Krenko’s Guide to Creature Types: Ouphe
Art by Filip Burburan
What is an Ouphe (flavorfully)?
Though not a commonly used word, many know the story of the Ouphe. While Magic uses “Changeling” to refer to shapeshifters, Ouphe is another word for the mythological changeling, a fairy swapped for a human child to be raised by humans and take advantage of them. This is also where we get the term “oaf,” for a clumsy and stupid person. All in all, the stories seem mostly a way to justify mistreating unusual children.
Ouphes in Magic are not fully defined, and have no direct link to fairies, though they do seem to be fey creatures. There are a variety of different creatures all using the type Ouphe, including Brownies, Bairns, and Finks. Ouphe appears to be a generic term for green fey creatures to distinguish them from the pixie-like “Faerie” type.
Of these, we can see a few clear types. Brownies are small humanoids of some sort, Bairns appear to be children with strange magic, and the creatures called Ouphes are hairy humanoids with large eyes that have an innate interest in destroying artifacts for no apparent reason.
What is an Ouphe (mechanically)?
Most Ouphes are smallish green creatures. Though Ouphe abilities vary, in part due to some retyping of old creatures to be Ouphes, it’s clear that the creatures actually called Ouphes have a tendency toward artifact disruption and destruction.
Can I make an Ouphe deck?
There are currently just 14 Ouphes and while there are actually a fair number of decent ones, they’re all clearly designed for specific purposes, none of which mesh well with each other. Some of them are specific removal that’s best in the sideboard, one wants tokens, one wants to be targeted with high-cost spells, and only a few are really built for a creature-based strategy. There’s just nothing to do with an Ouphe deck right now.
Is Ouphe a good creature type?
Ouphe feels like a creature type that should’ve seen more use over the years. Encompassing the green side of fey creatures, there are plenty of flavorful options of things that could now be Ouphes, and if that’s the term Wizards wants to use it has plenty of room to grow. That said, they’re really just not using it. The current pile of Ouphes doesn’t explain much and hasn’t been given room to grow, even though there’s room for some on many worlds.
Ouphe is a poorly used creature type, but I do think it has room to grow into a strong part of Green’s identity.