Prototype creature

Prototype creature

 

Bears

 

Cats

 

Cockroaches

 

Drakes

 

Elementals

 

Giants

 

Lions

 

Oxes

 

Terns

 

Turtles

 

Prototype creatures are creatures that are used to refer to an entire class of creatures with the same power and toughness and mana cost or converted mana cost (and in some cases, abilities). What makes these creature prototypical is their recurrence at common or uncommon rarity in almost all modern sets. Of these categories, Gray Ogres and Pikers are the most common (since they existed well before value bears became common) with nearly 400 and over 200 respectively.

In most cases, these are usually found with (often strong) upsides in the colors they are most common in. In most cases, multicolored cards are not considered to belong to the "corresponding" prototype.

Common models

Name	Prototype card	Characteristics	Colors
Bears	Grizzly Bears	2/2 for 1M	With abilities ("Value Bear"): White, Green, Black, Red Only at MM cost or with downside: Blue
Elementals	Air Elemental	4/4 or bigger flyers for cmc 5, always uncommon or rarer	All colors except green
Terns	Welkin Tern	2/1 flier for 1M, usually with downside	Blue, some black and white
Giants	Hill Giant	3/3 for 3M or 2MM	Mostly red and green
Ogres	Gray Ogre	2/2 for 2M	All colors, but slightly more common in black and red
Drakes	Wind Drake	2/2 for 2M with flying	Mostly white and blue
Turtles	Horned Turtle	1/4 for 2M	Mostly white and blue
Oxes	Pillarfield Ox	2/4 for 3M	Mostly white and green
Cockroaches	Giant Cockroach	4/2 for 3M	Mostly red and black
Pikers	Goblin Piker	2/1 for 1M	All colors, but most numerous in red
Lions	Savannah Lions	2/1 or 2/2 for M	Mostly white, some red and black
Cats	Sanctuary Cat	1/2 for M	Mostly white and green