What is the Legendary Duplicate Rule in Magic: The Gathering?
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The legendary duplicate rule, also known as the legend rule, is a fundamental principle in Magic: The Gathering that states a player cannot control more than one legendary permanent with the same name at the same time, and if a player does, they must choose one to keep and put the rest into their owner’s graveyard. This rule applies to all legendary cards, including creatures, planeswalkers, and other types of permanents, and is a state-based action that is checked and resolved immediately after a player gains priority.
Understanding the Legendary Duplicate Rule
The legendary duplicate rule is designed to prevent players from having multiple copies of the same legendary card on the battlefield, which could lead to an unfair advantage. When a player controls multiple legendary permanents with the same name, they must choose one to keep and put the rest into their owner’s graveyard. This rule is a state-based action, which means it is checked and resolved immediately after a player gains priority, and does not use the stack.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cards make copies of legendary creatures?
Cards like Sakashima of a Thousand Faces, Spark Double, and Lazav, Dimir Mastermind can make copies of legendary creatures, but the copy may not be legendary if it loses the legendary supertype.
Can you copy legendary planeswalkers?
Yes, cards like Sakashima the Impostor and Spark Double can copy legendary planeswalkers, but the copy may not be legendary if it loses the legendary supertype.
How does the legendary rule work?
The legendary rule states that a player cannot control more than one legendary permanent with the same name at the same time, and if a player does, they must choose one to keep and put the rest into their owner’s graveyard.
What is the old legendary rule?
The original legendary rule stated that only one copy of any legendary card could be in play at a time, and if a player tried to play a second copy, it would be prevented from entering the battlefield.
Can you respond to the legendary rule in Magic?
No, the legendary rule is a state-based action that is checked and resolved immediately after a player gains priority, and does not allow players to respond or take any actions before it is resolved.
Can you make a copy of a legendary creature in Magic: The Gathering?
Yes, cards like Sakashima of a Thousand Faces, Spark Double, and Lazav, Dimir Mastermind can make copies of legendary creatures, but the copy may not be legendary if it loses the legendary supertype.
Does the legendary rule apply before ETB?
Yes, the legendary rule is a state-based action that is checked and resolved before any enters-the-battlefield (ETB) triggers go on the stack.
How many legendary creatures exist in Magic: The Gathering?
There are over 950 legendary creatures in Magic: The Gathering, each with its own unique abilities and characteristics.
How many Planeswalkers can you have in a deck?
You can have up to 4 copies of a planeswalker card in a deck, just like any other card.
What is the legend rule change in Magic: The Gathering?
The legend rule change separates the field of play into your battlefield and your opponent’s battlefield, and only checks those to make sure that there are not multiple copies of one legend with the same name or planeswalker with the same type.
Can spark double copy a legendary creature?
Yes, Spark Double can copy a legendary creature, but the copy will not be legendary if it loses the legendary supertype.
How rare are legendary cards?
Legendary cards are relatively rare, with a frequency of about 1/4 of a particular rare card.
What card turns all cards into artifacts?
Mycosynth Lattice turns all permanents on the battlefield into artifacts.
How many duplicates can you have in Magic: The Gathering?
You can have up to 4 copies of a card with the same name in your deck, except for basic lands or cards that have a specific rule that contradicts this.
What does the legend rule not apply to in Magic: The Gathering?
The legend rule does not apply to creature tokens or copies of legendary creatures that are not legendary themselves.
Is Lord of the Rings Standard legal?
No, Lord of the Rings cards are not Standard legal, but they are legal in Modern and Historic formats.
What is the most popular format in Magic: The Gathering 2023?
The most popular format in Magic: The Gathering 2023 is Standard, which accounts for the largest share of games played on MTG Arena.