Creature class

In Magic, Class is a subset of the characteristic "Creature type". Most humanoid creatures have at least two creature types: race and class. Whereas race (such as human, elf, or goblin) is a matter of genetics, a creature's class (such as soldier, wizard, or rogue) represents their function, occupation, career or calling in life.

• Advisors are tacticians, courtiers, ministers, and others known for their wisdom.
• Alchemists are people who practice alchemy, a form of chemistry and speculative philosophy.
• Archers are combatants who specialize in fighting with bow and arrows.
• Artificers are those who specialize in working with artifacts.
• Assassins specialize in one thing: killing.
• Barbarians are unorganized fighters, usually from primitive and/or uncivilized cultures.
• Berserkers are combatants who enter a frenzy in battle, gaining great speed and battle prowess.
• a Bodyguard is a person or group of persons employed to guard an individual, often a high official or VIP, from bodily harm.
• Clerics are spellcasters who channel the power of their faith in a cause or higher being into potent magic.
• a Coward is a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.; a timid or easily intimidated person.
• Druids are masters of magic powered by faith, and strongly tied to plants, animals, fertility, the element of earth, and the land about them.
• Flagbearers are soldiers or civilians who bear a standard or flag, which is used as a formal, visual symbol of a military unit on the battlefield.
• Guardians are creatures which guard, protect, or preserve.

Heroes

Heroes are characters who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self sacrifice (heroism) for some greater good. The first creature to bear the type was Benalish Hero in Alpha, and later came Kjeldoran Warrior and Beast Walkers. When Aysen Crusader was printed it powered up these three heroes. However, the Hero-class was obsoleted in the Grand Creature Type Update, and rather than Heroes, it gained a bonus from Soldiers and Warriors instead. Now, the only card remaining with the class Hero is Fraction Jackson from Unhinged. Hero was reinvented as a card type as part of the Hero's Path of the Theros block.

Famous heroes

• Gerrard Capashen
• Benalish Hero
• Tahngarth, Talruum Hero
• Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero
• Stonebrow, Krosan Hero
• Zhang Liao, Hero of Hefei
• Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile

Knights

Knights are highly-trained combatants who are usually part of a formal army or cavalry, usually specializing in fighting on horseback with a sword or lance. Most knights, especially those aligned with white or black, are pledged to a single lord or order, though many black and most red knights are devoted only to themselves. First strike is the most common ability found among Knights. Some Knights have double strike, flanking, and protection, a few knights ride steeds with flying as well.

Some knights, called "paladins", channel mana in a way similar to clerics. Paladin was originally a separate creature type from knight, but the two were later combined under the latter. The subtypes Cavalry (Moorish Cavalry) and Crusader (only used for Aysen Crusader) were changed to Knight as well.

Knightly Organizations

• Knights of Kjeldor
• Knights of Meadowgrain
• Knights of Thorn
• Juniper Order
• Order of Stromgald
• Order of the Golden Cricket
• Order of Leitbur
• Order of the Ebon Hand
• Order of the Steel Leaf
• Schwartzritterein
• Serra Paladins

Notable Knights

• Adun Oakenshield
• Avram Garrison
• Sir Gregor
• Haakon
• Ihsan
• Jaeuhl Carthalion
• Jerrard of the Closed Fist
• Lacjsi
• The Lord of House Khone
• Márton Stromgald
• Rafiq
• Sauruven Hellwald
• Sir Shandlar
• Sidar Jibari
• Telim'Tor
• Tivadar of Thorn
• Varchild
• Wrizfar Barkfeather
• Sir Xian
• Sir Zaraya

Knight tokens

Knight Creature tokens are produced by:

• Errand of Duty (1/1 white Knight with banding)
• Hunted Dragon (2/2 white Knight with First strike)
• Knight-Captain of Eos (1/1 white Knight)
• Knightly Valor (2/2 white Knight with vigilance)
• Riftmarked Knight (2/2 black Knight flanking, protection from white, and haste)
• Security Blockade (2/2 white Knight with vigilance)
• Selesnya Charm (2/2 white Knight with vigilance)
• Waylay (1/1 white Knight)

Lords

Main article Lords

Lord is a defunct creature type for creatures with an occupation of high class or power within a structure or organization. It was dropped due to inconsistency between card names and the use of this type, gender issues (Lady being the correct female form), and so it would not be confused with the so-called "lord" abilities of creatures who grant effects to other creatures according to their creature types, colors, or other attributes.

Most lords have since had their class changed to something more appropriate. For instance, Lovisa Coldeyes was changed from a Human Lord to a Human Barbarian.

Mercenaries

Mercenaries are individuals who sell their services in combat for money. Mercenaries have a reputation for being thuggish brutes or dangerously untrustworthy cads, though some are honorable. Like rebels, many mercenaries have the ability to "recruit" by allowing a player to search his or her library and put a mercenary card from it directly into play; due to their generally unsavory and untrustworthy natures, though, they can only recruit creatures weaker (that is, with a lower casting cost) than they are. Most mercenaries are black or red.

Mercenaries appeared primarily in the Masques block, though some have been printed before and since.

Minions

Minions are those who work the will of overtly evil forces or organizations. Minions are black-hearted individuals who knowingly bring harm upon others through subterfuge or open malice.

There are also cases of individuals who have been identified as minions in flavor terms, yet lack the creature type, for example Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer, and Rakka Mar.

Minion Organizations

• The Cabal

Notable Minions

• Braids
• Chainer
• Phage
• The Rag Man

Minion tokens

Black Minion Creature tokens are created by Infernal Genesis and Phyrexian Processor.

Monks

Monks are individuals who have devoted their lives to quiet introspection and meditation, though many monks are skilled at magic, martial arts, or both. Some monks live their lives in solitude, while others come together in monasteries. Some monks are devoted to a specific faith, while others seek enlightenment away from religion. Most monks are white or green.

The monk creature type is a relatively late addition to the game. Originally, creatures with the word "monk" in their names bore the cleric type, but monk became its own creature type with the release of the Kamigawa block, and monks printed before that now have both types. Dervish (Whirling Dervish) was also changed into subtype Monk.

Monastic Organizations

• Budoka
• Ember Fell
• Kannushi

Notable Monks

• Adair River Span
• Azusa
• Dokai
• Dosan
• Erayo
• Homura
• Iwamori
• Kobo (later a shaman)
• Kuon
• The Mad Monk
• Sasaya
• Seshiro

Mystics

Mystics, like clerics, are adept at channeling mana with their faith, but instead of devoting themselves to a religion they learn magic through careful meditation. Mystics often have a special connection with the spirits of the deceased, granting them powers such as flight. Most mystics are white and have threshold, and most appeared in the Odyssey block. Mystic is a creature type that isn't supported anymore. It was used to unify a group of creatures, but the type has not been added to creatures thereafter.

Mystic Locations / Organizations

• Daru Plains

Ninja

Ninja are masters of both stealth and armed combat who may find employment as spies, warriors, mercenaries, assassins; they are famed for their versatility. Secretive in the extreme, some ninja practice magic that further enhances their abilities of infiltration. Some ninja come together in clans, though many others are solitary rogues. The ninjutsu ability is exclusive to ninja. All ninja are either blue or black, and all appeared in Betrayers of Kamigawa and/or the Night of the Ninja deck of Planechase 2.

Notable Ninja

• Black-Nose
• Higure
• Ink-Eyes

Nomads

Nomads come from uncivilized tribes who wander open spaces in closely-knit groups. Like barbarians, it is more a description of heritage than other classes. Most nomads are white or red, traveling the plains or mountains. The former classes Caravan (Trade Caravan) and Gypsy (Pradesh Gypsies) were changed into Nomad during the Grand Creature Type Update.

Nomadic Organizations / Locations

• Ghitu
• Daru Plains

Notable Nomads

• Pianna
• Taysir the Red

Pirates

Pirates are motley fighters and scoundrels who sail the sea and skies to loot and plunder the unexpected. Pirates are famed and feared for their unpredictability. Most pirates are blue. In the Grand Creature Type Update the subtype Merchant (Talas Merchant) was incorporated into the Pirate class.

Pirate Organizations / Locations

• Kukemssa
• Rishada
• The Talas

Notable Pirates

• Ramirez DePietro

Rebels

Rebels are individuals who fight against oppression or just to survive. Rebels are motivated by their sense of duty to their cause and loyalty to each other. Some rebels are brave idealists fighting for a noble cause, while others are underhanded scoundrels working to undermine legitimate rulers. Like mercenaries, many rebels have the ability to "recruit" by allowing a player to search his or her library and put a rebel card from it directly into play; because of their infectious enthusiasm, rebels can recruit creatures more powerful (that is, with a higher casting cost) than they are. Most rebels are white or black and appeared in the Masques or Time Spiral blocks.

Riggers

A rigger is creature that specializes in the lifting and moving of extremely large or heavy objects. Steamflogger Boss from Future Sight stated Rigger as a creature type lord, but at that time the only creature with the subtype was Steamflogger Boss itself. In the Grand Creature Type Update he was joined by Moriok Rigger.

Rogues

Rogues are those who live by their wits, using stealth and cunning to make their way in life. Many rogues are notoriously tricky and amoral, as their clever minds and silver tongues give them an advantage over most others; a good rogue can steal the clothes right off an unwitting target's back. Many rogues are skilled with daggers, rapiers, and other light weapons. The prowl ability is associated exclusively with rogues. Most rogues are blue or black, though rogues span all five colors. In the Grand Creature Type Update the subtypes Robber (Grave Robbers), Spy (Stromgald Spy) and Thief (Ingenious Thief) were incorporated into the Rogue class. Several card produce Faerie Rogue tokens or Goblin Rogue tokens.

Notable Rogues

• Chandler
• Eron the Relentless
• Gwafa Hazid
• Gwendlyn Di Corci
• Joven
• Sakashima the Impostor
• Starke of Rath
• Sygg of Shadowmoor
• Thada Adel, Acquisitor
• Veldrane of Sengir

Samurai

Samurai are warriors who have sworn their service and their lives to a single authority figure, usually a feudal lord. Most samurai are noble and serve their duty unflinchingly. Samurai are often equipped with a longsword called a katana and a shortsword called a wakizashi; in many lands where samurai are found, they are the only citizens allowed to carry more than one weapon. The bushido ability, representing their ability in combat, is exclusive to samurai. Most samurai are aligned with white.

Some samurai, due to personal dishonor or the death of their lord, become rogues called ronin; ronin may be just as honorable as other samurai or as underhanded as the darkest rogue. Ronin are usually black or red.

Samurai appear exclusively in the Kamigawa block.

Notable Samurai

• Brothers Yamazaki
• Golden-Tail
• Fumiko
• Iizuka
• Isao
• Kentaro

• Kenzo
• Munetsugu Takeno
• Nagao
• Opal-Eye
• Silver-Foot
• The Tail Brothers
• Takeshi Konda
• Toshiro Umezawa

Scouts

Scouts are individuals who are adept at getting along in the wild, often sharing the benefits of their prowess with others. Some scouts are part of a formal military organization and may have some skill in combat. Many scouts have abilities relating to lands, including landwalk. Scouts are spread more or less equally across all five colors save black. 1/1 red Goblin Scout Creature tokens are produced by Goblin Scouts.

Scout Organizations

• Matsu

Notable Scouts

• Mistmeadow Jack
• Saffi Eriksdotter
• Scout Ekemet

Shamans

Shamans are similar to wizards in that their magic comes from rituals, lore, and years of practice, but their craft has an emotional and spiritual component reminiscent of druids. Shamans are common among the more primitive red, green, and black-aligned races, including elves, goblins, and treefolk, whom they serve as protectors and spiritual leaders.

Shaman Organizations

• Yamabushi

Notable Shamans

• Anowon, the Ruin Sage
• Ashling
• Auntie Wort
• Ben-Ben, Akki Hermit
• Colfenor
• Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
• Doran
• Hidetsugu
• Hivis of the Scale
• Kaervek
• Kiki-Jiki Mirror Breaker
• Kobo
• Mayael the Anima
• Rakka Mar
• Reki
• Rosheen Meanderer
• Ryusaki Kumano
• Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro
• Sakiko
• The Sapling
• Sarkhan Vol
• Savra
• Sek'Kuar
• Shizuko
• Sunastian Falconer
• Zirilan of the Claw

Shaman tokens

• 3/1 Red Elemental Shaman tokens are produced by Heartcage Giant, Hostility and Rebellion of the Flamekin.
• Reach of the Branches produces 2/5 green Treefolk Shaman tokens.

Soldiers

Soldiers are trained combatants who are part of a formal army. They are tough and disciplined, adept at fighting in concert and overwhelming the enemy. Many soldiers have first strike, vigilance or other combat-oriented abilities. Most soldiers are white, though a large minority are blue or red, and a few green and black soldiers have been printed as well. In the Grand Creature Type Update the subtypes Avenger (Righteous Avengers), Legionnaire (Akron Legionnaire), Pikeman (Pikemen) and Squire (Squire) were incorporated into the Soldier class. More than 30 cards produce Soldier tokens, which makes the Soldier token the second most common one, after saprolings.

Soldier Organizations / Locations

• Daru Plains
• Kentsu
• Wojek League

Notable Soldiers

• Anthanor
• Agrus Kos
• Commander Eesha
• Fonn Zunich
• Gerrard Capashen
• General Jarkeld
• King Darien of Kjeldor
• Lieutenant Kirtar
• Major Teroh
• Myczil Zunich
• Raksha Golden Cub
• Rashida Scalebane
• Sisay
• Torsten Von Ursus

Spellshapers

Spellshapers are amongst the most narrowly focused spellcasters. They devote themselves to perfecting a single spell or selection of spells, relying on their mastery of their focus to make up for their lack of versatility. In all other respects they are similar to wizards, clerics, druids, and other spellcasters.

Each spellshaper has one or more activated abilities that requires its owner to pay a certain amount of mana and discard one or more cards in exchange for an effect that often mimics a well-known instant or sorcery. For instance, Bog Witch produces an effect identical to Dark Ritual.

Notable Spellshapers

• Alexi
• Greel
• Jaya Ballard
• Jolrael
• Latulla
• Mageta the Lion

Townsfolk

Townsfolk is a defunct creature type for humans with no specific occupation. Most townsfolk have since had their class changed to something more appropriate (for instance, Anarchist was once a townsfolk but is now a wizard), or are now simply humans without a class (such as Treasure Hunter). Two still-extant creature types that appear solely on tokens, Citizen and Serf, are similar in theme to Townsfolk.

Warriors

Warriors are combatants who fight alone or in loose hordes. Unlike soldiers, whose strength is in their numbers, a single warrior is often content to take on the world all by him- or herself. Warriors favor brute strength over cunning, sheer will over tactics. Many warriors have trample. Most warriors are black, red, or green.

Warrior Organizations

• Brighthearth

Notable Warriors

Barktooth Warbeard Bartel Runeaxe Brion Stoutarm Dakkon Blackblade Eladamri Greven il-Vec Gideon Jura Hunding Gjornersen Ishi-Ishi Jedit Ojanen Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet Kasimir the Lone Wolf

Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs Kresh the Bloodbraided Korlash, Heir to Blackblade Kyyrao Grenmw Livonya Silone Maraxus of Keld Marhault Elsdragon Mirri Nath Norin the Wary Purraj of Urborg Radha

Rhys Sedris, the Traitor King Shisato Sosuke Stangg Stonebrow Tahngarth Tolsimir Wolfblood Vhati il-Dal Warlord Mandek Ironfist Zo-Zu

In the Grand Creature Type Update the subtype Stangg-Twin for a token created by Stangg was changed into a (Human) Warrior token "named Stangg Twin". The subtypes Raider (Erg Raiders) and War-Rider (Varchild's War-Riders) were incorporated into the Warrior class as well. About 20 cards are able to produce Warrior tokens.

• Wizards are masters of channeling mana into powerful spells.