Race

In Magic, race is a subset of the characteristic "creature type".

Description

"Race" designates the unique genetic makeup of a sapient (and usually humanoid) creature group. Besides race, most Magic cards with humanoid creatures may also have another creature type: the creature class represents their job, career or calling in life. This is known as the race/class model.

Note that the Magic approach is somewhat different from the scientific one. In biology, the basic unit of biological classification and taxonomic rank is "species", which is defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. Race in that aspect is defined as a genetically distinct population of individuals within the same species.

Humanoid races

• Alien, Ape, Azra, Centaur (part Horse), Cyclops, Dauthi, Dryad, Dwarf, Elf, Faerie, Giant, Gnome, Goblin, Gorgon, Hag, Halfling, Human, Kithkin, Kobold, Kor, Merfolk (Fish-folk), Metathran, Minotaur (part bull or Goat or Sheep), Moonfolk (part Rabbit), Noggle (part ass), Ogre, Orc, Ouphe, Satyr (part Goat), Siren, Slith, Soltari, Surrakar (reptillian), Thalakos, Troll, Vedalken, Werewolf, Yeti.

Humanoid races without their own subtype

• Ainok (Dogfolk), Amphin (Salamanderfolk), Aven (Birdfolk), Bearfolk, Cactusfolk, Khenra (Jackalfolk), Kappa (Turtlefolk), Kitsune (Foxfolk), Leonin (Catfolk), Loxodon (Elephantfolk), Nantuko/Kraul (Insectfolk), Naga (Snakefolk), Nezumi (Ratfolk), Orochi (Snakefolk), Rakshasa (Demons), Raccoonfolk, Rhox (Rhinofolk), Viashino (Lizard-Dragon-folk), Wolfir (Wolffolk).

Humanoid races (in appearance only)

• Aetherborn, Angel, Archon, Avatar, Bringer, Demigod, Djinn, Efreet, God, Inkling, Lamia, Nymph, Reflection, Shade, Shapeshifter, Skeleton, Sliver (Magic 2014 version), Specter, Spirit, Thrull, Vampire, Wraith, Zombie.

Sapient non-humanoid races

These races only have a class in rare exceptions.

• Beeble, Carrier, Demon, Devil, Dragon, Drone, Eldrazi, Elemental, Eye, Gremlin, Harpy, Homarid (part lobster or Crab), Homunculus, Horror, Illusion, Imp, Incarnation, Kirin, Lammasu, Nephilim, Nightmare, Nightstalker, Phyrexian, Spawn, Sphinx (part Cat), Spirit, Thallid (Fungusfolk), Treefolk (part Plant), Zubera.

Non-humanoid races without their own subtype

• Cephalid (part Octopus or Squid), Thallid and Sporoloth (Fungusfolk)

Crossbreeds

• Chimera, Mutant, Orgg, Volver, Weird.

Not-races

According toe Mark Rosewater, the following creature types are not considered to be races by R&D.

Animals

• Antelope, Ape, Armadillo, Aurochs, Badger, Bat, Bear, Beaver, Bird, Boar, Camel, Capybara, Caribou, Cat, Coyote, Crab, Crocodile, Dinosaur, Dog, Elephant, Elk, Ferret, Fish, Fox, Frog, Goat, Hippo, Horse, Hyena, Insect, Jackal, Jellyfish, Leech, Lizard, Llama, Mite, Mole, Mongoose, Monkey, Mouse, Nautilus, Octopus, Ox, Oyster, Otter, Pangolin, Porcupine, Possum, Rabbit, Rat, Rhino, Sable, Salamander, Scorpion, Shark, Sheep, Sloth, Slug, Snail, Snake, Spider, Sponge, Squid, Squirrel, Starfish, Trilobite, Turtle, Whale, Wolf, Wolverine, Wombat, Worm.

Animals (fantastical)

• Atog, Basilisk, Beast, Brushwagg, Camarid, Cockatrice, Drake, Gargoyle, Griffin, Hellion, Hippogriff, Hydra, Kavu, Kraken, Leviathan, Lhurgoyf, Licid, Manticore, Mutant, Pegasus, Pest (on Arcavios), Phelddagrif, Phoenix, Serpent, Slith, Sliver, Spike, Unicorn, Varmint, Wurm.

Plants and fungi

• Fungi, Plant, Saproling, Splinter.

Other biological creatures

• Germ, Ooze.

Artifact creatures

• Assembly-Worker, Blinkmoth, Chimera, Construct, Dreadnought, Gnome, Golem, Juggernaut, Masticore, Myr, Pentavite, Pest, Prism, Robot, Sculpture, Servo, Scarecrow, Tetravite, Thopter, Triskelavite.

Non-sapient creatures

• Egg, Orb, Sand, Wall.

Non-canon races

Races not belonging to the Magic universe, but appearing in crossover products (Dungeons & Dragons, Universes Beyond).

D&D

Humanoid races

• Gith, Gnoll, Gnome (non-artifact), Halfling, Tiefling.

Sapient non-humanoid races

• Beholder

Not-races

Animals

• Hamster, Walrus

Universes Beyond

Humanoid races

• Astartes, Cyberman, Necron, Primarch, Synth, Time Lord

Humanoid races without their own subtype

• Adipose (Alien), Ents Treefolk), Hobbit (Halfings), Ice Warriors (Reptilian Alien), Judoon (Alien Rhinos), Kaleds (Alien), Lupari (Alien Dogs), Menoptera (Alien Insects), Sea Devils (Alien Salamanders), Silent (Aliens), Sontarans (Aliens), Sycorax (Aliens), Thijarians (Aliens), Weeping Angels (Alien Angels), and Zygons (Alien Shapeshifters).

Humanoid races (in appearance only)

• C'Tan

Humanoid races (in appearance only) without their own subtype

• Maiar (Avatars)

Sapient non-humanoid races

• Dalek, Tyranid

Sapient non-humanoid races without their own subtype

• Atraxi (Alien Eyes), Boekind (Alien)

Non-eternal races

Some acorn sets, like Unglued, Unhinged, and Unstable, use creature types which are not included in Magic's comprehensive rules, but are part of 'silver-border' games. Because these creature types are not compiled into an authoritative list by Wizards of the Coast, the following table may be incomplete and which silver-border creature types are considered races and non-races is currently based on intuition rather than official comment.

Humanoid races

• Autobot, The Biggest, Baddest, Nastiest, Scariest Creature You'll Ever See, Brainiac, Clamfolk (Part clam), Gus, Mummy, Vampyre.

Sapient non-humanoid races

• Alicorn, Elemental?

Not-races

Animals

• Beaver, Chameleon, Chicken, Cow, Deer, Donkey, Gorilla, Kangaroo, Lobster, Locus, Mammoth, Penguin, Pig, Pony, Porcupine.

Constructs

• Art, Cyborg, Die, Expansion Symbol, Killbot, Ship, Sketch, Teddy.

Race modifiers

• Head, and/or