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Can You Copy a Legendary Creature in Magic: The Gathering?

The short answer? Yes, absolutely! You can copy a legendary creature in Magic: The Gathering. However, the implications of doing so open up a Pandora’s Box of rules and interactions, most notably the infamous “Legend Rule.” Understanding how these rules interact is crucial for any aspiring or seasoned MTG player. Let’s dive deep into the mechanics of copying legendary creatures and how to navigate the complexities of the Legend Rule.

Understanding the Legend Rule

The Legend Rule is a state-based action that dictates what happens when you control two or more legendary permanents with the same name. The rule states that you must choose one of those permanents and send the others to their owner’s graveyard. This applies to any legendary permanent, including creatures, artifacts, enchantments, lands, and planeswalkers.

The Legend Rule is checked as a state-based action, which means it’s checked every time a player would receive priority. This ensures that if you somehow end up controlling multiple legendary permanents with the same name, the game immediately addresses the situation.

How Copies Interact with the Legend Rule

When you create a copy of a legendary creature, the copy will also be legendary and have the same name as the original. This means that if you already control a legendary creature and then create a copy of it, the Legend Rule will immediately kick in. You’ll have to choose which one to keep and sacrifice the other(s).

Important Note: The Legend Rule only applies if you control multiple legendary permanents with the same name. It doesn’t matter if your opponent controls a legendary creature with the same name as one you control.

Examples of Copying Legendary Creatures

Here are a few scenarios to illustrate how the Legend Rule interacts with copying legendary creatures:

Scenario 1: You copy your own legendary creature. You control “Reki, the History of Kamigawa.” You cast “Clone,” targeting Reki. “Clone” enters the battlefield as a copy of Reki. Now you control two legendary permanents named “Reki, the History of Kamigawa.” The Legend Rule applies. You choose which Reki to keep, and the other one is put into your graveyard.
Scenario 2: You copy your opponent’s legendary creature. Your opponent controls “Sheoldred, the Apocalypse.” You cast “Clone,” targeting Sheoldred. “Clone” enters the battlefield as a copy of Sheoldred. You control “Sheoldred, the Apocalypse,” and your opponent controls “Sheoldred, the Apocalypse.” The Legend Rule does not apply because you and your opponent are different players.
Scenario 3: Creating a token copy. You use an ability that creates a token that’s a copy of “Gisela, Blade of Goldnight,” which you control. Now you control a token copy of Gisela and the original Gisela. The Legend Rule applies, and you choose one to keep.

Circumventing the Legend Rule

While the Legend Rule seems restrictive, there are ways to get around it. Certain cards and abilities allow you to ignore or modify the rule.

Cards that Nullify the Legend Rule

Some cards, like Mirror Gallery, explicitly remove the Legend Rule entirely. While Mirror Gallery is on the battlefield, you can control any number of legendary permanents with the same name. Other cards that remove the Legend Rule include Mirror Box and Sakashima of a Thousand Faces.

Cards that Apply Only to Tokens

Some cards, like Cadric, Soul Kindler, only apply to tokens. Cadric, Soul Kindler cancels the Legend Rule for tokens you control.

Cards That Create Non-Legendary Copies

Another strategy is to use cards that create copies of creatures but omit the “legendary” supertype. Spark Double, Double Major, and Helm of the Host are examples of cards that can create non-legendary copies of legendary creatures, allowing you to bypass the Legend Rule entirely.

FAQs: Copying Legendary Creatures

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the interaction between copying and the Legend Rule:

Can I have two legendary creatures with the same name if they are controlled by different players?
- Yes. The Legend Rule only applies if you control multiple legendary permanents with the same name. It doesn’t affect what other players control.
Does copying a creature trigger “enters the battlefield” abilities?
- Yes, if the text that’s being copied includes any abilities that replace the enters-the-battlefield event, those abilities will take effect. Also, any enters-the-battlefield triggered abilities of the copy will have a chance to trigger.
If I control a “Mirror Gallery,” can I have multiple legendary creatures with the same name?
- Yes. “Mirror Gallery” removes the Legend Rule, allowing you to control any number of legendary permanents with the same name.
Does the Legend Rule count as sacrificing a creature?
- No, the Legend Rule is not a sacrifice. However, the creature being put into the graveyard due to the Legend Rule does count as it dying, triggering any “dies” abilities.
Can I copy a creature with hexproof?
- Yes. Most copy effects, like “Clone,” don’t target the creature. Therefore, you can copy a creature with hexproof, shroud, or protection from a color.
Can I copy a planeswalker?
- Yes, you can copy a planeswalker. Planeswalkers are legendary and are also subject to the “legend rule”.
If I copy a legendary creature, does the copy also have the legendary supertype?
- Yes, unless the copy effect specifically states otherwise.
What happens if I have a creature with myriad and it’s also legendary?
- When the creature with myriad attacks, it creates token copies for each other opponent. These token copies will also be legendary. The Legend Rule will apply as you now control all token copies of the legendary card.
Are planeswalkers subject to the Legend Rule?
- Yes. All planeswalkers have the legendary supertype and are subject to the Legend Rule. If you control two planeswalkers with the same name, you must choose one and put the other into your graveyard. Note that planeswalkers with the same subtype can exist under your control as long as they are not of the same name.
Can you have more than one legendary creature in a deck?
- Yes, you can have multiple legendary creatures in a deck. However, you can only control one legendary permanent with the same name at a time on the battlefield.
What happens when you make a token copy of a legendary creature?
- The token copies exactly what was printed on the original creature. That includes its name and the legendary supertype.
Is there a way to avoid the legend rule in MTG?
- Yes, certain cards make non-Legendary copies of Legendary creatures. Cards like Spark Double, Double Major, and Helm of the Host all make copies of whatever creature you want, while Aeve, Progenitor Ooze makes non-Legendary copies of itself. Also, cards like Mirror Gallery, Mirror Box and Sakashima of a Thousand Faces cancel the rule entirely.
Does copying a creature spell create a token?
- A growing number of cards can copy permanent spells, which become tokens once the copy of the spell resolves.
Can you copy a creature token?
- Yes, you can copy a creature token.
What is the legend rule in MTG 2023?
- The legend rule has long been a basic tenet of Magic. It’s one of the first rules players learn when picking up the game: you cannot control more than one legendary permanent with the same name at the same time. If you were to have two, you would have to sacrifice one.

Conclusion

Copying legendary creatures is a powerful strategy in Magic: The Gathering, but it comes with the caveat of the Legend Rule. By understanding how the Legend Rule works and the cards that can circumvent it, you can leverage copy effects to your advantage and create powerful board states. Mastering these interactions is key to becoming a more skilled and strategic MTG player.

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Can you copy a legendary creature?