Can You Clone a Mutated Creature? A Deep Dive into Magic: The Gathering’s Most Bizarre Mechanic
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Yes, you absolutely can clone a mutated creature in Magic: The Gathering! When you create a copy of a mutated creature, you’re essentially duplicating the entire merged permanent, inheriting all its abilities, characteristics, and even the order of the merged cards. However, cloning interacts with the mutate mechanic in unique and sometimes confusing ways, demanding a nuanced understanding of how the rules apply. Prepare yourself for a thrilling journey into the heart of Ikoria’s monstrous interactions!
Understanding the Mutate Mechanic
Before we dive into the cloning shenanigans, let’s recap the fundamentals of mutate. Mutate is an ability found on creature cards. When you cast a creature with mutate, you have a choice: you can cast it as a regular creature, or you can pay its mutate cost. If you choose to mutate, you target a non-Human creature you control. When the mutate spell resolves, it merges with that creature, resulting in a single permanent.
The fascinating part is that you get to choose which card is on top. The top card determines the name, mana cost, creature types, and power/toughness of the merged creature. However, the entire merged permanent has all the abilities of every card within it. This leads to some incredibly powerful and complex combinations.
Cloning a Mutated Creature: The Nitty-Gritty
So, what happens when you cast a spell like Clone or use an ability like that of Progenitor Mimic targeting a mutated creature? Here’s the breakdown:
- Copied Characteristics: The copy enters the battlefield as a copy of the entire mutated permanent. This includes:
- The name, mana cost, creature types, and power/toughness of the top card of the merged permanent.
- All abilities from every card in the merged permanent.
- The order of the cards in the merged permanent.
- Not a Mutate Trigger: Importantly, the act of a copy entering the battlefield does not trigger “when this mutates” abilities. These abilities only trigger when a creature spell with mutate merges with a permanent on the battlefield. The copy is simply entering as a completed entity.
- Legend Rule Considerations: If the mutated creature contains a legendary creature, remember the Legend Rule applies if you control multiple permanents with the same name. Mutating a second copy of the same legendary creature to the same target isn’t affected by the legend rule.
- Stacking Mutate: You can continue to mutate onto a clone of a mutated creature. You choose whether the new mutating creature goes on top or underneath.
- Copiable Values: Characteristics added to a permanent by a mutating creature spell are copiable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Cloning and Mutate
Here are some commonly asked questions to further clarify the interaction between cloning and mutate:
1. Will I trigger “when this mutates” abilities when cloning a mutated creature?
No, simply having a copy enter the battlefield as a copy of a mutated creature will not trigger “when this mutates” triggers. These abilities only trigger when a mutating creature spell merges with a permanent on the battlefield.
2. If I clone a mutated creature with multiple abilities, does the clone have all those abilities?
Yes, absolutely! The clone possesses all the abilities of every card that makes up the mutated permanent, regardless of which card is on top.
3. What if the top card of the mutated creature is different from the bottom card? What does the clone look like?
The clone will look like the top card in terms of name, mana cost, creature types, and power/toughness. However, it will also have all the abilities of all the cards within the mutated stack.
4. Can I mutate onto a clone of a mutated creature?
Yes, you can definitely mutate onto a clone. You choose whether the new mutating creature goes on top or underneath, just like with any other mutate interaction.
5. If I clone a mutated legendary creature, do I have to sacrifice one due to the Legend Rule?
Yes, if you control another permanent with the exact same name as the cloned mutated creature, the Legend Rule will apply, and you’ll have to choose one to keep. Remember, the name is determined by the top card of the mutated stack.
6. Does cloning a mutated creature count as “mutating” for abilities that care about mutating?
No, cloning a mutated creature does not count as mutating. “Mutating” specifically refers to the act of a creature spell with mutate merging with a permanent.
7. What happens when a clone of a mutated creature dies?
When the clone of a mutated creature dies, it goes to the graveyard like any other creature. No special rules apply just because it was a clone of a mutated permanent. Any ability that triggers “whenever a creature you control dies” or similar will trigger only once.
8. Can I copy a mutated commander?
Yes, you can! As long as one copy of that legendary creature is underneath another creature mutated onto it, at least. For example, if you already have a copy of Brokkos, Apex of Forever on the field…
9. If my commander is part of a mutated creature and that mutated creature is cloned, is the cloned creature also my commander?
No, only one card can be your commander. If you clone a mutated creature, the clone is simply a regular permanent. The original mutated commander remains your commander.
10. What happens to a mutated creature when it leaves the battlefield?
If a mutated creature leaves the battlefield, all of its components go to the appropriate zone. So if it dies, each card ends up in the graveyard. If exiled, each card is exiled.
11. Does mutate count as casting a creature?
Yes, a creature card cast for its mutate cost is still a creature spell. Mutate appears on some creature cards. It represents a static ability that functions while the spell with mutate is on the stack.
12. Does Volo, Guide to Monsters copy mutate?
You get a copy of the Mutate creature. It’s a spell with a target on the Stack and Volo doesn’t allow for changing targets of the copies (mainly because creatures usually don’t target) so the copy will target the same creature and it will mutate twice.
13. How does Pollywog Symbiote work with cloning?
Pollywog Symbiote makes creature spells with mutate cost 1 less to cast. It also lets you draw a card and discard a card whenever you cast a creature spell with mutate. Cloning does not have a mutate ability associated with it.
14. Is mutate considered a spell?
A mutating creature spell is a creature spell, even if it won’t enter the battlefield as a creature. As a mutating creature spell begins to resolve, check whether its target is still legal. If it’s not, the spell ceases to be a mutating creature spell.
15. Can you permanently destroy a commander?
Yes, you can cause another player’s commander to phase out and never phase back in as long as that player is in the game. This means that the commander is totally inaccessible; there is no sequence of actions that could put it back into play.
Mastering the Mutated Clone
Cloning a mutated creature is a powerful play that can lead to overwhelming board states and game-winning combinations. Understanding the intricacies of how the rules interact is crucial to maximizing your potential. Remember that the clone inherits everything about the merged permanent, but the act of cloning does not trigger mutate abilities. Utilize this knowledge to craft powerful decks and outmaneuver your opponents. Want to learn more about games and how they impact learning? Check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org!