Dimir Doppelganger MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 3 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Creature — Shapeshifter |
Power | 0 |
Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
: Remove target creature card in a graveyard from the game. Dimir Doppelganger becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability.
"Fear not. Your life will not go unlived."
Cards like Dimir Doppelganger
Dimir Doppelganger offers a unique game tactical advantage in the world of Magic: The Gathering, echoing effects seen in cards like Clone and Body Double. Much like these cards, Dimir Doppelganger allows players to copy creature cards, but with an intriguing twist. Dimir Doppelganger can continuously assimilate creatures from any graveyard, transforming its identity throughout the game. Clone and Body Double, conversely, are limited to copying creatures at the time of their entry to the battlefield, making Dimir Doppelganger a more flexible and dynamic asset during gameplay.
Another card that vies for comparison in the realm of copying creatures is Lazav, Dimir Mastermind. Lazav also harnesses the power of enemy graveyards, but it copies only the first creature that hits the graveyard from anywhere. While it offers hexproof as a bonus, Lazav lacks the ongoing versatility of Dimir Doppelganger’s repeatable activation. The Doppelganger’s ability to change forms any number of times for three mana makes it a formidable and elusive threat that can adapt to the shifting tides of battle.
Evaluating Dimir Doppelganger against its counterparts, its perpetual shape-shifting capability solidifies its position as a standout card for players who thrive on strategic graveyard manipulation and surprise factor in their MTG deck construction.
Cards similar to Dimir Doppelganger by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Dimir Doppelganger thrives on transforming its identity to capitalize on the most powerful creatures in the graveyard. This enables not only a dynamic board presence but also the potential to repeatedly exploit the abilities of fallen creatures, effectively turning the graveyard into a resourceful extension of a player’s hand.
Resource Acceleration: Though not directly providing classic ramp, the Dimir Doppelganger’s ability to change its form can accelerate a player’s resources by copying creatures with mana abilities. This creates unexpected opportunities for mana generation and utilization that can disrupt an opponent’s strategy.
Instant Speed: The inherent power of the Dimir Doppelganger lies in its reactivity. Being able to activate its copying ability at instant speed allows for strategic plays that can adapt to the ever-changing landscape of a match. This responsive nature enables players to wait until the most opportune moment to unveil a new threat or a tactical response.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While the Dimir Doppelganger provides strategic versatility in gameplay, it comes with a prerequisite of discarding cards to activate its cloning ability. This discard requirement can put you at a disadvantage, especially when your hand is already running thin or when you’re facing strategies that pressure your card resources.
Specific Mana Cost: The Doppelganger’s casting cost demands a precise combination of one colorless, one blue, and one black mana. This specificity confines it mainly to decks that can reliably produce both blue and black mana, potentially limiting its inclusion to predominantly Dimir or three-color decks oriented around those colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of three and the need for additional mana to utilize its ability, the Doppelganger can be comparatively expensive. In the fast-paced environment of modern MTG play, investing a significant amount of mana in a creature whose effect is contingent on both the graveyard and further mana investment can leave players behind in tempo against more low-cost, high-impact plays.
Reasons to Include Dimir Doppelganger in Your Collection
Versatility: Dimir Doppelganger brings adaptability to any deck, seamlessly fitting into control, mill, or graveyard-based strategies. Its ability to become a copy of any creature card in a graveyard adds a layer of unpredictability and flexibility that many decks can benefit from.
Combo Potential: This card is a combo enabler that can synergize with cards designed to fill the graveyard, like self-mill strategies, or interact with opponents’ resources, disrupting their plans while bolstering your own board state.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where graveyard interaction is prominent, Dimir Doppelganger can become an essential piece for outmaneuvering opponents, turning their best creatures against them and continuously posing a threat that adapts to the evolving board.
How to beat
The Dimir Doppelganger card presents a unique blend of strategy and adaptability on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. Commanding a shapeshifting creature, players can continuously target creature cards in graveyards and transform the Doppelganger, thus keeping opponents on their toes. But there’s always a foil to every strategy, and in this case, controlling the graveyards is key.
To undermine the Doppelganger’s strength, consider using graveyard removal spells or abilities that can exile cards from graveyards, minimizing the resources available for your opponent to exploit. Cards like Bojuka Bog can wipe out a graveyard in a land drop, while Relic of Progenitus allows you to keep graveyards clean throughout the game. If graveyard manipulation is not feasible, then leveraging control elements to remove the Doppelganger from the field or to counter it before it gets a foothold proves equally effective.
Understanding your opponent’s strategy and focusing on disrupting their graveyard access can essentially render the Dimir Doppelganger a mere shadow of its potential. Managing these aspects with precision and foresight can tilt the scales in your favor, ensuring that the Doppelganger’s mimicry falls short against your tactical gameplay.
BurnMana Recommendations
The emerald captivation of Magic: The Gathering strategy blooms when cards like Dimir Doppelganger enter the fray. Whether it’s the subtleties of deck building or the rush of competitive play, the Doppelganger can lift your game to new heights with its versatile nature. As you consider your MTG arsenal, think of how this card could shape the outcome of your matches. For those keen to manipulate the graveyard to their favor, or disrupt an opponent’s plan with cunning, Dimir Doppelganger is a valuable asset. Interested in the intricacies that this card introduces to the battlefield? Let’s delve deeper together and embrace the dynamic plays it can generate. To discover more advanced tactics and ways to enhance your MTG collection, join our quest for knowledge and mastery.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Dimir Doppelganger MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: City of Guilds and Conspiracy, 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 Dimir Doppelganger and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Dimir Doppelganger Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2005-10-07 and 2018-11-02. Illustrated by Jim Murray.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2005-10-07 | Ravnica: City of Guilds | RAV | 202 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jim Murray | |
2 | 2014-06-06 | Conspiracy | CNS | 186 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jim Murray | |
3 | 2018-11-02 | GRN Guild Kit | GK1 | 12 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jim Murray |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Dimir Doppelganger has restrictions
Format | Legality |
---|---|
Commander | Legal |
Legacy | Legal |
Modern | Legal |
Oathbreaker | Legal |
Vintage | Legal |
Duel | Legal |
Predh | Legal |
Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dimir Doppelganger card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2005-10-01 | A permanent’s ability that refers to cards the creature exiled (such as Sisters of Stone Death’s third ability) only affects cards exiled by other abilities intrinsic to that permanent (such as Sisters of Stone Death’s second ability). Suppose that (a) Dimir Doppelganger copies Arc-Slogger, (b) its “deal 2 damage” ability is activated, and then (c) it copies Sisters of Stone Death. Creatures exiled by Arc-Slogger’s ability can’t be returned with Sisters of Stone Death’s ability. |
2005-10-01 | This creature becomes an exact copy of a copied card, except that it also has Dimir Doppelganger’s activated ability. If it becomes a copy of a different creature card, the new copy will overwrite the old copy. |