The Iconic Werewolves of Innistrad Explored

[@DiceTry]

Alright hit me with your ideas for some unused colors or combination for the werewolf and how their colors would effect them.

[@williambolden4325]

I would love it if we got other lycanthropes; like werebears that are aligned with either white or green, or maybe werecats in either black or red?

[@DiceTry]

Hmm this is a very interesting idea. People seem to like the series so it is a possibility

[@The_Loreseeker]

We got NO G/W Wolfir, a fact I find to be utterly antagonistic to the lore, considering how they were converted by Avacyn _herself_ to assist with the protection of mankind.

[@DiceTry]

I know I kind of messed up. I forgot to mention them. I didn't really realize until it was too late

[@jsterj99]

If we were apply other colors to a werewolves I think it would have to alter the human side, but remain green or red on the other. To me lycanthropy always comes with a cost or a change in personality when one is transformed and that shift can be represented by a color change. Take the card “suspicious stowaway”which is blue human rogue in human form but a green werewolf when it transforms into “seafaring werewolf”. Interestingly it not only loses it human subtype like most werewolves it also loses its rogue subtype, which highlights the fact that the werewolf is not only different color but a different creature as well. The art also shows the change in personality, the stowaway is hiding but the werewolf is attacking. You can think of the werewolf and human as two separate entities. This way the human can be any color but always reverts to its instincts when in wolf form.

[@The_Loreseeker]

"Your palms are sweaty" I was expecting the next words to be "Knees weak", you let me down, Dice.

[@DiceTry]

I knew this comment was coming lol

[@joeydk]

Damn just made the same comment but then I saw yours... Credits to you! xD

[@DiceTry]

I really did set myself up

[@WadWizard]

You know what comes

[@jonathandoherty9082]

I might be in the minority here, but I love Werewolves in magic. I love the concept of the flip mechanic, and Werewolves are the embodiment of it. I even made my own version based on cryptids. I run a Werewolf tribal deck with Tovolar as the commander and its one of my favorite decks to play. So fun.

[@m0thernature730]

I have a tovalar deck too and I adore my wolves so much I was actively looking for my cards in this video!

[@stevenhuntley8706]

I could never play werewolves because it was too much micromanaging for my playgroup (we played on our lunch break, so games had to be as fast as possible, any micromanaging could kill the chance at a third game), recently got mtgo and am loving my werewolf deck.

[@gamer24d]

Wow the Human side of a Werewolf is what makes them Vile that's new, usually it's the other way around, but this makes sense

[@DiceTry]

I've been thinking a lot about it and I believe there vampires and werewolves do become more like monsters but as far as the human inside intends. Take Arlinn as an example

[@FenrirEX]

This tracks with characterization from the stories. Tovolar hunts humans not because of contempt or sadistic glee, but because he truly sees it as kill or be killed. And he’s not wrong: Innistrad humans will kill wolves and unafflicted humans just to prevent lycanthropy from spreading.

[@InfSoldier365]

The original characterization of werewolves as vile comes from anglo-christian beliefs and views. There the wolf is usually depicted as cruel and voracious because their tendency to use the advantage of numbers against already weak (old, young or weak) prey, and their tendency to hunt more often than more solitary predators. Combine this with the belief at the time that humanity had a divine right to rule over the beasts of the earth, and it becomes easier to blame the wolf's influence for the "evil" deeds and nature of a werewolf. I could continue, but I think that's more than enough for a comments section.

[@raymondluca7779]

go look up how scummy animals are aka crows making cats fight...chimps hunting and eating other chimps...also chimps tearing and eating male humans sack...ya humans are what make them vile.....jeeez these people with extra chromosomes piss me off

[@tonitortollini6881]

I would love to see Werewolves in the Naya colors Adding white can add a greater sense of community through structure. Having a true alpha that helps lead the lowest in the ranks. White also can explain the wolfir who were changed by avacyn

[@DiceTry]

I could see Naya werewolves. I really hope we get to see some 3 colors ones in the future

[@m0thernature730]

I play werewolves and when I took the color test I was NAYA! And i think it’s because of one solid reason. I have DID my ENTIRE SYSTEM is a team we have some black colors some blue but most of us are some variation of naya. This makes sense because we are autistic and ADHD and the ENTIRE SYSTEM is almost completely animals. It will not surprise me one but that now that the gates are open and people can traverse freely for full on villages and large societies of werewolves to form because there are SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO COULD BE CALLED!!! There just is so much potential!

[@m0thernature730]

White just makes sense if the werewolves bind together in a society.

[@syaoran5476]

I posit a UW werewolf would be someone like Arlinn, who when she travelled to another plane learned she could control her curse without the moons influence, but would find this control through introspection and connection with their inner beast. Although mechanically this would likely play out as a Bant Werewolf, one side being Azorius and the other side, the werewolf, as Selesnya while they depict them in harmony with others.

[@DiceTry]

I could really see this. Honestly I just want to see white used more with werewolves. There is so much room for something very unique

[@syaoran5476]

@@DiceTry I think one of the best times they could have explored this was during Avacyn restored when the Angel's were using their power to 'tame' werewolves, they could have been village guardians and the like. I love these thought experiments

[@maxpower7113]

White Blue has always been the basis for "civilization" to me. A UW Werewolf to me would be one that recognizes that Werewolves can be more than just "howlpacks" they can be a nation of Lycanthropes that could be a major player in Innistrad with cities of werewolves free of persecution and a standing army of armored wolves.

[@Caseyuptobat]

There is a significant subset of werewolves among those in red and black who display an affinity for some form of offensive or lethal magic. I can imagine a Grixis werewolf pain-mage, a field of magical study both unique to innistrad, and perfectly suited to a lone-wolf lycanthrope who finds they enjoy the sounds of victims screaming more than they enjoy kill itself. I could also see a potential Temur werewolf as a sort of cultic lunar shaman, a sort of leader for werewolves who want to tame the wolf within. Not for the power it could give them, not for the safety of others, but because they can't stand the idea of losing control of their rationality even as a bestial manifestation of the wild spirit of innistrad.

[@Ymryrth]

I love classic horror monsters and the mtg werewolfs are quite interesting

[@DiceTry]

Its a different take for sure. I just like that it shows us a little more insight instead of being just a monster

[@okashiromi5541]

I like to think that the red in the leaders of the werewolves leaders comes from the Chrisma, and care for the pack they must hold. Strength alone might suffice to control a wild animal, but a werewolf holds intelligence inside that is not expected from its appearance. And I can not imagine a more wild and ruthless rage then an alpha whose pack been harmed. The green inside them makes them seek to give and better their pack. And it's acceptance of destiny makes those leader act in complete belief in their role. The red provide charisma, empathy. It gives the alpha an ability to express what the pack should be in the best way. A family. A group that when all else leave, stay with you.

[@DragonxFlutter]

When you mentioned the RG werewolves, you said that we should look at what we know of R & G and how that combo effects the creature type. I would argue that, because they’re all named characters, that it would be more appropriate to look at who they are as characters and why they lean into the RG combo instead of one side or the other.

[@kosmaukaszczyk8401]

i can easly think about blue werewolf as a character that would be interested in studying his/hers lycanthrophy to understand why and how changes happen someone who will try to find way to change not when night comes but when they want

[@himboghost629]

Simic kinda makes sense with the whole "we are animals that are just aware if it" and "Werewolves are a evolution and everyelse is behind" angels of thinking

[@rezthemediaruler3768]

I think that it is the Ability to choose right from wrong and don't loosing your Control is what distincts Ulrich, Arlinn and Tovolar from regular Werewolves. They are still able to think straight and do not attack foes and friends. A Red and Green alligned Werewolf will remember, you if you treated it well in it's Human Form and will often leave you alone if it recognizes you. They are also able to instinctively see, if you have a good/not hostile nature and ignore you, if you helped one of their Pack Members. Chances are that if you helped a Wolf or Werewolf in Innistrad you will be hated so much by the Townfolk, that they will come after you. News about people helping Wolves get out of Traps or being get Outcasted are spread very fast and if you are lucky, the Pack will pity you and change you into one of them. This is not true for the Vildin and the Dire Packs, as they are all people who enjoy the Act of killing and are only loyal to themselves, often challenging their Leaders. It was through Avacyn, that there are existing "good" Werewolves, who acted as Guardians for the Humans and were even be able to start Families and pass their "Curse" to their Children, who then would be told to act the same, like the Silverfur. The Werewolves of Innistrad are indeed very special.

[@erfunk]

I'd heard that Midnight Hunt was originally going to have a cycle of shard-colored legendaries, implying Tovolar might have originally been Jund. Do you think his portrayal in the stories fit within GR, or did the character need B to explain their behavior as well? The card itself is obviously limited by the needs of the set, and so it being GR doesn't necessarily mean the character was only those colors.

[@DiceTry]

Wow I didn't know that. Honestly I think Jund would work great for him.

[@samuelvanetten4324]

I wished that they have done that

[@gustavosousa5246]

Ok, in the rules that we cant leave inistrad Simic: a skab got aflicted with the curse starting monoblue and willing to learn more about nature and the curse fliping in to simic drawing knowledge from nature

[@DiceTry]

This is a cool idea. I would really like to see this

[@heartwarden]

I wonder how this contrasts with how Satyrs are depicted, given they share colors but seemingly not very many themes.

[@DiceTry]

That is perhaps a question for the future as colors can express themselves in different ways depending on what ideals of each color the lean into

[@arrowrandoman]

An old variation of werewolves I love is the Wolf Warrior of God. I might be off in what I remember, so correct me if I'm wrong: During witch hunts, some would deny being witches with claims of hunting witches during the night as a spirit wolf. That would offer openings for Bant or Naya with an expansion into WG religion and WU order. Another take I would love is Temur, a werewolf that wants to understand itself and the source of the condition. It would take a UG approach to understand the world while directing or managing the Red wanting to run wild. It would be an exercise in control different from Naya.

[@streetball4life]

My favorite planeswalker was done justice thank you sir

[@DiceTry]

Honestly Arlinn is amazing and I hope we continue to see more of her

[@Vladislaugh]

Cool vid, dude...hope ull make also one about vampire during crimson vow. Thx also for the credits. 👍

[@DiceTry]

No thank you. Also I actually do have one for vampires that one is a bit more broad but I do talk about the vampires of innistrad in it.

[@Kestas_X]

13:26 I don't know if you say this for atmosphere but I don't care for this idea that nature is a noble savage. That being said I am aware that I am coming from an emotional standpoint. My argumentation is this: in general animals kill to survive but they don't have any restrictions. The instincts of beasts, including humans, often don't know where to stop. That's why people living luxuriously often eat too much. Their body doesn't tell them when to stop. And cats and dogs play with their prey and are not sorry for it. So I stand against the notion that nature only kills when necessary. Nature's children also kill for fun or out of fear. Just as humans if we are not careful and empathetic.

[@DiceTry]

Fair point, I am happy you took the time to explain your point. What I was trying to say is that nature often doesn't kill in the way humanity does. I do say nature is cruel but nothing on the scale of humanity. As no animal has yet to commit genocide and war on the scale of humans. In the end we are far more monstrous

[@xr9790]

Blue Green werewolf was the seafaring werewolf I thought? Tbf that’s literally one card (I’m also extremely peeved that I haven’t found it yet because that’s my favorite werewolf because it’s also a rogue)

[@S0L1nv1ctus]

I could imagine blue green or blue/green/red werewolfs as some kind of druids or shamans

[@DiceTry]

Oh this is a great idea. Shamanism werewolves would be amazing.

[@S0L1nv1ctus]

@@DiceTry yeah some kind of animistic magic using wolf spirits to become werewolfs

[@TheSandwhichman108]

I’m curious now. What would a white or blue aligned werewolf be like? Any have any ideas? A white mana werewolf would probably also be aligned to green. Could represent a mother and father werewolf caring for and protecting their offspring. A blue aligned werewolf would probably also be red alined possibly being someone who’s found a way to find perfect balance between both brain and brawn or it could be for a pack that tends to use various colored markings and claw marks to mark the boundaries of there territory as red is the color of expression and blue can help amplify that creativity and expression.

[@Thejokingspy2394]

Would love to see more red black werewolf cards

[@daniellelafortune0]

Thanks for the great content dice

[@stevenhuntley8706]

People talk smack on innistrad being cookie cutter, but i loved it, and that double feature release? Chef's kiss.

[@H47Ronin]

I NEEDED you to address white directly (pack mentality). Not only do I believe its very compatible, it also gives werewolves the tools they need as a tribe (rule of law, taxes, imprison affects on human side). Other than that, good job.

[@jimcharles1479]

great video man

[@jeremyberner5164]

Great video !

[@DiceTry]

I put a lot into this one so I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@underthethunder]

I desperately want to see a W/R werewolf

[@brromo]

0:20 Knees weak, arms are ready, there's vomit on your sweater already, Mom's spaghetti

[@GentlemanJaggi]

"Your palms are sweaty, you know what comes." ... mom's spaghetti?

[@user-rx2zp1um2n]

Curious about that pugilist art shown on screen around 13:30 ish, would love to find more of their work

[@icybucanneer8746]

Their art works are from the magic card Instigator Gang which transforms into Wilblood Pack, the artist is Greg Staples. I actually have it, so that's how i know.

[@shnorkeythefourth4572]

Blue id say would use their intelligence and research to literally break the cycle so I’d think U+2 2/2, day bound flash “casting* this creature does not count towards the day/night cycle” transform UU+3 Flip side: 4/4 flash “when this creature transforms (can’t decide between draw card or return target creature with power 3 or less to owners hand)” White I think would tame the savagery and act more or less like Ajanis race whose name I forget so something like a soldier who keeps his armor on and switches his greatsword grip from 2 handed to one handed over the shoulder as the leather bands part of his armor stretch to accompany his new size W+4 4/5 day bound vigilance Flip side 5 6/8 “other wolves/werewolves you control get +0/+3”

[@catkook543]

A blue/green werewolf, I'd say Maybe they used science to willingly transform themselves into a werewolf to either protect or become one with nature

[@DiceTry]

That would be very cool.

[@flameofmage1099]

I think a white Werewolf would be similar to the Vampires in Ixalan. Lycanthropy would have religious significance, to them it would be purity. White also values structure and togetherness, fitting perfectly with they Werewolf. A white Werewolf would value the pack above all else, always putting the group before the individual. Maybe a White/Black Werewolf would see all other creatures as impure, hunting those that refuse to join their ranks. A White/Red Werewolf driven by religious zeal and fury. A pack of holy warriors hunting the enemies of the pack, similar to a White/Black werewolf. Then a White/Green werewolf would be in harmony with nature, almost like a druid circle or hunter conclave. They spend their time reserved in the forest experiencing nature and the hunt. I feel like a blue werewolf would be one attempting to tame it's beast, their goal would be Hulk from Endgame.

[@sleepyboysaturn1365]

When it comes to the simic werewolf, I’d assume one as a doctor, trying to understand the nature of the werewolf’s form and life, and chooses lycanthropy for themselves.

[@lucassmith7770]

Dolphins are a very cruel species. They target porpoises and sharks to kill, not hunt. Orcas have been observed tossing a baby shark around like a beach ball. Didn’t eat it, it was sport. It is only one example, mainly because it is the one I have researched the most, but nature can be just as cruel as humanity. It is where we got it from. I have never found it odd that our most savage killers and criminals are described as “monsters” and “beasts”.

[@himboghost629]

Be cool if you made shorts explain specific cards You could explain why a werewolf card is the colour it is and such

[@pzalterias5154]

The gain of power through curse and body modification is a very black theme though

[@ethannass3651]

Does anyone know what the art at 12:45 is from?

[@l0u13__3]

Simic werewolf Someone who cares not for violence or attacking others, instead attempting to combine the ferocity of their beastial form and there intellect of there humanity, much like Professor Hulk

[@skylex157]

An year late but here is my take on werewolves of different colors For white, they need to be either white red or white green, just maybe mono white with the best excuse of being only devoted to the religious cause over even their werewolfness, the cards would be similar to what the band powerwolf has, a bunch of religious werewolves, praising the blood, it could be a really cool theme for one set As for blue werewolves, it is tricky, as blue is opposed to both red and green, it goes agains a bunch of the core ideals of being a werewolf by design, no instict, no emotion, no natural progress I can picture it as either a mechanized werewolf, kinda cyberpunky, and the werewolf is just another facet of the the card, maybe even a fully construct werewolf to replicate the power they have without the "killing everything on sight" problem, or, the other option, something more like the hulk, a scientist that has a werewolf counterpart, they themselves being blue and turning green, red or both in their transformation As for black werewolves, it is much easier to do that, any kind of canibal, assassin or anything to do with dark powers can be black, attach a werewolf and you got it, you can even have a necromancer werewolf, that devours their victims and revives them afterwards, or like the already black werewolf that rummages graveyards to eat, a whole deck around the idea of eating things from the graveyards into exile to get effects can be a whole black set of werewolves

[@raymondluca7779]

8:20...you might be an animal ...but i am a human....

[@thorveim1174]

I REALLY dont think white and blue can fit werewolves. They dont have the rigidity and need for order that white has, nor the drive for seeking knowledge and perfection that is at the core of blue. And Black as pointed is more likely oddities, exceptions to the norm, werewolves that parted from their packs or werewolves that never had the chance to join one and had to fend for themselves alone. On the other hand yeah they embody red and green perfectly. Green due to their link with nature and being man brought closer to animals, quite literally bringing humans to live in the woods once more, and red due to how driven by their emotions (most commonly rage) and caring of those close to them they are.

[@chrisironwolf4378]

Can see green white more like shaman use wolf spirit protector of its tribe people living in harmony with nature

[@DayDior15]

I made a green white black red werewolf deck!!!!!!

[@gunjfur8633]

Two words: Werewolf Girlfriend