E.4 - Copy Cards


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E.4.1- Some cards in the game can become (or make) exact copies of other cards. These cards include Clone, Copy Artifact, Dance of Many, Echo Chamber, Fork, Unstable Shapeshifter, Vesuvan Doppelganger, and Volrath's Shapeshifter. Some copy cards can change what they copy and therefore have additional rules. [D'Angelo 1998/02/03]

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E.4.2- Copy cards read the printed characteristics (see Rule K.6) of the card or token, ignoring any changes made by other spells and abilities, including type changes, temporary effects such as Giant Growth or continuous effects. These characteristics become the new printed characteristics of the copy. The implication of changing the printed characteristics is that the copy itself can also be copied. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 503.2/3]

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E.4.3- When the copy card is played and it resolves, it is in all ways a copy. This means that anything that happens when it resolves or when it enters play will happen. For example, a copy of a Tetravus will enter play with three counters. And a copy of a Nevinyrral's Disk will enter play tapped. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 503.5]

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E.4.4- A copy card does not keep any of its own characteristics (see Rule K.6) unless otherwise stated on the card. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 503.9] This means it assumes the name, color, mana cost, and other characteristics.

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E.4.5- If there are any choices that have to be made to define the card being copied, those choices are not copied. All choices are considered to be zero if numeric or not made otherwise. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 505.6] There is one exception. If the copy comes into play (as opposed to changing form in play) any "as it comes into play" choices can made at the time the copy is made. For example, copying a Chameleon Spirit with a Clone allows you to choose a new color. But doing the same copy with an Unstable Shapeshifter would not. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 505.6] Choices made on playing the card or after the card is in play are never copied. For example, any X in the mana cost is considered to be zero and anything tied to payments of the mana cost are considered unpaid. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 505.7]

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E.4.6- If the copy card can change forms, any choices made on the original form persist even if they are useless. These choices may become valid again if a later form acts for a compatible choice. For example, if a Vesuvan Doppelganger copies a Chameleon Spirit on entering play, it lets you choose a color (let's say "blue"). If it later shifts to copying a Quirion Elves, which also requires a color choice, this choice is applied (so the Elves make blue mana). [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 503.8]

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E.4.7- If the copy card can change forms, any ability usage restrictions are not honored. If a permanent had "use this ability only once per turn" or "you can spend no more than this way each turn", and it changes to another permanent, you can use the new ability even if it is exactly the same text for the old ability. The restriction will not carry over. [D'Angelo 2001/09/17]

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E.4.8- If the copy card can change forms, it does not trigger any "comes into play" abilities (see Rule E.3) when it changes to a new form. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 503.4] This means that changing to a Nekrataal will not allow you to destroy a creature.

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E.4.9- If the copy card can change forms, it does not get any counters or other benefits (or penalties) the copied permanent would get when played, nor do you have to pay any costs that are normally paid when playing that permanent. [WotC Rules Team 1994/07/27] For example, when switching to a Tetravus it gets no counters. And when switching to a Minion of the Wastes you do not pay any life.

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E.4.10- If the copy card can change forms, it does not trigger any "leaves play" effects when it changes to a copy a different permanent. But, any effects which were waiting for it to leave play will trigger when the copy card itself leaves play. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 503.4] For example, if a Vesuvan Doppelganger is a copy of a Gaea's Liege and it changes to a new form, the lands it changed into Forests will not revert until the Doppelganger's card actually leaves play.

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E.4.11- Whenever a card refers to itself by name, it means "this card" even if it changes its name by changing what it is copying. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 503.11]

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E.4.12- When a copy card copies a spell, all characteristics are copied and so are all choices. This includes targets, the value of X, and optional additional costs such as Buyback. Choices made on resolution are not copied. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 503.10]

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E.4.13- A copy of a spell is also a spell. A copy of a spell ceases to exist when it leaves the stack. This is a state-based effect. [WotC Rules Team 2002/10/01]

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E.4.Ruling.1- Most copy cards are not targeted. You can play them any time a creature would be legal to cast. They have you choose a card to copy as they enter play. If there is no valid choice, then it will not copy anything and will enter with the characteristics printed on the copy card itself. Some copy cards are targeted (notably Fork) and so they require a target in order to be played at all. [D'Angelo 2001/08/31]

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E.4.Ruling.2- If a copy card is brought into play by a means other than playing it, then you must choose a thing to copy at the time it would enter play. See Rule G.28.4. [D'Angelo 2001/08/31]

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E.4.Ruling.3- Because of Rule E.4.2, a copy card can copy something that is only of the appropriate type due to an effect. The copy card ignores all effects on the thing it is copying, however. For example, a Clone could target a Chimeric Staff that is currently animated into a creature. This is because the game thinks it is a creature and allows such a target. If it does so, however, the copy is simply the base Chimeric Staff card and it is not a creature (but it does have the Staff's ability to turn into a creature). This is because the copy effect does see past the temporary effect. [CompRules 2001/07/23 - 503.2]

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E.4.Ruling.4- If a copy card copies another permanent which is a copy, then the printed values of the thing being copied are used (unless there are some characteristics that were not copied). [D'Angelo 2001/08/31]

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E.4.Ruling.5- Effects played on the copy card override the characteristics it is copying. For example, a Vesuvan Doppelganger with a Flight enchantment on it will still be Flying after changing forms. And a Vesuvan Doppelganger modified by Ashnod's Transmogrant will act as a Transmogrified version of the creature it copies even if it changes creatures. [Aahz 1994/08/08]

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E.4.Ruling.6- Creature copy cards that target a creature cannot target a Licid which is in enchantment form, because the current type is not creature. [D'Angelo 2002/01/10] See Rule E.4.2.

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E.4.Ruling.7- A copy card of a token creature is still a card and not a token. [WotC Rules Team 1994/06/01]

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E.4.Ruling.8- If the copy card can change forms, and it changes to copy a Legend (see Rule K.17) in play, it will be the newer copy of that Legend in play and will be put into the graveyard (see Rule K.17.1) even if the copy card itself was in play longer. [WotC Rules Team 1998/03/31]

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E.4.Ruling.9- Copy cards do not copy Magical Hack or Sleight of Mind or other textual changes. [WotC Rules Team 1998/03/31]

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E.4.Ruling.10- All text is copied, including "counts as" text. [bethmo 1998/07/07]

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E.4.Ruling.11- When a copy is made of a permanent that had its Kicker cost (see Rule A.24) paid, the Kicker has not been paid for the copy. [DeLaney 2000/10/19]

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Note- See Rule E.5.Ruling.4 for rules on copying a face down permanent.

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Note- Also see Characteristics, Rule K.6.

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