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Appendix: The Colors of Magic
All the planes of Magic's Multiverse are suffused with manaāthe energy that fuels magic in all its forms. Mana is intricately linked with the physical world, and different types of terrain produce different "colors" of mana. Most mages specialize in the use of one or perhaps two colors of mana, and in the particular types of magical effects that mana can create.
[image: Unclaimed Territory]
Color is a fundamental organizing principle of the Multiverse, closely linked with everything from physical geography to human personality. The following are just some of the correlations between color and other aspects of existence:
- Lands:. Different types of terrain generate mana of different colors. For example, mountains produce red mana,while plains produce white mana.
- Philosophical Principles:. Each color is associated with a set of ideals, values, and principles. White is connected with protection and order, and green with life and nature.
- Magical Effects:. Different colors of mana are used to power different kinds of spells. Spells of fire, lightning, and speed draw on red mana, while spells of water, ice, and the mind use blue mana.
- Races and Creatures:. Humans are exceptional, in that they don't have a particular aptitude or affinity for one color of mana. For other races, and even for nonsentient creatures, the connection is much stronger. Elves, for example, are typically green aligned. They use nature magic, and they value things like balance, stability, and interdependence. Hydras are also green aligned, though they don't use magic and they don't have valuesāeven as they can be seen to embody those values. So if you wanted to summon a hydra, you'd use a green spell to do it.
- Metaphysical Essence:. Sometimes magic or even powerful emotions can change the basic nature of people or creatures in a way that alters their color alignment. A vile curse might change someone from green aligned to black aligned (or both green and black aligned). A terrible loss that spurs someone to vengeance might add red to the person's color alignmentātemporarily or even permanently.
- Personality Traits:. Different colors of mana are associated with different qualities of personality. It might be that a person who is emotionally driven, creative, and energetic is naturally drawn to the use of red mana; or perhaps using red mana brings out those qualities in a person. Most likely, the effect runs both ways.
A character's or creature's "color alignment" is a sort of shorthand that sketches out its personality, alignment, and power suiteāthe kinds of effects that it creates with its magic or through its behavior. This section goes over the traits of each of the five colors, and offers suggestions for ways they might influence a D&D character.
Multiple Colors
Many mages, especially Planeswalkers, routinely draw on two or more colors of mana. In some worlds, color pairs or triads have such a strong identity that they are manifested in the world. The guilds of Ravnica, for example, are each aligned to a specific pair of mana colors, and each of the clans of Tarkir used three colors. And some lands produce mana of more than one color, so that a highland lake might produce both red and blue mana. Mana pairs similarly suggest certain principles, create certain magical effects, and favor certain personality traits.
Based on the color wheel, it's possible to speak of two colors of mana as either "allied" (adjacent to each other on the wheel) or "enemy" (separated by another color). White's allied colors are green and blue; its enemy colors are red and black. That doesn't mean that creatures associated with allied colors are necessarily on the same side of any conflict, or that creatures associated with enemy colors are actually enemies. But if conflict does ariseāfor example, in a party of adventurersāit's more likely to arise between a white-aligned and a red-aligned character than between a white-aligned and a blue-aligned one. That's the natural result of the different personalities and principles associated with each color. A white character might put a lot of stress on the value of law and order, and of working together toward a common goal. A red-aligned character values freedom and individuality.
Characters and Colors
In the language of the D&D game, the colors of mana are a means of categorizing the types of magic that suffuse all existence. When a spellcaster draws upon or manipulates the Weave (see chapter 10 in the Player's Handbook), part of that process involves tugging on a strand that connects to a land that produces mana of the desired color. Whether consciously or unconsciously, a druid casting barkskin tugs on a strand of the Weave connected to a forest in the world, drawing out the green mana needed to cast the spell.
There's no rules weight to this material; it's simply about roleplaying your character. If you're playing a cleric, you might find it helpful to imagine your character drawing on white mana, and you'll find that a lot of your spells could indeed be white spells in Magic. You might also find inspiration in the personality traits and ideals described in the white mana entry. But there's no rule preventing your character from using spells like divination (a blue spell), stone shape (a red spell), create undead (a black spell), or insect plague (a green spell). On the other hand, you might find that thinking about your cleric as a white-aligned caster shapes your choice of spells as well as your personality.
White
[image: A steadfast temple guardian, devoted to her duty of protecting the people and places in her charge, exemplifies the ideals of white.]
Order. Protection. Community. White draws strength from groups working together, standing firm against the chaos that would divide them. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and safety is found in numbers. You can read a lot more about white in this article by Mark Rosewater, Magic's head designer.
- Alignment:. Lawful (any) or good (any)
- Power Suite:. Healing, protecting, binding, bolstering
- Suggested Races:. Human, kor, dwarf, aven, vampire (Ixalan)
- Suggested Classes:. Cleric, paladin, fighter
- Suggested Backgrounds:. Acolyte, folk hero, noble, soldier
White Personality Traits
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I can find common ground with even the fiercest enemies, empathizing with them and always working toward peace. |
| 2 | I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy. |
| 3 | If someone is in trouble, I'm always ready to lend aid. |
| 4 | I get overly upset when people break even minor rules. |
| 5 | I am honest to the point of being blunt or rude. |
| 6 | I go into every situation with at least one backup plan, but I can get lost when my plans go awry. |
| 7 | I have no patience for selfish or greedy people. |
| 8 | I like my environment to be well ordered and clean. |
White Ideals
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Harmony. I long for a world in which everyone gets along. |
| 2 | Community. It is the duty of all civilized people to strengthen the bonds of community and the security of civilization. |
| 3 | Peace. It is each person's responsibility to make the most happiness for the whole community. |
| 4 | Solidarity. Working together, we are stronger than any of us alone. |
| 5 | Law and Order. We all must obey those in authority and follow laws, or society will devolve into chaos. |
| 6 | Honor. If I dishonor myself, I undermine the foundation of my community. |
Color Combinations
Adding blue to white steers it toward lawful neutral, creating archetypes such as the devout monk or the honorable paladin.
Adding black to white steers it toward lawful evil, exemplified by oppressive clerics and fallen paladins.
Adding red to white makes it zealously lawful good, as in the case of a fervent paladin.
Adding green to white steers it toward neutral good and gentler notions of community, embodied in characters such as healing druids, bards, or kindly rangers.
Blue
[image: Merfolk are often blue aligned, combining an affinity with the wind and water with a natural cunning and a drive to understand the world.]
Wisdom. Contemplation. Manipulation. Blue's strength is the power of the mindāits limitless ability to imagine, invent, strategize, and deceive. Knowledge is power, and victory goes to the smarter foe.
More information about blue's philosophies and powers can be found here.
- Alignment:. Neutral (any)
- Power Suite:. Control, the mind, counterspells, illusion, transformation, time, wind, water, and ice
- Suggested Races:. Human, merfolk, vedalken, aven, naga, siren
- Suggested Classes:. Wizard, monk, rogue
- Suggested Backgrounds:. Charlatan, hermit, sage
Blue Personality Traits
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I employ a polysyllabic vocabulary that conveys the impression of tremendous erudition. |
| 2 | I'm used to helping out those who aren't as smart as I am, and I patiently explain anything and everything to others. |
| 3 | I often get lost in my own thoughts and contemplation, becoming oblivious to my surroundings. |
| 4 | I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing right. I can't help itāI'm a perfectionist. |
| 5 | I want to know how things work and what makes people act as they do. |
| 6 | There's nothing I like more than a good mystery. |
| 7 | Messing up just means an opportunity to learn from my mistakes. |
| 8 | There's no need to rush into action; I prefer to plan before I act. |
Blue Ideals
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Perfection. The goal of a life of study is to constantly improve oneself. |
| 2 | Education. Information can change the world only when it is widely shared. |
| 3 | Knowledge. The path to power and self-improvement comes through mastery of what can be known. |
| 4 | Change. The world is in constant flux, and we must be ready to change with it. |
| 5 | Logic. Emotions must not cloud our clear thinking. |
| 6 | Self-Knowledge. If you know yourself, there's nothing left to know. |
Color Combinations
Adding white to blue steers it toward lawful neutral, creating archetypes such as the devout monk or the honorable paladin.
Adding black to blue steers it toward neutral evil and the behavior of stealthy spies, scoundrels, and infiltrators.
Adding red to blue steers it toward chaotic neutral, exemplified by madcap magesāelementalist wizards or sorcerers.
Adding green to blue solidifies its neutrality, embodied in archetypes such as the sagacious druid or the scholar of nature.
Black
[image: Vampires, whose survival relies on their willingness to kill others, embody the worst aspects of black.]
Ambition. Cruelty. Death. Black draws its power from the slow decay of all things and the inevitability of extinction. Supremacy belongs to those who are willing to do whatever it takesāincluding hastening death's arrivalāto achieve their ends.
Mark Rosewater has written more about black here.
- Alignment. Evil (any)
- Power Suite:. Necromancy, fear, pain, darkness, disease, corruption
- Suggested Races:. Human, vampire, aetherborn, minotaur, vampire, orc
- Suggested Classes:. Warlock, cleric, rogue
- Suggested Backgrounds:. Charlatan, criminal, noble
Black Personality Traits
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can't do it. |
| 2 | If you do me an injury, I will crush you, ruin your name, and salt your family's lands for all time. |
| 3 | The first thing I do in a new place is note the locations of everything valuableāor where such things might be hidden. |
| 4 | I get bitter if I'm not the center of attention. |
| 5 | I can't stand the dangerous idiots who deny their own needs in order to help others. It's often difficult to motivate them to do what I want. |
| 6 | If others won't do things when you ask nicely, stop asking nicely. |
| 7 | Inspiring fear can be the most effective way to motivate people. |
| 8 | I don't care about morality or taboosāonly results. I'll do whatever it takes to get the results I want. |
Black Ideals
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Power. Power is the only way to guarantee your ability to control your lifeāand thus your happiness. |
| 2 | Self-Interest. If I don't look out for myself, no one else is going to. |
| 3 | Strength. Helping the weak is merely delaying their inevitable failure. |
| 4 | Freedom. If I need something, I'm a fool if I let laws or morality stand in my way. |
| 5 | Greed. The clearest way to get ahead in this world is with money. |
| 6 | Independence. No one tells me what to do. |
Color Combinations
Adding white to black steers it toward lawful evil, exemplified by oppressive clerics and fallen paladins.
Adding blue to black steers it toward neutral evil and the behavior of stealthy spies, scoundrels, and infiltrators. Adding red to black creates the chaotic evil icons of bloodthirsty barbarians and battle priests.
Adding green to black steers it toward neutral evil, in the form of sinister druids and stalking rangers.
Red
[image: Red-aligned pirates are gutsy tricksters, adventurous voyagers, fearless combat mages, and confident brawlers.]
Passion. Impulse. Immolation. Red values action over reflection, emotion over reason, and instinct over learning. Its power is the volatile energy of fire and lightning, the seismic energy of the earth, and the savagery of untamed fury.
This article discusses the motivations and actions of red in more detail.
- Alignment:. Chaotic (any)
- Power Suite:. Fire and lightning, earth, emotion, rage, destruction
- Suggested Races:. Human, goblin, khenra, minotaur
- Suggested Classes:. Sorcerer, barbarian, fighter
- Suggested Backgrounds:. Charlatan, entertainer, sailor, soldier, urchin
Red Personality Traits
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I always speak and act before I think. |
| 2 | My changing emotions dominate my personality, leaving no one in any doubt about what I'm feeling. |
| 3 | I fall in and out of love faster than the weather changes. |
| 4 | I'm always angry. |
| 5 | I either love something or I hate it; there is no in-between. |
| 6 | I'm always working on some piece of art to express my feelings. |
| 7 | I revel in the storms and the destruction that give expression to the turmoil inside me. |
| 8 | I have no patience for people who think they can boss others around. |
Red Ideals
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Freedom. Everyone should be free to pursue their own dreams. |
| 2 | Emotion. My heart tells me what it needs. All I have to do is listen and act accordingly. |
| 3 | Adventure. Life is an adventure, and it's up to each individual to experience it. |
| 4 | Relationships. Part of life is embracing the passion, loyalty, and camaraderie that ties us to others. |
| 5 | Creativity. The world is in need of new ideas and bold action. |
| 6 | Sincerity. No one should pretend to be something they're not. |
Color Combinations
Adding white to red makes it more zealously lawful good, as in the case of a fervent paladin.
Adding blue to red steers it toward chaotic neutral, exemplified by madcap magesāelementalist wizards or sorcerers.
Adding black to red creates the chaotic evil icons of bloodthirsty barbarians and battle priests. Adding green to red leads to an intense neutral or chaotic neutral, embodied in a totemic barbarian or fierce ranger.
Green
[image: Those aligned with green are attuned to nature, including beasts, plants, and the world itself.]
Nature's abundance. Lush growth. Vibrant life. Green knows that the artificial trappings of civilization are temporary but the vast ecosystems of nature will always endureāadapting and evolving in a delicate balance. Those who would prosper must also evolve, embracing their wild side and letting nature have its way.
Mark Rosewater's essay on the nature and philosophy of green can be found here.
- Alignment:. Neutral (any)
- Power Suite:. Nature, plants, animals, growth
- Suggested Races:. Human, elf, khenra, naga, merfolk
- Suggested Classes:. Druid, ranger, fighter, bard
- Suggested Backgrounds:. Acolyte, guild artisan, hermit, outlander
Green Personality Traits
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm sharply attuned to the cycles of nature, and can almost feel the pull of the full moon. |
| 2 | My instincts never lead me astray. |
| 3 | I get along better with animals than I do with most people. |
| 4 | There is more wisdom in a forest pool than in any library. |
| 5 | Beasts of the wild have no need for manners, and neither do I. |
| 6 | Nothing raises my ire like seeing people treat life as disposable. |
| 7 | I can identify hundreds of bird species by their songs. |
| 8 | I see omens in every ripple, gust of wind, and flight of birds. |
Green Ideals
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Acceptance. Things are as they are for a reason, and it's foolish to try to change them. |
| 2 | Nature. The natural world is more important than the constructs of civilization. |
| 3 | Potential. The secret to happiness is to find one's place in the natural order and embrace it. |
| 4 | Interdependence. My role is deeply connected to the web of life, and my actions have consequences for everyone around me. |
| 5 | Live and Let Live. Ideals aren't worth killing or going to war for. |
| 6 | History. Only through studying the past can we avoid repeating past mistakes. |
Color Combinations
Adding white to green steers it toward neutral good and gentler notions of community, embodied in characters such as healing druids, bards, or kindly rangers.
Adding blue to green solidifies its neutrality, embodied in archetypes such as the sagacious druid or scholar of nature.
Adding black to green steers it toward neutral evil in the form of sinister druids and stalking rangers. Adding red to green leads to an intense neutral or chaotic neutral, embodied in a totemic barbarian or fierce ranger.