So in the innistrad block there are many different tribes but the two I want to look at are demons [Black] and devils [Red]. So at first i thought that Demons would be the leaders, while devils underlings but some of the demons spoiled in the Avacyn Restored Spoiler are very akin to Pitchburn Devils. Such as
Demonic Taskmaster 2B
Creature-Demon
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a creature other than Demonic Taskmaster. Subservience to greater power is the only law in the pit.
4/3
While described as a taskmaster he undoubtedly is only in charge of a few demons/devils. While some Devils look to be in charge or lord-ish such as Hellrider
In such a flavourfull block i think it's a shame wizards has never explored this difference in depth. Other tribes are more easily distinguishable zombie, spirit, angel etc.
The only tangible difference i can see is Devils always appear to be on fire/flaming while Demons aren't.
Demons are, on average, bigger than Devils. Also, Demons typically have flying. And of course there's the color difference - Devils are almost always Red, and thus do Red things, while Demons are almost always Black, and do Black things. And flavor-wise, Demons work solo while Devils function best in groups; also, Demons are more malicious. Devils are just in it to wreck chaos.
Well, there are only 11 creatures with the Devil creature type in all of Magic, and 8 of them are from Innistrad. So it's reasonable that the lore behind Devils is only now getting fleshed out.
Ludevic has a good point about colors. Demons are traditionally black. They typically have a lot of power, and they seek out mortals to bargain with for more power. They usually possess a level of intelligence on par with humans, they have ambitions and make long-term plans.
Devils on the other hand are like the Innistrad version of Goblins, or Imps. Without a stronger creature to give them direction they just like to mindlessly smash and burn stuff, and even the bigger ones (Charmbreaker Devils) don't seem all that intelligent.
Devils also don't seem to be cognizant of the moral concepts of good and evil, while demons unquestionably are.
While Magic doesn't necessarily draw from D&D, in many fantasy worlds that play host to both Devil and Demon, they're both infernal beings with different purposes. Devils tend to be more chaotic and do evil or questionable deeds for the sake of their own amusement. Demons, on the other hand, tend to be more powerful, methodical and militant. You could say they're Lawful Evil whereas Devils are Chaotic Evil. Demons clamor for power, especially through deception, worship, murder and cunning. Devils afford themselves no such things, or at least tend not to plan as far as such, and are more whimsical or generally just want to watch the world burn. Both Demon and Devil are evil tricksters in their own rights, but they have vastly different motives for said trickery. Devils are like infernal goblins in a way, but more intelligent, yet still weak enough to be dominated and commanded by the more calculating and powerful Demons.
While Magic doesn't necessarily draw from D&D, in many fantasy worlds that play host to both Devil and Demon, they're both infernal beings with different purposes. Devils tend to be more chaotic and do evil or questionable deeds for the sake of their own amusement. Demons, on the other hand, tend to be more powerful, methodical and militant. You could say they're Lawful Evil whereas Devils are Chaotic Evil. Demons clamor for power, especially through deception, worship, murder and cunning. Devils afford themselves no such things, or at least tend not to plan as far as such, and are more whimsical or generally just want to watch the world burn. Both Demon and Devil are evil tricksters in their own rights, but they have vastly different motives for said trickery. Devils are like infernal goblins in a way, but more intelligent, yet still weak enough to be dominated and commanded by the more calculating and powerful Demons.
Actually, in D&D Devils are the Lawful ones, organized and manipulative, whereas demons are chaotic and destructive. The races are enemies, and have fought a Blood War for eons. They are overall fairly equal, and inhabit different planes of existence.
MTG demons and devils don't have much resemblance.
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Aside from the color alignment, devils appear more akin to the traditional look of the Devil himself with red skin and small horns. Demons, however, seem much larger and have horns and wings and are a lot more monstrous. I suppose devils are more just mischievous, while demons are malicious.
Aside from the color alignment, devils appear more akin to the traditional look of the Devil himself with red skin and small horns. Demons, however, seem much larger and have horns and wings and are a lot more monstrous. I suppose devils are more just mischievous, while demons are malicious.
Honestly Devil's feel like Goblins but with a less supported tribal type.
Aside from the color alignment, devils appear more akin to the traditional look of the Devil himself with red skin and small horns. Demons, however, seem much larger and have horns and wings and are a lot more monstrous. I suppose devils are more just mischievous, while demons are malicious.
Came in to say exactly that last sentence. Demons, at least in the world of MtG, are evil and actually seem to have plans to advance that evil. Devils are just mischievous and tend to cause chaos and mayhem with no real purpose.
I read an article a while back about how devils are supposed to fit the same role goblins did/do. Mischief, senseless destruction, taunting, and backhandedness arecommon between the two tribes. I think that devils are a bit more malicious though. Like Heckling fiends Have we ever seen a goblin do that?
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"Fire will eventually destroy a zombie, but a fiery zombie will destroy a lot of things first."
They added Devils to the set to take the place of Goblins, which didn't fit the theme. Smallish red creatures. There was an article about how they decided on Devil as the type and how the inspiration for art style comes from a single card from Ravnica block, Squealing Devil.
And they can have babies with humans?? That's weird to me, but the new Planeswalker is proof they can have babies with humans and the babies have souls...and horns.
flavorwise devils are wingless imps, mischievous, destructive, chaotic, and cruel but not too bright. (the big point here is cruelty, devils are cruel to the point of pure spite, this is different from say goblins who can be shown as cruel but more of of belligerent or violent reasons. A goblin can like inflicting pain on others but a devil isn't happy if it hasn't ruined at least half a dozen lives by suppertime.)
Designwise they are goblins, the cheap red critter race.
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Creature-Demon
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a creature other than Demonic Taskmaster.
Subservience to greater power is the only law in the pit.
4/3
While described as a taskmaster he undoubtedly is only in charge of a few demons/devils. While some Devils look to be in charge or lord-ish such as Hellrider
In such a flavourfull block i think it's a shame wizards has never explored this difference in depth. Other tribes are more easily distinguishable zombie, spirit, angel etc.
The only tangible difference i can see is Devils always appear to be on fire/flaming while Demons aren't.
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Savra BG | Sisay GW | Teneb BGW | Thada Adel U | Wort BR
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Ludevic has a good point about colors. Demons are traditionally black. They typically have a lot of power, and they seek out mortals to bargain with for more power. They usually possess a level of intelligence on par with humans, they have ambitions and make long-term plans.
Devils on the other hand are like the Innistrad version of Goblins, or Imps. Without a stronger creature to give them direction they just like to mindlessly smash and burn stuff, and even the bigger ones (Charmbreaker Devils) don't seem all that intelligent.
Devils also don't seem to be cognizant of the moral concepts of good and evil, while demons unquestionably are.
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Actually, in D&D Devils are the Lawful ones, organized and manipulative, whereas demons are chaotic and destructive. The races are enemies, and have fought a Blood War for eons. They are overall fairly equal, and inhabit different planes of existence.
MTG demons and devils don't have much resemblance.
- Willy Wonka
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RGGruul Aggro
WSoul Sisters
WBTokens
BUGRRestore Balance
BMono-Black Infect
EDH:
RGWMayael, the Anima
GWURoon of the Hidden Realm
BDrana, Kalastria Bloodchief
Honestly Devil's feel like Goblins but with a less supported tribal type.
Came in to say exactly that last sentence. Demons, at least in the world of MtG, are evil and actually seem to have plans to advance that evil. Devils are just mischievous and tend to cause chaos and mayhem with no real purpose.
Weird. Can you have a baby with an angel?
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In D&D, Devils are lawful evil, and Demons are chaotic evil. That is the difference there.
How that translates over to this, on the other hand, I don't know for sure. It may have some connection, it may not.
Of course, in religion and mythology, the two are often used interchangeably. Who knows?
Standard:
WBRG Aggro-Reanimator Humans GRBW
Modern:
UR Twinning RU
G Venus Fly Trap G
U Artifacts Aggro U
Legacy:
B Reanimator B
WU Stoneblade UW
EDH
WBGGhave, Guru of SporesGBW
URGRiku of the Two ReflectionsGRU
WUBRGScion of the Ur-DragonGRBUW
Casual
Far too many to list
Designwise they are goblins, the cheap red critter race.