Shard

For the cosmological phenomenon, see Shard of the Twelve Worlds.

For the token, see Shard (subtype).

A shard, or arc, is a series of three colors in an unbroken chain on the color pie. The middle color in a shard is its primary color, allied to both of the shard's other colors. In contrast, a combination of a color and its two enemy colors is called a wedge.

Description

Prior to the official naming, Invasion block was the first multicolored set with some three-colored themes. Invasion and Planeshift were headlined by shard-colored Dragons as a reward for stretching the allied-color drafting. There were three cycles using the dragon's names, with four other cycles with [word]-Scape (Sun, Storm, Night, Thunder, and Thorn) as a name for the shards. These names were not designed or marketed as faction names, so those designations fell by the wayside.

The official term "shards" was established in the 2008 expansion Shards of Alara. It depicts the plane of Alara divided into five shards, each having only three of the five colors of mana. Each shard has its own flavor and gameplay mechanic related to its place in the color pie.

Fourteen years later, the next major Shard set was released in the Streets of New Capenna, where the factions are crime families ruled over by demons.

Bant

Bant () has white as the primary color.

• Alara features the Exalted keyword.
• The associated Capennan Gang are the Brokers, the lawyers. They use shield counters.
• The Invasion era Dominarian school of magic was Sunscape, matched with Treva, the Renewer.

Esper

Esper () has blue as the primary color.

• Alara features a colored artifacts theme.
• The associated Capennian Gang is the Obscura, the knowledge brokers and surveillance experts. They Connive as a mechanic.
• The Invasion era Dominarian school of magic was Stormscape, matched with Dromar, the Banisher.

Grixis

Grixis () has black as their primary color.

• Alara features the Unearth keyword.
• The associated Capennian Gang are the Maestros, the artistic assassins. Their spells use Casualty.
• On Ixalan, the Brazen Coalition engage in Raids.
• The Invasion era Dominarian school of magic was Nightscape, matched with Crosis, the Purger.

Jund

Jund () has red as their primary color.

• Alara features the Devour keyword.
• The associated Capennian Gang are the Riveteers, the artisans and brute-force wrecking crew. Their creatures can use Blitz.
• The Invasion era Dominarian school of magic was Thunderscape, matched with Darigaaz, the Igniter.

Naya

Naya () has green as their primary color.

• Alara features a 5-power matters theme.
• The associated Capennian Gang are the Cabaretti, the hedonistic druids. Their creatures form an Alliance.
• On Ixalan, the Sun Empire features creatures that can become Enraged.
• The Invasion era Dominarian school of magic was Thornscape, matched with Rith, the Awakener.