The 6th Color of Magic the Gathering | Mystery Solved

[@DiceTry]

Which concept did you find most interesting?

[@draconino2864]

So does this mean that 5 color can easily switch between the colors' ideals?

[@DiceTry]

5 color and colorless will be different. The transcendent version will be similar but not quite the same

[@ProbablyVonta]

I think the concept I find the most interesting is the idea that colorless can be these different things, and yet it is still unified by absence or ambivalence toward everything including itself. Fascinating and paradoxical is the idea of an existence, an experience, but without experiences. One that knows nothing of what it is doing and yet does... as far as artifacts and machines go. It does not think or feel, it does not want to serve others or itself, and it may be fulfilling its given purpose, but it is also a completely blank slate, removed from any form of connection unless that purpose requires cooperation or coordination. In that way, it is easy to see how it is the truest neutral. It is something existing within the color pie, or even without. If you were to zoom in as needed to see the exact center of the color pie I think it is what you'd find, and yet, if you were to zoom out I think you'd see the same. I've always thought of colorless as objectivity, that something is what it is, and the colors as opinions on what we're seeing. To me it is the shape that facilitates our will without a will of its own, for if it were to have a will (like X from megaman X) it would no longer be ambivalent or devoid Quick side tangent: I wish we could learn more about the eldrazi and the blind eternities because they're so fascinating to me, but there isn't much you can say about a place that does exist, and yet doesn't exist the same way we think of 3d space, but that is somehow full of entities that manifest themselves this way. The mystery is both infuriating and incredibly interesting, and it makes me wonder if the way we see eldrazi is even how they really are. The color pie is rooted in perception and humanity, which makes me wonder if the forms we see them take aren't just how our minds compensate for what we can't understand Wasn't ever expecting you to make this video, but I'm incredibly happy with it. With something that is so neutral, I never imagined you'd be able to find a philosophy for it, but looking at its present characteristics and building off of those was clearly the way to go

[@DiceTry]

Wow what a response thanks for this.

[@ProbablyVonta]

DiceTry Yeah, I was a bit wordy haha. Thanks, as always, for the content

[@BurningOleander]

I like the idea of the Eldrazi being so strange to us and so unfathomable, that the only way for us to grasp them is through colorless. To them, they might be a wide spectrum that our puny material eyes can't perceive and that out minds can't understand, leading to mutation and madness.

[@drewreich9274]

leading to.... mutate 👀

[@Hexsyn]

They are ultraviolet mana?

[@heccinparagon6633]

The eldrazi are those colors that only shrimp can see

[@gorg9928]

​@@heccinparagon6633thats why a color ine Magic The gathering.

[@firehazard0942]

Maybe their fourth dimensional beings or something

[@Tomrash]

I'd argue that you could also argue for all living beings being colorless: From a mechanical perspective, any color features cards that can be payed partialy with any color of mana, even colorless. From a philisophical standpoint, I would call it "Soul", a part of our being that moves towards entropy (Void), driven by the other colors (Purpose) and is beyond human comprohension (Transcendence).

[@DiceTry]

Very interesting take.

[@gunjfur8633]

> Transcendence Now I need a philosophical analysis of Inscryption

[@nimbustime]

I would say even the opposite, the soul is the colors, colorless is the purpose. What Ugin, Karn, weapons, and robots have in Common? A PURPOSE, they were created with or was destined to have a purpose, and even the Eldrazi follow this rule, since they seem to be a force of balance through destruction on the multiverse. Also, I guess the soul is the part that drives entropy, since the machines follow their purpose without minding its eventually decay, or even weapons last generations, while ALL the colored beings, even the oldest tree, is bound to decay.

[@Primatenate88]

If you remember, ghostfire (breath of Ugin) is only harnessed by those who master red blue and white (souldfire, bloodfire, mistfire). This means that colorless mana which can alter the building blocks of reality tends to be transcendent of nature (supernatural). What about the Unnatural? (Green/Black) Well Deathfire and Vitalfire were taboo to the Jeskai for obvious reasons, but they still light the way to enlightenment. Green and black build off each other in multiplicity (think cycle of life and death) and there is no mana left behind because they use it up in perpetuity. This is the mechanic of voidmana in its most literal form. (Think Jungles of Tarkir and the non reptilian sultai shamans and necromancers that reside there.)

[@tatesmith4527]

Well, I'd rather say that some beeing and represents more or less the ideals of one (or more color). And that is represented by the proportion of colored mana in their cmc. For example, Phyrexian Obliterator is BBBB because it deeply encompasses some of black ideals, but gravedigger is less deeply committed to the values of black ! This interpretation is not perfect tho, but I'm rather fond of it !

[@RaunienTheFirst]

My thoughts on colourless are that it is pure, unrefined mana. Unlimited potential. Each colour filters mana through its ideology, focusing it to a particular purpose. Green to growth and acceptance, Red to freedom and action, etc. But Colourless is capable of all of these things. It is capable of the massive growth of Green, the collective thought of White, the manipulation and knowledge of Blue, the ruthlessness of Black, and the rage of Red. It is, in a sense like 5C in this way, but where 5C fully embodies all the colours, colourless is a pale shadow of them. It is possibility, but without the focus, without refinement. There is, however one thing colourless can be, that not even 5C can achieve. And that, is the void. When mana is filtered into a colour it necessarily takes on aspects of the world in which it was filtered. Even after recombining the mana from all 5 filters the possibility of what could be *beyond* that reality is missing. This is why Eldrazi are colourless. This is why Ugin is colourless. They either are, or possess a strong connection to, the void. What does this even mean? Well, it's unknowable by definition, but we mortals can get glimpses of it, and even make limited use of it. The Morph mechanic. Shapeless potentialities closely linked to Ugin. The Hedrons. No one but Ugin understands how they work (and he isn't telling) but they have the capability to imprison the Eldrazi, naturally colourless "creatures". Sorin gleaned a little of that knowledge and built the Helvault out of moonsilver, an artifact that seems to imprison beings within itself, somehow containing vast dimensions inside something little larger than a van. And apparently Innistrad's moon is inherently tied somehow to that magic as Emrakul imprisoned herself within it, reminiscent again of the Hedrons. But, back to this idea of potentiality and focus. Whic aspects of colourless does each colour take and shape into a clear and actionable form? Colourless simply "is". It does not strive, it does not change. It does what it does. Green loves this and filters this into acceptance of your place in the world. Colourless has no concept of morality. It transcends such notions and simply takes what needs and does what it must. Black takes this is filters into amorality, a heartless quest for personal gain. Colourless does not scheme or bargain. It does not consider consequences. It only acts. Red filters this into direct action and fierce independence. Colourless is united. It does not bicker, it does to not squabble, it serves a purpose. White filters this into peace and obedience. Colourless is transcendent. It is unconcerned with earthly affairs and goes about its own unknowable business. Blue filters this into a quest for perfection. I think I've rambled on for quite long enough now...

[@ryonalionthunder]

This seems false. Colorless mana can’t pay for colored spells. So it is inherently limited.

[@RaunienTheFirst]

@@ryonalionthunder neither can mana of the wrong colour. A Green mage can no more utilise Colourless mana than they can Blue. The point is not about who can use the mana, but rather what the mana is capable of.

[@ryonalionthunder]

@@RaunienTheFirst Green mana is capable of paying for colorless spells. Colorless mana is not capable of paying for colorless spells. Colorless mana is less capable. That was exactly the point.

[@RaunienTheFirst]

@@ryonalionthunder pay for a Thought-Knot Seer with only green mana

[@ryonalionthunder]

​@@RaunienTheFirst Oh, neat. I wasn't aware that was a thing. Apparently, colorless mana is not the same as generic mana anymore. That kinda changes the whole narrative though. Every card that you pay for with just generic mana (basically every colorless card discussed in the video) can't be part of the 'colorless' pie if there is a specific 'colorless' type of mana that they don't require. Guess we need a generic faction now.

[@Triforcer]

In Strixhaven we see two more examples of colores identity. Codie the Vociferous Codex who's purpose is to store spells of every kind for use by others And the Wandering Archaic who is portrayed as enlightened beings who when people return from speaking to them are hailed as the most enlightened mages with a deeper understanding of magic, and mana.

[@DiceTry]

Great callout!

[@Triforcer]

@@DiceTry also I just had a crazy idea about non basic lands in particular fetch lands, and utiltiy lands. Like terramorphic expanse and evolving wilds can become any type or basic land showing that colorless can become any color when. Also thespian stage produces colorless mana but it can also become any land fulfilling its purpose to become any scenery the show requires. And the Library of Alexandria being able to produce any color of mana, and drawing cards is because it is a place of knowledge and enlightenment.

[@DiceTry]

Great call

[@EUPassionStorm]

The Wandering Archaics are even more connected to knowledge than you might think. They are the future and past oracles of Strixhaven, the most knowledgeable mages, transformed and sent back to the beginning of time to share their knowledge with those who need it. In this way, they are personified in all five colors very easily. Reds urgency and need to get things done is personified in the timing that the Archaics are sent to. Blue is personified in the use of time travel, a canonically blue magic. Greens want for growth is the true purpose of the wanderers, transformed forever into literal Archaic beings represents Blacks want for power. Whites need for unity and cohesion is represented in the idea that the Archaics are past members of a community, seeking to further itself from within.

[@DragonxFlutter]

Ooh~! Very interesting that you chose to go the route of putting the Colorless symbol in the middle! Your explanation makes sense, though I believe the same effect can be obtained if we make Colorless the "crust" of the pie, so to speak. A silver ring around the other five symbols, representing that it is both nothing without them and _everything_ without them. Both the ultimate blank slate, and the culmination of all five colors. Void: No thoughts, head empty. The most pure form of raw instinct. No motivation beyond "this is what I do, what I have done, and what I will always do". No purpose beyond mere existence. I think that fits. Sub-philosophy: Tranquility and Inner Peace beyond living a happy and content life. The ultimate "go with the flow" of meditation. That's an interesting take. Purpose: An Automaton with a set purpose, never deviating, never questioning. Very fitting, given most of the "creatures" in Colorless are Artifacts. Transcendence: Becoming the light before it is filtered by the prism. Very much along my line of thinking, in terms of a character like Ugin. Very nice job on this video! I love how you can take a card game and make it thought provoking!

[@DiceTry]

Very interesting idea that position never crossed my mind

[@marvinmuller4003]

I would even add, that in the middle of the color pie is clearly WUBRG

[@dahuntre]

I love the analogy of a beam of light before it’s filtered into a prism - we filter the world through our frames of reference, like the color pie. The unfiltered light is colorless in that it’s everything in the pie, the absolute state of existence, but we can’t see the color in it without our own filter. It’s above our own ability to comprehend

[@eliotoole4534]

What’s WUBRG And let’s put it both in the middle and around the edge

[@DragonxFlutter]

@@eliotoole4534 WUBRG: White, blUe, Black, Red, Green.

[@flameofmage1099]

The way I see is that colorless does not see color. To colorless there is no white, blue, black, red, or green mana. There is only mana. Colorless is mana in its purest form.

[@dario9507]

Nice, now we want the 5 colors philosophy, and How it differs from colorless.

[@DiceTry]

I will do that down the road some time

[@jantheflyingdutchman]

I like the way you approached this, and putting it in the center. I think we all start out in the colorless. As you are born, you just exist. As you grow days, weeks, months, years, you lean more towards the colors based on what drives you. Colorless never develops towards a color spectrum. Their ambitions or drives don't change, they exist. Awesome job.

[@DiceTry]

That's actually a very solid point.i suppose our surroundings and upbringing slowly imprints a color onto us

[@raptorsovietico]

I´m an artist who fell in love with magic in his chilhood. Your desconstruction of the concepts and love for the worldbuilding it´s incredible. I love to listen you while i´m drawing. Thanl you so much for your work.

[@Spark-Gold]

a crystal has no color but hold it up to the light and you get every color pure and focused

[@AzazinNote]

It's interesting to note how our description of transcendence fits well with the origin of the eldrazi. Oficially they are colorless because they predate the concept of colored mana. Anyway, now we need to take a look into WUBRG to see how it is diferent from colorless. Oh, and about the placement of it in the pie, I'd put every color inside of colorless.

[@datamancy138]

placing colorless in the center of the pie also makes a strong case for the design mechanic of its identity being... somewhat precarious? in that, save for devoid, something whose color identity is Colorless/X, where x is literally any other color... isn't a thing, isn't possible. it stops being that when it is swayed to or away from any color. though on the note of devoid, i wonder if it would be useful as a descriptor for a character's color identity who seems to be touched by any of colorless' philosophies without full on becoming colorless.

[@DiceTry]

Great point. As far as your character I think that's valid. You could have a character who has peered into the void so to speak and it has changed their motivations slightly even if not wholly

[@datamancy138]

@@DiceTry that or i can definitely see the artifact angle winding up on a person who doesn't have a great outlook on their agency, push past "i have a purpose" to "i am defined by my utility" bit of a shame Devoid seems only associated with the eldrazi angle, because it feels like all 3 could *touch* an otherwise-colored identity

[@accountinesistente8944]

Maybe one of the best of your videos about the color pie. I watched through all of it with vivid interest. Thank you.

[@rubyseverinwhitworth9066]

Each idea matches to a major colourless figure which I think is cool Void: Eldrazi Purpose: Karn Transcendence: Ugin

[@Dile0303]

15:54 "Infinite beatitude of existence! [I am]; and there is nothing else besides [me]. [I fill] all Space, and what [I fill, I am]. What [I think], that [I utter]; and what [I utter], that [I hear]; and [I myself] is Thinker, Utterer, Hearer, Thought, Word, Audition; [I am] the One, and yet the All in All. Ah, the happiness, ah, the happiness of Being! Ah, the joy, ah, the joy of Thought! What can me not achieve by thinking! My own Thought coming to Itself, suggestive of me disparagement, thereby to enhance my happiness! Sweet rebellion stirred up to result in triumph! Ah, the divine creative power of the All in One! Ah, the joy, the joy of Being!" - Monarch of Pointland

[@steelcladCompliant]

Colorless is neat as a representation of the unfathomable, what cannot be understood, however we must keep in mind that there are some eldrazi and artifacts that do have clearly defined colors. These could be the few that, by chance, happen to have characteristics that we do recognize and can place in one of our limited categories

[@overfailed3639]

Gor the Eldrazi: I think the reason some eldrazi have a colored mana in their costs, but still are devoid could tell us something about them. They may have no color, but this specific breed of Eldrazi could need this type of mana or enviroment or just a deciding factor in their evolution to be produced. They themself may not have a color, but their creation process could have.

[@joshelderkin9592]

Lets not kid ourselves that was for nothing but the gameplay some things shouldnt be explained because itd make things messy for the worse

[@mariusw_24]

I always loved eldrazi and ugin but never could get over the need of mechs or artifacts I saw not fitting flavour wise for an eldrazi deck. Because of that I hated colorless and usually wouldn't build any deck with it. After I watched this video I discovered 2 things : 1) A new way to look at colorless and respect it, even adore it. 2) Your channel is amazing and I'm loving your philosophical videos about the colors and anything magic related. Thank you for this video and keep going!

[@TheLorebrarians]

This has by far been my favorite color aspect video of yours. Great work man

[@DiceTry]

Thanks it's a video ive avoided for so long but I think it was just the right time. I'm glad people have been enjoying it

[@aquablue3dsi]

when it comes to the prismatic piper we can assume that dualities dont really constrict or bind him. So yet another form of evidence to colorless being transcendent. Feels good

[@ryonalionthunder]

Ehh I find it loses the ‘profound’ feel when you take the exact same phrase but pick a single item. “He is a banana and not a banana” Clearly nonsense, right? That’s where it ends up without the illusion of a deeper meaning that word ‘everything’ lended it.

[@The_Loreseeker]

Another splendid video essay! I'm glad we've reached the colorless edge of the pie.

[@DiceTry]

It had to be done eventually

[@snakehorde]

If I may say : I see three possible positions for colorless on the pie : at the centre, circling and binding the color pie, and detached beyond the pie. These places corresponding to transendence, creation and void. There is not a single interpretation therefore why should there only be one position ? After all, being devoid of mana allows to be filled by else.

[@realmsofroleplaying]

I had always just viewed Colorless as simply a lack of color, but you bring up some great points to the contrary. Excellent video 😁👌

[@Grogeous_Maximus]

You know what, this is the single most interesting MTG video I think I've ever seen, and one of the most interesting videos on youtube altogether.

[@DiceTry]

Thanks, I love comments like these. Honestly this video is on of my favorites

[@antonioarcano7989]

​@@DiceTryWith Modern Horizon 3 has a lot more to offer the Sixth Color, Grey/Colorless/Devoid. I think you should made a new video.

[@m0thernature730]

It’s interesting to see this… i have DID and my partner likes to play all 5 colors but he also plays colorless, to my brain both colorless and 5 colors are both so insane but if you ask any single one of the 14 of us we each have different colors and play styles WE ARE THE PRISM! we can’t understand how to play each other’s decks or even understand each other’s thought processes… but we do have I would say about 3 beings that fill transcendence, purpose, and void. Beings my brain has deemed too difficult to comprehend so they don’t exist in the same space as the rest of the system and only one of them (purpose and her original name was legitimately survival now it’s Solaris but it’s WILD) exists in a place “tangible” called THE VOID! she can’t speak and when we enter the void it’s usually because we are going dormant and don’t want to disturb conscious thought. These three beings have no interest in anything and have opted out of playing magic because it’s not what they are meant to do so there is that so… yeah I think you got it pretty much right as someone who can’t really comprehend the other half of the wheel even though it’s INSIDE MY HEAD! us just not being able to comprehend colorless is fitting.

[@midnightbard3935]

Love it! Glad you tackled this challange, and I think you did very nicely

[@undergroundalienstudios56]

I think that a lot of colorless is about "automation"... And sure, that's often about machines, but what about the machine of the universe? The automated response to a moving electric field... the automated pull of gravity. For me, I think that colorless represents the laws of the universe. The "glue" that binds them all together. No judgement or thought or instinct or anything else. Just an automated response. A colorless spell might somehow change the gravitational constant, might slow or speed up time, or might stop specific chemical reactions from occurring. Stuff like that. Not "tax" cards per se... more like "symmetrical rule changes". "Instead of losing the game at 0 life, players lose the game at -10 life" It could be really, really interesting to see what cool combos or behaviors you could get with negative life. Maybe there's a black card that says "both players lose life equal to half their current life"... which turns into a life gain for one player!

[@DiceTry]

This is a very cool perspective

[@adammcclelland5746]

Very interesting stuff, Dice. Personally I always saw artifact creatures as an inherently blue concept. Seeing as artificial tools (and, perhaps one day, beings) were created to enhance our state of living.

[@anikiikardia8279]

Question: why are giant aquatic monsters Blue? I don't imagine Kraj, Tromokratis, or Charix does much thinking

[@DiceTry]

I think that's just one of those old school Magix things. Water is blue sea monsters are blue even when they might be more natural as green.

[@baptistebraun8802]

I think that's because there are creatures from the mysterious and unexplored depths of the ocean. They may represent the mysteries and secrets of blue.

[@TheMightyBattleSquid]

I've been asking this FOR YEARS.

[@TheMightyBattleSquid]

@@mrmacura3421 At least then you know zombies come about because of black-aligned (or a larger black-touched color combo like dimir) mana. Fish just do nature things, thus they should be green unless they're being directed to another color's ends. Like I think trained animals should be white, as they're following the "rules" taught to them by their trainers (even to their own detriment at times.)

[@boitata2617]

That might be more so an elemental affinity, like you could ask why is fire red or water is blue, they don't think Nor feel anything, is just fire and water, but mana goes beyond just personality and philophy, that's just a piece of the pie, it could even just be the cherry on top. Another example is to think of lands, islands don't think, swamps aren't ambitioned, mountains don't have passions, forests don't have traditions and plains don't have laws, but none the less they are the primary source for mana of their color.

[@1003JustinLaw]

I think a good analogy of colorless transcendence is like the electromagnetic spectrum. We separate it into different types and colors, but it is one singular concept, a universal constant that has existed before us and will exist after we're gone. Other alien species will have their own understanding and categorization of the different wavelengths of the spectrum, but the spectrum itself will stay the same regardless of who is imprinting their ideals upon it.

[@Romashka_Sov]

I would disagree about the only place colorless could fit is in the middle. There are cards that have and represent all 5 colors at the same time. More, if you need to put it somewhere, i'll say it's a layer around all 5 colors. This placement also can represent all significant characters and tribes in colorless, not in between, but outside The mix of all 5 colors is a chaos; colorless on the other hand often represents structure, both in cards and game design itself (as it helps players to create decks and works as a foil for most decks)

[@timothyyoung691]

if the color wheel and its conponent parts, the pairings shards and wedges, are a 2 dimensional representation of our understanding of magic than what if "colorless is the 3d representation. like a pencil driven through the center the point at the center is the conduit of all mana and thus an amalgamation. the end below is devoid of mana and an item or object of pure artifice. the point above is the transcended beyond the colors.

[@DiceTry]

Oh I like this a lot, kinda sad I didn't come up with it.

[@atamaminami5752]

Today I was talking to a friend about happiness without doing things that by proxy end up being for your sake (say donating to a charity because it is a a cause that means the world to YOU) and how that would be possible. His description of it matches multiple parts of this video, a video that I ended up finding out because I was talking to him about MTG colour philosophy and needed some resources. Amazing video as always, love your stuff! Sidenote I'd love to see your takes on other fictional systems of self-identification and philosophy such as the Harry Potter houses, Avatar: The Last Airbender's elements, Hunter X Hunter's Nen system and the like, whichever system of this sort that might be within your wheelhouse, it's not much within your channel's usual scope but you've focused on D&D alignments as well, so one can hope!

[@DiceTry]

You know that's actually a great idea. Perhaps that's more of a second channel thing but I like that idea.

[@gbctx6982]

this must be one of the most genius videos on your channel, a really good interpretation indeed.

[@WinterblessedDruid]

I always was very intrigued with the concept of Colorless and I wish there were more colorless spells that aren’t artifacts, with colorless mana costs like in Oath of the Gatewatch, and a basic land that produces colorless mana as do Wastes but not as much tied to the Eldrazi thematically (and with a snow version it would be nice too actually) In the future I hope they explore more the philosophy, flavor and place of Colorless like you did so that it can hold a candle to the other types of mana ✨

[@machina5]

I view colourless as a detachment from the physical and an acceptance that nothing lasts forever, and I wish there was a colourless archetype inspired by Buddhist mythologies

[@MetallicMutalisk]

The sixth color is obviously pink. Water Gun Balloon Game creates a 5/5 pink Giant Teddy Bear creature token. There you have it

[@timdornaus]

really loved this. the concept and ideas - great one. reminds me of rhystic study video stlye.

[@tsbackhus]

My theory is that the closer you can balance each color within a perspective, the closer to an objective state of being you have. Objection (The colorless artificial) is what we begin as and what any perception will seek to return to by continuously, through experience, counteracting perceptions with others to the point of death of the mind, soul, or both. (Return to the colorless artificial). 5 color and colorless are ultimately 2 sides of the same coin, full of life and/or devoid of it, eternally conflicted and/or eternally at piece, with absolute purpose yet with no concept of such purpose.

[@gamercore5216]

Fun fact they were debating and play tested adding purple as a sixth color but it obviously didn't work out

[@donngreitontordilla1456]

Yeah, for Planar Chaos. I think I read that Rosewater article.

[@zalendaris]

This video helped me in making a Warforged in d&d

[@FaeFemboi]

Hey DiceTry! I love all your work and it is HEAVILY inspiring me in my own Dungeons and dragons world with six elements! 1: could you please make a video on "the absence of the element of air in MTG and where it resides (blue/white)"? 2: I would love to see another Mono-color series, this time trying to go from point A: Raw elemental magic energy all the way to point Z: A full on belief system and psychoanalysis on the human system. Like a video going from "Haha fire magic go burn." to "Individual freedom is the most important thing.". Partly to see how you personally see that trajectory, but also as an analysis of how the designers themselves came to develop these ideas.

[@czairkolmoslink5952]

I like this, I do hope we get more colorless mana in the game. Thanks for the video

[@jimmyyates5731]

Yes, I love colorless, it is my favorite color. What a good episode

[@heffelumpphotoco]

16:00 “I am not nothing in the sense of emptiness, but I am the creative nothing, the nothing out of which I myself as creator create everything.” ― Max Stirner, The Ego and Its Own

[@deondraefrazier1384]

Man your work is awsome keep up the great work please

[@VultureXV]

A thing I like to consider is that colorless mana is apparently either more abundant or easier to obtain. The hardest spells are those that have multiple "pips" of their respective color. Meanwhile, getting colorless mana from various sources is seemingly super easy, if not exponential or multiplicative in nature. Think of one Thran Dynamo or the fact that Ashnods Altar gives two colorless pips compared to the Phyrexian version granting color. Gameplay balance aside, this could also be seen as a potential that only when actively casting spells of this magnitude does something actually gain color. That for a majority of something's existence it exists primarily as something colorless or subsiding off of colorless sources. In this sense, colorless is quite literally the foundation of the plane itself; akin to something like laws of physics or basic metabolism or thermodynamics.

[@fernandovilla902]

Well dissected. Well done.

[@Powershade117]

I found all of these to be very fascinating! Every concept here really does encapsulate what it is to be colorless. We can even see this on many of the cards we play. after all, many cards have colored mana AND colorless mana as well. In gameplay, this just means we can feed that colorless mana with any color we choose. But what that means on a deeper level is that colorless is any and all while being none of these. I think I might lean more towards the "transcendancy" viewpoint, as that's what I view colorless mostly as. A being that is purely colorless, be it artificial, alien, or supernatural, can both know nothing and know everything. They are yes and no. They are everywhere and nowhere. I have two lines of thought regarding this... Imagine the gods of Theros or gods across the multiverse. They all have form, substance, ideals, and goals...because they are tied to the colors of magic. But what would a god, a true god, composed of colorless mana be? Well...it would be nothing. And yet it would be everything. A colorless god in this case would be something I think akin to the ideal of the Christian deity. In this context, it is a being that knows all, is all, and sees all. It has infinite power and limitless wisdom...but has no form because it doesn't have vanity and has no goals because it believes in nothing. It would simultaneously be more powerful than any other god in MTG, and yet would hold no sway over them. And finally...Karn! You didn't touch upon him as personally as you did the Eldrazi, but he really does fit into the "purpose" category so well. Karn was built by Urza to be nothing more than an obedient automaton with a singular purpose to his existence. And even to this day, even though he has free will to do as he chooses...Karn still follows through on the grander purpose that his creator had. He continues Urza's crusade against the Phyrexians. THAT is his grander purpose...which only begs the question: What next? If Karn is successful in wiping out the Phyrexians once and for all, where does he go from there?

[@cax1175]

Colorless definitely belongs in the middle of the color pie. It has access to a lot of abilities that each color has, just at higher costs. Especially eldrazi cards. I have my colorless edh deck and it's my favorite to play and experiment with. Being able to play 20+ utility lands is cool.

[@borby4584]

Constructs made by Green would probably be like groundskeepers. They’d be designed to work *with* nature, tending to plants, keeping important parts of the past maintained. Basically, keeping things as they are, and as they should be

[@SomeDudeOtaku]

You could say with colourless. It is the base element that creates what we understand of colour and it is the elements that colour can enforce its influence upon.

[@crazydud2432]

Colorless feels like the underlying energy that life is then able to channel into colors. It is not that a colorless card can produce any color because it contains a part of that color within itself, but that the color it creates is just one aspect of colorless being channeled and shaped. like white light bending in a prism to form a rainbow, "Prismatic" is a common trait in colorless. colorless is everything as it can become anything but it is nothing as it is not yet anything.

[@diamondmetal3062]

I feel like I just became a disciple of Ugin.

[@dannycat3970]

I would think colorless to be that which is at the begging and end. It's void. Each color is a journey, and when it's done or before it begins, experience takes no particular shape. There are concepts like this deep in spirituality

[@apostoloschlapanas5505]

Great video and the way you see things

[@guidocampostrini]

I think that a Colorless Character is very possible. Am thinking in the guildless commons from Ravnica, people that don't want to be part of THAT structure, but they still are in A structure

[@TrevorLahey-d5g]

In my opinion the proper place for a sixth color (eldrazi) is between blue and black. White would be opposite of black, blue would be opposite of red and eldrazi/colorless (or purple?) would be opposite of green. 'nature' vs 'un-nature'. Adding in a sixth color would be extremely difficult this far in the game but I think having it absorb the Eldrazi theme could bring enough unique thematic dynamic to it to make it a real color. Since we'd basically be making Eldrazi the basis for this color, both in lore and in the actual game, maybe the first set could have a few cards that say wastes tap for a purple mana? That'd also be a way to begin introducing a new color specific kind of theft/morhph dynamic? Or rather, the Eldrazi attempting to terraform the worlds they invade... Edit: I am in no way familiar with the lore so maybe this doesn't make sense but based just on reading cards and flavor texts it does look like the Eldrazi are some sort of extra-planar invaders or a disease or something to that effect. I think having them begin their full terraforming plan and claiming this world by creating their own color, their own foothold, could be a decent lore friendly excuse for creating a new color after all this time.

[@f.g.5967]

This discussion reminds me of the black moon secrets of Nephilim, the old french rpg.

[@ivorymantis1026]

I could see colorless in the center. It's sort of like a light meets prism thing. Light doesn't really have a color, yet though putting it through a lens you can get colors from it. I see that in the same way as when you use 'mana of any color' to fill in the gaps. Only a few pips of colored mana are required when casting, thusly meaning colorless would just essentially be that "raw energy" needed to pull work, while a color gives it identity. In this case, colorless is _potential_ to me, a raw _Prima Materia_ in order to transmute what is needed into a necessary goal. The easiest way to do that (according to the game) is to 'tap' into the surrounding environment of your preference. A dark wizard would need to focus on the essence that is black mana to pull out a vicious spell like Corrupt, drawing upon the innate pain and suffering of the very land itself before directing and channeling it into a proper direction. Just as a paragon would focus hard on the communal aspects of rich farmlands and agricultural breadbaskets, seeking to refine mana through the aspect of community before casting magic designed to protect others. In all cases, you are simply grabbing raw energy before taking a portion of it through that particular lens to properly apply it to the means you wish to pursue.

[@boitata2617]

I think Patches, from soulsborne series, could be colorless, like I am going of VaatiVydia and that one Comic so this may not be 100% cannon. But think about it: Purpose: In order to mantain humanity in dark souls an undead has to hold on to a sense of purpose, Patches became undead in Dark Souls 1, when Gwyn comitted the first sin, and lasted all they way to the end of the world, and even when he does hollow, as Lapp, he finds purpose in reversing the hollowing, he mantains his sanity and speech, even if he lost his memories.. Transcendence: "...rubbish to one such as I, devoid of all worldly wants" This is where I relly heavily on VaatiVydia, Patches isn't greedy, nor heroic, neither selfish nor selfless, his only desire, is his purpose, to punish and chastise the greedy and self righteous. Represented on how he always baits his victims with treasure and his hatred towards clergy, in this way he also embodies the void aspect a little. So yeah, thanks to listening to my TED talk on why Patches is colorless planewalker.

[@eliotoole4534]

Are the phyrexians closer or farther from colorless?

[@balakkei]

"Green is the only color absent" re: colors utilizing Colorless. But there are six green creatures that make colorless servos or constructs. Also there are colorless constructs that ramp in a green way like the Cultivator's Caravan, or Copper Myr. Green utilizes colorless like a farmer utilizes a plow, or hydroponics for growing. Technology can most definitely be applied to green, especially when it's in Simic.

[@RenegadeGamer89]

I remember years ago my coworker told me he read an article that they were entertaining the idea of a 6th color. He said the working idea was called Cavern and it's color was purple. From what I remember he said it was focused on recursive spells and creatures that gained effects when they were resummoned, similar to Gemini monsters in Yu-Gi-Oh, or monsters that would float into each other and gain effects based on that. Obviously it never came to be, was probably a fake article tbh, but it did sound like a cool idea, and thematically it makes sense with the concept of the users retreating and coming back in larger numbers or with more presence.

[@Zieoajcjcjwid]

Inquest #22 released in February 1997 was the source of that article.

[@zeekeno823]

I've always viewed the color pie as a wheel of opposites. Black and white with the ideals of black being ambition and pride vs white that is loyalty and piety. Red, which is fervor and zeal versus blue which is temperence and thoughtfulness. I always understood colorless to be the opposite of green, where green is the natural world, and colorless is the unnatural or supernatural

[@arthurhilgert2707]

This video was... Beautiful in a certain way

[@gyrasolune5436]

At some point they definitely should put out their own Commander decks for colorless and all-color. Those have got to be extremely hard to balance but people have definitely done it themselves!

[@JesseCohoon]

What about the colorless in a card of other color for instance [R] (2) or [B] (X)? It would also be interesting to look at the "tap" abilities of the colorless, by looking them what we can learn about the ideals of colorless

[@Void-rj3sq]

One thing you haven't mentioned that could be considered colorless is Buddhism Buddhist philosophy is something completely understandable by normal people, yet is impossible to align with any side of the color pie

[@Ratstail91]

I like to think of Colorless as "underlying" the colorpie, on a kind of Z-axis. Purple can sit on top lol

[@mp-cx9rd]

I wish colourless would get more support, it would be cool if it was more of a 6th colour with actual themes of its own

[@TheMightyBattleSquid]

14:05 What do you mean it's missing? Green has been around when we got artifact-centric sets as well. There are SO MANY examples lol. Copper Myr, Implement of Ferocity, Lifespark Spellbomb, Lifecrafter's Bestiary, Narnam Cobra, Ich-Tekik Salvage Splicer (and the other green splicers), Architect of the Untamed (and the other green artificers), etc.

[@donngreitontordilla1456]

Yes, but the problem with these examples is that they produce green mana specifically, are powered by green mana, or are green (not colorless), and so they don't seem to capture the essence of green-like but not green that we saw with the other examples.

[@defiantmars9910]

I think saying Colorless is the space between colors rather than being removed from the Color Pie is a much better way of explaining it's mechanical behavior and what we've seen of Colorless characters as discussed in the video. However, there are rules that Colorless needs to maintain, such as the colorless premium for effects and I think the flexibility of colorless cards (demonstrated by the prevalence of one-size-fits-all cards from artifact focused sets or the Eldrazi cards various formats) dissuades WotC from "promoting" colorless to the status of actual 5 colors in a normal premiere set. This is further evidenced by the uptick in colored artifacts to serve as a control valve. Having said that, there are obviously reasons and places to treat Colorless as more than the Swiss army knife. I also completely agree that there is still philosophies to be found within Colorless. As I understand the concept, the Japanese view of Emptiness seems to be in line with your take on the Void stance of Colorlessness and ties into the Transcendent stance as well. Put another way, I view colorless as sort of... the underlying principles of the multiverse, like the laws of physics. The Blind Eternities are described as a fabric or gap between planes. It is like a prism and the colors the refracted light. The video covers artificial life (artifact creatures), transcendent life (Ugin), and higher-order entities (the Eldrazi) but one group of beings that I still have questions about are the colorless creatures from Ikoria: the Adaptive Shimmerer, Farfinder, and even the Mysterious Egg. How did they come to exist on the plane? Presumably something to do with the tri-color nature of it's environments? Does that make them fall in line with the Transcendence stance of colorless? Perhaps because of flexibility of Colorless, I feel like it is similar to the limitless potential of 5C. I think there is something poetic about All and Nothing resembling each other.

[@omargoodman2999]

I think of it more as blood types. As opposed to the two letters of _actual_ blood types which yield 4 macro-types (A, B, AB, and O), Magic has 5 letters which yields 7 macro-types (G, R, Bk, Bu, W, G/R/W/Bk/Bu, and O). O is, effectively, Colorless; energy but not a specific color. It's the universal doner, but can only _receive_ from other O types, it *needs* Colorless mana sources to function. It could supply Generic mana which can be represented by the "all the letters" tyoe which is the universal receiver. It can use mana from _any_ source, but Generic mana can only be used to satisfy Generic requirements. And any particular color can satisfy itself or generic, but not any other color nor colorless. The only real hiccup is that as a universal doner, colorless can't satisfy any specific color either. But an analogue to the rh factor can easily address that: it's rh+, it has a certain energy to it that lets it supply energy even without color. Other colors are rh-. Another way to look at it, if you want to stick with the "pie" analogy, is that "colorless" isn't a slice of the pie, it's the pan that *contains* the pie. It's a fundamentally different _stuff_ from the pie; pie is food but the pan is not food. It _surrounds_ the pie and provides a foundation or backdrop for the pie. In this sense, instead of _just_ placing it in the center, one would expand it to encircle *all* the other colors, but also layer it *behind* them. It's around, between, and behind *every* color. It's bigger than any of them, than all of them put together. But, in another sense, it's hollow and thin, larger in bulk but each slice of the pie is overall larger in total volume than *just* the thin shell of a pie pan. But it's like the "vessel that contains the water" in Taoist philosophy.

[@matthewzaksheske4211]

I would add that it's interesting that colorless can do everything (albeit normally at greater mana cost), and from a mechanical standpoint there is nothing that a colorless spell could do that wouldn't just be more efficiently done by another color. Someone else called colorless the crust, and I liked that idea, but I would go further and say that colorless is actually the aluminum pie tin. It contains the pie, but isn't of the pie. In containing the pie as it does; it becomes part of the pie by association, and yet is not pie (nor does it mean to be). The game of magic would be functionally the same game without colorless spells, and yet it might be far messier without the structure the tin (colorless spells) provides.

[@CosmicErrata]

Bravo! Encore! Hell yeah! Exquisite!

[@DiceTry]

Now that's a review

[@andrecorso550]

Blue and Green are more mechanically, philosophically and flavorfully attuned to colorless, colorless mana production is the domain of these two colors, Green horror like you explained is Cosmic horror, as in the Eldrazi, artifacts are mostly Bule's domain but also extend Blue's reach for perfection duer to letting it do non-Blue things, etc. Ugin has a very Blue capacity for intelect and detachment and a very Green wisdom of interconectedness (that's why he didn't want to destroy the Eldrazi). What do you think of this idea?

[@jabulanirobinson4620]

Wish they did more to make it a stand-alone with its own mechanics

[@ironreed2654]

Idk, colorless might be "more" then a lack of color but I think it can also "just" be a lack of color...if that makes sense. By example some colorless spells need specific color mana to activate their abilities.

[@lagartoloco94]

In a weird sense having colorless in the center position also implies another philosophy of sorts. Emergence. It’s almost as if the other colors may originate from it. Not something from nothing but something from very basal things coming together to be more than the sum of its parts. Like random compounds in an ocean vent coming together to create life or even basal particles somehow forming the basis for a cosmos. Or even the potential future artifact creatures seem to portend, of artificial beings becoming more than just machines. A spark of a soul perhaps. Who knows?

[@OblongBurrbank]

Arguably it goes _both_ in the center and the exterior of the pie.

[@Case2_0]

Colorless is merely all the colors without the restrictions the colors bring.

[@scatterbraineddaily4722]

In mathematics, it would be the identity element: that which is uniquely created through the union of an element and its opposite. It is an intrinsic part of us all, though it remains elusive. Combine the identity element with anything else, and all you'll be left with is the other object. The identity disappears in the mixture, yet it's still there. In mythology, it's the oroboros, the snake that eats its own tail, and the primordial state of being before the creation of the universe. In psychology, it's the unconscious mind, that when integrated with the ego transforms an individual into the self.

[@KingDrake005]

then it's a basically the white canvas or the time where it need's to be filled for individual and for higher beings whose motives are still un comprehensible to us are also left blank. am i getting it correct?

[@DiceTry]

I think that's one way to look at it.

[@timothye.2902]

A big part of the colourless identity is Artifice: existence from the will of another life form. Artifice exists because something else created it, and it takes a form decided by the goals and intentions of that creator. I think it's important to note how each of the 5 colours interact with those notions: Blue and White are both happy to create these subservient forms and use them as extensions of their goals. White excels at equipment: inert cogs to be manually wielded by a truly living entity. Blue will instead bestow a semblance of independent behaviour into their artificial servants, giving them enough intelligence to carry out orders with limited supervision. In contrast, both red and green, Gruul utterly reject and actively seek the destruction of these artificial entities. They abhor the notion that a being can exist in a form decided by someone else, and that energies would try and mimic "true" life. Black, being the color of pure ego, interacts with artifice the least. If Black could manage to comprehend existing for or because of someone else, it might respond life red and green do. Or, sensing the opportunity for exploitation, it might respond as blue or white do. But Black is so concerned with it's own ego that it can't comprehend that perspective in the first place, so it's reaction to artifice is no reaction, the two modes of being pass each other in the night.

[@electrokineticphenomenon8800]

Saying Colorless isn't a color is like saying Zero isn't a number

[@DiceTry]

I'm gonna have to push back on that I think a better comparison to colorless would be null in coding. It is a lack of any value

[@dwpetrak]

Having rad a number of posts here it's fun to watch people enjoying themselves by trying to assign meaning and understanding to the colors/colorless. Truth is, the color pie was a mechanic created to require choices and limitations in deck construction. The "ideologies" of each color are artificially created to meet the intent of the game designers and periodically altered to suit their whims and allow them to put whatever card they ant into whichever color(s) they choose. I love a good philosophical discussion but MTG's colors are to inconsistent to be a topic. If you really want to though, colorless has been TWO things. 1) things without will: constructs, tools and devices as well as 2) beings otherwise not affected by (read: transcending) the whims, urges or influences of any color (eg: Eugene and the flying spaghetti monsters). Therefore colorless belong both inside of and totally separated from the pie with colorless mana being banal and commonly unable to produce the effect of any color. It is occupied by both s below and above the colors. (Inconsistent, like the rest of the game.)

[@quincykunz3481]

Let me take a crack at this: each color is an ideal and a drive. They all... want. Divide. They have visions for how things should be. Maybe colorless is closer to a sense of contentment. A tempering force to colors' drives and designs. Content: colorless isn't trying to change itself or the world. It simply is, and if something shapes or changes it, then it will simply be something else. It is at peace, regardless of it's context, and lends itself to passive, reflective behavior. Pragmatic: colorless cards are often simple tools. It does whatever works, heedless of your thoughts on how it SHOULD work. It adapts in the same way evolution or swarms adapt, or how metal is shaped: slowly and resistantly, without input, frustration, or conscious thought. Philosophical: colorless is fairly objective without the preconceptions of colored ideals, but still thoughtful. Ugin, Karn, and eldrazi are all alien beings that help us reflect on our own humanity, and the first two spend much time in meditation. It's very nature is to make us question how we categorize our thoughts in the first place. In some ways this colorless has common themes with taoist ideas, of living in the present without care, fear, or effort. How does it affect other colors? Red-grey: emotional, grateful, but in a subdued, deliberate way. Instead of manic hedonism, red-grey enjoys savoring the small things that are all around, living in the moment without pretense. Blue-grey: efficient and correct. Blue grey is the raw data without interpretation. The sterile booksmarts without curiosity. A catalogue more than a cartographer. Wikipedia. White-grey: down-to-earth, communal, but has moved from the idealism to the present. What will help people now? What can I do to noticably help today? Black-grey: self-interested, scheming, without qualms, but lacking an overarching ambitious vision. I picture this as the miser: More concerned with having than actively gaining. Green-grey: zen incarnate. There is only now. what will be will be and what should be is that which already is. To care for nothing more and accept whatever comes. Content in all circumstances, extinguished desires, very Buddha vibes. Thoughts? Am I off base?

[@mikejh1604]

I’d argue that the main point of colorless is to be mystery and the unknown, although blue may seem like the color for this, blue is for discovery well colorless is the mystery itself. That’s why colorless is the clue token, but most blue cards make them

[@jimcharles1479]

great video man

[@adrianocapalbo5107]

What's the name of the soundtrack that is playing in the background? It's so chilling

[@DiceTry]

It's part if the library of music that youtbe provides for youtubers that are royalty free.

[@adrianocapalbo5107]

@@DiceTry Thank you :) I‘m going to check that liberary out 👍🏻

[@עומרשרייבר-ל4ר]

This vidoe is so philosphical that you almsot forget its about a freaking card game.

[@DiceTry]

Welcome to the channel

[@tonyblitz1]

I wonder if the Myr are inevitably going to become an eldrazi-like force. All they wish is to live, to live they must resist destruction, to resist destruction they must replicate and fight. Replicate and fight. To live. How big can a battlesphere get?

[@jamjar1726]

colorless color combination: colourless white: everything has it's proper place colorless blue: always improve, only improve colorless black: consume and destroy colorless red: disorganise and scatter (rat) colourless green: live without thought

[@Infovorousness]

Maybe colourless isn’t in the middle of the colours but instead the totality of all things surrounding them? After all human understanding is simply an island in a vast ocean, one which can be conceptualized as possessing five peaks of distinct articulation

[@DiceTry]

I can dig that

[@redzone4412]

1:56 I’ve heard that music some where before

[@monorayjak4377]

I've always seen colorless as simultaneously the center of the color pie and its crust. It is ally to all, it is an enemy to all, it is part of all. It is reality incarnate, the very fabric of existence and non-existence; it has no motive or purpose because it simply is, it is higher than reality because it IS reality. I hope that makes sense. Also, an interesting idea about the transcendence explanation: From the perspective of characters in a story, the authors would be colorless; they are above the reality they exist in and change reality as it needs, helping neither person or being, just observing as the world is weaved; in other words, they have a 'secret knowledge' that the characters cannot grasp. Edit: Also, just scrolled down and got reminded of this by someone talking about something different. A possible reason that colorless beings contain all colors but are not all colors is that it is intrinsically in the middle, and by pulling towards one color it becomes that color. Basically, these beings, however, are pulled by all colors in different directions at proportional strengths, so it's charged with each color but any influence one could possibly have is negated by the others pulling just as much.

[@zacharyhawley1693]

I think you forgot the one central most important aspect of Magic The Gathering. Planeswalkers even before the mending are the only characters able to traverse the blind eternities at will. The answer was always there all Planeswalkers are colorless which is to say. They are all connected to the prism from which the colors all derive.

[@FattyMcFox]

When you spend enough time looking at the world through a lens, no matter how many lenses you have, you may forget that you can look at the world through no lens. ( this is very deep and philosophical unless you say it to someone who is looking for their glasses. )