Dinosaur (from modern Latin dinosaurus, from Greek deinos ‘terrible’ + sauros ‘lizard’) is a creature type used for cards depicting prehistoric reptile-like and related creatures. Dinosaurs can be bipedal or quadrupedal species. Elaborate display structures such as horns or crests are common to all dinosaur groups, and some have skeletal modifications such as bony armor and spines. According to modern science, dinosaurs are ancestors of birds and were feathered themselves.
Definition
Current scientific consensus is that the definition of Dinosaurs excludes the flying pterosaurs, as well as the various groups of marine reptiles, such as ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and mosasaurs. This distinction is largely ignored in popular culture, and similarly in Magic: The Gathering pterosaurs are typed as dinosaurs.[1][2][3]
History
Pygmy Allosaurus from Ice Age was the first card to be printed with the creature type Dinosaur. The type was dropped in the Grand Creature Type Update and subsequent Dinosaurs were printed as Lizard Beasts (Crag Saurian, Shivan Raptor, Gnathosaur, Imperiosaur and Deathmist Raptor). Old Fogey from Unhinged was the only exception; the card retained the subtype Dinosaur, because un-cards were eliminated from the Comprehensive Rules list.
According to Aaron Forsythe, a dinosaur world was "unlikely to happen, because they do nothing".[4]. However, on Announcement Day in june 2017 it was revealed that the Ixalan block would feature feathered dinosaurs. Kelly Digges confirmed on Twitter that the creature type would be restored and existing dinos would get Oracle updates.[5] In September 2017, 13 older cards were indeed updated to have the subtype.[6] With this, Fungusaur from Alpha retroactively became the earliest card with the subtype.
In Ixalan block, Dinosaurs is actually one of the four main supported tribes.[7][8]
Storyline
Dominaria
Scaly allosaurs and raptors once roamed areas such as Shiv.
Fiora
Like on Ixalan, Fiora´s wilderness is home to feathered raptorian dinosaurs. Selvala of Alberon is known to be able to call them as she can do with many other wild beasts and birds.
Ixalan
Dinosaurs are wildlife in the world of Ixalan, inhabiting its jungles and especially the lands of the Sun Empire, where some have been domesticated.[9] Unlike dinosaurs from other planes, these bear brilliant plumage in multiple colors.[10][11][12] They are associated with the sun, and local dinosaurian avatars embody different solar stages.
Mirrodin
Pterons, pterodactyl-like flying creatures, soar the skies above the Razor Fields of Mirrodin.[13] They are associated with White, though they aren't represented in cards other than Pteron Ghost (which is a pure spirit).
Tyrranax are giant predatory reptiles that roam the Tangle, feeding on any lesser creature.
Muraganda
Imperiosaurs and other giant saurians inhabit this primeval and wild plane and are sometimes victims to the dreaded Mimeoplasm.
Tarkir
The mist valleys are home to some fearsome raptorian saurians with camouflage abilities.
Trivia
- Putrid Raptor is the only black Dinosaur.
- There are no blue Dinosaurs.
- Raptor Hatchling is the smallest Dinosaur (1/1), and Ancient Brontodon is the largest (9/9).
Dinosaur tokens
| Token Name | Color | Type Line | P/T | Text Box | Source | Printings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinosaur | Red | Creature — Dinosaur | 1/1 | Haste | ||
| Red | Creature — Dinosaur | 3/1 | ||||
| Green | Creature — Dinosaur | 3/3 | ||||
| Green | Creature — Dinosaur | 3/3 | Trample | |||
| Green | Creature — Dinosaur | X/X | Trample | |||
| Red/White | Creature — Dinosaur | 2/2 | Flying, haste | |||
| Dinosaur Beast | Green | Creature — Dinosaur Beast | X/X | Trample | ||
| Dinosaur Cat | Red/White | Creature — Dinosaur Cat | 2/2 | |||
| Dinosaur Egg | Green | Creature — Dinosaur Egg | 0/1 | |||
| Fungus Dinosaur | Green | Creature — Fungus Dinosaur | X/X | |||
| Polyraptor | Green | Creature — Dinosaur | 5/5 | Enrage — Whenever Polyraptor is dealt damage, create a token that’s a copy of Polyraptor. | ||
| Compy Swarm | Black/Green | Creature — Dinosaur | 2/2 | At the beginning of your end step, if a creature died this turn, create a tapped token that's a copy of Compy Swarm. |
References
- ↑ Error on call to {{WebRef}}: Parameters url and title must be specifiedMark Rosewater (September 07, 2017). "". Tumblr.
- ↑ Error on call to {{WebRef}}: Parameters url and title must be specifiedMark Rosewater (August 28, 2017). "". Tumblr.
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- ↑ Kelly Digges on Twitter
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