There's been two Ravnica blocks, the recent Dragons allied color pair set, other sets like Lorwyn, Shadowmoor, and Innistrad, so here's my question: What are the best "representations" of the color pairs in Magic history? Is Silumgar between than Dimir? Do you prefer Lorwyn's Elves to Golgari? Rakdos verus Innistrad's Vampires? And what about the Gods from Theros?
What defines the best? Whatever you want it to be.
Who would I be to not try to put together my own list. I've only been playing since Return to Ravnica and I don't have much of a deep knowledge of Magic history, so in a lot of these I'm defaulting to Ravnica and looking for input from others.
WU: Azorius. When you're represented by a Senate, the epitome of filibustering and bureaucracy, it's hard to beat the feel of White-Blue's controlling influence.
WB: Orzhov. If White-Black is supposed to feel like the mafia, I think Orzhov has this down better than anyone else.
UB: I actually think that a color pair that's supposed to value knowledge above all else, and looking for it in the most secretive and subtle ways, Lorwyn's Fairies strike me as better fitting than Dimir. Phenax from Theros is a close second, perhaps because I associate Ashiok with the block. Manipulation of dreams seems very Blue-Black.
UR: Defaulting again to Izzet, but I think that's because of a lack of any strong competitor. This color pair seems undeveloped, even in Theros it focused more on spells than anything else.
BR: I actually think the Vampires from Innistrad are such a creative twist on the normal vampires in Magic that they stand out more than anything like the Rakdos or Kologan of other sets. They make Black-Red feel passionate and impulsive in an appealing way. Rakdos were supposed to be entertainers, but that never felt well conveyed. Innistrad's Vampires will captivate you while they kill you.
BG: I really like Lorwyn's Elves and Shadormoor's Treefolk as alternate looks at the Black-Green color pair, but the Golgari emphasis on plant zombies is hard to beat. Maybe Black-Green stands out for having the widest level of representations. What really unites the Elves from Lorwyn and the plant zombies from Ravnica? I don't know.
RG: A heavy hitting category. Xenagos? Werewolves? Gruul? Who's the craziest? I actually think that Atarka may be the best right now because the idea of DRAGONS that are hungry and need to be fed seems the most Red-Green. Doesn't get more simple than that.
RW: I fell in love with the Red-White Defenders Archetype in Conspiracy, but I don't think that fits well here. Boros is the clearest example, it's defined the martial approach of the two colors.
GW: If the two colors are supposed to embrace their spiritual side, the Selseyna seem the better pick, but I do like how Dromoka has turned out in Dragons of Tarkir. The anti-necromancy perspective of Dromoka and the transformation of Abzan seems flavorful.
GU: Can I just say Sagu Mauler? I think Simic Version 1.0 were cool but a bad representation of this color pair, it felt far more Blue than Green-Blue. I think the color pair needs something that's deep and reflective about the world as it is, but still interesting in knowledge. Kruphix from Theros is my nomination.
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----- "I cannot tune a harp or play a lyre, but I know how to make a small city great." - Themistocles
I agree with all of your assignments. However, for B/R I really liked Lorwyn's Boggarts. It was nice to see a toned-down representation of this combination, that spoke to the 'Do what you wanna do' vibe without all the cannibalism.
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What defines the best? Whatever you want it to be.
Who would I be to not try to put together my own list. I've only been playing since Return to Ravnica and I don't have much of a deep knowledge of Magic history, so in a lot of these I'm defaulting to Ravnica and looking for input from others.
WU: Azorius. When you're represented by a Senate, the epitome of filibustering and bureaucracy, it's hard to beat the feel of White-Blue's controlling influence.
WB: Orzhov. If White-Black is supposed to feel like the mafia, I think Orzhov has this down better than anyone else.
UB: I actually think that a color pair that's supposed to value knowledge above all else, and looking for it in the most secretive and subtle ways, Lorwyn's Fairies strike me as better fitting than Dimir. Phenax from Theros is a close second, perhaps because I associate Ashiok with the block. Manipulation of dreams seems very Blue-Black.
UR: Defaulting again to Izzet, but I think that's because of a lack of any strong competitor. This color pair seems undeveloped, even in Theros it focused more on spells than anything else.
BR: I actually think the Vampires from Innistrad are such a creative twist on the normal vampires in Magic that they stand out more than anything like the Rakdos or Kologan of other sets. They make Black-Red feel passionate and impulsive in an appealing way. Rakdos were supposed to be entertainers, but that never felt well conveyed. Innistrad's Vampires will captivate you while they kill you.
BG: I really like Lorwyn's Elves and Shadormoor's Treefolk as alternate looks at the Black-Green color pair, but the Golgari emphasis on plant zombies is hard to beat. Maybe Black-Green stands out for having the widest level of representations. What really unites the Elves from Lorwyn and the plant zombies from Ravnica? I don't know.
RG: A heavy hitting category. Xenagos? Werewolves? Gruul? Who's the craziest? I actually think that Atarka may be the best right now because the idea of DRAGONS that are hungry and need to be fed seems the most Red-Green. Doesn't get more simple than that.
RW: I fell in love with the Red-White Defenders Archetype in Conspiracy, but I don't think that fits well here. Boros is the clearest example, it's defined the martial approach of the two colors.
GW: If the two colors are supposed to embrace their spiritual side, the Selseyna seem the better pick, but I do like how Dromoka has turned out in Dragons of Tarkir. The anti-necromancy perspective of Dromoka and the transformation of Abzan seems flavorful.
GU: Can I just say Sagu Mauler? I think Simic Version 1.0 were cool but a bad representation of this color pair, it felt far more Blue than Green-Blue. I think the color pair needs something that's deep and reflective about the world as it is, but still interesting in knowledge. Kruphix from Theros is my nomination.
"I cannot tune a harp or play a lyre, but I know how to make a small city great." - Themistocles