Kindred

Kindred
Error creating thumbnail: convert-im6.q16: unrecognized color `var(--theme-body-text-color)' @ warning/color.c/QueryMagickColorCompliance/2832. convert-im6.q16: non-conforming drawing primitive definition `fill' @ error/draw.c/RenderMVGContent/4456.
Card Type
Subtype	Creature type
Storm Scale	9
Statistics	60 cards 11.7% 15% 16.7% 20% 11.7% 13.3% 11.7%
Scryfall Search
type:"Kindred"

For the concept of creature subtype synergies, see Typal.

Kindred is a card type first introduced as Tribal in Future Sight and expanded upon in the Lorwyn block. The creature and kindred card types share the same set of subtypes. Thus, the kindred type exists to allow creature types to be given to non-creature cards, something which is otherwise not possible under the comprehensive rules. In this way, cards referring to specific creature types may also be able to interact with kindred spells and/or permanents if they have the relevant creature type(s).

Kindred has been coupled with instants, sorceries, enchantments and artifacts. It has (understandably) never been coupled with the creature card type, which already has access to all creature subtypes.

Retirement

R&D no longer supports the kindred card type. Mark Rosewater announced the death knell of kindred (still named tribal at the time) when it wasn't used in Innistrad (which had a strong typal subtheme). He stated that tribal was problematic everywhere R&D used it because they couldn't go half in, which resulted in a lot of extra words for very little actual use. On the other hand, he noted that mechanically caring about creature types is still very much alive.

Rise of the Eldrazi was the last standard-legal set to feature kindred. It made a small reappearance on the test card Form of the Mulldrifter in Mystery Booster and another small reappearance on the card Altar of the Goyf in Modern Horizons 2. Mark Rosewater then stated that special sets that can make use of retired mechanics can also make use of the kindred card type.

Change from Tribal to Kindred

Wizards of the Coast confirmed during Wilds of Eldraine previews that the company was moving away from the use of the word "tribal" for cultural reasons. "Typal" is a replacement for internal R&D slang that means “mechanically cares about creature type(s)”. However, it was stated that the word “typal” would never appear on cards, and that it was not a replacement for the card type tribal.

Later that year, R&D reviewed its stance towards the tribal card type as part of the digital release of Khans of Tarkir on Magic: The Gathering Arena. The decision was made to rename the type to "Kindred", with the terminology change scheduled for a future Oracle update. This change was not implemented until the release of Modern Horizons 3 over six months after this announcement. Modern Horizons 3 (and its commander decks) featured the first printed cards with the updated terminology, including both reprints that had previously used the "tribal" terminology and several new cards with the kindred type.

The name change allows R&D to do the occasional one-off design in the appropriate product that they might not have done before.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Kindred

A card type. Whether or not a kindred is a permanent depends on its other card type. See rule 308, “Kindreds.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

• 308. Kindreds
  • 308.1. Each kindred card has another card type. Casting and resolving a kindred card follows the rules for casting and resolving a card of the other card type.
  • 308.2. Kindred subtypes are usually a single word long and are listed after a long dash: “Kindred Enchantment — Merfolk.” The set of kindred subtypes is the same as the set of creature subtypes; these subtypes are called creature types. Kindreds may have multiple subtypes. See rule 205.3m for the complete list of creature types.
  • 308.3. Some older kindred cards were printed with the “tribal” card type. Cards printed with that type have received errata in the Oracle card reference.

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Tribal (Obsolete)

An obsolete card type that has been renamed. See rule 308, “Kindreds.”

Subtypes

Kindred shares its subtypes with the creature card type, much like how the instant and sorcery card types share their subtypes.

Rulings

• Kindred is not a permanent type. However, a kindred card can become a permanent if another of its types allows it to do so.
• Many Lorwyn cards refer to specific creature types. These cards may affect kindreds, depending on what they say and what they do. For example, using "Goblin" as our creature type:
  • If a card uses "Goblin" as a noun (that is, without following it with a word like "card" or "spell"), it actually means "Goblin permanent." It can affect any Goblin permanent in play, including a Goblin kindred.
  • If a card says just "Goblin creature," it can affect only a Goblin creature in play. It can't affect a kindred.
  • If a card says "Goblin card," it can affect any Goblin card not in play, including a Goblin kindred card.
• If a spell asks whether you control a Goblin, it's asking whether you control a Goblin permanent. It won't count Goblin spells you control (including itself).
• If a card with multiple types has one or more subtypes, each subtype is correlated to its appropriate type.
• When one or more of a permanent's subtypes changes, the new subtype(s) replace any existing subtypes from the appropriate set (creature types, land types, artifact types, enchantment types, spell types, or planeswalker types). It won't affect the subtypes from any other set, and it won't affect the permanent's types.
• If a permanent ceases to be one of its types, the subtypes correlated with that type will remain if they are also the subtypes of a type the permanent currently has; otherwise, they are also removed for the entire time the permanent's type is removed.
• The Onslaught card Artificial Evolution can change the creature types of a kindred.
• Many older cards have received errata in the Oracle card database to work sensibly with kindreds. For example, instant and sorcery cards can't come into play. If an older card was printed with a wording that allowed you to put a Goblin card into play, it now specifies that you can put a Goblin permanent card into play.

Trivia

A considered indicator for Elf kindred

• Kindred, under its original name tribal, was featured as rules card 5 of 5 in the Lorwyn set.
• There are 60 kindred cards, featuring seventeen creature types (Eldrazi, Elemental, Elf, Faerie, Giant, Goblin, Kithkin, Lhurgoyf, Merfolk, Rebel, Rogue, Shaman, Shapeshifter, Soldier, Treefolk, Warrior, and Wizard).
• When kindred was being used regularly, R&D went from saying “Goblin” to “Goblin creature card” for non-kindred effects. After they stopped regularly making Kindred cards they switched the template back as it’s less wordy.
• Early on, there was some exploration into other versions of the kindred card type that used kindred indicators in the type line of a card.