Enemy color: Difference between revisions
>@DeletedUser40376198 No edit summary |
>@DeletedUser40376198 mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{cleanup|date=13 August, 2014}} | {{cleanup|date=13 August, 2014}} | ||
'''Enemy colors''' are two opposed colors of the [[color pie]] | {{TOC right}} | ||
'''Enemy colors''' are two opposed colors of the [[color pie]]: {{w}}{{b}}, {{b}}{{g}}, {{g}}{{u}}, {{u}}{{r}}, {{r}}{{w}}. A deck may be enemy color (e.g., [[Phyrexian Poison]]). A multicolored card may require mana from enemy colors in order to play it (e.g. <c>Angel of Despair</c>). | |||
Enemy colors naturally repel each other, and are often [[hosers]]. | Enemy colors naturally repel each other, and are often [[hosers]]. | ||
| Line 7: | Line 8: | ||
Several sets have centered around enemy-colored cards. These include ''[[Apocalypse]]'', ''[[Eventide]]'', and five of the [[Guilds of Ravnica]] | Several sets have centered around enemy-colored cards. These include ''[[Apocalypse]]'', ''[[Eventide]]'', and five of the [[Guilds of Ravnica]] | ||
== White / Black == | ==White / Black== | ||
===Life drain=== | ===Life drain=== | ||
:''Target player loses life and you gain life'' | :''Target player loses life and you gain life'' | ||
| Line 14: | Line 15: | ||
===Exiling=== | ===Exiling=== | ||
White and black combine to be the colors most able 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. | White and black combine to be the colors most able 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. | ||
=== Multicolored examples === | ===Multicolored examples=== | ||
*<c>Death Grasp</c> - combines black X dealing damage spell with white's gain life onto a very efficient sorcery | *<c>Death Grasp</c> - combines black X dealing damage spell with white's gain life onto a 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) | ||
== 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>). This is supported by mechanics such as [[dredge]] that combine reclamation with "self-mill" effects. | 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. | ||
| Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
Since black is good at destroying creatures and lands, and green 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]]. | Since black is good at destroying creatures and lands, and green 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) | ||
== Green / Blue == | ==Green / Blue== | ||
=== +1/+1 counters=== | ===+1/+1 counters=== | ||
Green's penchant for creatures combines with blue's "mad scientist" tendencies to creature large creatures (often mutants) that have lots of +1/+1 counters. In Ravnica, this is achieved with both the [[graft]] and [[evolve]] effects. Examples include <c>Nimbus Swimmer</c>, <c>Lorescale Coatl</c> and <c>Fathom Mage</c>. | Green's penchant for creatures combines with blue's "mad scientist" tendencies to creature large creatures (often mutants) that have lots of +1/+1 counters. In Ravnica, this is achieved with both the [[graft]] and [[evolve]] effects. Examples include <c>Nimbus Swimmer</c>, <c>Lorescale Coatl</c> and <c>Fathom Mage</c>. | ||
=== Card drawing === | ===Card drawing=== | ||
Blue and green are the two strongest colors in terms of card drawing, and blue-green has both powerful draw spells (<c>Biomantic Mastery</c>) and creatures with repeatable card drawing effects (<c>Cold-Eyed Selkie</c>, <c>Fathom Mage</c>). | Blue and green are the two strongest colors in terms of card drawing, and blue-green has both powerful draw spells (<c>Biomantic Mastery</c>) and creatures with repeatable card drawing effects (<c>Cold-Eyed Selkie</c>, <c>Fathom Mage</c>). | ||
=== Multicolored examples === | ===Multicolored examples=== | ||
*<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]] | ||
== Blue / Red == | ==Blue / Red== | ||
===Instants and sorceries=== | ===Instants and sorceries=== | ||
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 a number of cards (<c>Nucklavee</c>) that allow reclamation of instant or sorcery cards. | 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 a number of cards (<c>Nucklavee</c>) that allow reclamation of instant or sorcery cards. | ||
| Line 56: | Line 55: | ||
Red-blue has a number of cards that allow the drawing of cards at the price of discarding cards. | Red-blue has a number of cards that allow the drawing of cards at the price of discarding cards. | ||
=== 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 onto a very efficient instant | *<c>Schismotivate</c> - combines red's power enhancing effect with blue's power reducing effect onto a very efficient instant | ||
== Red / White == | ==Red / White== | ||
===Combat=== | ===Combat=== | ||
Red-white finds most of the 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 running red-white to make determinations about whether his opponents' creatures can attack or block. | Red-white finds most of the 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 running red-white to make determinations about whether his opponents' creatures can attack or block. | ||
| Line 67: | Line 66: | ||
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 <c>Lightning Bolt</c> with white's life gain of <c>Healing Salve</c> onto one card that does the same as two mentioned | ||
Revision as of 15:18, 13 August 2014
 | This article or section may require cleanup to meet quality standards. (13 August, 2014) |
Template:TOC right
Enemy colors are two opposed colors of the color pie: 
, 
, 
, 
, . A deck may be enemy color (e.g., Phyrexian Poison). A multicolored card may require mana from enemy colors in order to play it (e.g. Angel of Despair).
Enemy colors naturally repel each other, and are often hosers.
Several sets have centered around enemy-colored cards. These include Apocalypse, Eventide, and five of the Guilds of Ravnica
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 a number of white-black effects that hinge on a player's life total.
Exiling
White and black combine to be the colors most able 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.
Multicolored examples
- Death Grasp - combines black X dealing damage spell with white's gain life onto a 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)
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 own 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 Odius Trow and Lotleth Troll.
Permanent destruction
Since black is good at destroying creatures and lands, and green 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)
Green / Blue
+1/+1 counters
Green's penchant for creatures combines with blue's "mad scientist" tendencies to creature large creatures (often mutants) that have lots of +1/+1 counters. In Ravnica, this is achieved with both the graft and evolve effects. 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
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 a number of cards (Nucklavee) that allow reclamation of instant or sorcery cards.
Looting
Red-blue has a number of cards that allow the drawing of cards at the price of discarding cards.
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 onto a very efficient instant
Red / White
Combat
Red-white finds most of the 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 running 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 Lightning Bolt with white's life gain of Healing Salve onto one card that does the same as two mentioned
Apocalypse
The Enemy color theme was especially strong in the Apocalypse set. It featured:
- Enemy color painlands
- 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 controled 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.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
