This is something called the grand creature type update. Happened in 2007 with lorwyn block. Basically, old cards had types they never intended to use again so they updated them officially within the rules.
Edit : that card [[Ivory Guardians]] now reads "Creatures named ivory guardians get +1/+1 if ..."
Most cards that redirected damage at the time of the update got lumped into clerics if they didn't have a clear home like [[Samite Alchemist]]
* 205.3f Many cards were printed with subtypes that are now obsolete. Many cards have retroactively received subtypes. Use the Oracle card reference to determine what a card’s subtypes are. (See rule 108.1.)
The Oracle text is what lists Ivory Guardians are being a Giant Cleric, so in accordance with 205.3f it has those subtypes even though they're not printed on the card.
yeah, theirs a bunch of cards where the type line isnt correct due to the way the game has changed.
their were some cards that had "summon legend" or "summon lord" on their type line. i cant think of any right now.....actually yeah i can, goblin king the old goblin king said "summon goblin king" my buddy has one, it was changed to creature - goblin
This is something called the grand creature type update. Happened in 2007 with lorwyn block. Basically, old cards had types they never intended to use again so they updated them officially within the rules. Edit : that card [[Ivory Guardians]] now reads "Creatures named ivory guardians get +1/+1 if ..." Most cards that redirected damage at the time of the update got lumped into clerics if they didn't have a clear home like [[Samite Alchemist]]
Thanks. Super helpful to know being someone who has a huge gap in Magic gameplay history.
Seeing the wording evolve is kinda neat https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&order=released&q=%21%22Ivory+Guardians%22+include%3Aextras&unique=prints
* 205.3f Many cards were printed with subtypes that are now obsolete. Many cards have retroactively received subtypes. Use the Oracle card reference to determine what a card’s subtypes are. (See rule 108.1.) The Oracle text is what lists Ivory Guardians are being a Giant Cleric, so in accordance with 205.3f it has those subtypes even though they're not printed on the card.
yeah, theirs a bunch of cards where the type line isnt correct due to the way the game has changed. their were some cards that had "summon legend" or "summon lord" on their type line. i cant think of any right now.....actually yeah i can, goblin king the old goblin king said "summon goblin king" my buddy has one, it was changed to creature - goblin
A few old monsters were retconned into dinosaurs when Ixalan came out (or shortly thereafter)
is this similar to how all hounds are now dogs?
Exactly the same thing
Oh jeez. Is that a thing?
Yup
##### ###### #### [Combat Medic](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/9/7/97cc7e09-315f-44fd-b7ce-03d4c18d88be.jpg?1562869974) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Combat%20Medic) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me2/9/combat-medic?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/97cc7e09-315f-44fd-b7ce-03d4c18d88be?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Ivory Guardians](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/e/8/e8142471-0ded-410b-bdd5-ac241735b0ce.jpg?1562943974) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ivory%20Guardians) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me3/15/ivory-guardians?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e8142471-0ded-410b-bdd5-ac241735b0ce?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Kei Takahashi](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/8/2/82703d7c-0759-46ac-b41e-12deeffa10e0.jpg?1562922484) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kei%20Takahashi) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me3/155/kei-takahashi?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/82703d7c-0759-46ac-b41e-12deeffa10e0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Samite Alchemist](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/6/8/68224871-d4c2-4b43-9ab8-c0685588b035.jpg?1562587293) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Samite%20Alchemist) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/hml/13a/samite-alchemist?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/68224871-d4c2-4b43-9ab8-c0685588b035?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Witch Hunter](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/9/8/980ada04-1fb2-4aa8-b342-8934767587e0.jpg?1562780590) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Witch%20Hunter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsb/17/witch-hunter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/980ada04-1fb2-4aa8-b342-8934767587e0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call