Changes: Prototype creature/Bears

Revision as of 14:22, 11 April 2021

Prototype creature

Bears

Cats

A bear is slang for a 2/2 creature for a mana cost of M.^[1] It is one of several prototype creatures stats.

Description

Bears are most commonly associated with white or green.^[2] The name derives from the original Grizzly Bears card printed in Alpha. Starting with Innistrad 's Walking Corpse, black has begun receiving bears, including value bears (though these are still only occasional at common).

The common variety is called an vanilla bear. A value bear is a bear with an additional ability. For many years there were no value bears without 2 colored mana in their cost until Nomadic Elf and Kavu Titan were printed in Invasion. Still, value bears didn't become a relatively common sight until Kamigawa block. A hate bear is a bear with some kind of text that is good against a specific kind of deck.^[3]

There are approximately 330 vanilla or value bears, and about as many bears with a cost of 2 colored mana. Since there were more MM and MN than regular value bears in the early years of the game, it will take some time before M will eventually overtake those with a cost of two colored mana.

List of bears

For simplicity's sake, this list is limited to the most prototypically M-costed bears. They are listed in alphabetical order.

Vanilla bears

Value bears

White	Black	Red	Green	Hybrid
Ajani's Pridemate Alpine Watchdog Aviary Mechanic Benalish Cavalry Benalish Honor Guard Binding Mummy Bishop's Soldier Boros Mastiff Bounty Agent Charming Prince Clarion Spirit Cleric of the Forward Order Cliffside Rescuer Countless Gears Renegade Drannith Healer Eager First-Year Enduring Sliver Expedition Healer Felidar Cub Fledgling Griffin Flutterfox Guardian of Pilgrims Gust Walker Hanweir Militia Captain Herald of Dromoka Hero of Iroas Hero of Precinct One Hero of the Pride Huatli's Snubhorn Impassioned Orator Kami of Ancient Law Keening Apparition Kinsbaile Skirmisher Kjeldoran Outrider Knight of Cliffhaven Knight of Grace Knight of the Skyward Eye Kor Bladewhirl Leonin Arbiter Leonin Lightscribe Leonin Shikari Leonin Squire Livio, Oathsworn Sentinel Magus of the Balance Martyr for the Cause Master of Pearls Mesa Unicorn Moorland Drifter Moorland Inquisitor Mummy Paramount Ondu War Cleric Order of the Golden Cricket Oreskos Explorer Oreskos Sun Guide Pack Leader Patrol Hound Relic Seeker Ronom Unicorn Safehold Sentry Savannah Sage Seeker of the Way Sentinel Sliver Serene Steward Silverchase Fox Soul Summons Soulfire Grand Master Sram, Senior Edificer Starfield Mystic Steward of Solidarity Stone Haven Outfitter Stonewise Fortifier Story Seeker Sun Sentinel Sunhome Stalwart Sunspear Shikari Syndic of Tithes Tenth District Guard Thraben Heretic Throne Warden Thunderous Orator Topan Freeblade Trueheart Duelist Trustworthy Scout Veteran Armorer War Priest of Thune Worthy Knight	Battle Brawler Blood Burglar Blood-Chin Rager Culling Drone Deathknell Berserker Dhund Operative Dinosaur Hunter Dire Fleet Poisoner Dregscape Sliver Durable Coilbug Duskmantle Operative Expedition Skulker Ghoulcaller's Accomplice Keen Duelist Khenra Eternal Knight of Malice Kolaghan Skirmisher^[6] Leech Fanatic Malevolent Noble Miasmic Mummy Olivia's Dragoon Pain Seer Putrid Goblin Sinuous Vermin Slaughter Drone Tavern Swindler Temple Thief	Axgard Cavalry Battlefield Scavenger Bladeback Sliver Blood Age General Bloodstone Goblin Chandra's Embercat Chandra's Magmutt Cheering Fanatic Conspiracy Theorist Dark-Dweller Oracle Dismissive Pyromancer Drannith Stinger Dragonkin Berserker Fathom Fleet Firebrand Frenzied Raider Goblin Cratermaker Goma Fada Vanguard Harsh Mentor Heartfire Immolator Incendiary Oracle Kargan Dragonrider Keldon Warcaller Pack Mastiff Plargg, Dean of Chaos Robber of the Rich Seven Dwarves Storm Fleet Swashbuckler Tilonalli's Knight	Ajani's Comrade Ashcoat Bear Atarka Beastbreaker Ayula, Queen Among Bears Bear with Set's Mechanic Beastbreaker of Bala Ged Bitterblade Warrior Boreal Centaur Bramblefort Fink Bramblewood Paragon Carapace Forger Corrosive Ooze Cylian Sunsinger Darkthicket Wolf Dawntreader Elk Death-Hood Cobra Decorated Champion Deeproot Warrior Devkarin Dissident Disciple of the Old Ways Dragonsguard Elite Dreampod Druid Drudge Beetle Duskwatch Recruiter Dwynen's Elite Elvish Warmaster Essence Symbiote Fauna Shaman Flinthoof Boar Garenbrig Squire Gatstaf Shepherd Gempalm Strider Gnarlid Colony Gnarlid Pack Greenwood Sentinel Growth-Chamber Guardian Hamlet Captain Hardy Veteran Herald of the Pantheon Hidden Herbalists Hope Tender Ixalli's Keeper Kavu Predator Kavu Titan Kraul Warrior Leafcrown Dryad Loam Dweller Longtusk Cub Melira, Sylvok Outcast Mother Bear Nessian Hornbeetle Nest Invader Nomadic Elf Noose Constrictor Oran-Rief Invoker Quilled Wolf Reckless Amplimancer Resilient Khenra Rhonas's Stalwart Riftsweeper Rime Tender Sacred White Deer Saddled Rimestag Sauroform Hybrid Scavenging Ooze Sculptor of Winter Scurrid Colony Servant of the Conduit Skola Grovedancer Skylasher Smoke Teller Snapping Gnarlid Somberwald Dryad Spinneret Sliver Sporecrown Thallid Stalking Drone Stonewood Invoker Sylvan Advocate Territorial Boar Timberpack Wolf Transluminant Untamed Kavu Ursine Champion Veteran Cathar Vine Gecko Voracious Wurm Wild Mongrel Wildborn Preserver Wolf-Skull Shaman Woodland Champion Woodland Changeling	Safehold Elite () Vernadi Shieldmate ()

Colorless bears

Hate bears

Note: some well known hate bears that deviate from the 1M rule are Gaddock Teeg, Meddling Mage, Tidehollow Sculler, Qasali Pridemage, and Kor Firewalker.

Bears with downsides

Straight downsides

Downsides and upsides

Notes and references

↑ Mark Rosewater (November 7, 2016). "A Few More Words from R&D". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ Magic Arcana (May 26, 2003). "White's "Bears"". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ Sam Stoddard (October 31, 2014). "Hate Bears in Commander". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ Ken Nagle (October 17, 2008). "Bear With Me". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
↑ This was the first basic red bear with no downside.
↑ This is the first black Value Bear ever printed at common.
↑ This was the first pure downside bear printed in seven years.

[1] Mark Rosewater (November 7, 2016). "A Few More Words from R&D". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[2] Magic Arcana (May 26, 2003). "White's "Bears"". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[3] Sam Stoddard (October 31, 2014). "Hate Bears in Commander". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[4] Ken Nagle (October 17, 2008). "Bear With Me". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

[5] This was the first basic red bear with no downside.

[6] This is the first black Value Bear ever printed at common.

[7] This was the first pure downside bear printed in seven years.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 The common variety is called an '''[[vanilla]] [[bear]]'''. A '''value bear''' is a bear with an additional [[ability]]. For many years there were no value bears without 2 colored mana in their cost until <c>Nomadic Elf</c> and <c>Kavu Titan</c> were printed in ''[[Invasion]]''. Still, value bears didn't become a relatively common sight until [[Kamigawa block]]. A '''hate bear''' is a bear with some kind of text that is good against a specific kind of deck.<ref>{{DailyRef|ld/hate-bears-commander-2014-10-31|Hate Bears in Commander|[[Sam Stoddard]]|October 31, 2014}}</ref>
-There are approximately 250 vanilla or value bears, and about as many bears with a cost of 2 colored mana. Since there were more MM and MN than regular value bears in the early years of the game, it will take some time before {{1}}M will eventually overtake those with a cost of two colored mana.
+There are approximately 330 vanilla or value bears, and about as many bears with a cost of 2 colored mana. Since there were more MM and MN than regular value bears in the early years of the game, it will take some time before {{1}}M will eventually overtake those with a cost of two colored mana.
 ==List of bears==
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 {| class="wikitable" cellpadding="3"
 |-
-! {{G}} [[Green]]
 ! {{W}} [[White]]
 ! {{B}} [[Black]]
 ! {{R}} [[Red]]
+! {{G}} [[Green]]
 ! Hybrid
 |- valign="top"
 |
-*<c>Ajani's Comrade</c>
-*<c>Ashcoat Bear</c>
-*<c>Atarka Beastbreaker</c>
-*<c>Ayula, Queen Among Bears</c>
-*<c>Bear with Set's Mechanic</c>
-*<c>Beastbreaker of Bala Ged</c>
-*<c>Bitterblade Warrior</c>
-*<c>Boreal Centaur</c>
-*<c>Bramblefort Fink</c>
-*<c>Bramblewood Paragon</c>
-*<c>Carapace Forger</c>
-*<c>Corrosive Ooze</c>
-*<c>Cylian Sunsinger</c>
-*<c>Darkthicket Wolf</c>
-*<c>Dawntreader Elk</c>
-*<c>Death-Hood Cobra</c>
-*<c>Decorated Champion</c>
-*<c>Deeproot Warrior</c>
-*<c>Devkarin Dissident</c>
-*<c>Disciple of the Old Ways</c>
-*<c>Dreampod Druid</c>
-*<c>Drudge Beetle</c>
-*<c>Duskwatch Recruiter</c>
-*<c>Dwynen's Elite</c>
-*<c>Elvish Warmaster</c>
-*<c>Essence Symbiote</c>
-*<c>Fauna Shaman</c>
-*<c>Flinthoof Boar</c>
-*<c>Garenbrig Squire</c>
-*<c>Gatstaf Shepherd</c>
-*<c>Gempalm Strider</c>
-*<c>Gnarlid Colony</c>
-*<c>Gnarlid Pack</c>
-*<c>Greenwood Sentinel</c>
-*<c>Growth-Chamber Guardian</c>
-*<c>Hamlet Captain</c>
-*<c>Hardy Veteran</c>
-*<c>Herald of the Pantheon</c>
-*<c>Hidden Herbalists</c>
-*<c>Hope Tender</c>
-*<c>Ixalli's Keeper</c>
-*<c>Kavu Predator</c>
-*<c>Kavu Titan</c>
-*<c>Kraul Warrior</c>
-*<c>Leafcrown Dryad</c>
-*<c>Loam Dweller</c>
-*<c>Longtusk Cub</c>
-*<c>Melira, Sylvok Outcast</c>
-*<c>Mother Bear</c>
-*<c>Nessian Hornbeetle</c>
-*<c>Nest Invader</c>
-*<c>Nomadic Elf</c>
-*<c>Noose Constrictor</c>
-*<c>Oran-Rief Invoker</c>
-*<c>Quilled Wolf</c>
-*<c>Resilient Khenra</c>
-*<c>Rhonas's Stalwart</c>
-*<c>Riftsweeper</c>
-*<c>Rime Tender</c>
-*<c>Sacred White Deer</c>
-*<c>Saddled Rimestag</c>
-*<c>Sauroform Hybrid</c>
-*<c>Scavenging Ooze</c>
-*<c>Sculptor of Winter</c>
-*<c>Servant of the Conduit</c>
-*<c>Skola Grovedancer</c>
-*<c>Skylasher</c>
-*<c>Smoke Teller</c>
-*<c>Snapping Gnarlid</c>
-*<c>Somberwald Dryad</c>
-*<c>Spinneret Sliver</c>
-*<c>Sporecrown Thallid</c>
-*<c>Stalking Drone</c>
-*<c>Stonewood Invoker</c>
-*<c>Sylvan Advocate</c>
-*<c>Territorial Boar</c>
-*<c>Timberpack Wolf</c>
-*<c>Transluminant</c>
-*<c>Untamed Kavu</c>
-*<c>Ursine Champion</c>
-*<c>Veteran Cathar</c>
-*<c>Vine Gecko</c>
-*<c>Voracious Wurm</c>
-*<c>Wild Mongrel</c>
-*<c>Wildborn Preserver</c>
-*<c>Wolf-Skull Shaman</c>
-*<c>Woodland Champion</c>
-*<c>Woodland Changeling</c>
-|
 *<c>Ajani's Pridemate</c>
 *<c>Alpine Watchdog</c>
@@ Line 163: / Line 74: @@
 *<c>Countless Gears Renegade</c>
 *<c>Drannith Healer</c>
+*<c>Eager First-Year</c>
 *<c>Enduring Sliver</c>
 *<c>Expedition Healer</c>
@@ Line 186: / Line 98: @@
 *<c>Kor Bladewhirl</c>
 *<c>Leonin Arbiter</c>
+*<c>Leonin Lightscribe</c>
 *<c>Leonin Shikari</c>
 *<c>Leonin Squire</c>
@@ Line 213: / Line 126: @@
 *<c>Soulfire Grand Master</c>
 *<c>Sram, Senior Edificer</c>
-*<c>Stalking Drone</c>
 *<c>Starfield Mystic</c>
 *<c>Steward of Solidarity</c>
 *<c>Stone Haven Outfitter</c>
 *<c>Stonewise Fortifier</c>
-*<c>Stonewood Invoker</c>
 *<c>Story Seeker</c>
 *<c>Sun Sentinel</c>
 *<c>Sunhome Stalwart</c>
 *<c>Sunspear Shikari</c>
-*<c>Sylvan Advocate</c>
 *<c>Syndic of Tithes</c>
 *<c>Tenth District Guard</c>
 *<c>Thraben Heretic</c>
 *<c>Throne Warden</c>
-*<c>Timberpack Wolf</c>
+*<c>Thunderous Orator</c>
 *<c>Topan Freeblade</c>
-*<c>Transluminant</c>
 *<c>Trueheart Duelist</c>
 *<c>Trustworthy Scout</c>
-*<c>Untamed Kavu</c>
-*<c>Ursine Champion</c>
 *<c>Veteran Armorer</c>
-*<c>Veteran Cathar</c>
 *<c>War Priest of Thune</c>
-*<c>Wild Mongrel</c>
-*<c>Wolf-Skull Shaman</c>
-*<c>Woodland Changeling</c>
 *<c>Worthy Knight</c>
 |
@@ Line 256: / Line 159: @@
 *<c>Expedition Skulker</c>
 *<c>Ghoulcaller's Accomplice</c>
+*<c>Keen Duelist</c>
 *<c>Khenra Eternal</c>
 *<c>Knight of Malice</c>
 *<c>Kolaghan Skirmisher</c><ref>This is the first black Value Bear ever printed at common.</ref>
+*<c>Leech Fanatic</c>
 *<c>Malevolent Noble</c>
 *<c>Miasmic Mummy</c>
@@ Line 272: / Line 177: @@
 *<c>Battlefield Scavenger</c>
 *<c>Bladeback Sliver</c>
+*<c>Blood Age General</c>
 *<c>Bloodstone Goblin</c>
 *<c>Chandra's Embercat</c>
 *<c>Chandra's Magmutt</c>
 *<c>Cheering Fanatic</c>
+*<c>Conspiracy Theorist</c>
 *<c>Dark-Dweller Oracle</c>
 *<c>Dismissive Pyromancer</c>
@@ Line 281: / Line 188: @@
 *<c>Dragonkin Berserker</c>
 *<c>Fathom Fleet Firebrand</c>
-*<c>Frienzied Raider</c>
+*<c>Frenzied Raider</c>
 *<c>Goblin Cratermaker</c>
 *<c>Goma Fada Vanguard</c>
@@ Line 290: / Line 197: @@
 *<c>Keldon Warcaller</c>
 *<c>Pack Mastiff</c>
+*<c>Plargg, Dean of Chaos</c>
 *<c>Robber of the Rich</c>
 *<c>Seven Dwarves</c>
 *<c>Storm Fleet Swashbuckler</c>
 *<c>Tilonalli's Knight</c>
+|
+*<c>Ajani's Comrade</c>
+*<c>Ashcoat Bear</c>
+*<c>Atarka Beastbreaker</c>
+*<c>Ayula, Queen Among Bears</c>
+*<c>Bear with Set's Mechanic</c>
+*<c>Beastbreaker of Bala Ged</c>
+*<c>Bitterblade Warrior</c>
+*<c>Boreal Centaur</c>
+*<c>Bramblefort Fink</c>
+*<c>Bramblewood Paragon</c>
+*<c>Carapace Forger</c>
+*<c>Corrosive Ooze</c>
+*<c>Cylian Sunsinger</c>
+*<c>Darkthicket Wolf</c>
+*<c>Dawntreader Elk</c>
+*<c>Death-Hood Cobra</c>
+*<c>Decorated Champion</c>
+*<c>Deeproot Warrior</c>
+*<c>Devkarin Dissident</c>
+*<c>Disciple of the Old Ways</c>
+*<c>Dragonsguard Elite</c>
+*<c>Dreampod Druid</c>
+*<c>Drudge Beetle</c>
+*<c>Duskwatch Recruiter</c>
+*<c>Dwynen's Elite</c>
+*<c>Elvish Warmaster</c>
+*<c>Essence Symbiote</c>
+*<c>Fauna Shaman</c>
+*<c>Flinthoof Boar</c>
+*<c>Garenbrig Squire</c>
+*<c>Gatstaf Shepherd</c>
+*<c>Gempalm Strider</c>
+*<c>Gnarlid Colony</c>
+*<c>Gnarlid Pack</c>
+*<c>Greenwood Sentinel</c>
+*<c>Growth-Chamber Guardian</c>
+*<c>Hamlet Captain</c>
+*<c>Hardy Veteran</c>
+*<c>Herald of the Pantheon</c>
+*<c>Hidden Herbalists</c>
+*<c>Hope Tender</c>
+*<c>Ixalli's Keeper</c>
+*<c>Kavu Predator</c>
+*<c>Kavu Titan</c>
+*<c>Kraul Warrior</c>
+*<c>Leafcrown Dryad</c>
+*<c>Loam Dweller</c>
+*<c>Longtusk Cub</c>
+*<c>Melira, Sylvok Outcast</c>
+*<c>Mother Bear</c>
+*<c>Nessian Hornbeetle</c>
+*<c>Nest Invader</c>
+*<c>Nomadic Elf</c>
+*<c>Noose Constrictor</c>
+*<c>Oran-Rief Invoker</c>
+*<c>Quilled Wolf</c>
+*<c>Reckless Amplimancer</c>
+*<c>Resilient Khenra</c>
+*<c>Rhonas's Stalwart</c>
+*<c>Riftsweeper</c>
+*<c>Rime Tender</c>
+*<c>Sacred White Deer</c>
+*<c>Saddled Rimestag</c>
+*<c>Sauroform Hybrid</c>
+*<c>Scavenging Ooze</c>
+*<c>Sculptor of Winter</c>
+*<c>Scurrid Colony</c>
+*<c>Servant of the Conduit</c>
+*<c>Skola Grovedancer</c>
+*<c>Skylasher</c>
+*<c>Smoke Teller</c>
+*<c>Snapping Gnarlid</c>
+*<c>Somberwald Dryad</c>
+*<c>Spinneret Sliver</c>
+*<c>Sporecrown Thallid</c>
+*<c>Stalking Drone</c>
+*<c>Stonewood Invoker</c>
+*<c>Sylvan Advocate</c>
+*<c>Territorial Boar</c>
+*<c>Timberpack Wolf</c>
+*<c>Transluminant</c>
+*<c>Untamed Kavu</c>
+*<c>Ursine Champion</c>
+*<c>Veteran Cathar</c>
+*<c>Vine Gecko</c>
+*<c>Voracious Wurm</c>
+*<c>Wild Mongrel</c>
+*<c>Wildborn Preserver</c>
+*<c>Wolf-Skull Shaman</c>
+*<c>Woodland Champion</c>
+*<c>Woodland Changeling</c>
 |
 *<c>Safehold Elite</c> ({{G/W}})
+*<c>Vernadi Shieldmate</c> ({{G/W}})
 |}
@@ Line 301: / Line 302: @@
 *<c>Culling Drone</c> through [[Devoid]]
 *<c>Eager Construct</c>
+*<c>Lesser Masticore</c>
+*<c>Lore Seeker</c>
 *<c>Runed Servitor</c>
+*<c>Slaughter Drone</c> through [[Devoid]]
+*<c>Stalking Drone</c> through [[Devoid]]
 *<c>Watchers of the Dead</c>
@@ Line 347: / Line 352: @@
 *<c>Goblin War Buggy</c>
 *<c>Horde Ambusher</c>
+*<c>Lesser Masticore</c>
 *<c>Mogis's Warhound</c>
 *<c>Oathsworn Vampire</c>