Creature class
Class is a fundamental facet of the identity and nature of a creature or character in both the game of Magic: The Gathering, as a subset of creature types, or the Magic storyline, respectively. This element can define the capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses of a creature or character, and some abilities or mechanics are associated with many or all members of a class; for example, all Samurai and Ninja have Bushido and Ninjutsu, respectively, while some Rebels and Mercenaries have a "recruiter" ability. Generally, only humanoid creatures and storyline characters and can represent that creature or character's career, job, occupation, function, or purpose.
As demonstrated by the Lorwyn block, specifically the Morningtide expansion, classes, like other types of creature subtypes, can be important when creature subtypes matter.
List of classes
| Magic Users | Fighters | Rogues | Hybrids and Others |
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Alchemists
Alchemists are people who practice alchemy, a form of chemistry and speculative philosophy which is concerned with discovering methods for transmuting base metals into gold and with finding a universal solvent and an Elixir of Immortality. The only card with the subtype Alchemist was Samite Alchemist. This was changed to Cleric in the Grand Creature Type Update. Battletide Alchemist was also printed as a Cleric, Aphetto Alchemist and Sedraxis Alchemist were printed as Wizards and Cho-Arrim Alchemist as Spellshaper. None of these cards had topdown design reflecting transmuting skills.
Bodyguards
A Bodyguard is a person or group of persons employed to guard an individual, often a high official or VIP, from bodily harm. Cards printed with the class Bodyguard were Veteran Bodyguard from Alpha, Martyrs of Korlis from Antiquities and Anaba Bodyguard from Homelands. In the Grand Creature Type Update the class was obsoleted and they were changed to Human and Minotaur respectively. Later cards like Rhox Bodyguard from Conflux were always Soldiers or Clerics.
Burke was a bodyguard for Ambassador Laquatus, and Chainer was asked to be a bodyguard for the Cabal Patriarch right before killing him.
Cowards
A coward is a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.; a timid or easily intimidated person. The Boldwyr Intimidator is a Giant Warrior who can change target creatures into cowards. This is the only card that actually mentions the subtype coward.
Norin the Wary is a notable coward.
Flagbearers
A flagbearer is a person (soldier or civilian) who bears a standard or oriflamme, i.e. either a type of flag or an inflexible but mobile image, which is used as a formal, visual symbol of a military unit on the battlefield.
In Apocalypse there were two White Flagbearer creatures (Standard Bearer and Coalition Honor Guard) and an aura (Coalition Flag) that granted a creature the Flagbearer subtype as well as the inherent ability. As long as you have one in play, any spell or ability your opponent plays that can target a Flagbearer must target a Flagbearer. If a spell has multiple targets, only one of the targets needs to be a Flagbearer.
Guardians
A Guardian is a creature which guards, protects, or preserves. The first creature to bear the type was Guardian Beast from Antiquities. Other examples include Harbor Guardian and Fountain Watch. The subtype was obsoleted in the Grand Creature Type Update. Ivory Guardians used to give a bonus to all Guardians. It now gives the bonus to just "creatures named Ivory Guardians".
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.
Notable heroes include:
- Gerrard Capashen
- Benalish Hero
- Tahngarth, Talruum Hero
- Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero
- Stonebrow, Krosan Hero
- Zhang Liao, Hero of Hefei
- Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile
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.
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.