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Originally, in Alpha, creature types were largely used for flavor-related reasons.[1] This was continued until Fallen Empires, when creatures types had in-game mechanical implications. The first block in which creature types mattered was Tempest, particularly via the Licids and Slivers, both of which creature types shared a mechanical identity among its creature cards.

Before the Grand Creature Type Update, creature types were only changed when a card was reprinted.[2] This policy was straightforward when only core sets and regular expansions were considered. However, it became quite complicated when digital sets on Magic Online (such as the release of the Mirage block or Masters Edition) were considered "reprints". Offbeat reprints found in Coldsnap theme decks and the timeshifted cards in Time Spiral added to the confusion.

Updates before the Grand Update[ | ]

Limited Edition Alpha[ | ]

Revised Edition[ | ]

Sixth Edition[ | ]

Mercadian Masques[ | ]

Battle Royale[ | ]

Seventh Edition[ | ]

Eighth Edition[ | ]

Champions of Kamigawa[ | ]

Ninth Edition[ | ]

Mirage digital release[ | ]

Ravnica: City of Guilds[ | ]

  • Introduction of the Archon type.
  • Introduction of the Lammasu type.

Guildpact[ | ]

  • Introduction of the Weird type.

Coldsnap Themedecks[ | ]

Visions digital release[ | ]

Time Spiral "Timeshifted"[ | ]

Tenth Edition[ | ]

Masters Edition[ | ]

Weatherlight digital release[ | ]

Prelude to the Grand Creature Type Update[ | ]

Mirrodin was the first set to implement the race-class model and along with it most notably the Human subtype was introduced. At that time it was an open question whether creature types on existing cards should be changed.[1][8] In the end, the decision was made in favor of having consistent creature types in the core set (Ninth Edition).

While a mass errata was ruled out in the beginning,[9] a couple of years later Aaron Forsythe hinted at an Oracle update.[10] Since Lorwyn block had a tribal theme, it was the perfect opportunity to realize those "sweeping changes."

Grand Creature Type Update[ | ]

The Grand Creature Type Update was a mass update of creature types, as part of the regular Oracle update for Lorwyn in October 2007. With 1197 affected cards, it represented the bulk of the changes.[11] The update ranks as one of the biggest changes to the Oracle (the update for Ninth Edition has been comparable in scope, changing hundreds of local enchantments to Auras).

A major objective was bringing older creatures into conformity with the modern race-class model (e.g. Human Soldier). Many creatures were given the Human subtype, while others were assigned races like Dryad, Dauthi, Kor, or Merfolk. Creatures that lacked an obvious class were given one. Additionally, 146 creature types were removed and became obsolete, most of them being one-offs such as "Ali-from-Cairo" or "People-of-the-Woods". Un-sets types were also dropped. Eight new types were added.

A few types that were removed in the Update have since been reintroduced to the game, such as Dog, Dinosaur, Inquisitor, Noble, and Ranger.

Before this update, several creatures had no creature subtypes. Before Champions of Kamigawa, the legendary supertype did not exist, and legendary creatures were instead printed with the Legend creature type, and no other types (as "Summon Legend" or "Creature — Legend"). Many artifact creatures did not have subtypes and some cards that animated did not list any creature types gained in the process. All such cards acquired types in the Update. However, for flavor reasons, Nameless Race was retained as the only creature without a creature type.

The changes were controversial, as seen on the Magic the Gathering forums. Players either disagreed with the necessity of the update or whether the individual changes were right.[12] For many years, R&D considered the Grand Creature Type Update to have been a mistake, because many cards no longer behaved as they were written.[13][14][15][16] More recently, such errata has become acceptable again, as seen in the updates adding the Phyrexian type to older cards, because turnover within the staff shifted the majority opinion.[17]

Dropped creature-types[ | ]

Abomination, Aladdin, Albatross, Alchemist, Ali-Baba, Ali-from-Cairo, Alligator, Ambush-Party, Ant, Asp, Bandit, Banshee, Bee, Being, Bodyguard, Brownie, Bull, Bureaucrat, Caravan, Carnivore, Carriage, Cave-People, Cheetah, Chicken, Child, Clamfolk, Cobra, Constable, Cow, Crusader, Designer, Devouring-Deep, Dinosaur, Dog, Donkey, Dragonfly, Drill-Sergeant, Eel, Effigy, El-Hajjâj, Enchantress, Entity, Erne, Essence, Exorcist, Expansion-Symbol, Farmer, Fiend, Frostbeast, Fungusaur, Gaea's-Avenger, Gamer, General, Ghost, Ghoul, Guardian, Gus, Gypsy, Harlequin, Heretic, Hero, Hipparion, Hornet, Horseman, Hyena, Infernal-Denizen, Inquisitor, Island-Fish, Jackal, Keeper, Kelp, King, Lady-of-Proper-Etiquette, Legend, Legionnaire, Leper, Lord, Lurker, Lycanthrope, Mage, Maiden, Mammoth, Marid, Master, Medusa, Merchant, Mime, Minor, Miracle-Worker, Mold-Demon, Monster, Mummy, Murk-Dweller, Nameless-Race, Narwhal, Niall-Silvain, Noble, Paladin, Paratrooper, Penguin, People-of-the-Woods, Phantasm, Pig, Pikemen, Pixie-Queen, Poltergeist, Pony, Priest, Pyknite, Ranger, Robber, Roc, Rock-Sled, Sage, Scavenger, Shark, Ship, Shyft, Sister, Smith, Sorceress, Spuzzem, Spy, Stangg-Twin, Tactician, Tarpan, Teddy, Thief, The-Biggest-Baddest-Nastiest-Scariest-Creature-You'll-Ever-See, Titan, Townsfolk, Tracker, Twin, Viper, Vulture, Waiter, Walking-Dead, Wasp, Whippoorwill, Wight, Wiitigo, Wirefly, Wolverine-Pack, Wolves-of-the-Hunt, Wretched.

Added creature-types[ | ]

Anemone, Anteater, Elk, Harpy, Metathran, Nautilus, Scarecrow, Squid, Thalakos.

Reinstated[ | ]

Cyclops

The "Grand Creature Type Update" Update[ | ]

As expected, mistakes were made in the first update. Subsequently, 90 cards were updated when Morningtide was released.[18]

After the "Grand Creature Type Update" Update[ | ]

Eventide[ | ]

  • Introduction of the Noggle type.

Magic 2010[ | ]

  • Introduction of the Siren type.

Zendikar[ | ]

Rise of the Eldrazi[ | ]

Magic 2011[ | ]

  • Egg became Bird. When the M11 card Roc Egg was printed, the creature type "Egg" was decommissioned and Rukh Egg was changed accordingly.

Scars of Mirrodin[ | ]

Mirrodin Besieged[ | ]

New Phyrexia[ | ]

Innistrad[ | ]

Theros[ | ]

Journey into Nyx[ | ]

  • Introduction of the Lamia type.
  • For Challenge Decks the Reveler subtype was used, but again not added to the comprehensive rules.

Khans of Tarkir[ | ]

  • Introduction of the Naga type.

Fate Reforged[ | ]

Battle for Zendikar[ | ]

Shadows over Innistrad[ | ]

  • Introduction of the Mole type.

Kaladesh[ | ]

Aether Revolt[ | ]

  • R&D no longer feels that every supported creature type mentioned in the card name must also be among that card's types. Therefore, Quicksmith Rebel and others don't have the Rebel type.[20]

Amonkhet[ | ]

  • Re-introduction of the Jackal type.

Ixalan[ | ]

Unstable[ | ]

Battlebond[ | ]

  • Introduction of the Azra type.

Global Series: Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling[ | ]

Core Set 2019[ | ]

  • Re-introduction of the Egg type.

War of the Spark[ | ]

  • Introduction of the Army type.

Commander 2019[ | ]

Throne of Eldraine[ | ]

Ponies: The Galloping[ | ]

Theros: Beyond Death[ | ]

Unsanctioned[ | ]

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths[ | ]

  • Introduction of the Otter type.
  • Reintroduction of the Shark type.

Core Set 2021[ | ]

Kaldheim[ | ]

Strixhaven: School of Mages[ | ]

Modern Horizons 2[ | ]

Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms[ | ]

Streets of New Capenna[ | ]

Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate[ | ]

Unfinity[ | ]

Warhammer 40,000 Commander Decks[ | ]

Phyrexia: All Will Be One[ | ]

  • Introduction of the Mite type.

Doctor Who[ | ]

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan[ | ]

Fallout[ | ]

Outlaws of Thunder Junction[ | ]

Modern Horizons 3[ | ]

Bloomburrow[ | ]

References[ | ]

  1. a b Magic Arcana (November 24, 2003). "When name = creature type". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022.
  2. Mark Rosewater (November 18, 2002). "Beast of Show". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Classic(tm) (Sixth Edition) Oracle. Wizards of the Coast (October 5, 1999). Archived from the original on March 1, 2012.
  4. Mark Rosewater (October 04, 2004). "Change For the Better". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. John Carter (June 30, 2005). "Ninth Edition Frequently Asked Questions". magicthegathering.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013.
  6. Magic Arcana (July 31, 2006). "Mistform Ultimus Watch: Coldsnap Edition". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022.
  7. Magic Arcana (October 03, 2006). "Mistform Ultimus Watch – Time Spiral". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022.
  8. Aaron Forsythe (July 16, 2004). "Classifying Samite Healers". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022.
  9. Randy Buehler (November 29, 2002). "Human Nature". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022.
  10. Aaron Forsythe (August 24, 2007). "Looking Back to the Future". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022.
  11. Mark Gottlieb (September 26, 2007). "Lorwyn Update Bulletin". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022.
  12. charlequin (September 26, 2007). "The Grand Creature Type Update (and other Rules Updates)". MTG Salvation Forums.
  13. Mark Rosewater (March 16, 2014). "Is the number of cards that would have to be rewritten more than the Grand Creature Type Update?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  14. Mark Rosewater (March 17, 2014). "The Grand Creature Update was a mistake? Why?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  15. Mark Rosewater (May 15, 2013). "Is retroactively applying creature types considered "functional errata"?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  16. Mark Rosewater (August 01, 2017). "Why is it that creature types get a pass, given that they do have gameplay repercussions?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  17. Mark Rosewater (January 9, 2021). "What made you guys finally decide to pull the trigger on the phyrexian errata?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  18. Mark Gottlieb (January 16, 2008). "Morningtide Update Bulletin". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022.
  19. Matt Tabak (January 15, 2015). "Fate Reforged Update Bulletin — Oracle Text". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021.
  20. Mark Rosewater (January 28, 2017). "Is Rebel no longer a supported creature type?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  21. Eli Shiffrin (September 27, 2019). "Throne of Eldraine Oracle Changes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022.
  22. Eli Shiffrin (June 20, 2020). "Core Set 2021 and Jumpstart Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  23. Mark Rosewater (June 11, 2024). "If Efreets are going to be Djinn moving forward, will old Efreets be errata'd into Djinns?". Blogatog. Tumblr.

External links[ | ]

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