Does creating a copy trigger enter the battlefield?

Does Creating a Copy Trigger Enter the Battlefield?

In Magic: The Gathering, understanding the different events that trigger an Enters-the-Battlefield (ETB) effect can be crucial for card draw, lifegain, and overall gameplay strategies. One common scenario players might encounter is creating a copy of a permanent with the ability to enter the battlefield. Does creating such a copy trigger the Enters-the-Battlefield ability? In this article, we’ll explore this topic and provide a thorough understanding of the answer.

Direct Answer

To clarify, creating a copy of a permanent with the ability to enter the battlefield does trigger that Enter-the-Battlefield (ETB) ability.

Ninjutsu and Copy

First, let’s tackle Ninjutsu creatures and their unique behavior when copy-able. While copy-able creatures cannot receive Ninjutsu-like effects when copying into existence, their abilities continue to function normally when targeting that copy. For example:

• Mihari, the Compounder
  This creature’s ability, "{4}, Discard two cards: Create a copy of target creature," causes two separate ETB abilities. The initial creation trigger on Mihari as you play it, then an additional trigger on the copying creature.

Summary and Examples

To avoid any confusion, here are the key points:

Enters-the-Battlefield (ETB) abilities trigger on both

• The original permanent when initially entered the battlefield
• When a copy of a permanent is created, enter- the-battlefield capabilities are retriggered, allowing you to experience separate ETB effects if so desired

Fog and Turn-Based Entry

When creating a copy during a fog phase (for example, due to [[Fog]]), ensure that the ETB event is correctly handled for card draw or other necessary conditions. Similarly, it might be important to specify conditions for specific turns on creating a copy to address other game-state issues during future turns.

Counter Spells and Stacks

Understand how your interactions create a "copy, the copy" or nested counter spell sequence when engaging enemy spells, like casting Copy effects while simultaneously employing defensive measures (countering enchantments or instilling permanent effects).

Handling Cards and Gameplay Strategies

Pay attention to specific events you want to capture upon using copy abilities to set proper conditions, then choose subsequent actions for both situations that involve either:

B- Handling Original Effects
C- Copies of Permanents When Creating a Copy- Like Mihari for More Complex Play Scenarios Consider the game situation & opponent’s possible reactions Keep Cards in mind as follows Table: Some Copy Scenarios

You can read this whole scenario as:

When applying ‘Copy effects,’ triggers that originally were connected and, in particular, would the event, like those as the card itself.

With this guide, become conversant with copy functions; you will find situations within your card library to effectively incorporate copies for an interesting layer of game control through multiple scenarios of this variety & the unique, engaging battles that may occur around game.