If Merfolk is by chance one of the tribes, I don't want it to be a monoblue deck because we already have plenty of monoblue Merfolk legends. Not to say we won't get more in the future, but I'd rather a tribal Commander product be used to open new color combination options for existing tribes, like a URG Merfolk that allows you to play Jori En, Ruin Diver and Kiora, Master of the Depths together, or an Esper Merfolk that plays well with the white and black Merfolk introduced in Lorwyn-Shadowmoor, or even a Bant Merfolk.
I suspect that the four decks could each be inspired by one or two of Magic's most notable sets or blocks to feature a tribal component.
Onslaught - The original tribal set and block, with a primary focus on Soldiers, Wizards, Zombies, Goblins, and Elves, and also some support for Birds, Clerics, Beasts, Dragons, and Shapeshifters. Lorwyn - The most notable tribal block in Modern. Lorwyn focused on races, primarily Kithkin, Merfolk, Goblins, Elementals, and Elves and secondarily on Faeries, Giants, Treefolk, and Shapeshifters (the latter of which had the Changeling ability, allowing them to play with the other tribes). Morningtide focused on classes, primarily Soldiers, Wizards, Rogues, Warriors, and Shamans, with slight support for Knights, Clerics, and Archers. Innistrad - Featured five major tribes inspired by Gothic Horror tropes: Humans, Spirits, Zombies, Vampires, and Werewolves. Avacyn Restored introduced some Angel and Demon tribal. Zendikar - Heavily features Allies and Eldrazi tribal themes. Dragons of Tarkir - Dragons were the main theme of DTK. Kaladesh - Artificers featured more heavily here than in any previous set. Thopters also saw a resurgence of relevance.
Allies already got a good commander in the form of General Tazri, so I'm not expecting an Ally tribal deck here.
A WUBRG Eldrazi legend isn't impossible, but feels dubious to me. I'd sooner see a legend version of Ugin with a WUBRG ability, before his spark ignited who knows how long ago. Since he has a keen interest in studying the Eldrazi, it makes sense he could play well with them mechanically.
A new Dragon legend doesn't seem far-fetched, given how popular Dragons are. Question is, would such a legend be multicolor or monored? Multicolor allows for play with a greater variety of Dragons, but WUBRG Dragon awesomeness would completely overshadow anything else in the cycle, which makes me think a new monored Dragon legend might be in order as a counterbalance.
Fans have requested a UR Artificer legend for a while now, and this seems like a good a time as any to print one.
Of course, since most Commander decks have two themes for greater variance of play, maybe each deck features two major tribes with flavorful and mechanical synergy? For example, Knights + Soldiers and Dragons + Shamans.
WUBRG Eldrazi not possible. *facepalm* I see someone forgot about the devoid mechanic. But yea if Eldrazi is one more likely a colorless deck
Yes but sultai snakes are more requested than artificers
Yep two sub tribes is likely too.
Like clerics/demons
Humans/angels
Dragons/shamans
Oh one more thing to point out. (To everybody)
I don't remember the source but wizards hinted they would be completely alright of making a pre-built colorless commander deck.
So haters gonna hate most likely Eldrazis may be even more likely than we think as one of the tribes. Plus they are more popular than you think. The BFZ/OGW/EMN story's is just a smoke screen.
I said this on another thread actually, but Tazri. In her story during oath of the gatewatch, she experienced a future version of herself that was altered and given new abilities by Kozilek. Since her original card had a 5 color identity, it isn't too hard to justify making this into a 5 color devoid eldrazi commander. Go eltazri!!!
I think Wizards will avoid devoid like the proverbial burnt child. But there's nothing speaking a version with an entirely generic mana cost and an activated ability costing all five colors and colorless mana to boot. Not that I think it's likely, but if we speculate we should at least strife for a version that fits the statements we have by the game creators.
Eldrazi being five-colored rather than colorless would be a disappointment though.
We know this will be a supplemental product with a full-blown creative team. Something about this makes me expect that the tribes are actually going to interact in a meaningful way. It would be intersting to know whether we'll have a singular setting where four tribes clash on a (known or new?) plane. If so, it would seem Eldrazi are less likely since such a new approach will probably be deferred to something running parallel to the main story (like when they introduced Fiora for Conspiracy).
I'd sooner see a legend version of Ugin with a WUBRG ability, before his spark ignited who knows how long ago. Since he has a keen interest in studying the Eldrazi, it makes sense he could play well with them mechanically.
Why a legend version? We have had planeswalker Commanders. How about Kiora heading Merfolk/Leviathan/Kraken tribal? Sarkhan heading Dragon tribal? Ob Nixilis heading Demon Tribal? Ajani war kittens?
They probably will introduce multiple possible Commanders again and it seems weird if they just make two green/blue legendary Merfolk creatures for a hypothetical Merfolk tribal deck, but if they vary the theme by either giving each deck a legendary creature and a planeswalker commander or giving each deck the choice between a single tribal commander and a tribal tag-team with partner this could be cool. Or maybe they just invent a new keyword that says "<type> liege (While this is your commander <type> cards in your deck ignore color identity restrictions.)" Or something entirely different. It just seems that there is some incentive to somehow spice up the new commanders they'll inevitably introduce to fit the theme.
WUBRG Eldrazi not possible. *facepalm* I see someone forgot about the devoid mechanic. But yea if Eldrazi is one more likely a colorless deck
Dragon tribal is actually the most popular we get a brand new 5-color dragon legend and will have a Scion of the Ur-Dragon reprint and for bonus the same with Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund and Balefire dragon
Yes but sultai snakes are more requested than artificers
Yep two sub tribes is likely too.
Like clerics/demons
Humans/angels
Dragons/shamans
Oh one more thing to point out. (To everybody)
I don't remember the source but wizards hinted they would be completely alright of making a pre-built colorless commander deck.
So haters gonna hate most likely Eldrazis may be even more likely than we think as one of the tribes. Plus they are more popular than you think. The BFZ/OGW/EMN story's is just a smoke screen.
I think Wizards will avoid devoid like the proverbial burnt child. But there's nothing speaking a version with an entirely generic mana cost and an activated ability costing all five colors and colorless mana to boot. Not that I think it's likely, but if we speculate we should at least strife for a version that fits the statements we have by the game creators.
Eldrazi being five-colored rather than colorless would be a disappointment though.
We know this will be a supplemental product with a full-blown creative team. Something about this makes me expect that the tribes are actually going to interact in a meaningful way. It would be intersting to know whether we'll have a singular setting where four tribes clash on a (known or new?) plane. If so, it would seem Eldrazi are less likely since such a new approach will probably be deferred to something running parallel to the main story (like when they introduced Fiora for Conspiracy).
EDIT:
Why a legend version? We have had planeswalker Commanders. How about Kiora heading Merfolk/Leviathan/Kraken tribal? Sarkhan heading Dragon tribal? Ob Nixilis heading Demon Tribal? Ajani war kittens?
They probably will introduce multiple possible Commanders again and it seems weird if they just make two green/blue legendary Merfolk creatures for a hypothetical Merfolk tribal deck, but if they vary the theme by either giving each deck a legendary creature and a planeswalker commander or giving each deck the choice between a single tribal commander and a tribal tag-team with partner this could be cool. Or maybe they just invent a new keyword that says "<type> liege (While this is your commander <type> cards in your deck ignore color identity restrictions.)" Or something entirely different. It just seems that there is some incentive to somehow spice up the new commanders they'll inevitably introduce to fit the theme.
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
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It will be a colorless deck.
Wizard said a while back they would not mind at all if they made a pre-built colorless commander deck. (Forgot source unfortunately.)
And like they said this is not color focused this a opportunity to try it, so if Eldrazi are in its colorless not 5-color devoid.