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Kindred
Multiple symbol
Card Type
Subtype Creature type
Storm Scale 9[1]
Statistics
62 cards
{C} 11.3% {W} 14.5% {U} 16.1% {B} 21% {R} 11.3% {G} 14.5% {artifact symbol} 11.3%
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.[2][3][4][5][6] 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.[7][8] 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).[9] 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.[10][11] On the other hand, he noted that mechanically caring about creature types is still very much alive.[12]

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.[13][14][15]

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.[16][17] "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.[18][19]

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.[20] The decision was made to rename the type to "Kindred", with the terminology change scheduled for a future Oracle update.[21] 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.[22][23]

The name change allowed R&D to do the occasional one-off design in appropriate products that they might not have done before.[24] The first examples of which were Demonic Covenant and Formless Genesis in Duskmourn Commander decks.

Rules[ | ]

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (September 20, 2024—Duskmourn: House of Horror)

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 (September 20, 2024—Duskmourn: House of Horror)

  • 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 (September 20, 2024—Duskmourn: House of Horror)

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[ | ]

Tribal indicator

A considered indicator for Elf kindred

References[ | ]

  1. Mark Rosewater (November 5, 2023). "Where is kindred on the storm scale...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  2. Mark Rosewater (October 1, 2007). "And the Rest". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Mark Rosewater (October 8, 2007). "Before and After". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. Devin Low (September 28, 2007). "Mixed Doubles: Two Types and Two Keywords". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Devin Low (October 12, 2007). "Surprising Subtypes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Doug Beyer (October 10, 2007). "The Flavor of Tribals". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. Mark Rosewater (September 07, 2015). "Is there a chance we'll be seeing more tribal eldrazi spells?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. Mark Rosewater (October 24, 2015). "What about allowing elemental to be both a creature and non-creature subtype?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  9. Mark Rosewater (September 19, 2011). "Scary Stories, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. Mark Rosewater (July 9, 2015). "I think it's just that Tribal doesn't fit in the way Innistrad used.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  11. Mark Rosewater (August 30, 2016). "Why did Tribal stop being used?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  12. Mark Rosewater (September 09, 2015). "Are you guys done with Tribal?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  13. Mark Rosewater (May 18, 2021). "TRIBAL Artifact - Lhurgoyf??? Does this mean Tribal could return in the future or just that MH2 is allowed to use retired mechanics?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  14. Mark Rosewater (May 18, 2021). "Thank you Mark! I am very excited for a Tribal card :)". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  15. Mark Rosewater (November 3, 2023). "Does the change from Tribal to Kindred improve the cardtype's chances at a return?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  16. Blake Rasmussen (August 15, 2023). "Wilds of Eldraine Debut Aftershow (Video)". Magic: The Gathering. YouTube.
  17. Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2023). "Just for clarification - is "typal" the same thing as what's commonly referred to amongst players as "tribal"?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  18. Mark Rosewater (August 21, 2023). "One thing that has bothered many players in the Portuguese language is the new term "typal".". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  19. Mark Rosewater (September 10, 2023). "Since Wizards will no longer use the term tribal, and instead use typal, we will be seeing Typal instant/sorceries again?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  20. Wizards of the Coast (November 3, 2023). "Card Updates Coming with Khans of Tarkir on MTG Arena". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  21. Mark Rosewater (March 28, 2024). "I noticed in the comprehensive rules that the card type “kindred” is still listed as being called “tribal”.". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  22. Matt Tabak (May 21, 2024). "Modern Horizons 3 Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  23. Eric Levine (May 31, 2024). "Modern Horizons 3 Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  24. Mark Rosewater (November 20, 2023). "Odds & Ends: 2023, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  25. Mark Rosewater (October 30, 2021). "Hi mark id like to ask what guides a card saying...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  26. Aaron Forsythe (December 10, 2021). "This was some exploration into other versions of the Tribal card type from Lorwyn days". Twitter.
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