Does Mutate Get Around Legendary?
Mutate is a powerful spell card in Magic: The Gathering that allows players to transform one creature into another. But what happens when a legendary creature is on the table? Does the mutate spell get around legendary, or does it still subject to the legendary rules?
What is Mutate?
Before we dive into the question of whether mutate gets around legendary, let’s quickly review what mutate is. Mutate is a spell that can be cast on a non-human creature you control, allowing you to transform it into a different creature. The mutate spell is typically cheaper to cast than the original creature, and it can provide a significant advantage to your gameplay.
The Mutate Spell
The mutate spell has several key properties that affect how it works. When you cast a mutate spell, you specify a creature card to merge with the original creature on the battlefield. The spell then creates a new, merged creature that combines the characteristics of the original creature and the creature specified in the spell.
The Legendary Rule
Now that we’ve reviewed what the mutate spell is, let’s talk about the legendary rule. The legendary rule states that a legendary permanent, such as a legendary creature, can only have one copy on the battlefield at a time. This means that if you cast a legendary creature, any subsequent copies of that creature will be exiled immediately.
Does Mutate Get Around Legendary?
So, does the mutate spell get around the legendary rule? The answer is yes. When you cast a mutate spell on a legendary creature, the mutated creature is not considered to be a copy of the original legendary creature. Instead, it is considered to be a new, merged creature that combines the characteristics of the original creature and the creature specified in the spell.
Consequences of Mutating a Legendary Creature
When you mutate a legendary creature, you can expect the following consequences:
- The original legendary creature is exiled.
- The mutated creature remains on the battlefield and becomes a new, non-legendary creature.
- The mutated creature has all the characteristics of the original creature, including its name, power, and toughness.
- The mutated creature is not subject to the legendary rule, so it can be attacked and defeated like any other creature on the battlefield.
Subheading
Example
Let’s consider an example to illustrate how the mutate spell works with legendary creatures. Suppose you have a legendary creature, "The Dragon," on the battlefield with 5 power and 5 toughness. You then cast a mutate spell on The Dragon, merging it with a creature named "The Griffin." The resulting mutated creature has all the characteristics of The Dragon, including its power and toughness, but it also has the abilities and strengths of The Griffin.
In this scenario, The Dragon is exiled, but the mutated creature remains on the battlefield. The mutated creature is not subject to the legendary rule, so it can be attacked and defeated like any other creature on the battlefield.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the mutate spell does indeed get around the legendary rule. When you cast a mutate spell on a legendary creature, the resulting mutated creature is not considered to be a copy of the original legendary creature, and it is not subject to the legendary rule. The mutated creature has all the characteristics of the original creature, including its name, power, and toughness, but it is a new, non-legendary creature that can be attacked and defeated like any other creature on the battlefield.
Here is a summary of the key points:
- Mutate gets around the legendary rule: When you cast a mutate spell on a legendary creature, the resulting mutated creature is not considered to be a copy of the original legendary creature.
- Original legendary creature is exiled: The original legendary creature is exiled when you cast the mutate spell.
- Mutated creature has characteristics of original creature: The mutated creature has all the characteristics of the original creature, including its name, power, and toughness.
- Mutated creature is non-legendary: The mutated creature is not subject to the legendary rule and can be attacked and defeated like any other creature on the battlefield.
Further Reading
If you’d like to learn more about the mutate spell and its interactions with legendary creatures, we recommend checking out the official Magic: The Gathering rules and FAQs.