Mutating a legendary into itself.
Asked by SphericEl 2 years ago
I was wondering if I could get the same effect twice when mutating two of the same cards into itself. Only its a legendary- Illuna, Apex of Wishes , Thanks El
To answer the other part of your question, a "when this mutates" ability applies whether the ability is coming from the mutation or if it's an ability of the existing creature already. In this case, you will indeed get two Illuna, Apex of Wishes triggers, and if you put another mutation on later, you will get another two Illuna mutation triggers.
April 8, 2022 2:25 p.m.
Ok, so the legendary effect is a "base state effect" or something? Does this remove my double mutate effects off the stack or do they both trigger even after one legendary creature leaves play?
April 8, 2022 9:20 p.m.
Or do I infact keep both Illunas in play because one mutates into another- therfore on one ever in play?
April 8, 2022 9:23 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #5
Only one is ever in play. The legendary rule is:
704.5j If a player controls two or more legendary permanents with the same name, that player chooses one of them, and the rest are put into their owners’ graveyards. This is called the “legend rule.”
You never control two permanents named "Illuna, Apex of Wishes". A mutate stack simply is the card on top with all abilities from the ones under it.
April 8, 2022 9:49 p.m.
But does the 2nd mutation ability remain on stack even though one legendary creature enters the graveyard?
April 9, 2022 7:27 a.m.
I've just read state-based actions and I think I get it now - there is basically no point in playing the two legendary mutation cards as the state-based action is before the stack. Is this what you guys are saying?
April 9, 2022 7:55 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... Accepted answer #8
No, that isn't what we are saying.
When a spell casts for its mutate cost resolves, it either goes over or under the creature it was targeting. Let's go through this example with casting Boneyard Lurker onto Illuna, Apex of Wishes so that you can maybe follow what happens better.
If it goes under, the creature it was targeting gains all abilities of the spell you were casting. So you will have Illuna, Apex of Wishes a legendary 6/6 with flying, trample, "Whenever this creature mutates, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland permanent card. Put that card onto the battlefield or into your hand", and "Whenever this creature mutates, return target permanent card from your graveyard to your hand."
If it goes over, the spell you were casting gains all abilities of the creature it was targeting. So you will have Boneyard Lurker a 4/4 with flying, trample, "Whenever this creature mutates, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland permanent card. Put that card onto the battlefield or into your hand", and "Whenever this creature mutates, return target permanent card from your graveyard to your hand."
There is no point when you will control two creatures. So when you mutate Illuna, Apex of Wishes onto Illuna, Apex of Wishes you will go from having a 6/6 legendary creature with one instance of each flying, trample, "Whenever this creature mutates, exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland permanent card. Put that card onto the battlefield or into your hand" to having a legendary 6/6 with two instances of each ability.
Once again, you never control two legendary permanents with the same name. You only ever have one Illuna, Apex of Wishes, it simply gains more abilities.
April 9, 2022 11:22 a.m.
Gidgetimer already explained it well, but just to simplify: When you cast a spell as a mutation and it resolves to mutate a creature, it is not a creature entering the battlefield. You have mutated an Illuna, Apex of Wishes with more Illuna abilities. You still have exactly one Illuna, it's just a stack of two cards now. The legend rule never applies because you never have a second Illuna enter the battlefield.
April 9, 2022 3:06 p.m.
Oh wow - forgive me for being so dim ,I just want to get this ruling straight - does this mean I can mutate twice and on that turn activate Illuna, Apex of Wishes ability twice? Thanks for your patience.
April 9, 2022 10:40 p.m.
Any time a creature spell resolves as a mutation, it will trigger all "Whenever this mutates" abilities in the mutate stack, including itself.
You cast Illuna, Apex of Wishes and it comes into play. Then when you mutate a second copy onto it, you trigger both Illuna abilities.
If you then mutate Everquill Phoenix into it (probably at the bottom of the stack) you trigger both Illuna abilities plus Everquill's, so you'll go to exile two permanent cards from the top of your library and make a Feather token.
April 9, 2022 11:20 p.m.
Thanks for the clarification and the detailed answers. You guys and gals are awesome.
Gidgetimer says... #1
You only have one permanent with the legendary name, so the legend rule will not apply. Like any other mutate it will just add the abilities of one onto the other.
April 8, 2022 10:14 a.m.