Homunculus

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Revision as of 18:19, 27 September 2022 by >Nilbog Captain (→‎Storyline)
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Homunculus
Creature Type
(Subtype for creature/kindred cards)
Statistics
22 cards
{W} 9.1% {U} 81.8% {G/U} 4.5% {artifact symbol} 4.5%
as of Alchemy: Innistrad
Scryfall Search
type:"Homunculus"

Homunculus (Latin for "little human") is a blue creature type used for cards that depict artificially made, but sentient and living, miniature humans.

Description

These creatures are used for menial or dangerous tasks. Many homunculi just have one cyclopic eye (Oculus, Riddlekeeper).[1]

The first creature to bear the type was Bonded Fetch in Future Sight, though the Sneaky Homunculus from Nemesis and the Hazy Homunculus from Prophecy were later issued errata to become Homunculi in addition to their Illusion type.

Storyline

Esper

Blue-skinned homunculi live on Esper, one of the five Shards of Alara. Like all living things on the plane, they are artifact creatures. The mages of Esper measure their wealth and status by the number of these creatures in their retinues (Court Homunculus).[2]

Fiora

It isn't known for certain who or what creates the cantankerous, seemingly independent homunculi that can be found around Paliano. (Jeering Homunculus)

Innistrad

The homunculi of Innistrad are based on the hunchbacked assistants of mad scientists or vampires in old horror movies (Stitcher's Apprentice).

Kylem

The sentient homunculi of Kylem are the caretakers of Valor's Reach. Their most visible role is on the field acting as penalty mages; no foul during play escapes their watch. Due to their lack of mouths, they use sign language (mutually understood by all adults on Kylem) to communicate. Zndrsplt uses a telepathic link to allow her cyclops friend Okaum to speak for her.[3]

Ravnica

The homunculi of Ravnica are less human-like, and more imp-like (Doorkeeper, Frilled Oculus). They can't speak, but do communicate with sign language and in written form.[4]

In other media

In Magic SpellSlingers, a homunculus announcer named Vin speaks to the player and to the crowd[5], even though he doesn't appear to have a mouth and should canonically be mute.[3]

Tokens

Tokens marked with {A} are created by Acorn cards.

Token Name Color Type Line P/T Text Box Source Printings
Homunculus Blue Artifact Creature — Homunculus 0/1
Blue Creature — Homunculus 2/2
Colorless Creature — Homunculus 2/2

Notable Homunculi

Ravnica
Innistrad
Kylem

References

  1. Bonnie Bruenderman (June 11, 2014). "My name is NOT…". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. Magic Arcana (March 17, 2009). "Sketches: Court Homunculus". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. a b Alison Luhrs (June 6, 2018). "The World of Battlebond". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. James Wyatt (January 2019). "The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Ravnica". Wizards of the Coast
  5. Magic SpellSlingers (2022). Wizards of the Coast. Accessed 21 Aug 2022.
  6. Magic Arcana (October 02, 2008). "Tokens in Action!". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.