4) Multi Color Identity

If you’re like me, and you have trouble identifying with just one color, that’s okay! There are 26 more multicolor combinations to choose from­ 10 two­color, 10 three­color, and 6 four­to­five­color combinations. From within these combinations we will find the ingredients to further explore our identities.

The colors mix where the lands meet. The ecological edge effect results in a diversity of new life forms, while the cultural edge effect results in a diversity of new life philosophies. The meeting over shared values focuses belief systems even further. From these new belief systems the technical aspects of the multi­color combinations are derived.

The functional benefit of mixing colors is increased capability. What one color can’t do, another color can, so color pairing shores up color weakness. For instance, Black can’t destroy ​ ​ enchantments, but White can. White can’t discard cards, but Black can. So together these ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ colors can do more than either could do alone.

The functional drawback of mixing colors comes with mixing lands. Each color draws their power from a specific type of land, and multicolor lands come with explicit drawbacks. With color mixing you may find yourself stuck on the Island with only Green to use, or vice versa. Color ​ ​ ​ ​ mixing means less consistency with having the right kind of mana to cast spells.

Each color mixture offers new advantages, new disadvantages, new meanings, and a new identity to explore. As we continue through our color identity exploration, continue to keep your symbolic relationship with the colors at the top of your consciousness.

Two­Color (Guilds)

There are ten two color combinations, each with a clear philosophy. These combinations are said to be either “allied” or “enemy” pairings, depending on their relation on the color wheel.

1 If we take a look at the back of a Magic card we see a clockwise rotation of White, Blue, Black, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Red, Green, or “WUBRG." Color pairs located next to each other are allied, while color pairs ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ across from each other are enemies.

Allied Pairing

Enemy Pairing

Since new philosophies are formed primarily over shared values, allied color pairs tend to have more in common and relatively broad philosophical views. Enemy color pairs tend to have less in common resulting in more focused philosophical views.

Additional lore of the two color combinations was given in the Magic: the Gathering blocks “Ravnica” and “Return to Ravnica” which gave each combination a “guild” name and specific flavor within the Ravnica world. More information on the guilds will be included in the notes section at the end of this chapter.

As in the last chapter, I have painted each color pairing in their own positive light so that we can draw value from each. Take a scroll through and see what you find most interesting.

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White Blue (Azorius) ​ ​ ​

The mixture of White and Blue is where order meets rationality, where hope meets curiosity, ​ ​ ​ ​ where community meets improvement, where the Plains meets the Island. White Blue mages ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ are idealists who use knowledge for the good of others.

Iconic White Blue Lands ​ ​ ​ ​

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Iconic White Blue Spells ​ ​ ​ ​

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White Black (Orzhov) ​ ​

The mixture of White and Black is where morality meets subjectivity, where group meets self, ​ ​ ​ ​ where faith meets sacrifice, where the Plains meets the Swamp. White Black mages see the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ family as extension of self and do whatever is necessary to advance their group.

Iconic White Black Lands­ ​ ​ ​

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Iconic White Black Spells­ ​ ​ ​

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Blue Black (Dimir) ​

The mixture of Blue and Black is where curiosity meets ambition, where knowledge meets ​ ​ ​ pursuit of opportunity, where mastery meets individualism, where the Island meets the Swamp. ​ ​ ​ ​ Blue Black mages use self development as a means towards acquiring knowledge and power. ​ ​

Iconic Blue Black Lands­ ​ ​

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Iconic Blue Black Spells­ ​ ​

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Blue Red (Izzet) ​ ​

The mixture of Blue and Red is where thoughts meet feelings, where curiosity meets ​ ​ ​ excitement, where learning meets action, where the Island Meets the Mountain. Blue Red ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ mages use experimentation to spark creative invention.

Iconic Blue Red Lands­ ​ ​ ​

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Iconic Blue Red Spells­ ​ ​ ​

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Black Red (Rakdos) ​ ​

The mixture of Black and Red is where ambition meets emotion, where desire for power meets ​ ​ passion, sacrifice meets immediacy, where the Swamp meets the Mountain. Black Red mages ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ are willing to do whatever it takes to solve immediate challenges.

Iconic Black Red Lands­ ​ ​

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Iconic Black Red Spells ​ ​

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Black Green (Golgari) ​ ​

The mixture of Black and Green is where death meets life, where sacrifice meets growth, where ​ ​ ​ individualism meets natural order, where the Swamp meets the Forest . Black Green mages ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ embrace the eternal nature of the universal life­death cycle.

Iconic Black Green Lands­ ​ ​

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Iconic Black Green Spells­ ​ ​

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Red Green (Gruul) ​ ​

The mixture of Red Green is where emotional impulse meets animal instinct, where freedom ​ ​ ​ meets life, where chaos meets the natural way, where the Mountain meets the Forest. Red ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Green mages accept their primal desires and act on them without deliberation. ​

Iconic Red Green Lands­ ​ ​ ​

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Iconic Red Green Spells­ ​ ​ ​

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Red White (Boros) ​ ​ ​

The mixture of Red White is where feeling meets faith, where freedom meets structure, where ​ ​ passion meets purpose, where the Mountain meets the Plains . Red White mages channel ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ their emotions toward spreading good.

Iconic Red White Lands­ ​ ​ ​ ​

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Iconic Red White Spells­ ​ ​ ​ ​

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Green White (Selesnya) ​ ​ ​

The mixture of Green and White is where growth meets group, where natural order meets ​ ​ societal order, where spirituality meets religion, where the Forest meets the Plains. Green ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ White mages are community building team players. ​ ​

Iconic Green White Lands­ ​ ​ ​ ​

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Iconic Green White Spells­ ​ ​ ​ ​

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Blue Green (Simic) ​ ​

The mixture of Blue and Green is where science meets nature, where learning meets biology, ​ ​ ​ ​ where growth of the body meets growth of the mind, where the Island meets the Forest. Blue ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Green mages strive to be catalysts for accelerated evolutionary change. ​

Iconic Blue Green Lands­ ​ ​ ​

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Iconic Blue Green Spells­ ​ ​ ​

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Three­Color (Shards and Wedges)

There are ten three­color combinations. These combinations are said to either be allied “shards” or enemy “wedges” depending on their relation on the color wheel. Three colors in a row forms an allied shard, while one color opposing two other colors forms an enemy shard.

Allied Shard

Enemy Wedge

The allied shards were given specific lore and flavor in “Shards of Alara” and have been supported in other sets throughout Magic’s history. The wedges were given specific lore and flavor in “Khans of Tarkir”, though they have had much less support throughout Magic’s history. Links to more information on the three­color combos will be included in the end notes.

What the three­color shards and wedges have in common is world specific characterization without simple philosophical underpinning. For instance, the Green White Blue “Bant” shard ​ ​ ​ has specific geography, inhabitants, and cultural practices, but there isn’t a distinguished overarching theme like one and two­color combinations. The more colors mix, the less distinct they become.

You may find that you relate strongly to one of these three color mixtures, or you might find that they start to blur together more and more. Either way, we can respect each combination as having a lot to offer in terms of technical strength.

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Green White Blue (Bant) ​ ​ ​ ​

White Blue Black (Esper) ​ ​ ​

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Blue Black Red (Grixis) ​ ​ ​

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Black Red Green (Jund) ​ ​ ​

Red Green White (Naya) ​ ​ ​ ​

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Black Green White (Abzan) ​ ​ ​ ​

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White Black Red (Mardu) ​ ​

Red White Blue (Jeskai) ​ ​ ​ ​

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Blue Red Green (Temur) ​ ​ ​

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Green Blue Black (Sultai) ​ ​

Four­Color and Five­Color

Once we have a mixing of four or five colors, it becomes even less clear what that mixture represents. Maybe they represent everything, maybe they represent nothing in particular. However, we get the sense that where the Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ converge into one point is a place where POWERFUL magic is possible.

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Iconic Five­Color Lands­

Iconic Five­Color Cards­

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Your Multicolor Identity

You might find a stronger sense of identity with a multicolor combination than with just one color. Greater focus on the philosophical belief system may give you new direction. For me, I definitely get something new out of each color pairing, and I feel that my full identity is comprised of parts of all the possible color combinations. I relate to each in strong ways.

However, I am drawn to certain belief systems more than others. I identify strongly as the tinkering Blue Red mage with a passion for experimentation, while I find the Green White ​ ​ ​ ​ groupthink to be oppressive to my innovation. I find deep comfort with the Black Green ​ ​ attunement to the cycle of life and death, while I at times find Red White zealotry disconnected ​ ​ from the natural way. I am pushed and pulled by the color mixtures.

Again, I share my feelings only as possible examples. Play around with the symbolism and how it connects to your life. I encourage you to paint with all the colors and use your own unique findings to strengthen your personal identity. From here, identify a few color combinations as ​ special points of interest. You can always come back and reinvestigate later. ​

As we continue, the philosophical underpinnings are likely to slip out of the conscious mind. When playing a completed deck, we tend to bask in the colorful expression, rarely contemplating the philosophy that sparked the process. Similarly, when we enjoy the colorful ​ fruit of a tree, we rarely think of those roots deep underground. But they are there. They don’t need to stay at the top of our conscious, but they will nurture us as we build towards our signature strategy, and we should be able to reach in and drink from them when necessary.

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Learning from Deck Crafting Exercise #4 ​ Multi Color Identity

What color mixtures do you most strongly identify with? How do the color philosophies relate to your life? What characteristics of the color mixtures are you most drawn to? What lands have the strongest pull to you?

What color mixtures do you identify with the least? How are these color philosophies at odds with you life?

What technical capabilities of the color mixtures are you MOST interested in? What functional abilities are most interesting to you? What specific cards are you most drawn to?

Notes

1) MTG Salvation Multicolored Guide “Multicolored.” MTG Salvation: Gamepedia. 8/13/2014 ​ ​ http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Multicolored

2) Mark Rosewater’s Column “Mark Rosewater Author Archive.” Wizards of the Coast: Daily MTG. ​ http://archive.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Archive.aspx?author=Mark%20Rosewater

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