Troll
Troll is a mainly green creature type represented in the Magic lore as large, bestial, ill-tempered humanoids that usually dwell in forests and have regenerative powers. [1]
While the creature type started as mainly red, their regenerative properties (translated in the game with the keyword Regenerate) led them to be moved into green and later green-black.
With Regenerate falling out of favor with both Design and Development, trolls have become rarer and harder to print as they suffer the same problems as skeletons: the flavor wants trolls to have Regenerate, but R&D doesn't want to print cards with Regenerate due to complexity/poor gameplay; therefore R&D doesn't make trolls.
The first creatures to bear the type were Uthden Troll and Sedge Troll from Alpha.
Trolls throughout the Multiverse
Dominaria
On Dominaria live the aforementioned Uthden Troll and Sedge Troll : while no continent is the specific focus of Alpha, most early magic took place in either Terisiare ot The Domains, meaning we can infer that these species lived on either or both.
Jungle Trolls are present on the continent of Jamuura and are notable for being led by a troll king (named Drulvurg during the time of Mirage).
Before its destruction during the Brothers' War, the island of Argoth was home to the Albino Trolls who fought on the side of Titania against the Brothers insurrection.
The Charging Trolls of the The Domains fought on the side of the Coalition during the Phyrexian Invasion of Dominaria.
At the time of the Time Rifts crisis, Sedge Trolls from an alternate reality known as Hedge Trolls appeared. These troll were profoundly devout, and it seemed that unlike the other species of troll, these didn't need to feed.
Mercadia
The Horned Trolls of Mercadia heal so fast that weapons are sometimes trapped inside their wounds.
Mirrodin
The trolls who were brought to Mirrodin lived at Tel-Jilad, the largest tree in the Tangle. [2] Inscribed onto its metal surface is the history of Mirrodin. Near the bottom, all the writings have been etched out. The trolls considered this their sacred home, and they lived within its hollow core. After the Vanishing there was only one left: Thrun, the Last Troll.
Rath
The Skyshroud Trolls of Rath lived in the Skyshroud forest, where they were known to subside on the elves and merfolks. Other Rathi trolls known as Pygmy Troll were of an atypically small variety.
It is unknown whether any troll survived the Rathi Overlay, but if they did, one or both specie could still exist on Dominaria in Keld, where the Skyshroud forest appeared.
Ravnica
Many Ravnican trolls live oppressed existences, being hunted by faeries or experimented on by the Simic Combine. They are part of the Gruul Clans and the Golgari Swarm (Golgari Grave-Troll, Lotleth Troll, Trestle Troll) [3]
Shadowmoor
Trows are the vile trolls that lurk in the bogs of Shadowmoor. They reappear each night to frighten the living and gnaw the dead. [4]
Ulgrotha
The Homelands harbor a race of Sea Trolls. Sea Trolls are vicious, cruel, and extremely crafty undersea hunters. They can walk on land for a few hours at a time, but are best off in the deep water away from sunlight and bright illumination.
Whole tribes of Sea Trolls exist within deep subterranean caves, and live by stealing from Seafolk fish-herds, attacking passing surface ships, or even ambushing Seafolk towns and dragging their prisoners back to the caves for a quick, predatory meal. Sea Trolls have been the bane of the Seafolk for years, as they swim faster, fight harder, and are well versed in camouflaging themselves by painting the color of their skins with scum from the ocean floor. [5]
One notable ulgrothan sea troll is Kakra, whose sayings prove the intelligence and pragmatic side of its specie (Chain Stasis, Narwhal, Sea Sprite).
Zendikar
Harvester Trolls existed on Zendikar at the time of the conflict with the Eldrazi, though they didn't intervene, preferring to continue preying upon wanderers.
Notable Trolls
Trivia
- Uthden Troll and Sedge Troll are both the first trolls printed and the only mono-red trolls.
- Sea Troll is the only blue troll.
- Jungle Troll, Charging Troll, Lotleth Troll, Trestle Troll, and Varolz, the Scar-Striped — The only multicolored trolls.
- Jungle Troll was the first multicolored troll and is the only red-green troll.
- Charging Troll is the only Troll with white in its casting cost.
- Rendclaw Trow and Odious Trow are the only trolls with an hybrid mana cost. They both are .
- Out of the 27 trolls printed inthe game, 17 are mono-green .
References
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- ↑ Scott Hungerford and Kyle Namvar. (June 14th, 1995). Backstory for Magic the Gathering : Homelands, Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Jungle Troll flavor text