Creatures are among the most integral types of cards that players can include in their decks in Magic: The Gathering. In addition to their abilities to attack and defend, Creatures can offer a wide range of abilities and effects, functioning as perhaps the most varied card type in all of Magic.
As creature cards come in all shapes and sizes, it should be no surprise that some creature types offer more noteworthy power than others, influencing various formats across Magic’s history. So it’s high time we examine the various creature types of Magic: The Gathering and see which are the strongest as well as which have had the biggest impacts on the game’s many formats.
10 Angels
Throughout Magic’s history, Angels have long been powerful creature cards that come with a slew of keywords. There’s no better example of this facet of the creature type than the beautifully depicted Baneslayer Angel, which was originally printed all the way back in 2010. Despite her age, Baneslayer Angel still sees play throughout Standard formats in which she has been reprinted. This is an indication of the tribe’s high individual card power level.
More recently, players have tried time and time again to make a competitive Angel tribal deck in the current Standard format, due to the high number of Angel cards printed across recent sets. The addition of Giada, Font of Hope had many players hopeful that Angel tribal might finally be here, but the first tournaments of New Capenna Standard have been sadly absent of Angel tribal competitive finishes. Nonetheless, Angels are undoubtedly one of the most flavorful and beloved creature types in all of Magic history, and they frequently see play in Standard — as shown by cards like Legion Angel, Sanctuary Warden, and Angel of Invention.
9 Merfolk
Long a beloved deck in the Modern meta, Merfolk tribal has become absent from the top tiers of Modern as of late, due to the increasing speed of the format, as well as the printing of incredibly good cheap removal spells. Merfolk is the best example of how tribal decks were originally created to work. This is through the use of what’s colloquially referred to as a “lord” card, which is a card that increases the power and toughness of all other tribe creatures in play.
Merfolk became a Modern meta deck largely thanks to its access to many different cheap lords, including Lord of Atlantis, Master of the Pearl Trident, and Merrow Reejerey. While Merfolk at present isn’t quite powerful enough to make up a large portion of the top of the Modern meta, there are many Modern players out there who eagerly await the day this deck might once again shine in the limelight.
8 Spirits
Spirits is the most recent tribal deck to emerge across multiple constructed metas. After many years of Spirit printings, the tribe finally crossed the threshold of playable Spirits that would make the tribe a real contender. Modern Spirits players have long debated whether the deck is better with or without the inclusion of green and Collected Company. To this day, you can still find players who argue for one side or the other.
Whatever the case, Spirits are notable for their tempo playstyle and flying keyword, making them evasive threats that are good at interacting with whatever it is your opponent’s deck is trying to accomplish. It should also be noted that mono-blue Spirits decks make up a decent portion of the Pioneer metagame. Some of the most recognizable Spirit cards in Magic history include Mausoleum Wanderer, Rattlechains, Geist of Saint Traft, and Spell Queller.
7 Goblins
Goblins are the first tribe to truly make a competitive showing. Furthermore, they are the first tribe to see tribal support in Magic thanks to the printing of Goblin King all the way back in Alpha edition. Goblins have had a long history of success in competitive constructed Magic, with the first Goblin decks taking formats by storm in 2002 alongside the arrival of Onslaught block. By 2003, further printings of Onslaught block added enough powerful goblins to the card pool to provide the deck with success in Legacy. In fact, Goblins enjoyed so much success at the time that the unassuming card Goblin Lackey ended up being banned in the Extended format (Extended would later be replaced by Modern).
More recently, Goblin tribal ruled Historic for some time thanks to the printing of Muxus, Goblin Grandee, and still maintains a small metagame percentage of the Legacy format. On the whole, Goblins are known for synergizing with one another in peculiar and often hilarious ways and are not above sacrificing one another repeatedly to achieve victory for their pilot. Notable Goblins include Goblin Piledriver, Goblin Warchief, Siege-Gang Commander, Skirk Prospector, Krenko, Mob Boss, and Goblin Matron.
6 Dragons
Though often associated with red mana, Dragons are a potent creature type that have received powerful cards within every color of mana. Often characterized by their access to Flying and sizable power and toughness, Dragons evasively deal large sums of damage to opponents while offering a wide range of utility through their distinct abilities. While Dragons like Steel Hellkite are capable of removing an opponent’s creatures, Dragons like Old Gnawbone and Savage Ventmaw are able to function as offense-oriented mana ramp.
Throughout Magic’s history, Dragons have functioned as potent late game threats in casual and competitive play alike and were iconically employed by Magic hall-of-famer, Brian Kibler. As far as competitive play is concerned, cards like Stormbreath Dragon, Goldspan Dragon, and Murktide Regent have put up impressive results at tournaments past and present. Due to the innately high power of Dragon cards, there’s almost always at least one of these scaly adversaries rearing its head in every Standard and Modern meta.
5 Demons
A creature type integrally tied to black mana, Demons are traditionally mana intensive creatures that offer splashy and impactful effects. Often heavy-hitting finishers in a wide variety of decks, various Demons have made a significant impact on formats including Standard, Modern, and Legacy.
With the release of nearly every set, new potent Demons are introduced, meaning there is almost always a relevant demon within the Standard format while the best creatures of the type will continue to impact formats like Modern as late-game threats and perfect targets for cards like Sneak Attack and Show and Tell. While Demons are far from the most synergistic creature types, many Demons are able to single-handedly provide absurd amounts of value with impressive demonic standouts including Griselbrand, Ob Nixilis, the Fallen, Archfiend Of Despair, and Doom Whisperer.
4 Vampires
Present in a variety of formats and often tied to black mana, Vampires are a traditionally aggressive creature type that can offer different types of utility. As one would expect from Vampires, this creature type is often able to drain an opponent’s life total, gaining life for their controller in the process.
Vampires have appeared in various color identities including Rakdos and Mardu, and have impacted Standard time and time again. Within the Commander format, Vampires have access to one of the most potent tribal commander options in the entire format in Edgar Markov, a Mardu commander that allows Rakdos and Orzhov Vampires to be unified within the same deck.
3 Eldrazi
Like Dragons and Demons, Eldrazi are a creature type synonymous with late-game finishers. They see play in formats like Standard, Modern, and Commander.
Traditionally, colorless creatures characterized by their size and effects that are often back-breaking for opponents, Eldrazi can turn the tide of a game as soon as they’re played, forcing opponents to sacrifice several permanents through the Annihilator ability, or even allowing extra turns to be taken in the case of Emrakul, The Aeons Torn. While many less impactful Eldrazi have been printed in sets like Battle for Zendikar, sizable mythic-rare Eldrazi are among the most impactful single-creature threats in the game.
2 Elves
A creature type synonymous with green mana, Elves are a highly synergistic creature type known for their ability to produce sizable amounts of mana as well as the ability to flood the board with additional Elves. This creature has long had a place in numerous formats, with viable decks within formats such as Modern and Legacy. They are able to provide incredible Elf-based mana ramp, leading to even more Elves which provide a threatening board state early into a game.
Elves have access to several great commanders within the Commander format, including Lathril, Blade of the Elves, Marwyn, the Nurturer, and Ezuri, Renegade Leader​​​​​​. Due to their incredible synergies, it’s often difficult to deal with Elf decks, as simply removing a single Elf from play will not deal with the larger problem at hand. Due to their ability to produce ridiculous amounts of mana early in the game while simultaneously flooding the board, Craterhoof Behemoth has long been a staple finisher in many Elf decks.
1 Humans
Humans are by and large the most heavily played creature type in all of Magic. Though primarily associated with the white side of the color pie, a slew of Human cards have been printed in every color combination. This allows Human tribal decks to offer synergistic interactions and effects from every color in the format.
Magic is filled to the brim with countless incredible and impactful Human cards, and they have made major splashes in formats from Legacy and Commander to Modern and Standard. As previously mentioned, every color of mana has its fair share of incredible Human creatures, including Mantis Rider, Snapcaster Mage, Thalia’s Lieutenant, Dark Confidant, Noble Hierarch, and many more. Perhaps this should come as no surprise though. Tacky though it may be, it’s Humans who make Magic amazing in the first place.
