Species
In Magic, species is a subset of the characteristic "creature type". Until 2025, this was designated as race.
Description
Originally "Race" designated the unique genetic makeup of a sapient (and usually humanoid) creature group.[1] Besides race, most Magic cards with humanoid creatures may also have another creature type: the job represents their career or calling in life. This is known as the species/job model.
Note that the the original Magic approach was somewhat different from the scientific one.[2] In biology, the basic unit of biological classification and taxonomic rank is "species", which is defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. Race in that aspect is defined as a genetically distinct population of individuals within the same species. It is also worth noting that the Wizards of the Coast's owned IP Dungeons & Dragons replaced "race" with "species" in 2024.[3]
In March 2025, Mark Rosewater revealed that R&D had started using "species" for Magic as well.[4]
Humanoid species
- Alien, Ape, Azra, Centaur (part Horse), Cyclops, Dauthi, Drix, Dryad, Dwarf, Elf, Faerie, Giant, Gnome, Goblin, Gorgon, Hag, Halfling, Human, Kithkin, Kobold, Kor, Merfolk (Fishfolk), Metathran, Minotaur (part bull or Goat or Sheep),[5] Moonfolk (part Rabbit), Noggle (part ass), Ogre, Orc, Ouphe, Satyr (part Goat), Siren, Slith, Soltari, Surrakar (reptillian), Thalakos, Troll, Vedalken, Werewolf, Yeti.
Humanoid species without their own subtype
- Ainok (Dogfolk), Amphin (Salamanderfolk), Aven (Birdfolk), Bearfolk, Cactusfolk, Cat Warriors (Catfolk), Chordatans (Sharkfolk), Khenra (Jackalfolk), Kappa (Turtlefolk), Kitsune (Foxfolk), Leonin (Catfolk), Loxodon (Elephantfolk), Nantuko/Kraul (Insectfolk), Naga (Snakefolk), Nezumi (Ratfolk), Orochi (Snakefolk), Rakshasa (Demons), Raccoonfolk, Rhox (Rhinofolk), Saurids (Dinosaur-folk), Viashino (Lizard-Dragon-folk), Wolfir (Wolffolk).
Humanoid species (in appearance only)
- Aetherborn, Angel, Archon, Avatar, Bringer, Demigod, Djinn, Efreet, God, Inkling, Lamia, Nymph, Reflection, Shade, Shapeshifter, Skeleton, Sliver (Magic 2014 version), Specter, Spirit, Thrull, Vampire, Wraith, Zombie.[6]
Sapient non-humanoid species
These species only have a job in rare exceptions.
- Beeble, Carrier, Demon, Devil, Dragon, Drone, Eldrazi, Elemental, Eye, Glimmer, Gremlin, Harpy, Homarid (part lobster or Crab), Homunculus, Horror, Illusion, Imp, Incarnation, Kirin, Lammasu, Nephilim, Nightmare, Nightstalker, Phyrexian, Spawn, Sphinx (part Cat), Spirit, Thallid (Fungusfolk), Treefolk (part Plant), Zubera.
Sapient non-humanoid species without their own subtype
- Cephalid (part Octopus or Squid), Thallid and Sporoloth (Fungusfolk)
Crossbreeds
Not-species
According to Mark Rosewater, the following creature types are not considered to be species by R&D.[7][8]
Animals
- Antelope, Ape, Armadillo, Aurochs, Badger, Bat, Bear, Beaver, Bird, Boar, Camel, Capybara, Caribou, Cat, Coyote, Crab, Crocodile, Dinosaur, Dog, Elephant, Elk, Ferret, Fish, Fox, Frog, Goat, Hamster, Hippo, Horse, Hyena, Insect, Jackal, Jellyfish, Leech, Lizard, Llama, Mite, Mole, Mongoose, Monkey, Mouse, Nautilus, Octopus, Ox, Oyster, Otter, Pangolin, Porcupine, Possum, Rabbit, Rat, Rhino, Sable, Salamander, Scorpion, Seal, Shark, Sheep, Skunk, Sloth, Slug, Snail, Snake, Spider, Sponge, Squid, Squirrel, Starfish, Trilobite, Turtle, Weasel, Whale, Wolf, Wolverine, Wombat, Worm.
Animals (fantastical)
- Atog, Basilisk, Beast, Brushwagg, Camarid, Cockatrice, Drake, Gargoyle, Griffin, Hellion, Hippogriff, Hydra, Kavu, Kraken, Leviathan, Lhurgoyf, Licid, Manticore, Mutant, Pegasus, Pest (on Arcavios), Phelddagrif, Phoenix, Serpent, Slith, Sliver, Spike, Unicorn, Varmint, Wurm.
Plants and fungi
Other biological creatures
Artifact creatures
- Assembly-Worker, Blinkmoth, Chimera, Construct, Dreadnought, Gnome, Golem, Juggernaut, Masticore, Myr, Pentavite, Pest, Prism, Robot, Sculpture, Servo, Scarecrow, Tetravite, Thopter, Toy, Triskelavite.
Non-sapient creatures
Non-canon species
Species not belonging to the Magic universe, but appearing in crossover products (Dungeons & Dragons, Universes Beyond).
Dungeons & Dragons
Humanoid species
Sapient non-humanoid species
Not-species
Animals
Universes Beyond
Humanoid species
Humanoid species without their own subtype
- Adipose (Alien), Ents (Treefolk), Hobbit (Halfings), Ice Warriors (Reptilian Alien), Judoon (Alien Rhinos), Kaleds (Alien), Lupari (Alien Dogs), Menoptera (Alien Insects), Sea Devils (Alien Salamanders), Silent (Aliens), Sontarans (Aliens), Sycorax (Aliens), Thijarians (Aliens), Weeping Angels (Alien Angels), and Zygons (Alien Shapeshifters).
Humanoid species (in appearance only)
Humanoid species (in appearance only) without their own subtype
- Maiar (Avatars)
Sapient non-humanoid species
Sapient non-humanoid species without their own subtype
Not-species
Animals
Non-eternal species
Some acorn sets, like Unglued, Unhinged, and Unstable, use creature types which are not included in Magic's comprehensive rules, but are part of 'silver-border' games. Because these creature types are not compiled into an authoritative list by Wizards of the Coast, the following table may be incomplete and which silver-border creature types are considered species and non-species is currently based on intuition rather than official comment.
Humanoid species
- Autobot, The Biggest, Baddest, Nastiest, Scariest Creature You'll Ever See, Brainiac, Clamfolk (Part clam), Gus, Mummy, Vampyre.
Sapient non-humanoid species
Not-species
Animals
- Chameleon, Chicken, Cow, Deer, Donkey, Gorilla, Kangaroo, Lobster, Locus, Mammoth, Penguin, Pig, Pony.
Constructs
Plants
Species modifiers
Notes and references
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 25, 2020). "Can you give your rigorous definitions of the "types of creature subtypes", like class, race and others, please?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Doug Beyer (August 10, 2011). "Magic's Exclusive Creatures". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29.
- ↑ D&D Staff (December 1, 2022). "Moving On From 'Race' in the 2024 Core Rulebooks". D&D Beyond.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 4, 2025). "Has R&D discussed making a similar shift in how y'all refer to the race/class model?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ In practice, any horned ruminant is a possibility: Zedruu the Greathearted is an antelope-based minotaur.
- ↑ Zombie is a weird race/class hybrid. Mark Rosewater (November 23, 2020). "Which one isn't a race among Dinosaur, Elf, Vampire, Zombie?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 23, 2020). "I guess you’d say some creature types are neither?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 24, 2020). "What makes Dinosaur not a race? What is it? What else is in that category?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
