Little BearLittle Bear | Art by Tomas Duchek

What is a Typal Card?

I’ve recorded 70+ episodes of a creature-type-based podcast, Quote of Arms, so I’ve seen a huge array of creature type decks. When I look at spoilers for a new set, I tend to scan for cards that specifically reference a creature type, especially those that provide a new commander, direction, or signpost card for an existing type. This approach helps me sift through the deluge of new cards and avoid product fatigue.

From a typal perspective, The Hobbit is a deep set. The primary focuses of the set seem to be storied permanent types (Sagas, legendaries, and artifacts), Armies, and typal synergies. A decent amount of these bleed into each other, at least in part for Limited purposes, so there are more than thirty cards that directly refer to cards of a creature type.

The Hobbit is a solid typal set, and a lot of cards in it reflect this, so not all typal cards are going to be reviewed and some are going to be lumped together. Draft chaff typal cards fall into the former category, while cycles will fall into the latter. Orcrist, Goblin-cleaverOrcrist, Goblin-cleaver will also be skipped, as it has its own article.

The Company Cycle

Each of the two-color pairs in the set gets its own “Company” card: a solid creature on rate that gains abilities depending on whether you have another creature of its type: Human, Goblin, Wolf, Dwarf, or Elf. Their abilities reflect what the types do in the set: go-wide Humans get an anthem; weenie rush Goblins get a mana dork and sacrifice outlet; high-power Wolves get a five-power trampler; Equipment-loving Dwarves can find an Equipment or a Dwarf from the top four cards; and Elves get land drops and landfall synergies. These are must-includes for any deck that takes the types in these directions, although Elves are pulled in a slightly different direction than their usual Elfball.

The Common Typal Land Cycle

Each of the creature types in the set is referenced in some way on the common Typal lands. The lands are dual lands in the supported color pairs, enter tapped, and, by paying four mana and sacrificing the land, put two +1/+1 counters on a creature of the type. Simic targets Elves; Rakdos targets Goblins or Orcs; Boros targets Dwarves; Azorius targets Humans; and Golgari targets…Bears, Spiders, or Wolves. While it’s always nice to get more cheap dual lands, these are likely too slow and weak to see much play outside of budget builds.

Legendary Dwarves

Because Dwarves are associated with the new storied mechanic, which cares about legendaries, Sagas, and artifacts, it makes sense that they would have a lot of new commanders. In fact, there are sixteen of them in this set alone. All of the ones that care about other Dwarves also care about having an enduring story, with abilities ranging from card draw to cost reduction to token production and even doubling triggers, which combos with the other two!

Thranduils

The King of Elves in The Hobbit was an important enough character to get three cards all to himself. Two of them are Simic-colored, while perhaps the most powerful is Sultai. Both of the Simic versions make Elves when a land falls; one turns Elves into mana dorks, while the other is a lord that can go on an Adventure to mill four cards and put two lands from them onto the battlefield. The Elvenking, however, draws two and discards a card when a legendary Elf enters and acts as a Necrotic OozeNecrotic Ooze for Elves. It might even have cEDH potential, as graveyard combos are plentiful!

Typal Weapons

There are a couple of Equipment that work well with members of certain creature types, and even one that hates on one! The Black ArrowThe Black Arrow is an anti-typal card that hates on Dragons. Wizard's StaffWizard's Staff and Dwarven MattockDwarven Mattock have reduced equip costs for Wizards and Dwarves, respectively. While the Mattock only provides a boost and Ward 1, the Staff gives prowess and a one-creature PanharmoniconPanharmonicon. Since instances of prowess stack, it can really get out of hand fast!

Along the Crooked WayAlong the Crooked Way

Along the Crooked WayAlong the Crooked Way is a complicated card. It is a Raise DeadRaise Dead that amasses Goblins when creatures leave the grave and can be activated to give Goblins and Orcs menace until end of turn. All of these abilities combine to make a potent card that is solid throughout the game.

Desolation of SmaugDesolation of Smaug

Typal wraths that are one-sided tend to be strong, and Dragons already have Crux of FateCrux of Fate. So what hope does Desolation of SmaugDesolation of Smaug have? Well, it’s free if we follow it up with a Dragon and even fixes mana in multicolor Dragon decks, so it has a pretty decent shot. The problem is that it is just a slightly better PyroclasmPyroclasm, so, even though it’s free, the effect might not be worth the deck slot.

Last Light of Durin's DayLast Light of Durin's Day

This can be really good in a mono-red Dragons deck, especially one built around Dragon's ApproachDragon's Approach. It gets a quest counter when a Mountain enters (not when we play one, so ScapeshiftScapeshift shenanigans work), and then, when we have six of those counters, we can sacrifice it to put a Dragon in our hand or library onto the battlefield. Like Dragon's ApproachDragon's Approach, it takes a lot of work to get off, but the payoff can be decently strong.

Bejeweled WargBejeweled Warg

Wolves may be ferocious, but it’s a bit odd that Wolves in this set care about individual size, rather than working together as part of a pack. Still, the Warg is a cheap trampler that grows a Wolf or makes a Treasure when it connects. I suppose Wolves growing each other kind of fits the theme?

Beorn the FierceBeorn the Fierce

Beorn might just overtake Ayula, Queen Among BearsAyula, Queen Among Bears as the preeminent Bear commander. It’s a big trampler that is a lord for Bears, gives Bears trample, turns non-Bears into Bears, and draws cards if we control three or more Bears. Why don’t the Wolves have this kind of pack mentality?

Cantankerous KeepersCantankerous Keepers

Elves specialize in swarming the board, and this both benefits from and enables the board swarming. It has affinity for Elves, so it’ll likely just cost a green mana, and it mills four when it enters, putting all Elves milled this way into our hand. Yet another cheap Elf that draws cards and keeps the Elfball engine going.

Down in the ValleyDown in the Valley

This is a Saga that fixes our mana, makes Elves when we put lands out, and gives Elves a power boost and vigilance until end of turn. It’s a bit slow, but Elves in the set are leaning into landfall, and putting two of the strongest strategies in the format together can only be a good thing…right?

Little BearLittle Bear

Folks have been brainstorming this as a combo piece with Splinter TwinSplinter Twin effects as the new copies can untap the original, and, since both are Bears, make it bigger. There’s even the possibility of making a Bear combo deck with Duskana, the Rage MotherDuskana, the Rage Mother! I also have a personal connection to the card, as my family calls me variants of “Jer Bear,” and I was called “Little Bear” as a kid.

The Notary HobbitsThe Notary Hobbits

Another card that’s been talked about as a combo enabler, these lawyers break the rules of mana creation by making huge swaths of mana that can go absolutely nutty in a dedicated Halfling deck. Farmer CottonFarmer Cotton, in particular, gives them a great outlet for all that mana, either sinking the mana into the X cost or chewing through Food tokens.

The Great GoblinThe Great Goblin

Yet another combo enabler, this is one that puts the combo engine in the command zone. It hits an opponent when we put counters on Goblins, Orcs, or Armies and impulse draws when a Goblin, Orc, or Army dies. This can go bonkers with First Day of ClassFirst Day of Class and Putrid GoblinPutrid Goblin or Murderous RedcapMurderous Redcap. It’s even a Goblin Noble! See, Wizards? There’s precedent for Goblin KingGoblin King!

Elven PassageElven Passage

Elven PassageElven Passage is a fetchland for basics that operates like Fabled PassageFabled Passage if we Behold an Elf. This is a key card for the hybrid Elfball/landfall decks, but, otherwise, is probably not worth a slot. Still, if that deck is real, this will have a home. Even landfall decks that have an Elf commander will probably want this.

Hobbit HoleHobbit Hole

Cycling for a creature type has historically been really, really strong. Slivercycling and Wizardcycling cards are staples in their respective decks, so putting such an ability on a land has to be a staple, right? Well…Halflings don’t necessarily have the pedigree of Slivers or Wizards. Still, finding the Notaries in a Farmer CottonFarmer Cotton deck could be the key to making the type legitimate.

The Lonely MountainThe Lonely Mountain

This is an include in any red Equipment deck, but especially in Dwarf decks. It enters untapped if we have an Equipment; makes a Dwarf token by tapping and paying a cost; and reduces the cost for each Equipment we control. We don’t even need to sacrifice it; we can make a token each turn cycle!

Conclusion

Whew! There are a LOT of great typal cards in The Hobbit, and that’s not even going into the individual cards that give colors and types new pieces. Every time I look at the spoiler page, I see more and more cool cards that I missed the last glance. This really is an awesome set for traditional and nontraditional types and builds.

But what cards are going into your typal decks? And what are the cards you’re looking to pick up?