The Philosophy of Temur | Magic: the Gathering Wedges Explained

Hello friends, glad you came to join me on another episode in the definitive color pie series. In this video we will be exploring the Wedge of Temur. I'll admit this is one of those combinations that always eludes me, and requires a lot more thought to uncover. I spent a lot of time going over notes and playing with ideas until it finally clicked, and what I found was a philosophy that begs the question at the root of who we are, of the unseen actions that guide our very soul and our understanding of it. I know this is a bit of a dramatic statement, but stick with me here, as I am truly excited to share what I found, but as always its important we lay out the core building blocks of this wedge first, by discussing its representation in the game, before we can dig into more obscure concepts, so with that let's begin.

Representation

Like I said to best understand any combination in magic, and dig into what is hidden we will first begin with examples, those being the faction who gave this combination its name, the most represented creature type, and a character who best exemplifies this combination. To the faction we look to that of Temur on the Plane of Tarkir. This faction is one who relies on savagery to maintain control over their lands, fighting like the animals at their side. They also value family, those bound by blood and respect. Creating sub faction who are formulated like that of a families, with fathers and mothers at its head and children as their followers.

This creates bonds with one another that are impossible to break. The Temur also greatly value their Shamans, and see them as a direct link to their past, and time itself. While this faction seems to lean more into its gruul side than the blue present, the Shamans, are in a way that link to the third colour. As an example of a faction they shows us that Temur is one who is bound by tradition and love for one another and who respect those who came before. When it comes to another example, that of the most common creature type, we can look to the elemental. Beings who are the physical manifestation of the elements.

These creatures are in touch with the natural world in a way humans could never achieve. Placing them in a realm that provides total perspective on all that is. They are the force of action of and protection on their given Planes. Showing us what it means to connect with the heart of our creator. Our final example is that of Surak. As a member of the Temur faction, he represents a lot of what makes that faction what it is. He is a savage warrior who gains respect due to his prowess as the hunt caller, and fights alongside Goreclaw. Once again this leans a lot into the gruul side. As you can see when it comes to examples we are shown a very narrow view of Temur, one that could be mistaken for just being gruul with extra steps. But there is something here.

A concept that is based in a connection with nature itself, and one that mimics and even embodies its qualities. So when we keep these traits in mind, then splash in Blue, the mind begins to wander and where it lands is a representation of the combination outside of what we've seen in the game but must logically be there based on what we know of the color pie. So let's start discussing what that looks like by talking about 3 versions of Temur, each who lean a little more into one of its three colours than the other beginning with what happens when we do add Blue to Gruul.

But before you we do I would just like to let you know that I started a second channel. Its a place where I can talk about my other love manga and anime. Of course you know me, I do more than just talk about a subject, I use it as a way to analyze ideas and characters, so if that sounds interesting to you then I will will have a link in the description and comment section of this video. Thanks for your time, let's get back to the video.

Elevated Sapient

Who are we but a collection of instincts and emotions. A result of our environment and experiences. To Gruul these are questions not worth asking, as the result is evident, but what happens when Blue is involved I asked myself. Well of course a need to understand the root of those impulses. Let me put it this way. Have you ever done something before you've even had time to think about it, a reaction to someone else' action. We would call this an emotional response. Have you ever followed through with something even though you didn't spend time thinking about it, only to find it was the right course. This we would call instinct.

These are aspects of our humanity that drive in the backseat, before our slow brains have had a chance to even register what happened. For some this is done without any self awareness or reflection, but to A Temur person there is a need to know. A self reflection that reveals the root of our deeper human motivators. So what happens when you can uncover the animal and evolutionary source of your actions? Well you can further shape them, or at least be at peace with them. This is the effect of taking Gruul and adding Blue to it. Blue is a color that needs to understand, to come to logical conclusions, and even though an action is taken through instinct or emotion there is a logical root, a source of that act.

A Temur person then sees the source, watches the action and understands the result. Providing peace in self through awareness of self. They see the animal that they are, the baser instincts that drive them and are able to follow them backward to reveal more about themselves. But the thing is that this understanding does not result in pushing against, this is because both Green and Red are colours of accepting the way things are, of who they are. Blue simply provides context to these actions, resulting in a greater acceptance of ones self.

Harmonious Creativity

When Green becomes the passenger to that of Izzet things start to flip. Think instead of a person rooted in creative action, one who thrives on the act of discovery and self actualization, while still approaching life with a simple wisdom. Often times Izzet on its own can result in someone with a sort of brain that can't sit still, one that is almost in conflict with itself, but when you add Green there is a chance to be rooted in the here and now, to connect with the wider world around them. This person then is one who can better flow with what comes at them, because at the end of the day, if their creative project leads no where, their actions or ideas lead to failure, they can still fall back on their humanity, being alive and being present.

To put it plainly instead of being a storm they are like water. They can crash and swirl but eventually they will always settle into a rhythm. They will take the form of their environment and find that every endeavour is worth it no matter the outcomes because they are at peace with their place. I see this version of of Temur as the balance of ones self, with Blue as the mind, Red as the heart and Green as the soul. Of course their nature, being rooted in Izzet, is one that is hungry for experience but Green is the wisdom to find that there are greater truths outside of those experiences. So instead what one must do is flow with every experience that comes, like water.

Understanding Through Action

When wisdom and intellect meet you get Simic, but what is the value of thought when it lacks experience? It is merely conjecture. It is assumptions based on observing others, and as such where is the value in it? The true philosopher is one who understands that to know is to experience, and experience requires that one live their life, and interact with others. To gain perspective through action, that is the belief of this version of Temur. While Simic on its own will tinker and ponder of its place and future it can be stagnant as both colors within are slow to act. Red then introduces some immediacy, and even more than that an itch to experience, to live ones life in order to understand ones place.

This version of Temur does not seek ideas locked away in pages—it values understanding through the rush of the moment, in the wind against one’s skin, in the firelight of a story shared among friends. Knowledge, after all, is not a thing to be hoarded but something to be tested, stretched, and shaped by the hands of those who dare to grasp it. Where Simic may hesitate, Temur leaps, trusting that the only way to truly understand and shape ones world you must be willing to collide with it head-on. To climb, to run, to fight, to love—to feel the weight of each decision not as a distant theory but as a heartbeat in the chest. In this way, wisdom and knowledge are not just a product of thought but of experience lived fully, of lessons learned in the rush of life itself.

Conclusion

And so, Temur reveals itself not as just another expression of raw strength or primal instinct, but as something deeper—a philosophy that embraces the full breadth of the human experience. It is the balance between thought and action, between discovery and reflection, between the fire that pushes us forward and the roots that keep us grounded. Whether it’s understanding the instincts that guide us, flowing with the chaos of creativity, or seeking wisdom through the act of living, Temur reminds us that knowledge is not simply something to be studied but something to be felt. It is a call to engage with the world, to throw ourselves into the unknown, and to come out the other side not just wiser, but more alive.

Because at its heart, Temur does not seek to control or define the world—it seeks to experience it. To run with the wild things, to shape and be shaped by the forces of nature, to push the boundaries of what we think we know, not through detached observation but through immersion, through action. It asks us to stop fearing change, to stop hesitating at the edge of possibility, and instead to embrace it—to live without reservation, without regret. And in doing so, we don’t just gain knowledge, we gain understanding. We don’t just think, we become. That, at its core, is what makes Temur more than just Gruul with a splash of blue. It is a philosophy of movement, of learning, of pushing forward—not just to understand, but to truly live.

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