine, Mountain, Plains, Power-Plant, Sphere, Swamp, Tower, and Urza’s. Of that list, Forest, Island, Mountain, Plains, and Swamp are the basic land types. See rule 305.6.
  • 205.3j Planeswalkers have their own unique set of subtypes; these subtypes are called planeswalker types. The planeswalker types are Ajani, Aminatou, Angrath, Arlinn, Ashiok, Bahamut, Basri, Bolas, Calix, Chandra, Comet, Dack, Dakkon, Daretti, Davriel, Dihada, Domri, Dovin, Ellywick, Elminster, Elspeth, Estrid, Freyalise, Garruk, Gideon, Grist, Guff, Huatli, Jace, Jared, Jaya, Jeska, Kaito, Karn, Kasmina, Kaya, Kiora, Koth, Liliana, Lolth, Lukka, Minsc, Mordenkainen, Nahiri, Narset, Niko, Nissa, Nixilis, Oko, Ral, Rowan, Saheeli, Samut, Sarkhan, Serra, Sivitri, Sorin, Szat, Tamiyo, Tasha, Teferi, Teyo, Tezzeret, Tibalt, Tyvar, Ugin, Urza, Venser, Vivien, Vraska, Vronos, Will, Windgrace, Wrenn, Xenagos, Yanggu, Yanling, and Zariel.
  • 205.3k Instants and sorceries share their lists of subtypes; these subtypes are called spell types. The spell types are Adventure, Arcane, Lesson, and Trap.
  • 205.3m Creatures and kindreds share their lists of subtypes; these subtypes are called creature types. One creature type is two words long: Time Lord. All other creature types are one word long: Advisor, Aetherborn, Alien, Ally, Angel, Antelope, Ape, Archer, Archon, Armadillo, Army, Artificer, Assassin, Assembly-Worker, Astartes, Atog, Aurochs, Avatar, Azra, Badger, Balloon, Barbarian, Bard, Basilisk, Bat, Bear, Beast, Beaver, Beeble, Beholder, Berserker, Bird, Blinkmoth, Boar, Bringer, Brushwagg, Camarid, Camel, Capybara, Caribou, Carrier, Cat, Centaur, Child, Chimera, Citizen, Cleric, Clown, Cockatrice, Construct, Coward, Coyote, Crab, Crocodile, C’tan, Custodes, Cyberman, Cyclops, Dalek, Dauthi, Demigod, Demon, Deserter, Detective, Devil, Dinosaur, Djinn, Doctor, Dog, Dragon, Drake, Dreadnought, Drone, Druid, Dryad, Dwarf, Efreet, Egg, Elder, Eldrazi, Elemental, Elephant, Elf, Elk, Employee, Eye, Faerie, Ferret, Fish, Flagbearer, Fox, Fractal, Frog, Fungus, Gamer, Gargoyle, Germ, Giant, Gith, Gnoll, Gnome, Goat, Goblin, God, Golem, Gorgon, Graveborn, Gremlin, Griffin, Guest, Hag, Halfling, Hamster, Harpy, Hellion, Hippo, Hippogriff, Homarid, Homunculus, Horror, Horse, Human, Hydra, Hyena, Illusion, Imp, Incarnation, Inkling, Inquisitor, Insect, Jackal, Jellyfish, Juggernaut, Kavu, Kirin, Kithkin, Knight, Kobold, Kor, Kraken, Llama, Lamia, Lammasu, Leech, Leviathan, Lhurgoyf, Licid, Lizard, Manticore, Masticore, Mercenary, Merfolk, Metathran, Minion, Minotaur, Mite, Mole, Monger, Mongoose, Monk, Monkey, Moonfolk, Mount, Mouse, Mutant, Myr, Mystic, Nautilus, Necron, Nephilim, Nightmare, Nightstalker, Ninja, Noble, Noggle, Nomad, Nymph, Octopus, Ogre, Ooze, Orb, Orc, Orgg, Otter, Ouphe, Ox, Oyster, Pangolin, Peasant, Pegasus, Pentavite, Performer, Pest, Phelddagrif, Phoenix, Phyrexian, Pilot, Pincher, Pirate, Plant, Porcupine, Possum, Praetor, Primarch, Prism, Processor, Rabbit, Raccoon, Ranger, Rat, Rebel, Reflection, Rhino, Rigger, Robot, Rogue, Sable, Salamander, Samurai, Sand, Saproling, Satyr, Scarecrow, Scientist, Scion, Scorpion, Scout, Sculpture, Serf, Serpent, Servo, Shade, Shaman, Shapeshifter, Shark, Sheep, Siren, Skeleton, Slith, Sliver, Sloth, Slug, Snail, Snake, Soldier, Soltari, Spawn, Specter, Spellshaper, Sphinx, Spider, Spike, Spirit, Splinter, Sponge, Squid, Squirrel, Starfish, Surrakar, Survivor, Synth, Tentacle, Tetravite, Thalakos, Thopter, Thrull, Tiefling, Treefolk, Trilobite, Triskelavite, Troll, Turtle, Tyranid, Unicorn, Vampire, Varmint, Vedalken, Volver, Wall, Walrus, Warlock, Warrior, Weird, Werewolf, Whale, Wizard, Wolf, Wolverine, Wombat, Worm, Wraith, Wurm, Yeti, Zombie, and Zubera.
  • 205.3n Planes have their own unique set of subtypes; these subtypes are called planar types. The planar types are The Abyss, Alara, Alfava Metraxis, Amonkhet, Androzani Minor, Antausia, Apalapucia, Arcavios, Arkhos, Azgol, Belenon, Bolas’s Meditation Realm, Capenna, Cridhe, The Dalek Asylum, Darillium, Dominaria, Earth, Echoir, Eldraine, Equilor, Ergamon, Fabacin, Fiora, Gallifrey, Gargantikar, Gobakhan, Horsehead Nebula, Ikoria, Innistrad, Iquatana, Ir, Ixalan, Kaladesh, Kaldheim, Kamigawa, Kandoka, Karsus, Kephalai, Kinshala, Kolbahan, Kylem, Kyneth, The Library, Lorwyn, Luvion, Mars, Mercadia, Mirrodin, Moag, Mongseng, Moon, Muraganda, Necros, New Earth, New Phyrexia, Outside Mutter’s Spiral, Phyrexia, Pyrulea, Rabiah, Rath, Ravnica, Regatha, Segovia, Serra’s Realm, Shadowmoor, Shandalar, Shenmeng, Skaro, Spacecraft, Tarkir, Theros, Time, Trenzalore, Ulgrotha, Unknown Planet, Valla, Vryn, Wildfire, Xerex, Zendikar, and Zhalfir.
  • 205.3p One dungeon card (Undercity) has a subtype; this subtype is called a dungeon type. That dungeon type is Undercity.
  • 205.3q Battles have a unique subtype, called a battle type. That battle type is Siege.
  • 205.3r Phenomenon cards, scheme cards, vanguard cards, and conspiracy cards have no subtypes.