YES YES YES!!!My favourite series is back (yes it's better than worst cards ever)! Looking forward to the next episode! I love your new look Wedge btw :D
I think the White/Black pair in Ixalan block actually takes this philosophy the other way around. Instead of black manipulating white, it's white manipulating black. The Dusk Legion is a traditionally white society but what makes them black is their methods. They use black for power. And they're not as slow either. B/W vampires is much lower to the ground and uses vampire synergies in the early game to pump out lots of small dudes and win a race with lifelink.
True, but the more things, change, the more they stay the same. Since they cannot coexist as equals, one must find a way to subjugate the other. The Orzhov is a Black guild utilizing a White hierarchy and facade to gather people into their flock and subjugate them. Meanwhile, the Legion of Dusk is doing whatever it takes to cleanse themselves and expand their faith, even if it means using Black. The Orzhov use White means to achieve Black ends, while the Vampires use Black means for their White Ends. Also, they are both centered upon hierarchies which it is fervently devoted to and, when you really think about it, are filled with massive self-loathing. The Orzhov despise having to rely on others and thus the members of the Syndicate cannot truly trust each other. The Legion of Dusk, on the other hand, despises the fact that they are vampires (a tribe with Black at its core), and wish to cleanse this impurity, yet it is also what gives them strength against their rivals in Ixilan. Finally, they are organized as a subgroup that seeks to drain power from those who are not in their hierarchy (as well as themselves) for the benefit of themselves and their associates. In summation, I agree that they are an interesting shift in priorities with the Legion, yet they are still unmistakably Black/White. The Legion of Dusk and the Orzhov Syndicate are two sides of the same coin, with one color subjugated to achieve another color's endgame. Apologies for the extended comment, I'm just really, *really* enamored with the Orzvhovan mindset and playstyle.
I couldn't agree more with both your comments! WB because of its conflicting values will always come out hypocrytical or ironic with regards to itself. But just like Wedge says, this is what makes the color pair so human. Both White and Black aspire to very lofty ideals - ultimate peace, ultimate power, the rule of order, the actualization of the self. WB wants to be so much better than it is right now. They want that change to come so transformatively that the methods they sometimes use can be sometimes opposite to their values. But there is nothing wrong with this. In fact, this makes WB a very open minded color - knowing that there are many ways to achieve an ultimate goal.
Orzhov is like my favorite guild, some of the best cards for it are honestly not even the most impressive, like basilica guards and high priest of penance. They really slow down the game in ways the orzhov can greatly benefit from all the while taxing your opponents. I honestly think the best part of the orzhov guild tho, is the aesthetic, like man, do the artists just absolutely nail it with the orzhov! Cartel Aristocrat, Immortal Servitude, Obzedat Ghost Council, Godless Shrine, flipping Deathpact Angel! It all feels so organized, cruel, and at the same time badass in the ominous sort of way.
i'm with you there. though with Phyrexian Scriptures revealed, I now serve my true illustrious mistress and the father of our kin, ELESH NORN SHALL CLAIM DOMINION, AND YAWGMOTH'S GLORY SHALL BE CARVED THROUGHOUT THE MULTIVERSE, KAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAH
This is an interesting exercise. What would the other guilds be? Lawful Evil: Orzhov Lawful Neutral: Sylesnia Lawful Good: Azorius Neutral Evil: Dimir Neutral Neutral: Simic? Neutral Good: Boros Chaotic Evil: Rakdos Chaotic Neutral: Gruul? Chaotic Good: Izzet? Not sure where Golgari would fit in
According to my interpretation the alignments go like this Lawful Good: None actually. Selesnya might be closest but u cant classify them as good Lawful Neutral: Azorius definitely. They only care about the law. Lawful Evil: Orzhov obviously. Neutral Good: Maybe Golgari since they actually provide food for many people. Even in original Ravnica where they were considered ''bad'' it was because of their leaders not the entire guild. True Neutral: Simic. They have no real affinity for good/evil or chaos/order so they seem like they fit here. Neutral Evil: Dimir. They are evil while they are neither too chaotic or too into the rules and hierarchy (very very few are aware of the hierarchy) Chaotic Good: Boros. Operate within the law...unless they feel otherwise. Chaotic Neutral: Izzet. Extremelly unpredictable just like their projects and experiments but their goal is not to blow up entire districts. It just happens. Chaotic Evil: Rakdos. Surprisingly the guild can become quite the lawful evil when Rakdos is napping and the witches take over and do their usual plotting and stuff. Until he wakes up again and all hell breaks loose. Literally. Gruul can be considered either CN or CE depending on the clan/members since they tend to kill for fun. PS: Imo no guild is actually good it's just that some of them have some attributes a ''good'' guild should have so they come closer to being good than the rest. Of course the same thing can not be said about ''bad attributes'' and ''bad guilds'' since we have some pretty hardcore evil guilds.
I would honestly argue more for the fact that Boros is in fact lawful good because they rely heavily on the structure of white and its order to keep the chaotic nature of red in line. Boros the army guild, if you do not abide by there law and structure you are no better then a gruul berzerker in there eyes. This mindset it shown through there mechanics such as battalion where it is a all for one mindset to strike down there for. Fall in line or the whole line falls so to speak.
They want to maintain the order and law but they act in a very chaotic way to achieve this by breaking things, faces and laws alike. This is not lawful behaviour.
Orzhov has always been my favorite color pairing. My first deck was the Orzhov starter deck from the RtR block, and despite it being awful I loved the concept. I started playing standard after that using a b/w midrange deck I came up with then a few months later ended up seeing a similar list show up during the mono black devotion meta. I couldn't keep up with constantly changing decks for standard and transitioned into commander and am now the proud father of a Karlov taxation deck.
I could never figure out the they Orzhov colour pair. All the other guilds are easy to see why they would work together but this was the one i could never understand why it works so this video was very much needed. The Philosophy of each guild is just amazing to learn. Thanks for these vids
Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I've been hoping for a house dimir video for a while. I've always thought academic analysis of obviously false shadow groups to be fun.
I've put a lot of thought into how White and Black work together in a broad sense across the game. White has so many laws and rules and personal morals that sometimes it hinders itself by trying to move within a self-imposed maze. Black helps white see that it would be considerably easier and better for everyone to just bypass all of those morals and laws and get the job done as practically as possible. Basically, the White half makes the rules, but the Black half doesn't think those rules should apply to them because they're the ones who made them. Meanwhile, Black doesn't like being told what to do; if it wants something, it will take it no matter what. Because of that, sometimes Black can be very short-sighted - it'll give up life and limb for power and prestige. White reminds Black that there are consequences that might outweigh the reward, and there are ways to get what it wants in a less morally-defunct way. White's methods may be slower, but it also might be the way that Black can get what it wants with the least amount of long-term damage back to itself. White and Black are also two of the colors that understand sacrifice far better than any other color, with the possible exception of Green. White sacrifices its own wellbeing to protect others, but in a more tyrannical persona it'll also sacrifice one of its citizens if that will ultimately save everyone else. Black, meanwhile, will sacrifice other people, its own resources, its own life if it has to, if it'll get what it wants out of the deal. Making deals with demons and bleeding yourself for power is common across black. So together, White and Black are possibly one of the most personally detached color pair out there - if it serves their cause, they don't care who they have to obliterate, whether its their enemies or their own allies. They're right to be paranoid - they work among people who have the same philosophy of everyone else being, in some capacity, expendable.
This is the best colour philosophy you've done so far, not only does it excellently explain it in game, it explains how I can feel at times, and can also be applied to the real world
I really liked this philosophy video! W/B is definitely a philosophy I struggle with to understand (especially to more beneficial degrees), however, a lot of what you said about this pairing are areas I've thought around what W/B wants to do, which is cool! My only critique would be that you never got around to what W/B looks like with White at the helm. As someone mentioned below though, W/B with White at its core looks a lot like the Legion of Dusk on Ixalan: A desire to do good, but by horrible means; the ends justify the means, ya know? A philosophy that says "As long as it's in the faith of the many, anything goes".
SuperFlashfish I look at it as "what would happen if White was corrupt?" The orzhov abuse people's faith for profit, doing evil things while appearing pure and righteous.
I think that's also another good angle to look at W/B that didn't get mentioned in the video. I don't know if I can say that that particular example is White at its core. It seems more Black in how, at its base, it wants to meet its own goals while looking "lawful" or "righteous" doing it when in actuality they're no different from any blatantly evil person. I think a corrupt White variety might look something like Fascism, or brutal Dictatorship. I think of the Punisher a bit in how he wants to uphold good morals (White) but show no mercy towards those who do wrong and use any means to uphold those beliefs (Black). There's also the philosophy of " an eye for an eye" that can be pretty W/B at times. You're example is still good btw and is another feature this pairing can take. I love how much variety the color pie leaves for each color and their pairings!
SuperFlashfish that's a great example. Not to beat up religion or religious beliefs, but the reason I love Orzhov is how they profit from faith. "What price would you pay for the favor of God?" People that the Orzhov subjugate remind me of the for-profit religious entities that basically extort (haha) faith. Much like the tele-evangilists that live decadent lifestyles on the backs of the poor. People will pay any price if they think it will put them in God's favor, and that's where the Orzhov are so diabolicaly amazing. "I do the work of God. If you hold out gold from me, you are holding out from Him. I act as the medium, you will do as I ask in His name." I love it.
Maro said once on blogatog I believe that while White wants to protect everyone and looks out for the good of all. Orzhov wants to protect a group and doesn't care about the means. He gave the example of Magneto from the X-Men, he only cares about the mutants and wants what's best for them, so killing a few humans in the process doesn't matter. In his eyes he's doing good for his people.
Yeah and that's definitely a philosophy I've come to understand with W/B. Personally, I don't really jive with it, however, I think that type of thinking does have a place in the world. Like, if a people made you who you are today, got you where you are and you actually appreciate their efforts, how could you not want to look out for their well being over some other group you barely know or even care to? It expands Black's "I look after myself" philosophy to "I take care of my own; those who share my beliefs can stick around". On the flipside, the color pair also limits White's "altruistic" perspective to "Maybe not everyone deserves protection, but this specific group does". I do try hard to look through at the world through each color pairings' perspectives and try to empathize with where they're at, yet W/B (and sometimes W/R) has been the hardest for me to reach a perspective that I can both relate to and genuinely appreciate. The "I take care of my own and no one else" philosophy tends to conflict with my Blue-White-Green ideals of looking at the bigger picture and seeing something larger than just "my group" (to varying degrees of success). I think the closest I can get to is the overachiever/workaholic: You're taking White's honor code and structures and applying Black's ambition and desire for excellence and you get someone who will put in their 110% effort on the grounds of "That's just MY personal rule" and has an eye for a sweet reputation/benefits/luxuries from other people to preserve themselves. Honestly, I'd really like to see a character like this in MtG or more of it anywhere. I can dig it.
Loved the explanation on the ending and when i thought about it my white black deck functioned just like this, slow, but once it's win cons were met, my opponents had very few outs
I love these videos soooo much. You’re commentary adds so much flavor to this game. Still waiting for Boros but I totally understand if you’re saving the best for last lol. Every time you come out with a new one I have to go through the whole playlist again, keep it up :)
My friend is getting me back into MtG after 20 years (I played when I was 12, Tempest-Urza’s Destiny, had some Ice Age and Mirage too). He gave me an Orzhov starter deck; so I was thrilled to see your video and learn what the guild was all about! Subscribing!
Great series Wedge, you're the only one who offers this kind of content and you are genuinely passionate about your understanding of the color's individual philosophies. Can't wait for the rest of the guild pairings as well as the Shards and Wedges. I am actually outlining the archetypes/themes of Abzan and this video helped me organize what White/Black brings to the argument. However, I am not quite seeing what color is the most dominant like the way you showed how Red is the dominate color in Rakdos which I believe. Would love if the first 3-color philosophy you did was Abzan. Thanks for reading
Getting back into MTG, haven't picked up a card since like 1998, with my Kids. And we are loving these videos, for helping with our color picks. Can't wait for more color combos!
Same. When I played mine in a 4-way Free-for-all for the first time, I played my Extort srategy like normal... and suddenly the Table was 13-9-11-45 without me even realizing how much life I was accruing with every single spell...
Great video! Orzhov is my favorite color pair! Lifedrain (such as Extort) is always a win-win, you gain life, opponents lose life. You have access to most of the best removal spells. Excellent tribals like Vampires and Zombies....
My favorite two color-combinations are Simic, and Orzhov! Loved this video! My favorite thing about Orzhov is that it can do almost anything in the game, and do it unlike (and sometimes better) than any other color combination in Magic!
finaly back wedge i really like your videos i,m a big magic player from 1994 and your videos helpt me make great decks thank you for that keep goin strong greetings bjorn from holland
Wedge, no need for a giveaway I am a fan...I am glad you are back and look forward to more content. I think your interactions with the Prof/&Game Knights was fantastic and hope to see your synergistic energies in the future. Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing more of your content.
Orzhov has always been my favorite color Pair. There is nothing more satisfying than watching my opponents reactions to me slowly draining them away as they realize there is no way out
Once I started to get into the lore behind the colors I really started to appreciate the mechanics. Extort makes sense with the way these two colors work together. It's such a neat detail that I think gets over looked by a lot of newer players.
Great video Wedge! I’ve been waiting for Orzhov for a while now. It’s funny how spot on this is. I’m in the midst of building a tainted sigil/CoK, sanguine bond EDH and all the philosophy is there. You have to put yourself in a super vulnerable position just to kill your opponents whilst relying on your other cards to finish the job...hope they show up and don’t take the opportunity to let me flail in the wind! Good thing I’m actually doing it Esper. More of a unified (hive mind) front :D
Finally! It took far too long to get to the best color combination. p.s. I take issue with one thing: White is not good. It may attract more beings that can be classified as good, but it is not inherently good.
Probably one of my favourite conbination of colors since it represents both of its origins well. You have the low to the ground and early strats on white, meidgame stall for black and after that you have tacing from the combination. Either its on the aristocrats that asks you to give up your boardstate, saceifice your creatures and hit points for some objective or taxing the opponent everytime ge plays sonething or you play something
Heck yes, I was literally looking for Orzhov just yesterday and was sad you didn't have one on it yet. Orzhov zombies and Orzhov/Mardu vampires. Daxos and Markov. They are my jam.
Easily my favorite color combo. Especially in my play group, it's mostly helping other to achieve my own ends, and eventually draining everyone to death, or pillowforting so hard, attacking is almost literal suicide.
Love the work sofar @TheManaSource, keep it up! Once you start doing 3 colors, could you do Blue White Green and Red Black Green? I plan on making a few super friends team decks and it would be interesting to see the synergies and focuses of these colors. The idea of a break down of what 3 color decks are good at might help me out with this as ive only been able to brew up mid range decks with 3 colors (which doesnt cut it with the current meta at my LGS)
I always play white black for some reason because all the other colours just feel. But not until now I realised that my personality relates so much to this guild.
This is why I add phyrexians and curse auras to orzhov. While you're building resources you start attacking from all sides. In addition, phyrexian unlife keeps you protected while you build. I used TopDecked to test this by playing against the meta by myself (I'm not biased, I play my best on all sides), and there were times where I was hesitant to choose which card to remove as the meta deck.
I hope you enjoy the video! Make sure to enter the giveaway for A FREE BOX OF MASTERS 25! :)
I love you Wedge!
Love the video format this time around!
This is my favorite series you do man ^.^
I wouldn’t pay a dime over free for masters 25 boxes.
YES YES YES!!!My favourite series is back (yes it's better than worst cards ever)! Looking forward to the next episode! I love your new look Wedge btw :D
"those who are black have given up on social constructs"
-Wedge, the Mana source. 2018
lol!
So I’m not the only one who thought that....
Sounds low key racist
I was like lol
I was looking for a comment about that and it didn't take long, context is so funny lol
I think the White/Black pair in Ixalan block actually takes this philosophy the other way around. Instead of black manipulating white, it's white manipulating black. The Dusk Legion is a traditionally white society but what makes them black is their methods. They use black for power. And they're not as slow either. B/W vampires is much lower to the ground and uses vampire synergies in the early game to pump out lots of small dudes and win a race with lifelink.
True, but the more things, change, the more they stay the same. Since they cannot coexist as equals, one must find a way to subjugate the other. The Orzhov is a Black guild utilizing a White hierarchy and facade to gather people into their flock and subjugate them. Meanwhile, the Legion of Dusk is doing whatever it takes to cleanse themselves and expand their faith, even if it means using Black. The Orzhov use White means to achieve Black ends, while the Vampires use Black means for their White Ends.
Also, they are both centered upon hierarchies which it is fervently devoted to and, when you really think about it, are filled with massive self-loathing. The Orzhov despise having to rely on others and thus the members of the Syndicate cannot truly trust each other. The Legion of Dusk, on the other hand, despises the fact that they are vampires (a tribe with Black at its core), and wish to cleanse this impurity, yet it is also what gives them strength against their rivals in Ixilan. Finally, they are organized as a subgroup that seeks to drain power from those who are not in their hierarchy (as well as themselves) for the benefit of themselves and their associates.
In summation, I agree that they are an interesting shift in priorities with the Legion, yet they are still unmistakably Black/White. The Legion of Dusk and the Orzhov Syndicate are two sides of the same coin, with one color subjugated to achieve another color's endgame. Apologies for the extended comment, I'm just really, *really* enamored with the Orzvhovan mindset and playstyle.
I couldn't agree more with both your comments!
WB because of its conflicting values will always come out hypocrytical or ironic with regards to itself.
But just like Wedge says, this is what makes the color pair so human. Both White and Black aspire to very lofty ideals - ultimate peace, ultimate power, the rule of order, the actualization of the self. WB wants to be so much better than it is right now. They want that change to come so transformatively that the methods they sometimes use can be sometimes opposite to their values.
But there is nothing wrong with this. In fact, this makes WB a very open minded color - knowing that there are many ways to achieve an ultimate goal.
Im so glad you thought of this too and im not the only one this!
It's sort of similar to how the simic merfolk of Ixilan invert the traditional simic power dynamic.
Very interesting thoughts
Orzhov is like my favorite guild, some of the best cards for it are honestly not even the most impressive, like basilica guards and high priest of penance. They really slow down the game in ways the orzhov can greatly benefit from all the while taxing your opponents. I honestly think the best part of the orzhov guild tho, is the aesthetic, like man, do the artists just absolutely nail it with the orzhov! Cartel Aristocrat, Immortal Servitude, Obzedat Ghost Council, Godless Shrine, flipping Deathpact Angel! It all feels so organized, cruel, and at the same time badass in the ominous sort of way.
i'm with you there. though with Phyrexian Scriptures revealed, I now serve my true illustrious mistress and the father of our kin, ELESH NORN SHALL CLAIM DOMINION, AND YAWGMOTH'S GLORY SHALL BE CARVED THROUGHOUT THE MULTIVERSE, KAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAHKAH
A lot of the time, Orzhov is most easily described as Lawful Evil.
Orzhov is pretty much the definition of Lawful Evil afaik
This is an interesting exercise. What would the other guilds be?
Lawful Evil: Orzhov
Lawful Neutral: Sylesnia
Lawful Good: Azorius
Neutral Evil: Dimir
Neutral Neutral: Simic?
Neutral Good: Boros
Chaotic Evil: Rakdos
Chaotic Neutral: Gruul?
Chaotic Good: Izzet?
Not sure where Golgari would fit in
According to my interpretation the alignments go like this
Lawful Good: None actually. Selesnya might be closest but u cant classify them as good
Lawful Neutral: Azorius definitely. They only care about the law.
Lawful Evil: Orzhov obviously.
Neutral Good: Maybe Golgari since they actually provide food for many people. Even in original Ravnica where they were considered ''bad'' it was because of their leaders not the entire guild.
True Neutral: Simic. They have no real affinity for good/evil or chaos/order so they seem like they fit here.
Neutral Evil: Dimir. They are evil while they are neither too chaotic or too into the rules and hierarchy (very very few are aware of the hierarchy)
Chaotic Good: Boros. Operate within the law...unless they feel otherwise.
Chaotic Neutral: Izzet. Extremelly unpredictable just like their projects and experiments but their goal is not to blow up entire districts. It just happens.
Chaotic Evil: Rakdos. Surprisingly the guild can become quite the lawful evil when Rakdos is napping and the witches take over and do their usual plotting and stuff. Until he wakes up again and all hell breaks loose. Literally.
Gruul can be considered either CN or CE depending on the clan/members since they tend to kill for fun.
PS: Imo no guild is actually good it's just that some of them have some attributes a ''good'' guild should have so they come closer to being good than the rest. Of course the same thing can not be said about ''bad attributes'' and ''bad guilds'' since we have some pretty hardcore evil guilds.
I would honestly argue more for the fact that Boros is in fact lawful good because they rely heavily on the structure of white and its order to keep the chaotic nature of red in line. Boros the army guild, if you do not abide by there law and structure you are no better then a gruul berzerker in there eyes. This mindset it shown through there mechanics such as battalion where it is a all for one mindset to strike down there for. Fall in line or the whole line falls so to speak.
They want to maintain the order and law but they act in a very chaotic way to achieve this by breaking things, faces and laws alike. This is not lawful behaviour.
You did a great job in this one. Keep it like this, it's perfect.
Finally, Color Philosophy is my favorite series done by you.
i completely agree
Orzhov has always been my favorite color pairing. My first deck was the Orzhov starter deck from the RtR block, and despite it being awful I loved the concept. I started playing standard after that using a b/w midrange deck I came up with then a few months later ended up seeing a similar list show up during the mono black devotion meta. I couldn't keep up with constantly changing decks for standard and transitioned into commander and am now the proud father of a Karlov taxation deck.
I could never figure out the they Orzhov colour pair. All the other guilds are easy to see why they would work together but this was the one i could never understand why it works so this video was very much needed. The Philosophy of each guild is just amazing to learn. Thanks for these vids
Can we get philosophy of the totally none existing House of Dimir ?
Why must you continue spreading fairy tales? House Dimir is only a story made to scare children and keep the 9 guilds in line!
lamignat900 house what?
Oh no not that story again
You are fake news
Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I've been hoping for a house dimir video for a while. I've always thought academic analysis of obviously false shadow groups to be fun.
I've put a lot of thought into how White and Black work together in a broad sense across the game. White has so many laws and rules and personal morals that sometimes it hinders itself by trying to move within a self-imposed maze. Black helps white see that it would be considerably easier and better for everyone to just bypass all of those morals and laws and get the job done as practically as possible. Basically, the White half makes the rules, but the Black half doesn't think those rules should apply to them because they're the ones who made them. Meanwhile, Black doesn't like being told what to do; if it wants something, it will take it no matter what. Because of that, sometimes Black can be very short-sighted - it'll give up life and limb for power and prestige. White reminds Black that there are consequences that might outweigh the reward, and there are ways to get what it wants in a less morally-defunct way. White's methods may be slower, but it also might be the way that Black can get what it wants with the least amount of long-term damage back to itself.
White and Black are also two of the colors that understand sacrifice far better than any other color, with the possible exception of Green. White sacrifices its own wellbeing to protect others, but in a more tyrannical persona it'll also sacrifice one of its citizens if that will ultimately save everyone else. Black, meanwhile, will sacrifice other people, its own resources, its own life if it has to, if it'll get what it wants out of the deal. Making deals with demons and bleeding yourself for power is common across black. So together, White and Black are possibly one of the most personally detached color pair out there - if it serves their cause, they don't care who they have to obliterate, whether its their enemies or their own allies. They're right to be paranoid - they work among people who have the same philosophy of everyone else being, in some capacity, expendable.
I always love these videos wish you did more of them
This is the best colour philosophy you've done so far, not only does it excellently explain it in game, it explains how I can feel at times, and can also be applied to the real world
So... Orzhov is basically Anor Londo ?
arenkai so basically... I’m aldrich
\ | T | /
Yes, Yes it is
Its basically any real life oligarchy
I really liked this philosophy video! W/B is definitely a philosophy I struggle with to understand (especially to more beneficial degrees), however, a lot of what you said about this pairing are areas I've thought around what W/B wants to do, which is cool!
My only critique would be that you never got around to what W/B looks like with White at the helm. As someone mentioned below though, W/B with White at its core looks a lot like the Legion of Dusk on Ixalan: A desire to do good, but by horrible means; the ends justify the means, ya know? A philosophy that says "As long as it's in the faith of the many, anything goes".
SuperFlashfish I look at it as "what would happen if White was corrupt?"
The orzhov abuse people's faith for profit, doing evil things while appearing pure and righteous.
I think that's also another good angle to look at W/B that didn't get mentioned in the video. I don't know if I can say that that particular example is White at its core. It seems more Black in how, at its base, it wants to meet its own goals while looking "lawful" or "righteous" doing it when in actuality they're no different from any blatantly evil person.
I think a corrupt White variety might look something like Fascism, or brutal Dictatorship. I think of the Punisher a bit in how he wants to uphold good morals (White) but show no mercy towards those who do wrong and use any means to uphold those beliefs (Black). There's also the philosophy of " an eye for an eye" that can be pretty W/B at times.
You're example is still good btw and is another feature this pairing can take. I love how much variety the color pie leaves for each color and their pairings!
SuperFlashfish that's a great example. Not to beat up religion or religious beliefs, but the reason I love Orzhov is how they profit from faith.
"What price would you pay for the favor of God?"
People that the Orzhov subjugate remind me of the for-profit religious entities that basically extort (haha) faith. Much like the tele-evangilists that live decadent lifestyles on the backs of the poor.
People will pay any price if they think it will put them in God's favor, and that's where the Orzhov are so diabolicaly amazing.
"I do the work of God. If you hold out gold from me, you are holding out from Him. I act as the medium, you will do as I ask in His name."
I love it.
Maro said once on blogatog I believe that while White wants to protect everyone and looks out for the good of all. Orzhov wants to protect a group and doesn't care about the means. He gave the example of Magneto from the X-Men, he only cares about the mutants and wants what's best for them, so killing a few humans in the process doesn't matter. In his eyes he's doing good for his people.
Yeah and that's definitely a philosophy I've come to understand with W/B. Personally, I don't really jive with it, however, I think that type of thinking does have a place in the world.
Like, if a people made you who you are today, got you where you are and you actually appreciate their efforts, how could you not want to look out for their well being over some other group you barely know or even care to?
It expands Black's "I look after myself" philosophy to "I take care of my own; those who share my beliefs can stick around".
On the flipside, the color pair also limits White's "altruistic" perspective to "Maybe not everyone deserves protection, but this specific group does".
I do try hard to look through at the world through each color pairings' perspectives and try to empathize with where they're at, yet W/B (and sometimes W/R) has been the hardest for me to reach a perspective that I can both relate to and genuinely appreciate. The "I take care of my own and no one else" philosophy tends to conflict with my Blue-White-Green ideals of looking at the bigger picture and seeing something larger than just "my group" (to varying degrees of success). I think the closest I can get to is the overachiever/workaholic:
You're taking White's honor code and structures and applying Black's ambition and desire for excellence and you get someone who will put in their 110% effort on the grounds of "That's just MY personal rule" and has an eye for a sweet reputation/benefits/luxuries from other people to preserve themselves. Honestly, I'd really like to see a character like this in MtG or more of it anywhere. I can dig it.
Orzhov was always my second favorite guild. The Extort mechanic was insane
WEDGE IS POSTING AGAIN! I hope you’re feeling better!
As a man who's Naya to the heart, the fact that Boros and Gruul have taken so long is a crime
FORGIVE ME!
I’m waiting for a Naya video to pop up tbh~
its because of Dimir agent interference
Yes gruul please
Boros has no ramp and Gruul creatures are expensive.
Wedge's Color Pie series is simply the most well thought and entertaining videos I have viewed in a while. Glad to have them back on the reel!
Loved the explanation on the ending and when i thought about it my white black deck functioned just like this, slow, but once it's win cons were met, my opponents had very few outs
YES! MY FAVORITE SERIES! Please please please continue into 3 color combos. You're so good at this!
I love these videos soooo much. You’re commentary adds so much flavor to this game. Still waiting for Boros but I totally understand if you’re saving the best for last lol. Every time you come out with a new one I have to go through the whole playlist again, keep it up :)
My friend is getting me back into MtG after 20 years (I played when I was 12, Tempest-Urza’s Destiny, had some Ice Age and Mirage too). He gave me an Orzhov starter deck; so I was thrilled to see your video and learn what the guild was all about! Subscribing!
You've covered nearly all of my favorite color combo (Golgari, Rakdos, Orzhov, Simic). Can't want for your look at the Dimir.
Great series Wedge, you're the only one who offers this kind of content and you are genuinely passionate about your understanding of the color's individual philosophies. Can't wait for the rest of the guild pairings as well as the Shards and Wedges. I am actually outlining the archetypes/themes of Abzan and this video helped me organize what White/Black brings to the argument. However, I am not quite seeing what color is the most dominant like the way you showed how Red is the dominate color in Rakdos which I believe. Would love if the first 3-color philosophy you did was Abzan.
Thanks for reading
Getting back into MTG, haven't picked up a card since like 1998, with my Kids. And we are loving these videos, for helping with our color picks. Can't wait for more color combos!
I friggin love these, Wedge.
The art in this vid made me want to get all the cards and blow them up for a poster or something.
Good to see this series back up and running.
I was really worried this series was dead, I'm so glad your still doing it! This is one of my favorite mtg series on RUclips
Great again! I love these, and don’t mind that they come slowly. They’re more of a treat that way.
Still love this series! I like when you compare 2 guilds to show their philosophies and how they compare. Guess that could be a video or two
Glad you are returning to the series did enjoy the 1st set of vids like this hope you finish the set and one day do one for each color combo, even 4s.
Yes! Wedge is back! More color pie! These are my favorite videos that you make. Sweet purple shirt and hoodie, too.
I have a super spicy orzhov deck. I can relate that playing the deck feels like that.
Same. When I played mine in a 4-way Free-for-all for the first time, I played my Extort srategy like normal... and suddenly the Table was 13-9-11-45 without me even realizing how much life I was accruing with every single spell...
That is extort for you. that is how most of my games go with Karlov.
I got to 140 life with ayli, eternal pilgrim.
Holy orzhov...
ever payed 15 into X for "Debt to the Deathless" the voltron guy at the table was upset.
Thank you for this break down. I enjoy Orzhov, Glogari, Rakdos and Boros play styles and decks
These color pairing philosophy videos are super interesting. Looks like I'm binge watching all of them.
Great video! Orzhov is my favorite color pair! Lifedrain (such as Extort) is always a win-win, you gain life, opponents lose life. You have access to most of the best removal spells. Excellent tribals like Vampires and Zombies....
Great to see this series back, best thing about this channel are these analyses
All the color videos are absolutely amazing. Some of my favorite mtg content
My favorite two color-combinations are Simic, and Orzhov! Loved this video! My favorite thing about Orzhov is that it can do almost anything in the game, and do it unlike (and sometimes better) than any other color combination in Magic!
Glad you are back mate. Not worried about the giveaway, just nice to have one of the truly GOOD MTG content creator back
So glad to have the mana source and wedge back in my life. Always so great.
Welcome back! RUclips is a better place with Wedge
Woot! Thanks Wedge! This would make a returning player's life, just getting back into MTG, a lot better!
I love these videos, they cover each guild at their core. Now all we need is Boros, Dimir and Gruul. (P.S. Please do Boros first!)
finaly back wedge i really like your videos i,m a big magic player from 1994 and your videos helpt me make great decks thank you for that keep goin strong greetings bjorn from holland
Wedge, no need for a giveaway I am a fan...I am glad you are back and look forward to more content. I think your interactions with the Prof/&Game Knights was fantastic and hope to see your synergistic energies in the future. Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing more of your content.
I’m excited for Wedge to do color philosophy for the wedges! Lol! Seriously though can’t wait for the triple colors.
Finally, wedge has risen!
Orzhov has always been my favorite color Pair. There is nothing more satisfying than watching my opponents reactions to me slowly draining them away as they realize there is no way out
Once I started to get into the lore behind the colors I really started to appreciate the mechanics. Extort makes sense with the way these two colors work together. It's such a neat detail that I think gets over looked by a lot of newer players.
Glad you are back. I like this colour combination due to aristocrat decks. Top 3 Ravnica guilds in my books.
Nice to see you Wedge! Just keep swimming. You've got this. Thank you for the great episode!
Good to have you back! Happy to see you're back at it and just as great as ever!
Its great to see you back! Orhzov so interesting!
I'm so happy to see this series return!
Love the B/W combination so much!
Great video Wedge! I’ve been waiting for Orzhov for a while now. It’s funny how spot on this is. I’m in the midst of building a tainted sigil/CoK, sanguine bond EDH and all the philosophy is there. You have to put yourself in a super vulnerable position just to kill your opponents whilst relying on your other cards to finish the job...hope they show up and don’t take the opportunity to let me flail in the wind! Good thing I’m actually doing it Esper. More of a unified (hive mind) front :D
Please keep making these, I've sorely missed these.
Best philosophy video yet! Great work Wedge. I love your uploads, and I vote for Gruul next!
You gotta do a video about Gruul next. It's my favorite Guild.
Been waiting for this vid forever. My favorite guild on a flavor perspective.
These studies are simply amazing. I hope you will cover all the two colour combinations in the future 😀
Or even the three colour ...
Great to see you back and continue this awesome series!
Omgf yes Im so excited that we are getting more guild vids. Missed you wedge!!!! Thank you so much for the content
I have been waiting for another one of these for so long. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I'm just making a WB Cleric Commander and i found this very interesting, thanks for the vid.
Also that beard looks good on you.
FINALLY WEDGE I'VE BEEN BWGGING FOR ORZHOV SINCE THE LAST COLOR PIE VIDEO. Keep up the great work I love it
Great to see you back, Wedge! Great video as always.
That card wall background is a mad flex
Great Vid! Three combinations left, I say Gruul suits this as a follow-up vid.
Great to see you doing what you love again, Wedge!
I should know triple, four, and five colors but would like to see your videos about them. Learning alot with the two colors.
I freaking love the guilds in Ravnica.
Glad to see another color pie video
Finally!
It took far too long to get to the best color combination.
p.s. I take issue with one thing: White is not good. It may attract more beings that can be classified as good, but it is not inherently good.
I dunno, Elesh Norn seems to be the Paragon of all that is good, in more ways than one KAHKAH
Probably one of my favourite conbination of colors since it represents both of its origins well.
You have the low to the ground and early strats on white, meidgame stall for black and after that you have tacing from the combination. Either its on the aristocrats that asks you to give up your boardstate, saceifice your creatures and hit points for some objective or taxing the opponent everytime ge plays sonething or you play something
Oh man I’ve been waiting for wedge to continue this series!
Nice video wedge. And it looks like you have a video without someone asking for worst cards ever. Congratulations, you did it!
good to see you around
My absolute favorite video series!
So glad to see you back wedge.
Very nice to see you back man! very nice to see this video, very entertaining, i love the orzhov!
Great to see you and this series back 💜
Aww yiss Wedge colour pie philosophy is my favourite video series you do. More of these phrase, you still need to do the shards and Khans wedges!
Heck yes, I was literally looking for Orzhov just yesterday and was sad you didn't have one on it yet.
Orzhov zombies and Orzhov/Mardu vampires. Daxos and Markov. They are my jam.
Easily my favorite color combo. Especially in my play group, it's mostly helping other to achieve my own ends, and eventually draining everyone to death, or pillowforting so hard, attacking is almost literal suicide.
Love the work sofar @TheManaSource, keep it up!
Once you start doing 3 colors, could you do Blue White Green and Red Black Green? I plan on making a few super friends team decks and it would be interesting to see the synergies and focuses of these colors. The idea of a break down of what 3 color decks are good at might help me out with this as ive only been able to brew up mid range decks with 3 colors (which doesnt cut it with the current meta at my LGS)
I always play white black for some reason because all the other colours just feel. But not until now I realised that my personality relates so much to this guild.
Boros next please 😊
Gruul then boros
The beard grow'ith! Love it.
Glad to see this series is back. :-)
Yay! Keep making these I thought you weren’t gonna make another.
Yay, Color Pie Study! Only a few Guilds left! Go Wedge, go!
Been waiting for this one. Thanks Wedge.
This may be your best and most accurate representation of the guilds so far.
Finally! Please more of this!
Good to have you back.
Thanks Wedge. May I barter a portion of my soul to get a part 2 to this video? 🖤
This is why I add phyrexians and curse auras to orzhov. While you're building resources you start attacking from all sides. In addition, phyrexian unlife keeps you protected while you build. I used TopDecked to test this by playing against the meta by myself (I'm not biased, I play my best on all sides), and there were times where I was hesitant to choose which card to remove as the meta deck.
That end note on weakness gives me flash backs of my mates red trample deck. big, strong and mean