Are Slivers Colorless? A Deep Dive into the Shifting Hues of MTG’s Most Adaptable Creatures

Yes, the short answer is: Slivers are generally colorless. While this might seem straightforward at first glance, the nuances of Magic: The Gathering (MTG) rules and card mechanics can make the topic a bit more complex. Let’s unpack the details.

The Core of Colorless Slivers

The primary reason for this colorless status stems from how Slivers are designed in MTG. Many of the iconic slivers, especially the ones with abilities that grant shared benefits to all other slivers, don’t have a specific color identity. This is reflected in their mana cost, which often includes only generic mana symbols. Remember, an object’s color is primarily determined by the colored mana symbols in its mana cost (see rule 202.2).

• Generic mana symbols are the numerical symbols that can be paid with any color of mana or colorless mana. If a card only has generic mana symbols in its mana cost, it is colorless.
• Many of the base slivers, including the tokens created by Sliver Queen are colorless.
• The flavour text of Rukarumel, Biologist suggests that Slivers are “burning away the markings that connect it to a queen that no longer heeds its call.” This also alludes to their colourless status.

The key to understanding this is that colorless is not a color. The five colors of Magic are white, blue, black, red, and green. An object can be one or more of those colors or it can be colorless, but colorless is distinct from the five colors.

Examining the Rulebook

To reinforce this, we must refer to the comprehensive rulebook:

• Rule 202.2 states: “An object is the color or colors of the mana symbols in its mana cost, regardless of the color of its frame.”
• Rule 202.2a specifies: “The five colors are white, blue, black, red, and green.”
• This confirms that colorless is not considered a color in MTG.

The distinction is crucial because some cards and abilities in the game interact differently with colored and colorless objects. Therefore, understanding that Slivers, in their base state, are colorless is essential for accurate gameplay.

Devoid and Exceptions

It’s important to note the devoid ability. Cards with the devoid ability become colorless, regardless of the colors in their mana cost. If a Sliver has devoid, it is always considered colorless, while most other slivers are colorless by default since they don’t have coloured mana in their casting costs.

There aren’t many exceptions among the basic slivers, but some more recent versions may have coloured casting costs which makes them a particular colour as well as still being a sliver.

The Impact on Gameplay

This colorless nature of Slivers has significant implications:

• Color-specific hate: Cards that specifically target creatures of a certain color will not affect most Slivers, as they are not colored.
• Colorless triggers: Conversely, cards that trigger based on the presence of colorless permanents will interact with most Slivers.
• Deck building: The fact that most slivers are colorless influences how players construct their Sliver decks, often focusing on strategies that don’t rely on a specific color identity.
• Rukarumel, Biologist lets you choose a creature type, which will then apply to your Slivers in addition to their other types.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What exactly does “colorless” mean in MTG?

In MTG, “colorless” refers to an object that does not have any of the five colors (white, blue, black, red, green). It’s not a color itself but rather the absence of color. An object is colorless if its mana cost has no colored mana symbols.

2. How can I tell if a card is colorless?

You can identify a colorless card by examining its mana cost. If the cost consists only of generic mana symbols (numbers within circles) and the symbol ‘C’ representing colorless, the card is colorless.

3. Can a colorless card still have a colored frame?

Yes, the color of the frame does not define a card’s color. The color of a card is determined by its mana cost. A card can have a colored frame (like an artifact frame) while still being colorless.

4. Are lands colorless?

Yes, with the exception of Dryad Arbor, lands are colorless because they have no mana cost. Colorless lands are commonly used in Commander decks.

5. Are artifacts always colorless?

Not necessarily. While many artifacts are colorless, some have colored mana symbols in their mana costs, making them colored artifacts.

6. Does the mana used to pay a card affect its color?

No. The color of a card is determined solely by the colored mana symbols in its mana cost, not by the color of mana used to pay the cost.

7. Is “colorless” the same as “transparent”?

No. In MTG, “colorless” refers to a card’s color identity. In the real world, “transparent” refers to something that allows light to pass through, like clear glass. While a colourless card may appear transparent or clear in some instances, that is a descriptor of it’s appearance, not its mechanical properties in Magic the Gathering.

8. Is colorless a color identity?

No. Colorless is not a color and does not contribute to a card’s color identity.

9. Does the Devoid ability make a card colorless?

Yes. The Devoid ability specifically makes a card colorless, regardless of any colored mana symbols in its mana cost.

10. Are all Slivers considered the same creature type?

Yes, all cards with the subtype “Sliver” are Slivers. They are a single creature type.

11. Can Slivers have other creature types besides Sliver?

Yes, certain effects, like that of Rukarumel, Biologist, can add additional creature types to Slivers and other creatures you control.

12. Are all the Slivers banned?

No. No Slivers have been banned in MTG. While some older cards like Sliver Queen can be very powerful, they are not overpowered in the same way that cards which tend to be banned in various formats are.

13. Does being colorless make Slivers vulnerable to certain effects?

Yes, some cards and abilities interact with colorless permanents. This vulnerability is a factor when building your deck and in gameplay. It is important to keep in mind.

14. What does monocolored mean?

Monocolored means an object has exactly one color: white, blue, black, red, or green. Colorless objects are not monocolored.

15. Do colorless mana symbols contribute to color identity?

No, colorless mana symbols do not contribute to a card’s color identity. A card’s color identity is based solely on the colored mana symbols in its cost and the rules text.

Conclusion

In summary, the vast majority of Slivers in MTG are colorless creatures, primarily due to their mana costs that only involve generic mana symbols. Understanding this distinction is crucial for playing the game correctly, especially when dealing with cards and abilities that interact with colored and colorless objects. While there may be exceptions through specific abilities like devoid or through newer slivers with coloured casting costs, the core identity of Slivers remains heavily tied to their colorless nature. This allows them to function uniquely within the diverse landscape of the game, making them a popular and fascinating creature type.