Creature type/History
The Grand Creature Type Update was part of the regular Oracle update for Lorwyn. With 1197[1] affected cards it represented the bulk of the changes.
Prelude
Mirrodin was the first set to implement the race-class model and along with it most notably the Human subtype was introduced. At that time it was an open question whether creature types on existing cards should be changed.[2] In the end the decision was made in favor of having consistent creature types in the core set (Ninth Edition).
Reasons for change
Prior to the update, creature types were only changed when a card was reprinted. This policy was straightforward when only core sets and regular expansions are considered. However it became quite complicated when digital sets on Magic Online (such as the release of the Mirage block or Masters Edition) were considered "reprints". Offbeat reprints found in Coldsnap theme decks and the timeshifted cards in Time Spiral added to the confusion.
While a mass errata was ruled out in the beginning[3], a couple of years later Aaron Forsythe actually hinted at an Oracle update[4]. Since Lorwyn block had a tribal theme, it was the perfect opportunity to realize those "sweeping changes".
The Update
With almost 1200 affected cards for creature types alone, the update ranks as one of the biggest changes to the Oracle (the update for Ninth Edition has been comparable in scope, changing hundreds of local enchantments to Auras).
First and foremost a lot of creatures got the Human subtype, and some cards got other races like Dryad, Dauthi, Kor or Merfolk. Another objective was making creatures conform to the modern race-class model. Creatures that lacked an obvious class got a class. Additionally 146 obsolete creature types were removed, most of them being one-offs such as "Ali-from-Cairo" or "People-of-the-Woods". Un-set types were also dropped. Eight new types were added.
Also creatures without creature types got creature types. There were three types of cards that lacked creature types. 1) Prior to the Mirrodin set, Legend was a creature type. Most legendary creatures were printed as "Summon Legend" or "Creature — Legend," and had no further creature types. 2) Lots of artifact creatures were subtypeless. 3) Some cards that self-animate didn't list the creature types they turned into.
The changes were quite controversial, as the activity on forums showed. Players either disagreed with the necessity of the update or whether the individual changes were right.[5] [6]
Dropped creature-types
Abomination, Aladdin, Albatross, Alchemist, Ali-Baba, Ali-from-Cairo, Alligator, Ambush-Party, Ant, Asp, Bandit, Banshee, Bee, Being, Bodyguard, Brownie, Bull, Bureaucrat, Caravan, Carnivore, Carriage, Cave-People, Cheetah, Chicken, Child, Clamfolk, Cobra, Constable, Cow, Crusader, Designer, Devouring-Deep, Dinosaur, Dog, Donkey, Dragonfly, Drill-Sergeant, Eel, Effigy, El-Hajjâj, Enchantress, Entity, Erne, Essence, Exorcist, Expansion-Symbol, Farmer, Fiend, Frostbeast, Fungusaur, Gaea's-Avenger, Gamer, General, Ghost, Ghoul, Guardian, Gus, Gypsy, Harlequin, Heretic, Hero, Hipparion, Hornet, Horseman, Hyena, Infernal-Denizen, Inquisitor, Island-Fish, Jackal, Keeper, Kelp, King, Lady-of-Proper-Etiquette, Legionnaire, Leper, Lord, Lurker, Lycanthrope, Mage, Maiden, Mammoth, Marid, Master, Medusa, Merchant, Mime, Minor, Miracle-Worker, Mold-Demon, Monster, Mummy, Murk-Dwellers, Nameless-Race, Narwhal, Niall-Silvain, Noble, Paladin, Paratrooper, Penguin, People-of-the-Woods, Phantasm, Pig, Pikemen, Pixie-Queen, Poltergeist, Pony, Priest, Pyknite, Ranger, Robber, Roc, Rock-Sled, Sage, Scavenger, Shark, Ship, Shyft, Sister, Smith, Sorceress, Spuzzem, Spy, Stangg-Twin, Tactician, Tarpan, Teddy, Thief, The-Biggest-Baddest-Nastiest-Scariest-Creature-You'll-Ever-See, Twin, Viper, Vulture, Waiter, Walking-Dead, Whippoorwill, Wight, Wiitigo, Wirefly, Wolverine-Pack, Wolves-of-the-Hunt, Wretched.
Added creature-types
Anemone, Anteater, Elk, Harpy, Nautilus, Scarecrow, Squid, Thalakos.
"The Grand Creature Type Update Update"
As expected mistakes were made in the first update. Subsequently 90 cards were updated when Morningtide was released.[7]
- Anemone was dropped again. Glowing Anemone was changed back to Beast and received the added Jellyfish type.
After "The Grand Creature Type Update Update"
Magic 2011
- Egg became Bird . When the M11 card Roc Egg was printed, the creature type "Egg" was decommissioned and Rukh Egg was changed accordingly. As explained by Matk Gotlieb, Rukh Egg and Roc Egg are, essentially, very (very) young Birds, so they'll both have that creature type. Summoner's Egg was granted the creature type Egg during the Grand Creature Type Update, but it was never printed like that. It's now a Construct. [8]
Dropped Creature-types before the Grand Update
Revised Edition
- Lord of Atlantis became Lord (Lord of Atlantis)
6th Edition
- Mana Bird became Bird (Birds of Paradise)
- Nymph became Dryad (Shanodin Dryads)
9th Edition
- Clone became Shapeshifter (Clone)
- Force became Elemental (Force of Nature)
- Lion became Cat (Savannah Lions)
- Will-O'-The-Wisp became Spirit (Will-O'-The-Wisp)
Time Spiral "Timeshifted"
- Dandân became Fish (Dandân)
- Cavalry became Knight (Moorish Cavalry)
- Gaea's Liege became Avatar (Gaea's Liege)
- Flying Men became Human (Flying Men)
Masters Edition
- Doppelganger became Shapeshifter (Vesuvan Doppelganger)
- Raider became Warrior (Erg Raiders)
- Shadow became Spirit (Nether Shadow)
- Tortoise became Turtle (Giant Tortoise)
- Witch became Wizard (Cuombajj Witches)