Can You Mutate a Card Multiple Times?
Yes, you can mutate a card multiple times on the same permanent, which is actually incentivized through many different cards with interactions like Nethroi, Apex of Death and Necropanther. This mutate mechanic allows you to cast a creature spell for its mutate cost to merge it with an existing creature on the battlefield, creating a more powerful creature with stacking abilities.
Understanding Mutate Mechanics
The mutate mechanic is a unique and complex aspect of the game, and understanding how it works is crucial to making the most of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you mutate a card more than once?
Yes, it is possible to mutate multiple times in Magic: The Gathering, a keyword that lets a creature card be cast as a mutating creature spell.
Can you mutate a card already on the battlefield?
If you cast a creature spell for its mutate cost to mutate an existing creature on the battlefield, it doesn’t trigger “enter the battlefield” effects, the resolving mutating creature spell doesn’t enter the battlefield, it simply makes the creature that was already on the battlefield change characteristics.
Do mutate cards trigger themselves?
Mutating creatures don’t enter the battlefield, it and the creature it merges with are considered to have mutated, many MtG mutate cards have abilities that trigger when they or another card mutate.
What happens if you blink a mutated creature?
If you flicker a mutated permanent, all the components return separately, the mutated creature is exiled, then becomes separate objects, when they are returned, the individual creatures that made up the mutation enter the battlefield.
What happens if a mutated creature dies?
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, any ability that triggers “whenever a creature you control dies” or similar will trigger only once.
Does mutate have summoning sickness?
The fact that mutate ignores summoning sickness is quite strong, however, mutate itself is full of weaknesses, a single kill spell could take out a chunk of your field.
Does mutate keep all abilities?
If you cast a spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own, they mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.
Can you counter mutate?
While it’s on the stack, a mutating creature spell is still a spell, so it can be countered, if it’s countered, it heads to the graveyard as you’d expect.
Does mutate get rid of legendary?
A mutated creature has the characteristics of whatever is on top of the pile, if a legendary creature is on top then the creature is legendary and affects other creatures via the legends rule.
Can you mutate on stack?
Yes, you absolutely can, in fact, when you add an additional mutate card on top of a stack of mutate cards, you may get to trigger some of them again.
Does mutate ignore summoning sickness?
The mutate rules say that whether or not the creature goes on top or on the bottom, the mutated creature is not affected by summoning sickness so long as the base part wasn’t.
Can you mutate after casting?
Mutate can only be used if you’re casting the spell, mutate is an alternate casting cost which means you’re still casting the spell, not activating an ability from your hand.
Do mutated cards count for devotion?
A mutated card has a devotion equal to whatever the top card’s mana cost is, if you have Dreamtail Heron mutated under Regal Caracal, it’ll provide two devotion to white and none to blue.
Is mutate a triggered ability?
Mutating creatures don’t enter the battlefield, it and the creature it merges with are considered to have mutated, many MtG mutate cards have abilities that trigger when they or another card mutate.
Can you keep mutating MTG?
Mutate works by merging two creatures into one, with the power and toughness being equal to that of the top creature, that top creature has all abilities of the creatures underneath it, plus its own abilities, this means you can continuously mutate creatures to create more powerful creatures with stacking abilities.
Can you mutate for free MTG?
You can’t mutate for free, strictly speaking, they let you cast the spell for an alternate cost of zero mana, picking this alternate cost means not choosing to cast the spell for its mutate cost, as such you can’t mutate the creature to merge it with another one already on the battlefield.