Some facts about legendary creatures (with relation to the commander format)
General forum
Posted on Dec. 17, 2014, 11:10 p.m. by MagicalHacker
Interesting stats about legendary creatures (modern blocks):
KTK Block (5 so far)
THS Block (26)
RTR Block (20)
ISD Block (12)
SOM Block (13)
ZEN Block (15)
ALA Block (15)
LWN SHM Blocks (21)
TSP Block (45)
CSN Block (15)
RAV Block (20)
CHK Block (118)
MIR Block (5)
Some things I noticed:
Theros block has 11 more than the "average" number of legends: 15.
Theros's legends are all sorts of color combos, but only one mono-color has only the God for it's color (meaning no other mono-color legends for that color other than the God): Red.
All of Innistrad's legends are white or black, but never both.
Although Innistrad has the commander with the lowest CMC (withnegar unbound), it currently cannot be run as a commander due to the fact that it's front side is not a legendary creature.
Only one legendary creature is blue in Scars of Mirrodin, and that's including the two multicolored creatures, which don't share any colors with each other: Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur.
There's only one green legend on Zendikar, in spite of the fact that the block was all about having lots of lands: Omnath, Locus of Mana.
Zendikar only has one multicolored legendary creature: Wrexial, the Risen Deep.
Alara isn't all multicolored apparently! There is one mono-colored legendary creature: Rakka Mar.
RAV and RTR both have 20 legendary creatures, 2 for each guild in each block.
Kamigawa Block only has 1 multicolored legendary creature: Iname as One. It is also the most expensive legal commander, as Emrakul, the Aeons Torn from ZEN is banned in commander.
Mirrodin Block has no commanders that can be run as a mono-black commander, and it is the last block to have 0 multicolored legendary creatures.
Hm. It's interesting to see where the Legendary type mattered more in Magic's more recent history.
Lorwyn/Shadowmoor had more than average because it was four sets instead of three; Theros cared about the legends specifically; both Ravnica blocks just wanted two for each guild; Time Spiral wanted as many shout outs as possible; and Kamigawa was, well... Kamigawa.
Does it bother anyone else that Innistrad block doesn't have 13 legendary creatures in it?
December 17, 2014 11:19 p.m.
I don't think that was big on their priorities list erabel, but I could see that being troublesome. Like how Griselbrand doesn't cost 7 mana.
December 17, 2014 11:23 p.m.
FatherLiir says... #5
Not really but I've only been playing since Theros first came out. That said Doran, the Siege Tower is my favorite legendary and possibly card ever, also I think one of the best Wedge Commanders too. I also think it's interesting how in the Lorwyn and Shadowmoor blocks you have alternative versions of most legendary creatures
Ashling the Pilgrim vs. Ashling, the Extinguisher
Sygg, River Guide vs. Sygg, River Cutthroat
December 17, 2014 11:28 p.m.
JWiley129 I think Griselbrand costing 7 mana would cause more problems than it fixes....
December 17, 2014 11:41 p.m.
JA14732 - I'm not talking from a development perspective, but an aesthetic one. Look at all the sevens in Griselbrand, and notice that he doesn't cost 7. That is not aesthetically pleasing.
December 17, 2014 11:48 p.m.
I'm honestly fine with it, simply because he's crazy stronk.
December 17, 2014 11:52 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #9
FatherLiir, here are some more examples of duality:
Isperia the Inscrutable vs Isperia, Supreme Judge
Rakdos the Defiler vs Rakdos, Lord of Riots
Borborygmos vs Borborygmos Enraged
Ghost Council of Orzhova vs Obzedat, Ghost Council
Teysa, Orzhov Scion vs Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts
Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind vs Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius
Mikaeus, the Lunarch vs Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
Glissa Sunseeker vs Glissa, the Traitor
And probably lots more. But these aren't as much alternate timeline versions, but former and latter versions of the same person.
Time spiral block probably has more alternate timeline legends though.
December 18, 2014 12:41 a.m.
TurboFagoot says... #10
Quick aside: Griselbrand was actually tested at 7cmc. Even costing BBBBBBB he was deemed too strong.
Then they printed him at 8, and it didn't even matter because he's still the best creature in the game.
December 18, 2014 1:08 a.m.
I thought he was playtested at 7, but didn't want to jump out on a limb. Thanks!
Epochalyptik says... #2
Only Alara Reborn was entirely multicolored. The other sets in the block had plenty of monocolor action.
Interesting results, though.
December 17, 2014 11:14 p.m.