Can You Copy Legendary Planeswalkers? A Deep Dive into MTG’s Copy Rules

Yes, you absolutely can copy legendary planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering. However, the process is nuanced and intertwined with several specific rules that govern how copies interact with legendary permanents, including planeswalkers. While the act of copying itself isn’t restricted, the implications of having two identical legendary permanents, like a copy of a planeswalker, on the battlefield at the same time are significant. Let’s break down the mechanics and explore the intricacies of these interactions.

Understanding the Legend Rule and Planeswalkers

The first key concept to grasp is the legend rule. In Magic: The Gathering, the legend rule dictates that if a player controls two or more legendary permanents with the same name, they must choose one of those permanents and put the rest into their owner’s graveyard. This rule applies to all legendary permanents, including creatures, artifacts, enchantments, and importantly, planeswalkers.

Planeswalkers themselves are special permanents that enter the battlefield with a specific amount of loyalty counters and can use loyalty abilities. All planeswalkers have the supertype “legendary”, which means they are always affected by the legend rule. There is also an alternate rule called the planeswalker uniqueness rule. This rule prohibits having two planeswalkers with the exact same name in their type line (i.e., Jace, the Mind Sculptor) on the battlefield simultaneously. However, note that two different planeswalkers with the same given name (e.g., Garruk, Cursed Huntsman, and Garruk, Unleashed) can be in play at the same time. It is the precise card name which triggers the planeswalker uniqueness rule.

The interaction of these rules is crucial when we consider copying planeswalkers. It’s not enough to merely copy a planeswalker; we also have to consider the implications of the legend rule.

Copying Planeswalkers: Mechanics and Limitations

So, how can we copy planeswalkers, and what happens when we do?

Methods of Copying

Several cards in Magic: The Gathering allow you to copy permanents, including planeswalkers. Here are some common methods:

• Clone Effects: Cards like Clone and Clever Impersonator specifically copy other permanents on the battlefield. When a clone copies a planeswalker, it enters the battlefield with the same loyalty counters as the copied planeswalker.

• Permanent Spells Copying: Certain spells, like those from blue and white, can copy permanent spells. When these spells resolve, the copy becomes a token on the battlefield. For instance, a copy spell that targets a planeswalker would result in a planeswalker token entering the battlefield.

• Specific Copy Effects: Cards like Spark Double are designed to copy legendary creatures and planeswalkers and often bypass the legend rule for the copies themselves, adding an extra layer of complexity.

The Legend Rule in Action

When you copy a legendary planeswalker, you are essentially creating another planeswalker with the exact same name (if the copy effect does not stipulate that it changes names). At the time it enters the battlefield, the legend rule triggers. Consequently, you must choose one of the identical legendary planeswalkers to keep, and the other one is immediately put into the graveyard. This means that while you can technically copy a planeswalker, you often cannot keep the copy unless you use specific cards to circumvent these rules.

Exceptions to the Rule

While the legend rule is generally absolute, there are a few exceptions to how it works through specific card designs:

• Spark Double and similar cards can circumvent this rule. When Spark Double copies a legendary permanent, it specifically loses the legendary supertype. If something else copies Spark Double later, that copy also won’t be legendary, essentially creating non-legendary copies. This allows you to control multiple copies of the same original card without having to sacrifice any to the legend rule.

• Cards that make token copies, and specifically mention that the legend rule does not apply. These types of cards, such as Cadric, Soul Kindler and The Master, Multiplied, allow for multiple identical tokens that are also legendary. These tokens are considered separate entities from the originals and are not subject to the legend rule even when they share a name.

Strategies and Considerations

The ability to copy legendary planeswalkers, even with limitations, opens up a range of strategic options. Here are a few things to consider:

• Temporary Advantage: Copying a planeswalker to immediately activate a loyalty ability can be beneficial even if the copy is immediately sacrificed to the legend rule.

• Strategic Discard: Use clone effects to force your opponent to discard one of their planeswalkers. When you copy their planeswalker and they trigger the legend rule on your turn, they are forced to sacrifice one of them.

• Synergy with Copy-Focused Decks: Cards that remove the legend rule, such as Mirror Gallery or Mirror Box, can allow for multiple copies of a single planeswalker to stay on the battlefield.

• Targeted Planeswalker Removal: Clone effects can effectively remove an opponent’s planeswalker if you copy it and force the legend rule.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I have two different planeswalkers with the same name (e.g., Jace) on the field?

No. While the names of planeswalkers may be shared across different cards (e.g., “Jace”), you cannot have two planeswalkers with the exact same card name on the field. This is due to the planeswalker uniqueness rule. You can, however, have multiple planeswalkers who may share a given name (i.e. Jace) or even a last name (i.e., Garruk), but must be printed on different cards to exist on the field at the same time.

2. What happens if I copy my opponent’s legendary planeswalker?

If you copy your opponent’s legendary planeswalker, you control a copy of it. If your opponent also controls a planeswalker with the same name, then the legendary rule triggers in regard to your opponent’s planeswalkers. Because the copies are technically two separate cards, your copy will exist on the battlefield as long as you don’t control another planeswalker with that exact name.

3. Can I use a Clone to copy a planeswalker on the stack?

No. Clones and similar effects target permanents on the battlefield, not spells on the stack. A spell is on the stack before it resolves and becomes a permanent on the battlefield.

4. If I copy a planeswalker, does the copy have the same number of loyalty counters?

Yes, when you copy a planeswalker with a card such as Clone or Clever Impersonator, the copy enters the battlefield with the same loyalty counters as the original planeswalker at the time of the copy.

5. Does deathtouch work on planeswalkers?

No. Deathtouch only works against creatures. To deal direct damage to planeswalkers, you’d need an effect such as a card that causes “damage to any target” or use a creature to attack a planeswalker. Abilities of planeswalkers that cause damage do not have deathtouch.

6. Can Spark Double copy legendary creatures?

Yes. Spark Double is designed to copy legendary creatures and planeswalkers. It also has the added benefit of removing the legendary supertype from the copy itself.

7. Are all Planeswalkers legendary?

Yes, all planeswalkers are legendary permanents. They have the legendary supertype as part of their card type.

8. What cards remove the legend rule?

Cards like Mirror Gallery and Mirror Box remove the legend rule, allowing you to control multiple legendary permanents with the same name.

9. Does Mirage Mirror copy planeswalkers?

Yes. Mirage Mirror can become a copy of a planeswalker (among other card types) until the end of the turn.

10. Can I copy a non-legendary creature with a legendary effect?

Yes. The legendary rule does not apply to non-legendary creatures. If a non-legendary creature copies a legendary creature (but retains its non-legendary status), then multiple copies can be on the battlefield at the same time. If you have several non-legendary creatures copying a legendary, only the legendary creature (the original) is affected by the legend rule.

11. Can I have multiple copies of a legendary planeswalker in my deck?

Yes. You can have up to four copies of a planeswalker in your deck, regardless of the legendary rule. The rule only applies to permanents you control on the battlefield.

12. What happens if I copy a planeswalker that is being attacked?

If you copy a planeswalker that is being attacked, you have created a new planeswalker on the battlefield. It will have the same amount of loyalty counters as the planeswalker being copied, but will not be considered to be under attack. The attack continues on the original planeswalker.

13. Can Sakashima the Imposter copy legendary planeswalkers?

Yes. Sakashima the Imposter can copy legendary planeswalkers, but keeps its own name, so it does not trigger the legend rule when copying.

14. Are all Planeswalkers unique?

Yes, all planeswalker cards, printed since the set “Dominaria”, have the legendary supertype. Thus, they are unique under the legend rule. However, you may play more than one planeswalker at the same time as long as they do not share the exact card name.

15. Does the legend rule apply if copies of a legendary card are controlled by different players?

No. The legend rule only applies when a single player controls multiple permanents with the same name. If two different players each control a legendary creature with the same name, then each creature remains on the battlefield.

Conclusion

Copying legendary planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering is a possibility, albeit one that’s often complicated by the legend rule and planeswalker uniqueness rule. While the act of copying itself isn’t problematic, having multiple identical legendary permanents on the battlefield is, and usually leads to the player sacrificing one to the graveyard. Understanding these rules and the exceptions to them is crucial for maximizing the strategic potential of clone effects and copy mechanics within the game. By using the few exceptions, players can navigate these complex interactions and leverage copy effects to their strategic advantage.