Snake

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Snake
Creature Type
(Subtype for creature/kindred cards)
Statistics
92 cards
{U} 4.3% {B} 19.6% {R} 1.1% {G} 59.8% {B/R} 1.1% {R/G} 1.1% {G/U} 7.6% {M} 1.1% {artifact symbol} 4.3%
as of Modern Horizons 2
Scryfall Search
type:"Snake"

Snake is a creature type used for cards that depict scaled, limbless, reptiles with salivary glands often modified to produce venom which is injected through grooved or tubular fangs. However, when appearing as Snake-folk they do in fact have arms.

History

The first creature to bear the type was River Boa in Visions (though Crypt Cobra and Sabertooth Cobra from Mirage, the Hornet Cobra from Legends, and Nafs Asp from Antiquities were later issued errata to become Snakes). After the Grand Creature Type Update Snake became a common "tribe".

Storyline

Alara

Coatl

The coatl are large, winged serpents created during the Conflux on Alara. The nacatl call them "vetli", a word that means "poison arrow".[1] Wingless variants also exist, whose scales are believed to be inscribed with secrets.[2]

Amonkhet

Serpopards

Based on an actual mythological creature, serpopards are cat snakes endemic to Amonkhet. They were kept in the menagerie of the god Rhonas.

Dominaria

Hornet Cobras

Hornet Cobras were poisonous serpents. One was summoned by the Calthyn Elves while fighting against the Kieryn Elves in the White Woods of Corondor.

Dementia Snakemen

Dementia Snakemen were created by Chainer when he exiled the First to Aphetto. The creatures were sent ahead of the First to seize control of the city prior to his arrival in order to make his takeover more difficult, although the First did eventually convince them to obey him. They were created using the power of the Mirari and continued to exist after Chainer's death, serving the Patriarch as bodyguards and assassins.

Ixalan

Coatl

Coatls are large serpents with feathered wings that are native to the continent of Ixalan.[3] The River Heralds rever the Coatl as representative of the wisdom of the sky and the rivers that twist through the air to reflect the course of rivers along the ground.

Coatls are immortal guardians of the sky, dwelling always among the clouds. The River Heralds say that they can be enticed to the ground by the earnest supplication of the wisest of merfolk shamans. Coatls are said to be wise beyond mortal measure and incapable of speaking a falsehood, so their advice is often sought in times of desperate need. The sight of a coatl is thought to foretell favorable winds — a belief that has begun to spread from the River Herald shamans to the pirates of the Brazen Coalition.

Kamigawa

Orochi

Orochi are anthropomorphic four-armed snakefolk that inhabit the Jukai Forest of Kamigawa (Orochi Colony).[4][5] The orochi of Jukai are segregated into three main tribes: the Kashi tribe, which houses and breeds the warriors of their kind; the Matsu tribe, which are snipers and scouts; and the Sakura tribe, which associates with the race's shamanic rituals and teachings.[6] Of course, each tribe has its exceptions.

Orochi magic is based on reverence to kami of the land itself and is noticeably tied to the seasons (see also: Orochi ability).

Ravnica

Coiling Oracle

Snaking remnants of nature directed by a body of thought and progress, the coiling oracles are blend of snake and elf that embody all that is Simic.[7]

Patagia Viper

Using its membranes, the Patagia Viper is able to glide between buildings. They are capable of obtaining lift within the course of these flights.

Theros

Snakes that mirror Greek myths

Greek Mythology describes several particular snakes, many of which are directly referenced by snakes from Theros. Snake of the Golden Grove is a reference to the Drakon Kholkikos, a giant snake or dragon, as the two creatures were not always clearly distinct in Greek myth, that guarded the Golden Fleece and was eventually slain by Jason and his Argonauts. Nemesis of Mortals is a reference to Python, a giant snake that was an enemy of Apollo. Nessian Asp references the amphisbaena, a type of two-headed snake often referenced in Greek texts.

Servants of Pharika or Erebos

Other snakes of Theros are not referencing any particular Greek Myth, but simply servants of Erebos or Pharika. This is depicted in Pharika's Chosen, Erebos's Emissary, Pharika's Cure, and Pharika, God of Affliction

Tarkir

Both the Sultai Brood and its successor, the Silumgar Brood use snakes. This is depicted in Ukud Cobra, Hooded Hydra, Rite of the Serpent, and Sudden Reclamation

Gorgons

The Gorgons of Theros have snakelike hair and bodies.

Main article: Gorgon

Nagas

The Nagas are snake-folk found on Amonkhet and Tarkir.

Main article: Naga

Notable Snakes

Dominaria

Kamigawa

  • Seshiro, the leader of the orochi colonies.
  • Sachi. the leader of the orochi shamans. Daughter of Seshiro.
  • Shidako. an orochi matriarch and warrior.
  • Shisato. an orochi warrior known for her cunning and ruthlessness.
  • Sasaya. an orochi female whose meditations enabled her to meld her life force with that of the forest.
  • Sakiko, an orochi matron who has mastered the art of drawing green mana from her enemies’ holdings.
  • Shizuko a powerful orochi shaman and rival of Sakiko who believes the orochi should be self-sufficient and uninvolved in the kami war.
  • Sosuke. the leader of the orochi warriors; also the son of Seshiro.
  • Kaseto, an orochi archmage.

Ikoria

Ravnica

Creature Update

Creature types changed into Snake include:

Examples of other snake species included in the Snake type

Tokens

Token Name Color Type Line P/T Text Box Source Printings
Snake Black Creature — Snake 1/1 Deathtouch
Black/​Green Enchantment Creature — Snake 1/1 Deathtouch
Green Creature — Snake 1/1
Green Creature — Snake 1/1 Deathtouch
Green/​Blue Creature — Snake 1/1
Colorless Artifact Creature — Snake 1/1 Whenever this creature deals damage to a player, that player gets a poison counter.
Green Creature — Snake 5/4
Honored Hydra White Creature — Zombie Snake Hydra 6/6 Trample
Tah-Crop Skirmisher White Creature — Zombie Snake Warrior 2/1
Champion of Wits Black Creature — Zombie Snake Wizard 4/4 When Champion of Wits enters the battlefield, you may draw cards equal to its power. If you do, discard two cards.
Fanatic of Rhonas Black Creature — Zombie Snake Druid 4/4 {T}: Add {G}.
Ferocious{T}: Add {G}{G}{G}{G}. Activate only if you control a creature with power 4 or greater.
Sinuous Striker Black Creature — Zombie Snake Warrior 4/4 {U}: Sinuous Striker gets +1/-1 until end of turn.
Broodbirth Viper Blue Creature — Snake 3/3 Whenever Broodbirth Viper deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.
Mist-Syndicate Naga Blue Creature — Snake Ninja 3/1 Ninjutsu {2}{U}
Whenever Mist-Syndicate Naga deals combat damage to a player, create a token that’s a copy of Mist-Syndicate Naga.
Test cards
Token Name Color Type Line P/T Text Box Source Printings
Snake Black Creature — Snake 1/1 Deathtouch

Trivia

References

  1. Flavor text of Winged Coatl
  2. Flavor text of Lorescale Coatl
  3. James Wyatt (January 9, 2018). "Plane Shift: Ixalan". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. Alex Smith (March 07, 2005). "Truth in Fantasy". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Magic Arcana (September 09, 2004). "Orochi art previews". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Wizards of the Coast (June, 2005). "Ask Wizards - June, 2005". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. Flavor text of Coiling oracle
  8. Magic Arcana (October 28, 2004). "Sketches: Orochi Hatchery". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. Magic Arcana (May 25, 2006). "Dissension Token Art". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. Magic Arcana (December 16, 2003). "Jinxed artifacts". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.