In Magic, race is a subset of the characteristic "creature type".
Description[]
"Race" designates 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 creature class represents their job, career or calling in life. This is known as the race/class model.
Note that the Magic approach is 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]
Humanoid races[]
- Alien, Ape, Azra, Centaur (part Horse), Cyclops, Dauthi, Dryad, Dwarf, Elf, Faerie, Giant, Gnome, Goblin, Gorgon, Hag, Halfling, Human, Kithkin, Kobold, Kor, Merfolk (Fish-folk), Metathran, Minotaur (part bull or Goat or Sheep),[4] Moonfolk (part Rabbit), Noggle (part ass), Ogre, Orc, Ouphe, Satyr (part Goat), Siren, Slith, Soltari, Surrakar (reptillian), Thalakos, Troll, Vedalken, Werewolf, Yeti.
Humanoid races without their own subtype[]
- Ainok (Dogfolk), Amphin (Salamanderfolk), Aven (Birdfolk), Bearfolk, Cactusfolk, 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 races (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.[5]
Sapient non-humanoid races[]
These races only have a class 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.
Non-humanoid races without their own subtype[]
- Cephalid (part Octopus or Squid), Thallid and Sporoloth (Fungusfolk)
Crossbreeds[]
Not-races[]
According toe Mark Rosewater, the following creature types are not considered to be races by R&D.[6][7]
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, 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, 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, Dragon, 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 races[]
Races not belonging to the Magic universe, but appearing in crossover products (Dungeons & Dragons, Universes Beyond).
Dungeons & Dragons[]
Humanoid races[]
Sapient non-humanoid races[]
Not-races[]
Animals[]
Universes Beyond[]
Humanoid races[]
Humanoid races 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 races (in appearance only)[]
Humanoid races (in appearance only) without their own subtype[]
- Maiar (Avatars)
Sapient non-humanoid races[]
Sapient non-humanoid races without their own subtype[]
Non-eternal races[]
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 races and non-races is currently based on intuition rather than official comment.
Humanoid races[]
- Autobot, The Biggest, Baddest, Nastiest, Scariest Creature You'll Ever See, Brainiac, Clamfolk (Part clam), Gus, Mummy, Vampyre.
Sapient non-humanoid races[]
Not-races[]
Animals[]
- Chameleon, Chicken, Cow, Deer, Donkey, Gorilla, Kangaroo, Lobster, Locus, Mammoth, Penguin, Pig, Pony.
Constructs[]
Plants[]
Race 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.
- ↑ D&D Staff (December 1, 2022). "Moving On From 'Race' in the 2024 Core Rulebooks". D&D Beyond.
- ↑ 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.
