Phyrexian Metamorph
Asked by -Orvos- 6 years ago
I ran into a situation over the weekend where a player had Sigarda's Aid in play. They attacked me then when I declared no blockers they played Phyrexian Metamorph copying an equipment they had in play before the combat step. I questioned whether or not that was a legal move because Phyrexian Metamorph is a creature and they pointed me to some rule that I can't remember and convinced me enough to not want to argue it.
Would Sigarda's Aid really allow Phyrexian Metamorph to be counted as an equipment and given flash in this instance? Even though Phyrexian Metamorph is a creature card in the hand?
Ok, I found the exact rule he quoted along with the example it gives
"601.3b If an effect allows a player to cast a spell with certain characteristics as though it had flash,that player may consider any choices to be made during that spells proposal that may cause it to have those characteristics. If any such choices could cause it to match these characteristics, thatplayer may begin to cast that spell.
Example: An effect says that you may cast Aura spells as though they had flash, and youhave a creature card with bestow in your hand. Because choosing the bestow abilitysalternative cost causes that spell to become an Aura spell, you may legally begin to castthat spell as though it had flash."
At what point would Phyrexian Metamorph become the artifact? After resolution of the cast? Or at some point during?
February 19, 2018 4:35 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #3
To clarify a bit further since Sigarda's Aid effects Metamorph two different ways in this interaction.
Phyrexian Metamorph would not be able to be cast as if it had flash for the reasons Tyrant-Thanatos stated.
The equipment that Phyrexian Metamorph enters as will be able to be attached for free because it entered as that equipment and will trigger the second ability on Sigarda's Aid.
February 19, 2018 4:39 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #4
Phyrexian Metamorph becomes what it is copying as it enters the battlefield. The choice of what metamorph is going to copy is not a decision made as the spell is being cast. It is made as the spell is resolving.
February 19, 2018 4:42 p.m.
Tyrant-Thanatos says... #5
For comparison, Masterwork of Ingenuity would gain flash from Sigarda's Aid because it actually has the equipment subtype before it enters the battlefield. Not even because it copies an equipment. If Masterwork had been printed without the Equipment subtype on the card, and was just listed as a generic Artifact, then it wouldn't get flash from Sigarda's Aid.
Tyrant-Thanatos says... Accepted answer #1
Nope. Metamorph isn't an equipment until it enters the battlefield. Sigarda's Aid would not give it flash, as it is not an equipment spell.
It's important to note the difference between an Equipment, an Equipment Card, and an Equipment Spell. An "Equipment" is a subtype of permanent. A card is only ever an "Equipment" while it is on the battlefield. An "Equipment Card" is a card with "Equipment" printed in the subtype box, and is always an Equipment Card regardless of location. An "Equipment Spell" is a spell on the stack with the Equipment subtype.
Sigarda's Aid states that you may cast "Equipment Spells" as though they had flash. In the case of playing a Phyrexian Metamorph to copy an equipment, it is not an Equipment Card in your hand before you cast it, it is not an Equipment Spell while it is on the stack, but it is an Equipment on the battlefield.
February 19, 2018 4:14 p.m.