Legend
- This page is about the obsolete creature type. For the modern equivalent, see Legendary. For similar names, see Legends (disambiguation).
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Creature Type | |
| (Subtype for creature/kindred cards) | |
| Introduced | Legends |
| Last used | Obsolete |
| Updated to | Legendary |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Legend is an obsolete creature type that was affected by early versions of the Legend rule. It was replaced by expanded usage of the legendary supertype in Champions of Kamigawa.[1]
Only one creature of the same name, with this creature type, could be in play at the same time. For a while, they were even on the restricted list, meaning there could be only one creature of the same name in each deck.[2] Legend was one of two creature types with rules baggage, alongside Wall.
History
The type was introduced in the eponymous set Legends, which also introduced multicolored cards. In this set, every multicolored card was a "Summon Legend" creature and vice versa. The rules of the time did not have a clear concept of how cards with multiple subtypes should work, so most Legend cards had no other subtypes. The Elder Dragons were unique in their type being printed as "Elder Dragon Legend", but in game terms they were still to be treated as Legends but not Dragons.[3] The "Legendary Land" type combination was also introduced at this time with the Legend rule applying to them as well, but the "Legendary" would not be applied to creatures as a supertype until later.
Portal Three Kingdoms introduced the new type line for creatures reading "Creature — [subtype]" rather than "Summon [subtype]", but retained the custom of Legends with no other subtypes. This was the only set to use this combination for all its Legends, as the next set Urza's Destiny introduced secondary types for them. Secondary types were used inconsistently over the next few sets, tending to be used with types that already had mechanical relevance such as Elf or Wizard. For example, Volrath, the Fallen would later receive errata to gain the Phyrexian Shapeshifter creature types, but these had no typal support at the time, so the original card was simply printed as a "Summon Legend". As creature types became more significant, more Legends received types to go with them, until the practice became essentially universal with the Apocalypse set. Only one more card was ever printed as "Summon Legend" after this point - Karona, False God.
The last block to have Legend as a subtype was Mirrodin block. The Kamigawa block which followed removed all rules baggage associated with creature types: It began using the Legendary supertype, which had already been used consistently for Lands and Artifacts, for creatures as well. It also removed the special rules for Walls, moving that mechanic to the defender keyword ability. At the same time, all Legends that had previously been printed with no other types were given their creature subtypes in an Oracle update. Many have never received reprints, leaving the database as the only indication of their current creature type.
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (September 19, 2025—Marvel's Spider-Man)
- Legend (Obsolete)
- An obsolete creature type. Cards printed with this subtype have been given errata in the Oracle card reference so they have the legendary supertype instead. See Legendary.
Trivia
- Wizards of the Coast dubbed the summer of 2021 the Summer of Legend.
In-game references
- Referred to:
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 09, 2011). "The Issue Is Legen—Wait for It—Dary". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2018-12-14.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (July 26, 2002). "Restricted Legends". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2020-11-11.
- ↑ The Duelist #11, Page 57 (The Duelist)
