Lhurgoyf
Template:Infobox type Lhurgoyf is an all-color creature type used for cards that depict large, reptilian creatures, with distinctive elongated limbs and large, toothed mouths. Lhurgoyf are primarily scavengers. They come in a wide variety of shapes depending on their scavenged sustenance of choice.[1]
History[edit]
The first card to bear the creature type was the classical <c>Lhurgoyf</c> in Ice Age. Lhurgoyf's power is equal to the number of creature cards in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.
Odyssey followed up with a cycle of Lhurgoyfs: these rare creatures' power and toughness were equal the number of cards of a given related card type to its colour in all graveyards, and each had an ability common to its color. — <c>Cantivore</c> (white, empowered by enchantments, has vigilance), <c>Cognivore</c> (blue, instants, flying), <c>Mortivore</c> (black, creatures, regeneration), <c>Magnivore</c> (red, sorceries, haste) and <c>Terravore</c> (green, lands, trample). Magnivore and Mortivore were reprinted in 9th Edition.
More Lhurgoyfs were printed in Planar Chaos (<c>Detritivore</c>) and Future Sight (<c>Tarmogoyf</c>).[2] The test card <c>Chimney Goyf</c> has the type as well (combined with Imp).
Lhurgoyfs returned in Modern Horizons 2, which saw the printing of <c>Altar of the Goyf</c> (the first card to mechanically care about the lhurgoyf creature type, and the return of Tribal, a supertype first referenced on Tarmogoyf) and a new goyf in <c>Necrogoyf</c>.
Dominaria United featured <c>Urborg Lhurgoyf</c>, the first goyf in more than one color, and the first to only care about your own graveyard. The MH3 Commander deck Graveyard Overdrive features a minor Lhurgoyf theme, and the first card to create Lhurgoyf tokens: <c>Tarmogoyf Nest</c>.
Storyline[edit]
“ | Ach! Hans, run! It's the Lhurgoyf! | ” |
—Saffi Eriksdotter, last words |
Lhurgoyfs spread across Dominaria during the Ice Age, when they adapted to dwindling food resources by developing a carrion-based diet.[3][4] After the weather warmed, they migrated north and are now found in the plane's arctic Northland.
Cantivores derive power from magical energy, while Magnivores derive theirs from emotions.[5] Tarmogoyfs are omnivorous lhurgoyfs capable of metabolizing a variety of creatures and magics.[6] The scourge of any food chain they encounters, tarmogoyfs' musculatures thrive on a diverse diet.
By the time of the New Phyrexian invasion, at least one lhurgoyf was to be found in Urborg.
Trivia[edit]
- The original Lhurgoyf inspired several designs: <c set="UNH" number="" title="Ach! Hans, Run!" artist="">"Ach! Hans, Run!"</c> (Unhinged), <c set="STH" number="" title="Revenant" artist="">Revenant</c> (Stronghold), <c set="TSP" number="" title="Saffi Eriksdotter" artist="">Saffi Eriksdotter</c> (Time Spiral) and <c set="CMR" number="" title="Hans Eriksson" artist="">Hans Eriksson</c> (Commander Legends).[7][8]
- Due to the remarkable speed at which <c>Tarmogoyf</c> could grow and its performance in top-tier decks,[9] it became a much sought-after card.[10]
- Decks featuring Tarmogoyf are known as Goyf-decks.
- The "Lhurgoyf" ability (This creature's power and toughness are equal to the number of cards in your/all graveyards) nowadays is primary in green, secondary in black and tertiary in white, blue, and red.[11]
- The name "Lhurgoyf" doesn't mean anything. It was made up by the Ice Age team because it "sounded Scandinavian."[12]
References[edit]
- ↑ Doug Beyer (December 24, 2008). "How to Design a Hellion and More!". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (September 18, 2007). "Putting the Tarmo in your Goyf". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Pete Venters (July 1998). "Dominian FAQ" The Duelist #27, p.34.
- ↑ Mike McArtor (May 27, 2013). "Sketchogoyf". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (January 15, 2002). "The Lexicon Archive". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017.
- ↑ Lexicon of the Future. Wizards of the Coast (2008). Archived from the original on August 8, 2009.
- ↑ Brady Dommermuth (November 13, 2006). "The Legends of Time Spiral". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 9, 2020). "Quite Some Characters". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Pro Tour–Valencia Qualifying Season: Top 8 Decklists
- ↑ Gavin Verhey (March 2, 2017). "The Card That Changed the World". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (October 21, 2002). "Card of the Day - October, 2002". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.