Does Colorless Count as a Color Identity?
In the world of Magic: The Gathering, color identity is a crucial concept that determines the mana costs of spells and abilities. Colorless, a term often used in Magic, is not a color itself but rather the lack of any color. So, does colorless count as a color identity? Let’s dive into the details.
Direct Answer
According to the Magic: The Gathering official website, colorless cards do not have a color identity. This is because colorless is not a color, but rather the absence of color. Color identity is determined by the colors of mana required to cast a spell or the colors of a permanent’s mana cost. Since colorless is not a color, it does not contribute to a card’s color identity.
Color Identity vs. Colorless
Here’s a table to summarize the difference between color identity and colorless:
| Color Identity | Colorless | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The combination of colors of mana required to cast a spell or the colors of a permanent’s mana cost | The absence of any color |
| Contribution to Color Identity | Yes, contributes to a card’s color identity | No, does not contribute to a card’s color identity |
Types of Colorless Cards
There are two types of colorless cards: cards with no colors in their mana cost and cards that have no colors in their rules text. Cards with no colors in their mana cost are the most common type of colorless card. These cards can be cast using any combination of mana, regardless of color. Cards with no colors in their rules text are cards that have no color indicator or color-setting characteristic-defining abilities. These cards are also considered colorless.
Colorless Cards and Color Identity
Colorless cards do not have a color identity, but they can still interact with cards that have a color identity. Here are some examples:
- Devoid: A card with devoid is not the colors in its casting cost. It is treated by the game as a colorless object. Other cards and abilities can give a card with devoid color, and if that happens, it is no longer colorless but still has devoid.
- Morphs: Morphs are cards that can be cast face down. Any two instances of the Deathtouch ability against one another cancel out the Deathtouch ability. If a morph has Deathtouch, it does not cancel out the Deathtouch ability on another card.
Colorless and Commander
In Commander, colorless is not a color that can be declared. The five colors in Magic are white, blue, black, red, and green. Any color other than these five is considered colorless. When building a Commander deck, you can use colorless cards, but you cannot declare colorless as a color.
Conclusion
In conclusion, colorless does not count as a color identity in Magic: The Gathering. Colorless cards do not have a color identity, but they can still interact with cards that have a color identity. Understanding the difference between color identity and colorless is crucial for building successful decks and navigating the complex world of Magic. Remember, colorless is not a color itself but rather the absence of color, and it plays a unique role in the game.