Azra

Creature Type Love

I just wanted to voice how much I love both Azra and Aetherborn as creature types. I just saw how Kylem was rates as an 8 on the Rabiah scale, I hope that doesn't mean we won't be getting more Azra named characters in the future. Luckily due to Omenpaths there's a little more flexibility, as we can have one-offs show up on different planes.

I think we’ll see other Aetherborn and Azra.

Aetherborn Azra Creatures Omenpaths Planes Rabiah Scale

Azra Race Integration

Hey, Mark!
A while back, before the omen paths were a thing, I asked how likely it was to see Azra in a standard set, and you basically said "don't hold your breath."
Does the omenpaths existing change that at all? They're one of my favorite races, and being locked to a supplemental set bummed me out.

Omenpaths make it much easier to sample a race tied to a specific plane.

Azra Omenpaths Premier Sets Standard

Deciding Creature Types

How do you decide creature types for a new humanoid introduced in a set (Azra vs Raccoon for the Raccoonfolk in New Capenna for example)

If it’s an animal humanoid, we tend to use the animal.

Azra Creatures Raccoon Raccoon

Tiefling Creature Type

Is Tiefling as a creature type limited to the D&D crossovers? Could there be tieflings on planes in the magic universe?

I think it’s just a D&D thing. Magic has Azra.

Azra Creatures Dungeons & Dragons Limited Planes Tiefling

Azra on Beeble Scale

Where are Azra on the Beeble Scale?

I’d call them a 4. We do them on occasion. Unfinity recently had one.

Azra Beeble Scale Blogatog / Tumblr

Unique Races on Planes

I always like a plane more when they have their own race of people, like Kor on Zendikar or Azra on Battle-Bond-World-Fight-Place. Why don't more planes have their own "people race"?

It’s about how much do we want to split up the creature types? If we introduce something new, we tend to like it to be super resonant or be something we can use on many worlds. Note we do a lot to make each world’s take on the creatures unique where we can.

Azra Creatures Kor Planes Zendikar

Unique Creatures Production Frequency

"1) There are also a bunch lower down on the scale. We have a lot of unique things to Magic.2) A bunch you have listed aren’t unique to Magic (like noggle or ouphe)." Which unique creatures are lower on the scale besides Slivers? And even those are only in supplemental sets at this point. I didn't know those weren't unique to magic, but the point is still the same; you guys seem to produce the more interesting looking and less generic creatures less often.

The original Magic creature types: Aetherborn, Assembly-Worker, Atog, Azra, Beeble, Blinkmoth, Bringer, Brushwagg, Camarid, Cephalid, Eldrazi, Fractal, Graveborn, Homarid, Inkling, Kavu, Kithkin, Kor, Lhurgoyf, Licid, Masticore, Metathran, Myr, Nightstalker, Orgg, Pentavite, Pest, Phelddagrif, Phyrexian, Praetor, Rigger, Saproling, Slith, Sliver, Soltari, Spellshaper, Spike, Surrakar, Tetravite, Thalakos, Triskelavite, Vedalken, Viashino, Volver, and Zubera.A bunch of those have appeared on new cards in the last five years.

Aetherborn Assembly-Worker Assembly-Worker Atog Atog Azra Beeble Blinkmoth Bringer Brushwagg Brushwagg Camarid Cephalid Colorless Competitive Play Creatures Eldrazi Fractal Graveborn Homarids Inkling Kavu Kithkin Kor Lhurgoyf Lhurgoyf Licid Masticore Masticore Metathran Myr Nightstalker Noggle Orgg Orgg Ouphe Pentavite Pest Phelddagrif Phelddagrif Phyrexian Praetor Rigger Saprolings Slith Sliver Soltari Spellshaper Spike Surrakar Tetravite Thalakos Triskelavite Vedalken Viashino Volver Zubera

Nature of Character: Tibalt

is Tibalt an azra or a devil?

Devil, I think.

Azra Devil

Kithkin and Azra Support

If Magic had a history of tribal support for kithkin and azra like it does for goblins, do you think you might have gone the other way on using halfling and tiefling for AFR?

It would have been a factor to consider. I’m skeptical we would though. Using D&D terms in the D&D set has a lot of upside.

Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Azra Goblin Halfling Halfling Kindred / Typal Kithkin Tiefling

D&D Creature Types Reference

Hey Mark, could cards in say a commander product reference the D&D creature types even though they aren't going to be really supported in the rest of Magic? Like a card that gives +1/+1 to Azra, Tieflings, and Devils or something similar?

I don’t expect us to reference Tiefling outside a D&D set.

Azra Commander Creatures Devil Dungeons & Dragons Tiefling

Azra Introduction in Battlebond

Why were the azra needed for battlebond it seems weird to introduce a creature type race like that in a supplemental set?

It was more we had Azra and wanted to start using them, so why not here?

Azra Creatures

Role of Azra and Tieflings

Going forward, will the Azra still be a race or will Tieflings replace them?

Azra is the Magic race. Tiefling is just for D&D sets.

Azra Tiefling

Halflings and Tieflings in Sets

Now that we have actual Halflings and Tieflings in magic, is there going to be a creature type update to make the Kithkin and the Azra (who are halflings and tieflings, respectively), officially halflings and tieflings?

D&D unique creature types will stay in D&D flavored sets.

Azra Creatures Halfling Kithkin Tiefling

Tieflings Versus Azra Race

So with tieflings now in the game, does that make Azra obsolete as it was made specifically to show that type of race, or how is that being handled?

Certain races are specifically a D&D thing.

Azra Tiefling

Future of Azra in Sets

What’s the if/when on seeing Azra in a standard legal set? For whatever reason, they’ve captured my imagination since Battlebond, I love the Kels, Fight Fixer card, and I’d love to see even more Azra in the future :)

I have faith the Azra will make their way to a premier set one day.

Azra Fight / Bite If/When Kels, Fight Fixer Premier Sets Standard

Azra Appearances

As someone who enjoyed the visual design of the Azra, I was wondering what it would take to get more of them? Is there a chance they could pop up in a returning plane they weren't shown on before or would it require a new plane/a return to Kylem?

I think Azra have a decent chance of showing up on another world.

Azra

Creature Types and Kylem

Azra are also one of my favorite creature types, but I think unique creature types should get enough exposure on the plane they were introduced in before being spread among other planes. Can I get an if or when on another set (standard or not) on Kylem?

Kylem was designed specifically for Battlebond. It’s not a very fleshed our world, making its use anywhere but Battlebond 2 tricky.

Azra Battlebond Creatures If/When Planes Standard

Azra Outside Kylem

Hey Mark, Azra are one of my favorite creature types in recent memory. Can you give us an if/when on Azra outside of Kylem?

I think more if then when.

Azra Creatures If/When

Future of Azra

As a quick question to break from Throne of Eldraine, are there any more plans for more Azra appearing in the future? Whether in a Battlebond 2 or on another plane.

I think we’ll see them again.

Azra Battlebond Throne of Eldraine

D&D Elements

Between the Azras in Battlebond and MH1, the Bag of Holding in M20, and now the Warlock type in Throne, can we expect to see other elements of Dungeons and Dragons trickle into Magic?

Success breeds repetition. : )

Azra Bag of Holding Battlebond Dragon Dungeons Dungeons & Dragons Warlock