Scarecrows

Fresh off an updated look at creature types, I will look at 4-5 specific ones this month. In prior years, I covered soldiers, merfolk, zombies, goblins, elves, skeletons, treefolk, angels, elementals, and sphinxes. Today: scarecrows.

Introduction

The first scarecrow was called as such and appeared in The Dark set (from 1994; see above graphic). We got the second, Straw Soldiers, in 1999's Portal: Three Kingdoms set. But in my mind, this creature type really started with 2008's Shadowmoor/Eventide sets—20 of the 49 scarecrows printed to date come from that era.

Scarecrows are nearly always (48/49) artifacts, and 40 are colorless; the 8 that aren't are mostly black and green.

Sample/Staple Cards

In the Shadowmoor era, scarecrows were focused on the wither mechanic or buffed when in play with certain colored creatures:

The two most expensive Scarecrows, Painter's Servant and Scarecrone, are powerful for their abilities, but are not related to kindred type per se.

Later releases focused the kindred on mana-producing abilities:

And a recent release, Duskmourn, gave them a 'delirium' focus.

Deck Ideas

I have a Commander deck centered on scarecrow kindred. And for that, there is really only one choice: Reaper King. 

Reaper King's ability is impressive: "whenever another Scarecrow enters under your control, destroy target permanent." Making each of your creatures double as a removal spell is impressive indeed. Throw in some of the themes on cards shown above for additional synergies, and add a dash of board wipes and creature type buffs, and you may be in business.

With so few cards to choose from, Scarecrow is not (currently) a viable tribe in other formats, but keep an eye out . . . you never know what the future holds.

Creature Types (2025)

Three years ago, I looked at creature types and prevalence. But Magic is a living game, so the numbers keep changing. This post looks at that.

The most recent comprehensive rules (from November 2024) indicates that there are exactly 300 creature types in the game:

205.3m Creatures and kindreds share their lists of subtypes; these subtypes are called creature types. One creature type is two words long: Time Lord. All other creature types are one word long: Advisor, Aetherborn, Alien, Ally, Angel, Antelope, Ape, Archer, Archon, Armadillo, Army, Artificer, Assassin, Assembly-Worker, Astartes, Atog, Aurochs, Avatar, Azra, Badger, Balloon, Barbarian, Bard, Basilisk, Bat, Bear, Beast, Beaver, Beeble, Beholder, Berserker, Bird, Blinkmoth, Boar, Bringer, Brushwagg, Camarid, Camel, Capybara, Caribou, Carrier, Cat, Centaur, Child, Chimera, Citizen, Cleric, Clown, Cockatrice, Construct, Coward, Coyote, Crab, Crocodile, C’tan, Custodes, Cyberman, Cyclops, Dalek, Dauthi, Demigod, Demon, Deserter, Detective, Devil, Dinosaur, Djinn, Doctor, Dog, Dragon, Drake, Dreadnought, Drone, Druid, Dryad, Dwarf, Efreet, Egg, Elder, Eldrazi, Elemental, Elephant, Elf, Elk, Employee, Eye, Faerie, Ferret, Fish, Flagbearer, Fox, Fractal, Frog, Fungus, Gamer, Gargoyle, Germ, Giant, Gith, Glimmer, Gnoll, Gnome, Goat, Goblin, God, Golem, Gorgon, Graveborn, Gremlin, Griffin, Guest, Hag, Halfling, Hamster, Harpy, Hellion, Hippo, Hippogriff, Homarid, Homunculus, Horror, Horse, Human, Hydra, Hyena, Illusion, Imp, Incarnation, Inkling, Inquisitor, Insect, Jackal, Jellyfish, Juggernaut, Kavu, Kirin, Kithkin, Knight, Kobold, Kor, Kraken, Llama, Lamia, Lammasu, Leech, Leviathan, Lhurgoyf, Licid, Lizard, Manticore, Masticore, Mercenary, Merfolk, Metathran, Minion, Minotaur, Mite, Mole, Monger, Mongoose, Monk, Monkey, Moonfolk, Mount, Mouse, Mutant, Myr, Mystic, Nautilus, Necron, Nephilim, Nightmare, Nightstalker, Ninja, Noble, Noggle, Nomad, Nymph, Octopus, Ogre, Ooze, Orb, Orc, Orgg, Otter, Ouphe, Ox, Oyster, Pangolin, Peasant, Pegasus, Pentavite, Performer, Pest, Phelddagrif, Phoenix, Phyrexian, Pilot, Pincher, Pirate, Plant, Porcupine, Possum, Praetor, Primarch, Prism, Processor, Rabbit, Raccoon, Ranger, Rat, Rebel, Reflection, Rhino, Rigger, Robot, Rogue, Sable, Salamander, Samurai, Sand, Saproling, Satyr, Scarecrow, Scientist, Scion, Scorpion, Scout, Sculpture, Serf, Serpent, Servo, Shade, Shaman, Shapeshifter, Shark, Sheep, Siren, Skeleton, Skunk, Slith, Sliver, Sloth, Slug, Snail, Snake, Soldier, Soltari, Spawn, Specter, Spellshaper, Sphinx, Spider, Spike, Spirit, Splinter, Sponge, Squid, Squirrel, Starfish, Surrakar, Survivor, Synth, Tentacle, Tetravite, Thalakos, Thopter, Thrull, Tiefling, Toy, Treefolk, Trilobite, Triskelavite, Troll, Turtle, Tyranid, Unicorn, Vampire, Varmint, Vedalken, Volver, Wall, Walrus, Warlock, Warrior, Weasel, Weird, Werewolf, Whale, Wizard, Wolf, Wolverine, Wombat, Worm, Wraith, Wurm, Yeti, Zombie, and Zubera.

Aside: in 2022 (see provided link above), there were 262 types. In 2020, there were 249. Quite a jump! I suspect the increase is due to the Universes Beyond sets.

Second aside: the above list (or whatever is the most recent, as the rules are updated often) reflects the official list, and sometimes types are 'subsumed' into others. For example, 'Hound' appears on some older cards, but now is considered 'Dog.' 

Decks where creature types matter used to be called 'tribal.' That term was discarded a few years ago (due to the political happenings) in favor of 'typal,' which was then changed to 'kindred.' Whatever you call it, decks of this nature are a lot of fun, and I dedicate February to looking at a few creature types and the decks they encourage.