Minotaur Tribal

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

For a while now (probally since we first heard that Theros would have a minor Minotaur theme) we wanted to do a piece on Minotaurs in Magic: the Gathering.  Well here it is - but first - let's get some flavor for those horned beasts currently in standard constructed.

Theros
Minotaurs are the barbaric, cave-dwelling raiders of Theros, barely sentient and certainly not sapient. Although they are among Theros's races, for all intents and purposes they are monsters, seeking only mayhem and meat, killing each other when they're not killing humanoids of other races. They have no high objective, no culture to speak of, and only the most rudimentary language. Most are found in the high mountains of Phoberos or Akros. Some have been known to frequent swamps, which has turned their hide and hair black with peat. Minotaurs will squat in any cave, cavern, or shaft they deem large enough and safe enough. Their lairs are littered with refuse, dung, and the bones of a wide variety of animals and other races, but especially with the bones from their favorite meat - human.  Only the mightiest and most ferocious of minotaurs can force the herd into compliance. Fights between minotaur alphas can be heard for miles and almost certainly end in a gory death. The victor claims dominance and fealty. 
 

Ravnica
Some minotaurs were affiliated with the Izzet League, though very little is known of them. They possessed an affectation for coating their horns with Mizzium.  The Ordruun minotaurs of Ravnica have vowed allegiance to the Boros Legion and the Wojeks. Orduun minotaurs perform the "Hammer Duty" and have a power band in the legion of 13. They are the peace keepers of the communities, by handling menial tasks, like domestic disturbances, transferring of prisoners, and upholding the Laws of Ravnica. 
 

Illustrations in order of appearence from Boros-Szikszai, Matthew Stewart, and Igor Kieryluk.
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We had a look at our collection earlier today and realise we'd need to get a few more cards from MTG Mint Card to throw together a standard casual Minotaur themed deck.  We do love our Boros Reckoners from Gatecrash but certainly want to expand and explore some of the choices available.  There are four multicolored critters in red / white, one black / red, four in black with the remaining seven all in red.  For tribal support, we can rely on the following 'Lord' cards -

Kragma Warcaller
• Minotaur creatures you control have haste.
• Whenever a Minotaur you control attacks, it gets +2/+0 until end of turn.

Rageblood Shaman
• Other Minotaur creatures you control get +1/+1 and have trample.

You can even drop a Door of Destinies or a Spear of Heliod for Minotaur pumps should you wish.  Beyond this, all we have to say is that standard legal would be way to limiting - essentially you would want just Boros Reckoner, Rageblood Shaman, perhaps Fanatic of Mogis (for red devotion burn) and maybe even Minotaur Aggressor at the top end of it.
To go full on kitchen table casual, you can open up your choices to Anaba Ancestor, Hurloon Wrangler (for the lulz!), Ruinous Minotaur, Anaba Spirit Crafter, Lord of Shatterskull Pass, Tahngarth, Talruum Hero, etc.  We think we'll need a full evening with all hands on deck and a lot of beverages to roll out a stack of sixty with this.  If we do get anywhere, we'll post again.
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