Does Transform Leave the Battlefield? A Comprehensive Guide
Transforming cards are a fascinating aspect of the Magic: The Gathering game, allowing cards to change their appearance or abilities in mid-game. But what happens when a transforming card leaves the battlefield? Does it transform mid-air, or does its transformation take effect only after it has left the battlefield? In this article, we’ll delve into the rules of transforming cards and explore the answer to this question.
Direct Answer: No, Transforming Cards Do Not Leave the Battlefield
According to rule 711, "A double-faced card that leaves the battlefield doesn’t lose its back face." This means that when a transforming card leaves the battlefield, it retains its back face, which is the version of the card that was showing when it left the game. This is in contrast to cards that are phased out, which lose all their abilities and effects once they leave the battlefield.
The Process of Leaving the Battlefield
When a card leaves the battlefield, it goes through a few stages before it is finally removed from the game. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process:
- Leaves the battlefield: The card is removed from the game zone and sent to another zone, such as the graveyard or the exile zone.
- Loses its abilities: The card loses all its abilities and effects, except for its static abilities, which continue to function even after the card has left the game.
- Retains its back face: According to rule 711, the card retains its back face, which is the version of the card that was showing when it left the game.
Scenarios Where Transforming Cards Leave the Battlefield
Here are a few scenarios where transforming cards might leave the battlefield:
- Creatures with summoning sickness: Creatures with summoning sickness can leave the battlefield during their controller’s end step, at which point they are removed from the game.
- Lands with a creature’s ability: Some lands have abilities that allow them to become creatures, but only while they are on the battlefield. If the creature leaves the battlefield, it is removed from the game and its abilities are no longer active.
- Exiled cards: Cards that are exiled as a result of a card effect or ability are removed from the game and cease to exist.
Exception: Planeswalkers
There is one important exception to the rule about transforming cards leaving the battlefield: Planeswalkers. According to rule 712.8, Planeswalkers that enter the battlefield transformed retain their transformed state. This means that if a Planeswalker is exiled or leaves the battlefield while transformed, it will remain in its transformed state.
Conclusion
In conclusion, transforming cards do not leave the battlefield in the sense that they do not transform mid-air or lose their abilities once they have left the game. Instead, they retain their back face and continue to function in the game until they are removed from the game due to a card effect or ability. Whether you are a seasoned player or just starting out, understanding the rules of transforming cards can add a new layer of complexity and strategy to your Magic: The Gathering games.