Aura Types

**Aura Type** is a term used to differentiate between different types of Aura, a magic categorization system that also serves as a resource used to Contract Pages from your Spellbook.

## Description

Aura Type is an umbrella term used to describe the different types of magic that Beasties, Artifacts, Spells, Potions, and even Tokens are associated with. Every Page (or ‘card’) in the game has at least one Aura Type, with some having multiple Aura Types, or Aura Types that can change depending upon Page Effects. The Aura Type of a Page typically dictates what Aura Pages you must Fatigue in order to Contract (or ‘play’) a Page into the Arena.

In the world of the Cryptid Nation, Aura Types are essentially unique types of magic, based off different types of magical practices and elements of nature. In gameplay, Aura Types function as loose categories for different styles of play and their associated Pages, such as Beasties and Spells, and can have advantages against opposite Aura Types based off elemental-style alignments. As each Aura Type has a unique style of play it is most commonly associated with, there are often certain Tribes, Traits, and Terra Bonuses that end up being predominant among each Aura Type, such as Beastie Aliens most-often being printed as Cosmic Pages, or the Ocean Terra Bonus being most common on Water Pages.

Terra Pages are the only type of Page in the game that is not associated with a specific Aura Type, though some are most commonly used by certain Aura Types that rely heavily on them.

### The Different Aura Types

There are currently eleven different Aura Types, including the Neutral Aura Type and excluding the different Dual Aura combinations. This list uses the official descriptions for each Aura Type as given in the official MetaZoo Rulebook.

* **Cosmic:** Alien Beasties that focus on combos and creative interactions.
* **Dark:** Bloodthirsty and demonic Beasties who grow stronger in the night.
* **Earth:** Rock-solid Beasties that win with tenacity and earth-shaking Spells.
* **Flame:** A high risk, high reward Aura Type known for burning Casters.
* **Forest:** Wild Beasties who grow stronger when swarming the Arena.
* **Frost:** A controlling Aura Type who freezes all enemies in its path.
* **Light:** The purist Aura Type that specializes in countering Dark and Spirit.
* **Lightning:** Quick Beasties that emphasize speed and paralysis.
* **Spirit:** Forsaken Spirits who exploit their enemies with disruptive Spells.
* **Water:** Fluid Beasties who are masters of Bookmarking Pages.
* **Neutral:** A mixed Aura Type that infuses elements from all other Auras. Any Aura can be used to pay a Neutral Aura’s Cost, making Neutral the most versatile Aura Type.

## History

MetaZoo’s inaugural core set, Cryptid Nation, released in 2021 with ten different Aura Types, plus the Neutral Aura Type. Initial cards did feature Pages that listed both an Aura Cost associated with their Type, and a Neutral Aura Cost that could be paid using any Aura Type. They also did initially print Aura Type Advantages gained on specific Attacks beside the Attack Damage, but did not originally include overall Aura Type Advantages at the bottom of the Page. At the time, there were only Basic Aura Pages available for each of the ten different Aura Types, excluding Neutral Aura.

Starting in MetaZoo’s second core set, Nightfall, Beastie and Artifact Pages began to include Aura Type Advantages in the bottom left corner of the Pages.

Starting in MetaZoo’s third core set, Wilderness, Special Aura Pages were introduced, which were basically Aura Pages for the Neutral Aura Type. Unlike Basic Aura Pages, Special Aura Pages had a Spellbook Limit, and were released as Gold (rare) cards. Up to Native, each subsequent core set has so far had at least one Special Aura Page in it since then.

Starting in MetaZoo’s fifth core set, Seance, Dual Aura Type Pages were introduced, which were Pages that were simultaneously multiple Aura Types at once. These pages require a Contract payment from both Aura Types, and can be any rarity.

Starting in MetaZoo’s sixth core set, Native, Special Aura Pages that were also Dual Aura Type were released in the form of Fusion Aura Pages. Each Fusion Aura Page has the Earth Aura Type, combined with another Aura Type. Michael Waddell, MetaZoo’s creator, has stated that Fusion Aura Pages will only appear in Native, and in the water-themed core set 7 Seas.

### Unreleased & Future Aura Types

There was an eleventh elemental Aura Type, Wind, that was cut prior to release from both the initial Cryptid Nation set and the Cryptid Nation block. Reportedly, this Aura Type may be added starting in the Yokai Island block.

## Trivia

* Most core sets have been themed around a specific Aura Type, with Nightfall being Dark themed, Wilderness being Forest, UFO being Cosmic, Seance being Spirit, and Native being Earth.
* As of Native, no core set has listed the Aura Pages or Types in alphabetical order, instead doing a unique order for each set.