What exactly triggers the legendary rule?
Asked by caboose2900 11 years ago
Alright, so I know this will probably not work, but I got to thinking last night about something. When you copy a creature with Phyrexian Metamorph, the copy is an artifact in addition to its other types. Let's say I copy my own Thrun, the Last Troll. Since the copy is an artifact and the original card is not, would the legend rule not trigger? Or is this just wishful thinking? Basically, how different do two legendary's need to be to get around the rule?
The legend rule does not trigger. When you control two legendary permanents with the same name one of them will be moved to the graveyard as a state-based action.
October 30, 2013 4:32 p.m.
So it doesn't matter what the type are, as long as the name is the same.
It's the reason Sakashima the Impostor and Lazav, Dimir Mastermind are able to copy legendary creature without having to fear about owning a copy.
October 30, 2013 4:34 p.m.
MagnorCriol says... #5
I'm afraid it's wishful thinking.
704.5k : 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."
The legend rule only cares about the specific name of the permanent on the board, not anything else. The "Planeswalker uniqueness rule" cares about the type line, but that's a different rule.
October 30, 2013 4:34 p.m.
golffore297 says... #6
Phyrexian Metamorph Thrun, the Last Troll
The Legendary Rule states you cannot control two Legendary Creatures/Artifacts/Enchantments/whathaveyou of the same name. If they do I have the same name, regardless of different types, one must be sacrificed. You will have to sacrifice one as they share a name, similar to Clone .
October 30, 2013 4:35 p.m.
704.5k 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."
706.2 When copying an object, the copy acquires the copiable values of the original objects 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 "as . . . enters the battlefield" and "as . . . is turned face up" abilities that set characteristics, and by abilities that caused the object to be face down. Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, and counters are not copied.
So reading these two rules, you learn the name triggers the legend rule. The name is a copyable trait of the card. Your Phyrexian Metamorph has the name of the legend, that triggers it. The types are immaterial in the legends rule trigger.
October 30, 2013 4:37 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #8
@gufymike: The legend rule is a state-based action. It does not trigger.
October 30, 2013 5:09 p.m.
blackmarker90 says... #9
I know you could do it with Lazav, Dimir Mastermind because it states that the name remains lazav, dimir mastermind in the ability text
agGravity says... Accepted answer #1
You need to control two or more legendary permanents with the same name. And it's not exactly a trigger, it's a State Based Action.
October 30, 2013 4:32 p.m.