Duplicant MTG Card
Card sets | Released in 13 setsSee all |
Mana cost | |
Converted mana cost | 6 |
Rarity | Rare |
Type | Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter |
Abilities | Imprint |
Power | 2 |
Toughness | 4 |
Text of card
Imprint When Duplicant comes into play, you may remove target nontoken creature from the game. (The removed card is imprinted on this artifact.) As long as a creature card is imprinted on Duplicant, Duplicant has that card's power, toughness, and creature types. It's still a Shapeshifter.
Cards like Duplicant
Duplicant offers a unique twist on creature removal within Magic: The Gathering, sitting alongside cards like Phyrexian Ingester and Ravenous Chupacabra in the realm of creature interaction. Much like Phyrexian Ingester, Duplicant consumes another creature to gain its power and toughness, providing not just removal, but also a potential shift in board presence. However, Duplicant has the added versatility of being colorless, allowing it to fit into any deck regardless of its color identity. Unlike the Ingester, Duplicant also exiles, ensuring its target doesn’t come back from the graveyard.
Comparatively, Ravenous Chupacabra might seem more simple with its enter-the-battlefield kill effect, but it does not offer the stat modification Duplicant does. Moreover, Duplicant’s ability to handle indestructible creatures due to its exile mechanic sets it apart in utility. On the other hand, the Chupacabra is able to affect the board instantly due to not requiring mana to activate its ability upon entering the battlefield, which can be a crucial difference in tight game states.
Each card has its scenarios where it shines, providing players with strategic flexibility. However, Duplicant’s combination of removal and potential for power conversion gives it a notable position within MTG’s catalog of versatile creature removal artifacts.
Cards similar to Duplicant by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Duplicant shines in its ability to not only remove a creature from the field but also to adopt its power and toughness. This characteristic creates a two-fold benefit: decreasing your opponent’s resources while potentially bolstering your own board presence, a clear and valuable card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly ramping your mana, Duplicant’s unique mechanic can accelerate your game plan by removing key threats or problematic creatures from your opponents, paving the way for your own creatures and strategies to connect more effectively.
Instant Speed: Although Duplicant operates at sorcery speed, its imprint ability is triggered upon entering the battlefield. This means that when played with cards that can flash creatures onto the battlefield, you can experience the benefits of instant-speed interaction, making Duplicant a versatile component in any deck that can manipulate timings.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Although Duplicant doesn’t directly require you to discard a card, playing it effectively in your deck means having the right creatures to exile, which at times can feel like a hidden discard cost if you’re sacrificing your own creature resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Duplicant asks for a sizeable chunk of colorless mana — six to be exact. This precise requirement makes it less flexible in the mana curve of some decks and can be a challenge to cast in decks that are not heavily artifact-oriented or lack ample mana ramp.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Duplicant does offer a unique exile effect on a creature body, the six-mana cost can be steep, especially when cheaper removal options exist. In faster-paced games, having to wait for six mana can be a significant delay, potentially giving opponents an edge over you.
Reasons to Include Duplicant in Your Collection
Versatility: Duplicant offers a unique adaptability, suiting multiple styles of play. This artifact creature seamlessly integrates into artifact-centric decks as well as those favoring creature removal, making it a flexible pick for various strategies.
Combo Potential: With its ability to exile creatures upon entering the battlefield, Duplicant is a fantastic enabler for strategies revolving around graveyard manipulation and eases the way for potential combos, especially in Commander formats where it can act as recurring control.
Meta-Relevance: In a game where creatures often dictate the pace, Duplicant holds its ground as an ever-relevant tool. Its presence is particularly felt in metas heavy with potent creatures, giving its controller a significant edge by dealing with threats without being restricted by color.
How to beat
Duplicant is a unique and adaptable card in the landscape of MTG, often playing a significant role in disrupting opponents’ strategies. This artifact creature shines in its ability to exile target nontoken creatures. When it comes to facing down this card, consider using evasion tactics. Transforming Duplicant into a less desirable target for its ability is key; employing shroud or hexproof effects protects your creatures from being exiled. Also, since Duplicant relies on its imprint ability to gain power and toughness, cards that blank abilities can render it a mere shell, unable to threaten with combat.
Graveyard recursion can also be a thorn in Duplicant’s side. Using cards that can retrieve creatures from the graveyard mitigates the loss from Duplicant’s exile effect. Lastly, instant-speed removal or sacrifice effects can circumvent Duplicant’s ability by removing your creature from play in response, ensuring it’s not around for Duplicant to target. Strategic deckbuilding and keen awareness during gameplay are vital in neutralizing the impact Duplicant may have on the battlefield.
With these strategies in mind, one can effectively navigate around the challenges posed by the Duplicant card and maintain the upper hand in their MTG matches.
BurnMana Recommendations
Mastering the game of MTG goes beyond understanding individual cards; it’s about assembling a deck that works harmoniously to secure victories. With Duplicant, you have a tool that offers removal and adaptation, enhancing your ability to respond to the shifting tides of battle. We invite you to dive deeper into the strategic uses of Duplicant, from leveraging its imprint mechanic to exploring combos that can turn the game in your favor. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the MTG arena, integrating cards like Duplicant can elevate your gameplay. Explore more strategies and refine your collection with us. Discover how to optimize Duplicant’s potential in your MTG endeavors.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Duplicant MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Mirrodin, 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 Duplicant and other MTG cards:
BUY NOWBurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- 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 Duplicant Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 3 different artists.
# | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 47983 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Marco Nelor | ||
2 | 2003-10-02 | Mirrodin | MRD | 165 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Thomas M. Baxa | |
3 | 2010-06-18 | Archenemy | ARC | 106 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Thomas M. Baxa | |
4 | 2011-05-14 | Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia | TD2 | 17 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Thomas M. Baxa | |
5 | 2012-11-02 | Commander's Arsenal | CM1 | 7 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Marco Nelor | |
6 | 2015-11-18 | Legendary Cube Prize Pack | PZ1 | 122 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Marco Nelor | |
7 | 2016-06-10 | Eternal Masters | EMA | 220 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Marco Nelor | |
8 | 2016-09-30 | Kaladesh Inventions | MPS | 35 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Slawomir Maniak | |
9 | 2018-08-09 | Commander 2018 | C18 | 205 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Marco Nelor | |
10 | 2020-08-07 | Double Masters | 2XM | 249 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Thomas M. Baxa | |
11 | 2021-04-23 | Commander 2021 | C21 | 242 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Thomas M. Baxa | |
12 | 2023-04-21 | March of the Machine Commander | MOC | 355 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Thomas M. Baxa | |
13 | 2023-08-04 | Commander Masters | CMM | 946 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Thomas M. Baxa |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Duplicant 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 Duplicant card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
Date | Text |
---|---|
2020-08-07 | Abilities that define a * in a creature's power and toughness apply while that card is in exile, but abilities that add or subtract power and toughness don't. For example, the ability of Crusader of Odric applies to determine Duplicant's power and toughness, but the ability of Death's Shadow doesn't. |
2020-08-07 | Duplicant's base power and toughness change to the imprinted card's power and toughness. Counters and other effects that modify Duplicant's power and toughness still apply. |
2020-08-07 | Duplicant's power and toughness are constantly updated if the exiled card's power and/or toughness change. |
2020-08-07 | If a melded permanent or a merged permanent is exiled by Duplicant's triggered ability, that ability's controller chooses the relative timestamp of the exiled cards. Duplicant looks at the information of the one with the latest timestamp. |