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]
- The recently introduced type Anemone was dropped again. Glowing Anemone was changed back to Beast and received the added Jellyfish type.
- Gremlin was dropped in favor of Ouphe (Phyrexian Gremlins)
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 Gottlieb, 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]
Mirrodin Besieged
- With the reintroduction of the Gremlin creature type in Mirrodin Besieged with Flensermite, Phyrexian Gremlins changed back from Ouphe.
Rise of the Eldrazi
- The Spawn type was reintroduced for tokens created by several cards from Rise of the Eldrazi. Elder Spawn wasn't changed back to its original type but remained an Elemental.
Dropped Creature-types before the Grand Update
Revised Edition
- Lord of Atlantis became Lord (Lord of Atlantis)
6th Edition
- Evil-Eye became Horror (Evil Eye of Orms-by-Gore)
- Falcon became Bird (Mesa Falcon) (change in Zephyr Falcon and other falcons implied).
- Lost-Soul became Minion (Lost Soul) (in the grand update, Spirit would be added)
- Mana Bird became Bird (Birds of Paradise)
- Nymph became Dryad (Shanodin Dryads)
- Rider became Elf (Elven Riders)
7th Edition
- Rag-Man became Minion (Rag Man)
- Scavenger-Folk became Scavenger (Scavenger Folk) (changed again to Human in the grand update)
9th Edition
- Clone became Shapeshifter (Clone)
- Force became Elemental (Force of Nature)
- Hell's Caretaker became Horror (Hell's Caretaker)
- Lion became Cat (Savannah Lions)
- Will-O'-The-Wisp became Spirit (Will-O'-The-Wisp)
Time Spiral "Timeshifted"
- Cavalry became Knight (Moorish Cavalry)
- Dandân became Fish (Dandân)
- Dervish became Monk (Whirling Dervish)
- Eye was (re)introduced with Evil Eye of Urborg. Accordingly, Evil Eye of Orms-by-Gore was changed again.
- Gaea's Liege became Avatar (Gaea's Liege)
- Flying-Men became Human (Flying Men)
- Ship became Spirit (Ghost Ship). Other changes from Ship were realized in the grand update.
- Sindbad became Human (Sindbad)
- Squire became Soldier (Squire)
- Taskmaster became Kobold (Kobold Taskmaster)
Masters Edition
- Archaeologist became Artificer (Argivian Archaeologist)
- Avenger became Soldier (Righteous Avengers)
- Brother became Human (Brothers of Fire)
- Ball-Lightning became Elemental (Ball Lightning)
- Doppelganger became Shapeshifter (Vesuvan Doppelganger)
- Eater became Horror (Eater of the Dead)
- Fallen became Zombie (The Fallen)
- Mob became Human (Angry Mob)
- Preacher became Cleric (Preacher)
- Raider became Warrior (Erg Raiders)
- Shadow became Spirit (Nether Shadow)
- Singing-Tree became Plant (Singing Tree)
- Tortoise became Turtle (Giant Tortoise)
- Villain became Beast (Spinal Villain)
- Witch became Wizard (Cuombajj Witches)