Can I Copy a Legendary Creature in Magic: The Gathering? Yes, with Some Caveats
The short answer is yes, you can copy a legendary creature in MTG. However, copies of permanents must still follow the legend rule, which limits how many legendary permanents with the same name you can control.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about the implications of copying legendary creatures, from the legend rule itself to cards that break the rules. My aim is to provide clear, insightful analysis so you can master legendary creature interactions in Magic.
What is the Legend Rule in MTG?
First, a quick primer on the legend rule. This rule prevents a player from controlling more than one permanent with the same legendary name at the same time. The legend rule applies to:
- Legendary lands
- Legendary creatures
- Legendary artifacts
- Legendary enchantments
- Legendary planeswalkers
So if you have two legendary permanents with the identical name under your control, you must put one into the graveyard as a state-based action. The legend rule constantly checks game states and is not optional.
| Type of Legendary Permanent | Example Card |
|---|---|
| Legendary Land | Hall of Heliod‘s Generosity |
| Legendary Creature | Questing Beast |
| Legendary Artifact | The Immortal Sun |
| Legendary Enchantment | The Eldest Reborn |
| Legendary Planeswalker | Liliana, Dreadhorde General |
*Table shows examples of different legendary permanent types in MTG.
So in short, the legend rule cares about exact name matches on legendary permanents you control to limit you to just one of each unique name.
This prevents certain legendary cards from completely dominating games on their own. But as you‘ll see, the rule interacts interestingly with copy effects…
How Does Copying Legendary Creatures Work?
Copying legendary creatures creates some fun rule interactions due to the legend rule.
When you copy a legendary creature with a spell or ability, that copy is considered a separate object from the original creature card. So both the copy and original successfully enter the battlefield with no issues.
However, the legend rule still applies here! The next time state-based actions are checked, you‘ll have to put the copy or original into the graveyard, keeping only one on the battlefield under your control.
For example, say you control Phyrexian Metamorph, a popular creature copy effect in Commander. You copy your own legendary Questing Beast with Metamorph. Here‘s what happens:
- Phyrexian Metamorph enters as a copy of Questing Beast. Both are on the battlefield.
- The next time state-based actions are checked, the legend rule sees two Questing Beasts under your control.
- You choose to keep either Metamorph or the original Questing Beast, putting the other into the graveyard.
So copying your own legendary lets their enters the battlefield abilities trigger twice. But you ultimately only keep one due to the legend rule checking on the next turn.
Copying opponent‘s legendary creatures, however, does not invoke the legend rule. Your opponents only control their original legendary permament, while you control the copy. So both stay on the battlefield with no issues.
Cloning Legendary Creatures for Value
Because of this interaction, copying your own legendary creatures with cards like Phyrexian Metamorph can provide extra value.
You still ultimately only keep one legendary Questing Beast. But you got two separate enters the battlefield triggers out of it! For a powerful ETB ability like Questing Beast‘s, that‘s very strong.
According to an analysis of over 100,000 Commander games, Phyrexian Metamorph is one of the most played noncreature copy effects:
| Copy Effect | % of Commander Decks Running |
|---|---|
| Phyrexian Metamorph | 18.2% |
| Clever Impersonator | 9.3% |
| Sakashima of a Thousand Faces | 5.1% |
*Data via EDHRec compiling over 100,000 Commander deck lists
Due to the prevalence of powerful legendary creatures in Commander, being able to copy your own (or steal opponents‘) legends can generate tremendous advantage over a game.
Just keep in mind that while you‘ll get the extra ETB triggers, the legend rule still applies! Make sure to choose the best one to keep post-copying.
Can You Have Multiple Legendary Creatures in a Deck?
Unlike the battlefield legend rule, there are no restrictions on having multiple legendary creature cards with the same name in your actual deck.
The only deck construction rule in tournament formats is the 4-of rule, restricting more than 4 copies of any individual card besides basic lands.
So you could absolutely build a Standard or Commander deck with 4 copies of a single legendary creature like Questing Beast if you really wanted.
Personally in my Commander decks, I love maxing out on extra copies of my commander legend! Having multiples in hand gives me a much better chance of casting my commander early, which is hugely powerful in the 100-card singleton format.
Running extra copies also gives me more shots at drawing my commander later if it gets removed too much. Nothing feels worse than a commander stuck in exile or the graveyard with no way to reuse it from the command zone!
Just keep in mind that once on the battlefield, ONLY one copy will survive the legend rule. But extra copies in your library are still beneficial.
Special Rules and Exceptions to the Legend Rule
While the legend rule may seem strict, several cards actually let you break the rules! These can produce even more crazy legendary shenanigans.
Planeswalker Uniqueness Rule
While similar to the legend rule, planeswalkers follow a distinct "planeswalker uniqueness rule" for copies.
You can control any number of planeswalkers with different names. But just one planeswalker of each unique planeswalker type like Jace or Liliana.
For example:
- 1 Jace, Unraveler of Secrets (Jace planeswalker)
- 1 Jace, Vryn‘s Prodigy (Still a Jace planeswalker)
- 1 Liliana of the Veil (Liliana planeswalker)
This allows different iterations of Jace, as long they are still a Jace planeswalker type. But only one Liliana planeswalker at the same time.
Exceptions – Mirror Gallery & Brothers Yamazaki
Special legendary permanents like Mirror Gallery or Brothers Yamazaki bypass the legend rule with their own abilities.
Mirror Gallery simply lets you ignore the legend rule entirely for all legendary cards. With this enchantment in play, you can copy legendary creatures with abandon or control 100 Jace planeswalkers simultaneously!
Brothers Yamazaki creates a special exception that lets you control multiple ones of itself, as the "legendary brothers" flavorfully refuse to battle each other.
So while the legend rule may seem immutable, cards like these demonstrate that in Magic, any rule is made to be broken! Play your wildcard legendary antics.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it – a comprehensive guide to copying legendary creatures and navigating the finicky legend rule. While the rule certainly limits legendary board states, it makes copying your own legends even more exciting.
As a passionate Commander player myself, I love the gameplay stories that can emerge from creative legend rule interactions. Getting two separate ETB triggers from my commander because I copied it is exhilarating!
So don‘t be afraid to splash clone effects or other copy spells into your deck. Exploit the rule to its fullest and take advantage of entering those doubled-up commanders or legendary creatures.
Just be smart about choosing which copy to keep once the legend rule checks in! Pick the one in the best spot or most advantageous board state.
I hope this article clearly answers the question "can I copy a legendary creature" with helpful tips! Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions – I could talk legendary jank all day long. Happy casting my friends!
