Does Ob Nixilis, the Adversary have a characteristic-defining ability for its casualty copy?

Asked by Yesterday 3 years ago

The set and official rules aren't out yet, I know.

I cast an Ob Nixilis, the Adversary, and declare Casualty ∞ and sacrifice an Infinity Elemental to create a token. That token enters the battlefield with infinity starting loyalty. This is by the by, but totally hilarious and I'm going to post back here with confirmation when I get an answer from MaRo if it's allowed.

I create a token copy of the casualty nonlegendary token copy of Ob Nixilis, or have another permanent enter the battlefield as a copy of that casualty copy. Will the new copy also have starting loyalty ∞ (or whatever the casualty's starting loyalty is, in more traditional games)?

Gidgetimer says... Accepted answer #1

Answering the question in the title: No, Ob Nixilis, the Adversary's copy does not have a CDA that defines its starting Loyalty.

The copy effect setting starting loyalty fails the first criteria of being a CDA.

604.3a A static ability is a characteristic-defining ability if it meets the following criteria: (1) It defines an object’s colors, subtypes, power, or toughness; (2) it is printed on the card it affects, it was granted to the token it affects by the effect that created the token, or it was acquired by the object it affects as the result of a copy effect or text-changing effect; (3) it does not directly affect the characteristics of any other objects; (4) it is not an ability that an object grants to itself; and (5) it does not set the values of such characteristics only if certain conditions are met.

Answering the question in the body: Yes, a copy of the token will have the same starting loyalty as the token. The starting loyalty was defined by a copy effect, so it becomes part of the copiable values of the token.

707.2. When copying an object, the copy acquires the copiable values of the original object’s characteristics and, for an object on the stack, choices made when casting or activating it (mode, targets, the value of X, whether it was kicked, how it will affect multiple targets, and so on). The copiable values are the values derived from the text printed on the object (that text being name, mana cost, color indicator, card type, subtype, supertype, rules text, power, toughness, and/or loyalty), as modified by other copy effects, by its face-down status, and by “as . . . enters the battlefield” and “as . . . is turned face up” abilities that set power and toughness (and may also set additional characteristics). Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, and counters are not copied.

April 15, 2022 3:07 a.m.

Yesterday says... #2

Thanks very much for clarifying both.

Also MaRo says the infinity thing is cool*.

April 15, 2022 7:01 a.m.