Twinning Staff MTG Card
2020-04-17 - Number 70
2022-04-29 - Number 383
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact |
Key Takeaways
- Twining Staff doubles spell copies, granting card advantage and multiplying resources efficiently.
- Its unique ability offers flexibility and combo potential, making it a meta-relevant pick for multiple formats.
- Counter strategies include artifact removal or disruption to mitigate Twining Staff’s influential capabilities.
Text of card
If you would copy a spell one or more times, instead copy it that many times plus an additional time. You may choose new targets for the additional copy. , : Copy target instant or sorcery spell you control. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Twining Staff effectively doubles the potential of your spells that replicate or copy, opening the door to significant card advantage as you can outpace the opponent with numerous copies of your spells.
Resource Acceleration: Every time you copy a spell, Twining Staff adds an additional copy, essentially accelerating your resources without extra cost. This rapid multiplication can drastically change the tide of the game, offering you more bang for your mana buck.
Instant Speed: While the Twining Staff itself is not an instant, it interacts seamlessly with other instants and sorceries you control that may have copy effects. This allows you to maximize the potential of instant speed spells in your deck, making your strategy less predictable and more flexible during critical game moments.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Twinning Staff necessitates a spell to copy before activating its ability, which could be an issue if your hand is depleted and casting opportunities are scarce.
Specific Mana Cost: Its inclusion in a deck demands both colorless and red mana, making it less flexible for decks that do not run red or have a limited mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three and an activation cost of seven mana to utilize its copying ability independently, Twinning Staff can be a steep investment in games where speed and efficiency are crucial.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Twinning Staff is a flexible inclusion that can slide into decks focused on spell copying. Its ability to add an additional copy to any spell you’ve doubled can prove invaluable in a variety of situations and across numerous formats.
Combo Potential: For those who enjoy intricate plays and interactions, Twinning Staff offers immense combo potential. It synergizes with numerous cards and can turn an ordinary spell into a powerful, game-winning manoeuver.
Meta-Relevance: As long as spellcasting and combo strategies remain a staple in the metagame, Twinning Staff will continue to be a card that can give players an edge. Its relevance is maintained due to its unique effect, providing a foothold in matches where outmaneuvering opponents through spells is key.
How to beat
Twinning Staff is a unique artifact in Magic: The Gathering that amplifies spells by creating copies, potentially leading to overwhelming advantages. Players can build around it effectively to capitalize on instant and sorcery copies. However, facing this card across the battlefield doesn’t mean defeat is assured. The key to overcoming Twinning Staff lies in timing and disruption.
Artifact removal spells like Abrade or Naturalize are highly efficient tools to dismantle the Staff before it becomes a major threat. Additionally, counterplay involves strategic use of counter spells to prevent pivotal spells from being copied in the first place. A well-timed Dispel or Negate can significantly reduce the impact of Twinning Staff’s ability. Moreover, keeping pressure on an opponent’s resources can inhibit their capacity to exploit the Staff’s potential, forcing them to deal with threats on the board rather than investing in spell copies.
Ultimately, preventing the setup or execution of Twining Staff’s combo potential is crucial. By prioritizing the removal of the artifact and the spells it tends to synergize with, players can diffuse its power and maintain control of the game.
Cards like Twinning Staff
Exploring the intricate world of artifact-based abilities in Magic: The Gathering, Twinning Staff stands out with its unique approach to spell copying. Its closest relatives include cards like Strionic Resonator and Lithoform Engine. Strionic Resonator, for instance, allows players to copy triggered abilities for just two mana, though it lacks the capability to double your spells. On the other hand, Lithoform Engine offers a more versatile range of copying options across spells, abilities, and even permanents, but it comes with a higher initial cost plus activation expenses.
Comparatively, Mirari deserves a mention, with its ability to copy instant or sorcery spells for additional mana. While Mirari doesn’t have the built-in potential to amplify copies like Twinning Staff, it has stood as a popular choice in many spell-heavy decks. In contrast, Twinning Staff not only adds an extra layer of copying when performing any spell doubling but also has an activated ability to copy additional spells, reinforcing its unique space in the sphere of MTG artifacts.
Given this analysis, Twinning Staff introduces a compelling option for players looking to maximize the volume of spell copies generated in their games. Its singular focus on multiplication can considerably escalate the effects of any spell-slinging strategy.
Cards similar to Twinning Staff by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Twinning Staff MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2020 and New Capenna Commander, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Twinning Staff and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Twinning Staff Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-04-17 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Mike Bierek.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020-04-17 | Commander 2020 | C20 | 70 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mike Bierek | |
| 2 | 2022-04-29 | New Capenna Commander | NCC | 383 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mike Bierek |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Twinning Staff has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Twinning Staff card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2020-04-17 | If an effect copies a card rather than a spell (such as that of God-Eternal Kefnet), this doesn't cause an additional copy to be created. |
| 2020-04-17 | If the spell has damage divided as it was cast (like Mythos of Vadrok), the division can't be changed, although the targets receiving that damage still can. The same is true of spells that distribute counters. |
| 2020-04-17 | If the spell that's copied has an X whose value was determined as it was cast, the copy will have the same value of X. |
| 2020-04-17 | If the spell that's copied is modal (that is, it says “Choose one —” or the like), the copy will have the same mode. A different mode can't be chosen. |
| 2020-04-17 | If you have a second Twinning Staff, copying a spell results in two additional copies. If you have a third, you get three additional copies, and so on. |
| 2020-04-17 | The controller of a copy can't choose to pay any alternative or additional costs for the copy. However, effects based on any alternative or additional costs that were paid for the original spell are copied as though those same costs were paid for the copy. |
| 2020-04-17 | The copy is created on the stack, so it's not “cast.” Abilities that trigger when a player casts a spell won't trigger. It will resolve before the original spell does. |
| 2020-04-17 | The copy will have the same targets as the spell it's copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. If, for one of the targets, you can't choose a new legal target, then it remains unchanged (even if the current target is illegal). |
| 2020-04-17 | Twinning Staff's last ability can copy any instant or sorcery spell you control, not just one with targets. |
| 2020-04-17 | You choose whether the additional copy is put onto the stack before or after the original copy. If a spell is being copied more than once, you can even have the additional copy put onto the stack in between the original copies. |
| 2020-04-17 | You may choose new targets for the additional copy, even if you can't choose new targets for the original copy or copies. |
