Don't forget the unique way in which faeries embody Blue-Black! In Black, they have a child-like selfishness and desire to self-indulge, and are known for doing some truly awful things to get their way. In Blue, they don't necessarily have a desire for perfection. But they're curious, they thirst for discovery and novelty. They're mischievous and fond of playing tricks on people, with their famous glamours, wordplay and rules-lawyering. It's a side of Dimir that's both wondrous and terrifying, just like the fae themselves.
Great analasys, I agree. Fairies show a very different yet interesting side of this pair, almost playful, which seems counterintuitive. Yet when you break it down, it makes sense.
I'd argue they do have a desire for perfection, but not perfection of self. Instead, they desire to perfect their "game" rather than themselves as a whole. They are the trolls who are devoted to perfecting the art of trolling, basically.
Thank you so much, this revisit to Blue/Black is a beautiful take on this combination, showing us how this combination is one that while often feared, is one that demonstrates to all why you must above all else respect yourself and value your own future, to go where no one else dares, to take risks that seem treacherous, and to live a life without a moment wasted. While I am Grixis and very much value the Red within me, I cannot deny the power and ingenuity this combination brings. Before I even knew anything about color philosophy and MTG as a whole, looking back I can see how this combination worked tirelessly in my life to save it. This combination is one that is truley a treasure that must never be lost, for should we lose what this combination brings to humanity, we will have lost such a fundamental part of what makes us humans the wonders that we are.
I feel that Dimir is pretty close to the right idea, though there is not one right idea. Dimir knows that it needs to protect itself, and that it deserves happiness, I especially enjoy it's rejection of Destiny and birthrite. Though I feel it falls flat when to grow outside of the individual and into the societal. I feel Dimir works best when It comes to how an individual acts.
Oh yes. As a Dimir I strongly disagreed with the society part of the video. But like you said it's an individual's philosophy. For an example of how it may apply to rulership I highly suggest watching the career of Havelock Vetinari, Patrician of Ankh-Morpork. Especially in the earlier books/earlier career.
Holy balls. Dice. You never cease to amaze with the quality of your content. When I think you can’t get better, rise higher, you do. It’s amazing to witness! I really, truly related to this video, especially that exceptional opening. I used to think that I’m Rakdos (Black-Red), but after taking the quiz you showcased, I took it, and kept getting Esper. My percentages were largely made up of Black followed closely by Blue, with White as Tertiary (which does influenced me in many ways). While it confused me at the time, this video makes those answers seem so much clearer, and really puts into perspective HOW my core colour being Dimir makes so much sense. The part of Logic and Practicality described my outlook on my life, my general mindset, to a T, and I simply had to put those thoughts down in writing (typing?) here. I’m in continuous awe at your sheer skill and insight! Masterfully done!
Wow this speaks to me on a deep level. My belief in existential nihilism and my aspiration for knowledge and power very much aligns with Dimir's philosophy. No wonder Dimir is my fav color combo to play with
I got dimir in both color tests I took, and it’s definitely aligns with my view on life, but in the game itself I prefer mono blue, I just love the whole scientist/artificer/hyperintellegent creature aesthetic too much
I really appreciated hearing the last statement in the video. Where you say that Blue/Black is very different from your own philosophy on life. Because I do feel the same, and yet… I think blue/black is one Of my favorite color combinations to play with and explore thematically.
I love all these videos you do, and your choice for what to call the Theoretical peak of the Dimir pairing seemed perfect, at least for me, for one of the few rules I live by is There is no such thing as Absolute, in this case, they can advance and become greater and more as much as they like, but as time advances or circumstances change, what is Absolute changes with it... which I think would fit the endless thirst for advancement that this color pair has perfectly.
This is such a beautifull channel, i always felt that blue and black where my color, altough i wasn't really a fan of dimir house, but MAN! the more i listen to you the more i realize how dimir wasn't an mechanism to perfection, but more an eye that seek perfection and grasp the very little thing that makes it. That's litterally me, serching the details to obtain the value, and continue to perfection it, even when the continuous reserch, experiment and seek for perfection lead to an aboniation, wich is only a new opportunity to growth by the death of your very creation. "Take whats good and keep going" thanks for your work!!!
This is your first official Dimir Video? Right? It’s funny, I identify as a Mono-Blue Planeswalker from the color quiz. But I identify a lot with Dimir and Azorius - which is weird since you think they’d conflict!
Humans are complex creatures. If someone was to be defined by colors I would say that AT MINIMUM they would be 3 colors, with one or two being core colors. It sounds like you're esper with a blue core. Someday you feel white pull you more than black and other days your black pulls you more
I have never played MTG, but I stumbled upon your video explaining the 5 colours. The first thought that came to my mind is that I would be definitely a black/blue player. Love the video, also the idea how one can generally project himself or his personality into the game through his deck choice.
As someone who doesn't get motivated by rewards so much as consequences I can relate with black a lot. And I love blues planning for the future you want
What I, as someone who strongly identifies with Bant, find fascinating about the Dimir, is how much of their philosophy outright proclaims idealism. You would think that "whishful thinking" would be very much at the bottom of the colour pies most rational combination but instead it embraces it in it's own fitting shape. Dimir strifes for an excellence and their concept of "The Absolute" as basically a God who has earned their Rank. I personally view the Dimir as too selfish for comfort. I look to my Neighbours of Esper and Sultai and find their way, if not compelling, but more fleshed out, since instead of focusing one mind to ascention, why not strife for more comprehensive solutions to life? And while I consider that we all can share in advancement one step at a time (in true Bant fashion xD) I at least comprehent Esper and Sultai on a deeper level than intellectually. I think I even share more understanding with Grixis than with pure Dimir. But man do I love playing them in MTG :D
Dimir is a very personal and individualistic philosophy. If you have a group of people that are all working towards the same goal as I am? Hell yeah I'm going to help. Reciprocal Altruism is a motivating factor. But it's also just better working in a group. There are a lot of benefits. And yeah, the philosophy is a bit on the selfish side perhaps. Doesn't mean I need to be. I love helping people. It makes me happy. Anything with a large percentage of black is going to vary A LOT depending on each individual practitioner. Also, if I wasn't Dimir. I would be Grixis. Tangent time: The absolute is purely conceptual. I think if any Dimir would truly reach that goal. Or something where they can't strive for things, they die. Or at very minimum cease to be Dimir. Which could be seen as dying on the inside. What my main strive is with elevating everyone, is that you can't. People want so many different things, it's impossible to accommodate all. Not even to mention the conflicting wants. For Instance: That wishful thinking which some, I don't think even most, Dimir do. Directly conflicts with what the powerful want. Which is more power for themselves, and to keep the status qou alive for as long as possible. This means that all those Dimir never get to achieve their goals. It's not easy to change this and keep it changed. As people will constantly try to undermine it. Another problem is that some people just differ so greatly it's impossible to have a standard model for things such as education. Every person will then need an individual approach. That's so resource intensive, I don't think it's possible. Let's hope it is, but I don't think so. But yeah, man. I love playing them as well! Though I've hardly played and mainly with a Blue/Black precon deck (Mindflayaarrgh). So I lost most games I've played. (|: [Why do I keep trying to make backwards D work? It just doesn't. If you didn't realise, that's supposed to be happy. To signify I had a fun time doing so.]
@@BasicallyBaconSandvichIV Thanks for your input ^^ Honestly the idea of if anyone cares for themselves at least everyone is taken care of is something that a cynic like me can appreciate. And I know that with a lot of blue/white cores, our goals depend on willing cooperation. And that is basically what I meant in my first post. I do understand Dimir intellectually. It especially thrives in a plane where their own advancement is most likely contingent on the downfall of others. But since I believe that live _isn't_ a Zero-sum game... It's hard for me to connect deeper with the Dimir attitude than that. I also understand that Dimir have no trouble cooperating if there is mutual advantage present. So I can appreciate a subset of Dimir in a society. I just can't imagine a society containing most or all of em :D Also it is very obvious (for me) that you speak with fondness about your experiences/experiments with Blue/black. ^^
@@siph0r154 Thank you for replying to my reply! It's always lovely to talk. Personally, if people would behave rationally, and there were no issues in coordinating as a group, I would honestly prefer working in a group. You're completely right about life not being a zero-sum game. That's simply not the case. Otherwise I couldn't really solve any situation in DnD as an example. It's just incredibly hard, if not impossible to make things fair for EVERYONE. And I would prefer making things fair for everyone. Because it's not fair to have some people not be able to do/succeed at what they do simply because they are different. And I don't know how to solve that, simply due to LOGISTICS. I actually converge on a lot of things that other colours/colour pairs have. Maybe because the rest of my family is Bant (according to the test, you know the one). Or maybe it's convergent evolution of ideas. I think the way I play DnD is actually a good example. When playing DnD, I will try to resolve the situation by: 1: Beneficial for me and my closest allies (the party), 2: Beneficial for friendly NPC's, 3: Beneficial for NPC's who are neutral towards us. 4: Some of the nicer enemies. And 5: Greed. This may vary depending on the situation. I also try to think as far ahead as possible. And so far it's only killed a character (me) once, thanks to Selune for interfering and stopping everyone else from dying. My group actually hardly does any combat, for a party of only chaotics, that's really good. So generally we have some really crazy plans to do stuff. One time, we spent a month going to the Brass City, renting a place out there, capturing a fire-elemental crime boss wanted by the police. And then spent one turn "fighting" the curse in the form of a beholder by shoving the elemental in the cavern, sealing the entrance and running away. Best plan we ever had. We basically go around sneakily doing things while not necessarily all that "good', those things are net-positive. So while my methods of looking at things a bit like a maths-equation, and ridiculous plans thought out to the longest of lengths may not be for everyone, it might still be seen as "good" to someone. That was a bit of a tangent. Well anyway, you are right about not really having a functioning Blue/Black society. Like with other things with black which aren't balanced out, you can't really have a society which is Blue/Black. It would very swiftly go against its own principals. A society moulded by a Dimir (or in this case possibly Esper, but I think Dimir, especially earlier) is Ankh-Morpork under Patrician Lord Havelock Vetenari. I think it's a great example of a functioning society with a (what I think is) Dimir ruler. I suggest you read about him if you haven't yet. Terry Pratchett just has some really good books which are a must read for everyone. About my fondness for Blue/Black, I simply apply my enthusiasm to colour theory as all my other hobbies. Which just so happens to be a very Blue/Black thing to do (At least at the scale at which I do things). I just hope everyone else can be just as fond about things as I am.
2:20: This right here seems to be my fundamental break for understanding black’s philosophy. Is there really no point to living if your not constantly struggling for more and more things or is black just so busy trying to satiate its ambitions that it can’t see the value life has all on its own? I know this might not have too much to do with Dimir as a whole, just wanted to get this thought out there while I had it.
This is why I perosnally align red/black, living in the moment and enjoying what I have while also striving for something better is where I am happiest
Something to consider is that the desire for "more" does not have to be limited. It can mean anything from riches, to simple self improvement. An artists wish to hone their craft by challenging themselves is as Black as a CEO's quest to get in the Forbes 500
Identifying as a Dimir person myself by having an obsessive and insatiable desire to gain as much knowledge as I can and withhold it from others has me come to this video to this identifying video to give you a Merry Christmas and Happy new year Dicetry. May your wisdom be forever indispensable in the new year
Im Izzet as a guy but i find myself connecting with these ideals. Dimir, Imo, Calls out a big part in all of us. Not all of us may be as ambitious but if we all were, The world would be a constant power struggle wouldnt it?
I take problems with this analysis because it neglects that blue should be as strong as black is in this combination so while I do agree that black sees what is, I also acknowledge that blue sees what could be, so for me Dimir is the combination of skepticism they are always concerned with truth but never fully satisfied with it. they want to mold the world into a version that benefits them, and others like them. I also take problem when you said this combination has no room for empathy, all the combinations can fit empathy within them. for blue black it would be acknowledging that people have their own experiences that mold them(blue) and their own wants that drive them(black). if put in practice this creates a humanist perspective one that is based in reality but sees the potential for change, one that aims to empower the individual with knowledge and accountability.
I feel like the cold pragmatism following U/B to be quite interesting (your depiction of their struggle of hierarchy seemed to almost mimic the ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality that Phryrexian Green seems to embody, which is.. ironic). I would love to see a U/B character as a protagonist over ‘sneaky spy character #7052’, though I have no idea what an antagonist of such a character would look like. Others mentioned Faeries as a tribe, and someone else pointed out once how Lazav was pivotally important in War of the Spark, but I’m still waiting for that 1 central protagonist role.
On Tarkir, I would join Sultai. On Alara, I'd be drawn to Grixis. On Ravnica, I would probably join Dimir (but infiltrate Orzhov as a double agent) or join Orzhov. The MTG color philosophy quiz assigns me 33.2% blue, 25.3% black, 22.9% green, 9.3% red, and 8.3% white. Also, in 5th edition DnD, I typically play as a winged tiefling bard (and/or rogue), who blends the flavor of a bard with the flavor of a rogue-- with skills in persuasion, deception, stealth, sleight of hand, investigation, and perception (at the minimum). My 5e winged tiefling bard/rogues I like to play tend to also find ways to pick up additional knowledge skills (especially history and arcana) and insight. That usually means I have only 10 constitution and 8 strength, but high dexterity and high mental stats, with a focus on dexterity and charisma. -- I feel that my playstyle somewhat mimics my real life ambitions to transition from being a special needs educator to being a financial therapist who works with wealthy and powerful people, especially in the entertainment and financial industries and in politics. I can help the people I see with their mental health in exchange for payment, while also gaining insight in their mindsets and gaining inspiration from the secrets I learn from them which I can use to further increase my own wealth and power...secrets I wouldn't have discovered without access to such wealthy and powerful people. In addition, I could leverage my position as a financial therapist to subtly influence my clients in ways that will shape the world in accordance with my values. I love to read stories that draw on themes of ambition, heirarchy, power, subtle manipulation, investigation, and mystery, in part because those stories reflect my real life aspirations. One day, I want to be more than just a lowly educator.
Do not underestimate the position of educator. I don't know which special needs you work with. Or what work you do. But I know some people who are technically special needs, but powerful(ish) nonetheless. Also, make sure you don't get stuck pining for the “one day”. You've got a big ambition, you need a big plan to go along with it. And big action to back it up. But be warned: Don't be reckless or stupid! You may lose everything.
Funnily enough I often play rogues or wizards. I have made many a DM bristle a bit about the weird ways I think to use spells or cunning to accomplish my ends. I always want to have all the face skills I can get, though I put insight higher on my list than you do. Overall, I am a great fan of Blue/Black and it is both the color pairing I tended to get, and my favored one to play back when I played MTG. I am personally fond of mysteries, stories of thieves (like the gentleman bastards), and stories about the minutia of noble politicking. Admittedly, unlike you, I have aspirations to become an attorney, but I am sure you can see some parallels all the same.
I've also considered becoming an attorney, and I might still find a way to work that in. That would make me an integrated all-in-one advisor for financial mental health, financial planning, and financial law. All I'd need to be a truly one man operation then (after a master of social work, financial planner certification, and law school) would be a psy.d and a post-doctoral masters in psychopharmacology, so then I could also call myself a doctor and prescribe psychiatric meds. As far as insight goes, on my first game, I traded out sleight of hand for insight and enjoyed it. I've found the best path for my multiclass is 1st level in rogue, followed by 4 levels in bard (lore bard), followed by 3 more rogue levels (arcane trickster), followed by 6 more bard levels (assuming the game makes it to level 14 or higher, which I've only seen happen once), and, if the game makes it to level 16, 2 more levels of rogue. In theory the level 20 build would be a rogue 6 (arcane trickster)/bard 14 (lore bard). Assuming the DM allows it, my all time favorite feat is the Diplomat feat from Unearthed Arcana, which gives me persuasion expertise and gives a nonmagical permanent version of charm person if I talk to an NPC for at least a minute, though its only permanent so long as I'm within 60 feet of who I'm talking to. Once I leave the 60 foot range, it only lasts a minute beyond that unless I move back within 60 feet. Resilient (wisdom) is also nice since a failed wisdom save is always really bad.@@Sarcastic_Sophist
Dimir doesn´t have to be manipulative it can simply be the never ending hunger for knowledge, discovery and progress, if you look to literature you get characters like Frankenstein and Jekyll who just want to see if they can never thinking about if they should, Dimir in my opinion is to much portrayed as the House Dimir which stalks in the shadows and manipulates everyone around them it can be used for good in the scientist who will never stop until they have the solution to the problem you just have to keep in check that they don´t destroy everything else for their goal
It’s so funny you posted this right as I’m making a DnD character whose a shapeshifting half-rakshasa rogue whose color alignment would *definitely* be Blue/Black
A good historical parallele would be the russian nihilist movement. Some of them even wore blue sunglasses to reflect their new scientific view of the world. And they looked like dorks
blue and black can still be physical decks. abyssal persecutor, desecration demon, baleful ammit, vedalken shackles, various steal creature spells. vampire nighthawk, sheoldred the apocalypse, curse of leeches. memnarch.
As someone who is the antithesis of Dimir (Naya) one thing has always puzzled me. At what point does the societal outweigh the individual for a Dimir individual? No doubt I believe Dimir could survive, or even succeed, as an individual, but what if they are in need of others in society they provide what they need (healthcare workers, teachers, farmers, etc)? Do they accept society's help, or do they reject it to be an individual? This is all a hypothetical question that I'm personally curious abou the answer. Feel free to respond in the replies, as I'd love to see your responses!
While Dimir individuals are very individualistic, they also understand that from time to time they have to rely on others to achieve a goal. An example would be if someone who's a Dimir wishes to create a multi-million dollar business. The would not only need customers but also employees to achieve their goal. Throughout the creation of their multi-million dollar business, a Dimir would never think how their business is helping society (Providing goods for customers/giving people employed a job and salary to survive), all they would think about is how their business will benefit them.
Dimir is half Blue, not Red. It doesn't deal with emotions, it uses logic and it can see the value of living in a community because that's what Blue does (to a lesser extent than White, but still). Blue wants perfection not just for itself but also for the world. Black may mitigate that sentiment a bit with its inherent selfishness but it's not going to completely disappear. Living in a society, exploiting it and even helping it when it benefits Dimir is definitely a U/B trait. If you're looking for chaos or madmen who crave only pleasure and don't care about others, look no further than Rakdos. Black being tainted with Red brings the worst out of it.
So what I got from this is that Goku is probably Sultai or Esper; someone whose driving force is the desire to grow stronger, fight stronger opponents, and become the better fighter he knows he can be, while protecting those he cares about and the lives who depend on him.
@@alexMendoza-wl5oj I'd argue differently. The kind of careful, deliberate planning of Esper is kind of anathema to the fractious, quarrelsome, emotional and destructive elements of the US gov't. The US government THINKS it's Jeskai at best but does not actually care about knowledge, learning or perfection. If anything the US and its government have a lot more in common with the worst aspects of Mardu.
@@Arohan71To be fair. I have a double outside perspective, myself being most closely to Bant and not and American citizen, but man does, at least from my point of view ring your analysis true. As Bant myself. Envisioning the "American Dream" as Dimir adjacent also rings true though... Since you need to be asleep to believe in it and if you wake your find yourself in a Nightmare.
Dimir societies would be self defeating, the higher they grow the more of their time must be devoted to protecting their position until it is all they do and their self proregression comes to a halt.
Blue and black are my least favorite colors and this explains it for me, the two of them have a more selfish view, which I don't have in even the slightest.
As a Gruul player, I could not agree more. Though our methods may be different, we are united in struggle against those who would connive and scheme their way into a place of power above others.
Likewise. Dimir player/person here. Well more person than player, I haven't played a lot. But I love the Philosophy of the colours. Especially my version of Dimir, my own little twist. Even though they were OK in the one deck I played with. My least favourite colour is white, the second is green. I'm too individualistic. I cannot abide by living in a system where those competent in something don't get to do that due to things beyond their control! Also the art for Blue/Black is better. A black/blue border just looks nicer.
Dimir and Rakdos are some of my favorite to play , also golgari and izzet . White I favor with black or green I like with black or blue I mainly play with. Unrestricted ambition isn't evil just addicting such a rush . Least favorite color alone is white second least favorite is green Love red also with blue or black . True harmony" no such thing just a pipe dream and pre destination, set life roles , tradition ,stability = meh . Suck one resource pool dry other players stuff such as vamping then for blood for cards then. I start using my life. Why not use others stuff as resources but never give back . Others players life totals useful for paying costs of the ambitions using unrestricted ambition kills them while benefiting me win for me -lose for them . Unrestricted ambition being weaponized as lethal tool . I mean 100% unrestricted ambition absolute autonomy great weapon to use eg other players pay costs of. My ambitions especially when returns are very diminishing but costs very very high. Oh use on greens nature opponents is playing and turn their natural world to devoid of any life wastelands lol. 🤣 Unrestricted ambition is terrible for nature especially. Naya is fun here and there ,group is fun also tho. Selesnya is my least favorite guild their ideals aren't my cup O tea .
![Truth in Zealous Expression [Mardu MTG Color Philosophy]](/img/n.gif)
Do you think Dimir has the right idea?
As a Naya... Nah.
Izzet here, yeah they get it. Selynsia can just leave tho
Nah-ya
Lol
As an Ink (non-Black) follower, no.
Edit: I have no problem with ambition; it's the "ends-justify-the-means" attitude that drives me away from Black!
Don't forget the unique way in which faeries embody Blue-Black! In Black, they have a child-like selfishness and desire to self-indulge, and are known for doing some truly awful things to get their way.
In Blue, they don't necessarily have a desire for perfection. But they're curious, they thirst for discovery and novelty. They're mischievous and fond of playing tricks on people, with their famous glamours, wordplay and rules-lawyering.
It's a side of Dimir that's both wondrous and terrifying, just like the fae themselves.
Great analasys, I agree. Fairies show a very different yet interesting side of this pair, almost playful, which seems counterintuitive. Yet when you break it down, it makes sense.
I'd argue they do have a desire for perfection, but not perfection of self. Instead, they desire to perfect their "game" rather than themselves as a whole. They are the trolls who are devoted to perfecting the art of trolling, basically.
I think the real power of these two is "Knowledge IS power"
Exactly. 👍
Dimir my beloved
Well hope you enjoy this breakdown then.
🥰😈
My beloved, my muse. The stars in my sky.
Dimir is one of my faves as well. Grixis, and the combinations within that shard. Izzet and Dimir are my top two out of Ravnica.
Hidetsugu and Kairi my Ogre Demon Dragon Waifu ;p
Thank you so much, this revisit to Blue/Black is a beautiful take on this combination, showing us how this combination is one that while often feared, is one that demonstrates to all why you must above all else respect yourself and value your own future, to go where no one else dares, to take risks that seem treacherous, and to live a life without a moment wasted. While I am Grixis and very much value the Red within me, I cannot deny the power and ingenuity this combination brings. Before I even knew anything about color philosophy and MTG as a whole, looking back I can see how this combination worked tirelessly in my life to save it. This combination is one that is truley a treasure that must never be lost, for should we lose what this combination brings to humanity, we will have lost such a fundamental part of what makes us humans the wonders that we are.
I feel that Dimir is pretty close to the right idea, though there is not one right idea. Dimir knows that it needs to protect itself, and that it deserves happiness, I especially enjoy it's rejection of Destiny and birthrite. Though I feel it falls flat when to grow outside of the individual and into the societal. I feel Dimir works best when It comes to how an individual acts.
Oh yes. As a Dimir I strongly disagreed with the society part of the video. But like you said it's an individual's philosophy. For an example of how it may apply to rulership I highly suggest watching the career of Havelock Vetinari, Patrician of Ankh-Morpork. Especially in the earlier books/earlier career.
Holy balls. Dice. You never cease to amaze with the quality of your content. When I think you can’t get better, rise higher, you do. It’s amazing to witness!
I really, truly related to this video, especially that exceptional opening. I used to think that I’m Rakdos (Black-Red), but after taking the quiz you showcased, I took it, and kept getting Esper. My percentages were largely made up of Black followed closely by Blue, with White as Tertiary (which does influenced me in many ways). While it confused me at the time, this video makes those answers seem so much clearer, and really puts into perspective HOW my core colour being Dimir makes so much sense.
The part of Logic and Practicality described my outlook on my life, my general mindset, to a T, and I simply had to put those thoughts down in writing (typing?) here.
I’m in continuous awe at your sheer skill and insight! Masterfully done!
First? I think so
We love Dimir, no slander to black aligned duos in this house
Wow this speaks to me on a deep level. My belief in existential nihilism and my aspiration for knowledge and power very much aligns with Dimir's philosophy. No wonder Dimir is my fav color combo to play with
I got dimir in both color tests I took, and it’s definitely aligns with my view on life, but in the game itself I prefer mono blue, I just love the whole scientist/artificer/hyperintellegent creature aesthetic too much
The most powerful color combo.
Dimir is much too complicated for me. Trying to win life sounds exhausting, I'd much rather just live it.
As a Dimir: That's the goal.
I smell Red Green 🥰
I really appreciated hearing the last statement in the video.
Where you say that Blue/Black is very different from your own philosophy on life.
Because I do feel the same, and yet… I think blue/black is one Of my favorite color combinations to play with and explore thematically.
It’s good, but missing something… I’m still squarely seated in Sultai :)
My first deck is blue black & the combo is so much fun to play.
I love all these videos you do, and your choice for what to call the Theoretical peak of the Dimir pairing seemed perfect, at least for me, for one of the few rules I live by is There is no such thing as Absolute, in this case, they can advance and become greater and more as much as they like, but as time advances or circumstances change, what is Absolute changes with it... which I think would fit the endless thirst for advancement that this color pair has perfectly.
They way you explained it, def hit home for me. Ty for your content
This is such a beautifull channel, i always felt that blue and black where my color, altough i wasn't really a fan of dimir house, but MAN! the more i listen to you the more i realize how dimir wasn't an mechanism to perfection, but more an eye that seek perfection and grasp the very little thing that makes it. That's litterally me, serching the details to obtain the value, and continue to perfection it, even when the continuous reserch, experiment and seek for perfection lead to an aboniation, wich is only a new opportunity to growth by the death of your very creation. "Take whats good and keep going" thanks for your work!!!
This is your first official Dimir Video? Right? It’s funny, I identify as a Mono-Blue Planeswalker from the color quiz.
But I identify a lot with Dimir and Azorius - which is weird since you think they’d conflict!
I think what drives them all together is control.
Good, good. Soon enough, you shall see the glory and absolute control Esper has to offer.
We shall watch your career with great interest.
Try esper those are Fused together there.
Humans are complex creatures. If someone was to be defined by colors I would say that AT MINIMUM they would be 3 colors, with one or two being core colors. It sounds like you're esper with a blue core. Someday you feel white pull you more than black and other days your black pulls you more
I love your channel so much! Please keep making color pie videos. I love Dimir
I like Dimir philosophy so much. Always did. It feels like an enhanced version of the Ayn Rand's Objectivism. It's so fascinating.
Wow, I enjoyed this video because it's a near-perfect description of me and Dimir is my result of the color quiz!😎
Hello fellow Dimir! Glad it represented you I think a bit more than me! Still a pretty accurate video though. It is very nicely made.
@@BasicallyBaconSandvichIV cool I'm glad to hear that you also enjoyed the video. It's always great to connect with like-minded people.
I have never played MTG, but I stumbled upon your video explaining the 5 colours. The first thought that came to my mind is that I would be definitely a black/blue player.
Love the video, also the idea how one can generally project himself or his personality into the game through his deck choice.
As someone who doesn't get motivated by rewards so much as consequences I can relate with black a lot. And I love blues planning for the future you want
Watched the BG3 explanation for RPing and then rolled this on the colour wheel seems to fit very well 😂
Dimir boiled down to a meme:
UNLIMITED PPOOOWWWEEEERRRR!!!!
Great video as always!
So true!
Edit: On all parts.
What I, as someone who strongly identifies with Bant, find fascinating about the Dimir, is how much of their philosophy outright proclaims idealism. You would think that "whishful thinking" would be very much at the bottom of the colour pies most rational combination but instead it embraces it in it's own fitting shape. Dimir strifes for an excellence and their concept of "The Absolute" as basically a God who has earned their Rank. I personally view the Dimir as too selfish for comfort. I look to my Neighbours of Esper and Sultai and find their way, if not compelling, but more fleshed out, since instead of focusing one mind to ascention, why not strife for more comprehensive solutions to life?
And while I consider that we all can share in advancement one step at a time (in true Bant fashion xD) I at least comprehent Esper and Sultai on a deeper level than intellectually. I think I even share more understanding with Grixis than with pure Dimir.
But man do I love playing them in MTG :D
Dimir is a very personal and individualistic philosophy. If you have a group of people that are all working towards the same goal as I am? Hell yeah I'm going to help. Reciprocal Altruism is a motivating factor. But it's also just better working in a group. There are a lot of benefits. And yeah, the philosophy is a bit on the selfish side perhaps. Doesn't mean I need to be. I love helping people. It makes me happy. Anything with a large percentage of black is going to vary A LOT depending on each individual practitioner. Also, if I wasn't Dimir. I would be Grixis.
Tangent time: The absolute is purely conceptual. I think if any Dimir would truly reach that goal. Or something where they can't strive for things, they die. Or at very minimum cease to be Dimir. Which could be seen as dying on the inside.
What my main strive is with elevating everyone, is that you can't. People want so many different things, it's impossible to accommodate all. Not even to mention the conflicting wants.
For Instance: That wishful thinking which some, I don't think even most, Dimir do. Directly conflicts with what the powerful want. Which is more power for themselves, and to keep the status qou alive for as long as possible. This means that all those Dimir never get to achieve their goals. It's not easy to change this and keep it changed. As people will constantly try to undermine it.
Another problem is that some people just differ so greatly it's impossible to have a standard model for things such as education. Every person will then need an individual approach. That's so resource intensive, I don't think it's possible. Let's hope it is, but I don't think so.
But yeah, man. I love playing them as well! Though I've hardly played and mainly with a Blue/Black precon deck (Mindflayaarrgh). So I lost most games I've played. (|:
[Why do I keep trying to make backwards D work? It just doesn't. If you didn't realise, that's supposed to be happy. To signify I had a fun time doing so.]
@@BasicallyBaconSandvichIV
Thanks for your input ^^
Honestly the idea of if anyone cares for themselves at least everyone is taken care of is something that a cynic like me can appreciate.
And I know that with a lot of blue/white cores, our goals depend on willing cooperation.
And that is basically what I meant in my first post. I do understand Dimir intellectually. It especially thrives in a plane where their own advancement is most likely contingent on the downfall of others.
But since I believe that live _isn't_ a Zero-sum game... It's hard for me to connect deeper with the Dimir attitude than that. I also understand that Dimir have no trouble cooperating if there is mutual advantage present. So I can appreciate a subset of Dimir in a society. I just can't imagine a society containing most or all of em :D
Also it is very obvious (for me) that you speak with fondness about your experiences/experiments with Blue/black. ^^
@@siph0r154 Thank you for replying to my reply! It's always lovely to talk. Personally, if people would behave rationally, and there were no issues in coordinating as a group, I would honestly prefer working in a group. You're completely right about life not being a zero-sum game. That's simply not the case. Otherwise I couldn't really solve any situation in DnD as an example. It's just incredibly hard, if not impossible to make things fair for EVERYONE. And I would prefer making things fair for everyone. Because it's not fair to have some people not be able to do/succeed at what they do simply because they are different. And I don't know how to solve that, simply due to LOGISTICS.
I actually converge on a lot of things that other colours/colour pairs have. Maybe because the rest of my family is Bant (according to the test, you know the one). Or maybe it's convergent evolution of ideas. I think the way I play DnD is actually a good example. When playing DnD, I will try to resolve the situation by: 1: Beneficial for me and my closest allies (the party), 2: Beneficial for friendly NPC's, 3: Beneficial for NPC's who are neutral towards us. 4: Some of the nicer enemies. And 5: Greed. This may vary depending on the situation. I also try to think as far ahead as possible. And so far it's only killed a character (me) once, thanks to Selune for interfering and stopping everyone else from dying. My group actually hardly does any combat, for a party of only chaotics, that's really good. So generally we have some really crazy plans to do stuff. One time, we spent a month going to the Brass City, renting a place out there, capturing a fire-elemental crime boss wanted by the police. And then spent one turn "fighting" the curse in the form of a beholder by shoving the elemental in the cavern, sealing the entrance and running away. Best plan we ever had.
We basically go around sneakily doing things while not necessarily all that "good', those things are net-positive. So while my methods of looking at things a bit like a maths-equation, and ridiculous plans thought out to the longest of lengths may not be for everyone, it might still be seen as "good" to someone.
That was a bit of a tangent. Well anyway, you are right about not really having a functioning Blue/Black society. Like with other things with black which aren't balanced out, you can't really have a society which is Blue/Black. It would very swiftly go against its own principals.
A society moulded by a Dimir (or in this case possibly Esper, but I think Dimir, especially earlier) is Ankh-Morpork under Patrician Lord Havelock Vetenari. I think it's a great example of a functioning society with a (what I think is) Dimir ruler. I suggest you read about him if you haven't yet. Terry Pratchett just has some really good books which are a must read for everyone.
About my fondness for Blue/Black, I simply apply my enthusiasm to colour theory as all my other hobbies. Which just so happens to be a very Blue/Black thing to do (At least at the scale at which I do things). I just hope everyone else can be just as fond about things as I am.
2:20: This right here seems to be my fundamental break for understanding black’s philosophy. Is there really no point to living if your not constantly struggling for more and more things or is black just so busy trying to satiate its ambitions that it can’t see the value life has all on its own? I know this might not have too much to do with Dimir as a whole, just wanted to get this thought out there while I had it.
Yeah, I think that's where black and I disagree as well.
This is why I perosnally align red/black, living in the moment and enjoying what I have while also striving for something better is where I am happiest
Something to consider is that the desire for "more" does not have to be limited. It can mean anything from riches, to simple self improvement. An artists wish to hone their craft by challenging themselves is as Black as a CEO's quest to get in the Forbes 500
Identifying as a Dimir person myself by having an obsessive and insatiable desire to gain as much knowledge as I can and withhold it from others has me come to this video to this identifying video to give you a Merry Christmas and Happy new year Dicetry. May your wisdom be forever indispensable in the new year
Im Izzet as a guy but i find myself connecting with these ideals. Dimir, Imo, Calls out a big part in all of us. Not all of us may be as ambitious but if we all were, The world would be a constant power struggle wouldnt it?
I take problems with this analysis because it neglects that blue should be as strong as black is in this combination so while I do agree that black sees what is, I also acknowledge that blue sees what could be, so for me Dimir is the combination of skepticism they are always concerned with truth but never fully satisfied with it. they want to mold the world into a version that benefits them, and others like them. I also take problem when you said this combination has no room for empathy, all the combinations can fit empathy within them. for blue black it would be acknowledging that people have their own experiences that mold them(blue) and their own wants that drive them(black). if put in practice this creates a humanist perspective one that is based in reality but sees the potential for change, one that aims to empower the individual with knowledge and accountability.
I love the colour combo, I hate the commander's available. Took me years until I went with a Gale & Scion of Halaster to actually build the deck.
I feel like the cold pragmatism following U/B to be quite interesting (your depiction of their struggle of hierarchy seemed to almost mimic the ‘survival of the fittest’ mentality that Phryrexian Green seems to embody, which is.. ironic). I would love to see a U/B character as a protagonist over ‘sneaky spy character #7052’, though I have no idea what an antagonist of such a character would look like. Others mentioned Faeries as a tribe, and someone else pointed out once how Lazav was pivotally important in War of the Spark, but I’m still waiting for that 1 central protagonist role.
dimir for life
On Tarkir, I would join Sultai. On Alara, I'd be drawn to Grixis. On Ravnica, I would probably join Dimir (but infiltrate Orzhov as a double agent) or join Orzhov. The MTG color philosophy quiz assigns me 33.2% blue, 25.3% black, 22.9% green, 9.3% red, and 8.3% white. Also, in 5th edition DnD, I typically play as a winged tiefling bard (and/or rogue), who blends the flavor of a bard with the flavor of a rogue-- with skills in persuasion, deception, stealth, sleight of hand, investigation, and perception (at the minimum). My 5e winged tiefling bard/rogues I like to play tend to also find ways to pick up additional knowledge skills (especially history and arcana) and insight. That usually means I have only 10 constitution and 8 strength, but high dexterity and high mental stats, with a focus on dexterity and charisma. -- I feel that my playstyle somewhat mimics my real life ambitions to transition from being a special needs educator to being a financial therapist who works with wealthy and powerful people, especially in the entertainment and financial industries and in politics. I can help the people I see with their mental health in exchange for payment, while also gaining insight in their mindsets and gaining inspiration from the secrets I learn from them which I can use to further increase my own wealth and power...secrets I wouldn't have discovered without access to such wealthy and powerful people. In addition, I could leverage my position as a financial therapist to subtly influence my clients in ways that will shape the world in accordance with my values. I love to read stories that draw on themes of ambition, heirarchy, power, subtle manipulation, investigation, and mystery, in part because those stories reflect my real life aspirations. One day, I want to be more than just a lowly educator.
Do not underestimate the position of educator. I don't know which special needs you work with. Or what work you do. But I know some people who are technically special needs, but powerful(ish) nonetheless.
Also, make sure you don't get stuck pining for the “one day”. You've got a big ambition, you need a big plan to go along with it. And big action to back it up. But be warned: Don't be reckless or stupid!
You may lose everything.
Funnily enough I often play rogues or wizards. I have made many a DM bristle a bit about the weird ways I think to use spells or cunning to accomplish my ends. I always want to have all the face skills I can get, though I put insight higher on my list than you do. Overall, I am a great fan of Blue/Black and it is both the color pairing I tended to get, and my favored one to play back when I played MTG. I am personally fond of mysteries, stories of thieves (like the gentleman bastards), and stories about the minutia of noble politicking.
Admittedly, unlike you, I have aspirations to become an attorney, but I am sure you can see some parallels all the same.
I've also considered becoming an attorney, and I might still find a way to work that in. That would make me an integrated all-in-one advisor for financial mental health, financial planning, and financial law. All I'd need to be a truly one man operation then (after a master of social work, financial planner certification, and law school) would be a psy.d and a post-doctoral masters in psychopharmacology, so then I could also call myself a doctor and prescribe psychiatric meds. As far as insight goes, on my first game, I traded out sleight of hand for insight and enjoyed it. I've found the best path for my multiclass is 1st level in rogue, followed by 4 levels in bard (lore bard), followed by 3 more rogue levels (arcane trickster), followed by 6 more bard levels (assuming the game makes it to level 14 or higher, which I've only seen happen once), and, if the game makes it to level 16, 2 more levels of rogue. In theory the level 20 build would be a rogue 6 (arcane trickster)/bard 14 (lore bard). Assuming the DM allows it, my all time favorite feat is the Diplomat feat from Unearthed Arcana, which gives me persuasion expertise and gives a nonmagical permanent version of charm person if I talk to an NPC for at least a minute, though its only permanent so long as I'm within 60 feet of who I'm talking to. Once I leave the 60 foot range, it only lasts a minute beyond that unless I move back within 60 feet. Resilient (wisdom) is also nice since a failed wisdom save is always really bad.@@Sarcastic_Sophist
So that's how being called out feels like..
Rakdos = Hot, Selfish Passion
Dimir = Cold, Selfish Logic
Nicol Bolas = I change my mind a lot!
Mild, Selfish Priorities
I feel like if they were to ever make a Yugioh secret lair, Kaiba would 100% be a Dimir planeswalker.
Dimir doesn´t have to be manipulative it can simply be the never ending hunger for knowledge, discovery and progress, if you look to literature you get characters like Frankenstein and Jekyll who just want to see if they can never thinking about if they should, Dimir in my opinion is to much portrayed as the House Dimir which stalks in the shadows and manipulates everyone around them
it can be used for good in the scientist who will never stop until they have the solution to the problem you just have to keep in check that they don´t destroy everything else for their goal
That sounds much more like Izzet though.
I Fully Agree. Dimir really depends on its goal.
Dimir uses information to its advantage
It’s so funny you posted this right as I’m making a DnD character whose a shapeshifting half-rakshasa rogue whose color alignment would *definitely* be Blue/Black
OK but where's the Funny, Rakdos here
Dimir is too serious
@@DiceTry Depends on the Dimir. Someone who aims to be a comedian probably has some killer jokes.
A good historical parallele would be the russian nihilist movement.
Some of them even wore blue sunglasses to reflect their new scientific view of the world.
And they looked like dorks
blue and black can still be physical decks. abyssal persecutor, desecration demon, baleful ammit, vedalken shackles, various steal creature spells. vampire nighthawk, sheoldred the apocalypse, curse of leeches. memnarch.
As someone who is the antithesis of Dimir (Naya) one thing has always puzzled me. At what point does the societal outweigh the individual for a Dimir individual? No doubt I believe Dimir could survive, or even succeed, as an individual, but what if they are in need of others in society they provide what they need (healthcare workers, teachers, farmers, etc)? Do they accept society's help, or do they reject it to be an individual?
This is all a hypothetical question that I'm personally curious abou the answer. Feel free to respond in the replies, as I'd love to see your responses!
While Dimir individuals are very individualistic, they also understand that from time to time they have to rely on others to achieve a goal. An example would be if someone who's a Dimir wishes to create a multi-million dollar business. The would not only need customers but also employees to achieve their goal. Throughout the creation of their multi-million dollar business, a Dimir would never think how their business is helping society (Providing goods for customers/giving people employed a job and salary to survive), all they would think about is how their business will benefit them.
Dimir is half Blue, not Red. It doesn't deal with emotions, it uses logic and it can see the value of living in a community because that's what Blue does (to a lesser extent than White, but still). Blue wants perfection not just for itself but also for the world. Black may mitigate that sentiment a bit with its inherent selfishness but it's not going to completely disappear. Living in a society, exploiting it and even helping it when it benefits Dimir is definitely a U/B trait. If you're looking for chaos or madmen who crave only pleasure and don't care about others, look no further than Rakdos. Black being tainted with Red brings the worst out of it.
So what I got from this is that Goku is probably Sultai or Esper; someone whose driving force is the desire to grow stronger, fight stronger opponents, and become the better fighter he knows he can be, while protecting those he cares about and the lives who depend on him.
Dimir: “Win win win no matter what….”
So what you are saying is that black blue is the Shadow Wizard Money Gang?
As a Dimir....
Yes.
(And We sponsor them as well.)
Shadow Wizard Money Gang. We love casting spells. This is brought to you by the SHADOW GOVERNMENT.}
Make a video of templairs/assasins color pie plzz
I identified as Grixis on the color pie. Funnily enough, I think Dimir is right in some aspects, but not as a whole.
Dimir is Nietzsche then?
Sounds a lot like the dark elves fron Warhammer Fantasy
Full on grixis!
Blue black is pretty perfectly encapsulated in the concept of the “American Dream”
based
And the American government is esper
@@alexMendoza-wl5oj I'd argue differently. The kind of careful, deliberate planning of Esper is kind of anathema to the fractious, quarrelsome, emotional and destructive elements of the US gov't. The US government THINKS it's Jeskai at best but does not actually care about knowledge, learning or perfection. If anything the US and its government have a lot more in common with the worst aspects of Mardu.
@@Arohan71 mine was a foggy vision yours is a crystalline image. Anathema, that's a great word.
@@Arohan71To be fair. I have a double outside perspective, myself being most closely to Bant and not and American citizen, but man does, at least from my point of view ring your analysis true.
As Bant myself. Envisioning the "American Dream" as Dimir adjacent also rings true though... Since you need to be asleep to believe in it and if you wake your find yourself in a Nightmare.
is the image on the thumbnail a magic card? ive never seen it before!
The card is Vampire Charmseeker
@@DiceTry Thank you! Kind of an underwhelming card but you made a great choice in artwork!
I still have no idea how a Dimir hero would work.
Maybe as a humanist underdog
Kaito
That's easy, fatalism(Green) vs. volition(Black) and nature(Green) vs. nuture(Blue).
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Dimir is Shockwave from Transformers or Orochimaru from Naruto
Dimir societies would be self defeating, the higher they grow the more of their time must be devoted to protecting their position until it is all they do and their self proregression comes to a halt.
Blue and black are my least favorite colors and this explains it for me, the two of them have a more selfish view, which I don't have in even the slightest.
The two things I care most about in life are knowledge and power, those are the core traits of blue and black. Therefore I am Dimir.
Damn, this a ted talk or are we learning magic? lol
do called free thinker when i sell their brain on the black market (they have to pay me to get their mind back)
Ah. My mortal enemy. The colors I will forever smite down first.
Selesnya player here.
As a Gruul player, I could not agree more. Though our methods may be different, we are united in struggle against those who would connive and scheme their way into a place of power above others.
Likewise.
Dimir player/person here. Well more person than player, I haven't played a lot. But I love the Philosophy of the colours. Especially my version of Dimir, my own little twist. Even though they were OK in the one deck I played with. My least favourite colour is white, the second is green. I'm too individualistic. I cannot abide by living in a system where those competent in something don't get to do that due to things beyond their control!
Also the art for Blue/Black is better. A black/blue border just looks nicer.
Dimir and Rakdos are some of my favorite to play , also golgari and izzet . White I favor with black or green I like with black or blue I mainly play with.
Unrestricted ambition isn't evil just addicting such a rush .
Least favorite color alone is white second least favorite is green
Love red also with blue or black .
True harmony" no such thing just a pipe dream and pre destination, set life roles , tradition ,stability = meh . Suck one resource pool dry other players stuff such as vamping then for blood for cards then. I start using my life. Why not use others stuff as resources but never give back . Others players life totals useful for paying costs of the ambitions using unrestricted ambition kills them while benefiting me win for me -lose for them . Unrestricted ambition being weaponized as lethal tool . I mean 100% unrestricted ambition absolute autonomy great weapon to use eg other players pay costs of. My ambitions especially when returns are very diminishing but costs very very high. Oh use on greens nature opponents is playing and turn their natural world to devoid of any life wastelands lol. 🤣
Unrestricted ambition is terrible for nature especially.
Naya is fun here and there ,group is fun also tho. Selesnya is my least favorite guild their ideals aren't my cup O tea .