Flickering Progenitor Mimic
Asked by enpc 10 years ago
I have creature X in play (doesn't matter what it is) and then I play a Progenitor Mimic (PM) copying X. I then wait until my next upkeep and produce a token, lets call it X1.
From here, I bounce the PM (using and effect like Deadeye Navigator's) and when it comes back into play I make it a copy of X1.
Now, X1 is a copy of of but it also has the ability "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature."
Normally this wouldn't be a thing since its a token. But when PM copies it, not only does the PM get a copy of the ability inherently, but would it also get the ability from copying X1? i.e. Next turn will the PM produce 2 tokens?
Expanding this further, if after I produce the two tokens (X2 and X2.2) can I then flicker PM on X2 so that next turn PM will produce 3 tokens?
I do believe you are correct.
When Progenitor Mimic copies X2, it now has two abilities, both of which read "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature."
Both abilities will trigger at the next upkeep, creating two tokens with the two abilities, so Flickering PM onto one of those will grant it three abilities, and so on.
April 30, 2015 3:30 a.m.
From Gatherer:
If you choose to have Progenitor Mimic enter the battlefield as a copy of a creature, the triggered ability it gains will become part of its copiable values. For example, suppose Progenitor Mimic enters the battlefield as a copy of Runeclaw Bear, a 2/2 green Bear creature with mana cost 1G. The resulting object is a 2/2 green Bear creature named Runeclaw Bear with mana cost 1G and with At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature. If another Progenitor Mimic enters the battlefield as a copy of that creature, it will be a Runeclaw Bear with two instances of the triggered ability.
April 30, 2015 3:37 a.m.
All of this is correct. It is because complete rules for copies don't only copy things written on the card (simply stated copiable properties), they also copy abilities that are direct results of other copy abilities.
Now if anything else gave the same ability to a creature that Progenitor Mimic gives then that ability would not be copied since it's not intrinsicly part of the permanent or not granted by a copy ability.
GameOfDroids says... #1
That seems right by the letter of the cards, but it's certainly wonky.
April 30, 2015 3:20 a.m.