Creature class
Class is an aspect of the identity and nature of a creature or character, more often than not a humanoid one, in the game of Magic: The Gathering, as a subset of creature types (cf. race), or the Magic storyline. This fundamental element can define the capabilities, characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of a creature or character. Class can represent that creature or character's career, job, occupation, function, or purpose.
In the game of Magic: The Gathering, class, like race, can be significant, and it was featured as the theme underlying the Morningtide expansion. 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.
List of classes
| Magic Users | Fighters | Rogues | Hybrids and Others |
|---|---|---|---|
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Obsolete classes
In the Grand Creature Type Update (GCTU), numerous classes were obsoleted, either merged into other classes or removed entirely.
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Bodyguards
Bodyguard is an obsolete class that was used for a person or group of persons employed to guard an individual, often an important figure, from bodily harm.
In the game of Magic, Bodyguard was introduced in Limited Edition on Veteran Bodyguard and was featured on Martyrs of Korlis (Antiquities) and Anaba Bodyguard (Homelands). Following the GCTU, cards with "Bodyguard" in their names such as Rhox Bodyguard (Conflux) are Soldiers or Clerics.
In the Magic storyline, Burke was a bodyguard for Ambassador Laquatus, and the Cabal Patriarch asked Chainer to be his bodyguard.
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
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.