The reason Tribal needs to exist as a card type instead of a supertype is to allow creature subtypes on noncreature cards.
You'll notice that other noncreature cards have subtypes as well (e.g. Mountain, Curse, Aura, Equipment, Trap, Shrine, Urza's Tower, Chandra), but never creature subtypes (Goblin, Elf). Each of these is tied specifically to their corresponding card type, which is necessary because otherwise it would be difficult to keep track of/remember/distinguish which was which. We all know that Equipment isn't a creature type, but if someone plays March of the Machines with a bunch of Equipment and Coat of Arms in play, the newer player might think the Equipment gets the bonus.
Tribal cards will always be associated with creature types (the same way Arcane is associated with spells, Equipment with Artifacts, Chandra with Planeswalker). It can't be a supertype because subtypes aren't associated with Supertypes, although I can understa... (see all)
Posted By:
ZealousEntropy
(2/24/2014 6:15:02 PM)
Deathrite Shaman just got banned in Modern, so this thing is about to become even better, if you can believe that.
Posted By:
Continue
(2/2/2014 10:18:57 PM)
No creature is worth $175. I would expect a card of that value to demolish its opponent. With the sheer amount of early/late-game creature removal out there, that's just not happening. Something fishy is going on.
Red? direct damage early-on, maybe toxic iguanar.
White? Pacifism/reprisal/wrath
Blue? Counter, or simply ignore it with fog bank
Green? Bigger/faster creatures.
Black? There's not a card in back that's printed that doesn't kill this thing.
I'm far from saying this thing is worthless. It will certainly have to be dealt-with and underestimating it can be your doom, but c'mon. If a playset is going to cost $600, it's instantly not even a card.
Posted By:
songmage
(3/12/2014 10:51:15 PM)
Ok, so... No trample, no defense against Counterspell/Pacifism/Doom Blade/Path to Exile... I can see him getting really big with the right kind of combo, but token decks can block him all day long. Sure his mana cost makes him a threat early on, but he really isn't worth £100.
Posted By:
DiasFlac420
(4/6/2014 4:53:17 AM)
...I don't understand how Tribal is a card type, while other supertypes like Basic (for land) and Legendary (for permanents) are not their own card type.
Posted By:
EGarrett01
(9/27/2013 12:58:39 PM)
He's reprinted just to try and bring the price down a bit.
Let's see if it works.
Posted By:
RetroGamer3
(6/6/2013 4:25:40 PM)
One of the best creatures ever printed, but doesn't belong in every deck running green.
Best when paired with black discard spells and/or blue cantrips so it can grow to a significant size in the early game.
In some G/W and Bant builds this is card is a poor choice, often being just a 0/1 on turn 2 and doesn't go beyond 1 or 2 power for a long time because White removal tends to exile instead of putting permanents in a graveyard.
Posted By:
absreim
(7/31/2013 9:27:05 AM)
The new artwork is strictly less confusing.
Posted By:
Gandlodder
(6/4/2013 2:14:22 PM)
What doesn't grow, dies.
I don't expect the enormous price tag to grow whis this reprint,
but i'm afraid it won't die any time soon either.
Still, i'm glad we got a print with the regular frame after all.
Posted By:
Mode
(6/11/2013 1:28:13 PM)