Absorb Identity MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Instant |
| Released | 2021-02-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Kaldheim |
| Set code | KHM |
| Number | 383 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Matt Stewart |
Key Takeaways
- Absorb Identity’s instant speed and copying ability can dramatically alter board states to your advantage.
- Requires careful mana management due to its discard cost and specific color requirement for casting.
- Stands out in Human-centric decks, offering both protection and aggressive clone strategies.
Text of card
Return target creature to its owner's hand. You may have Shapeshifters you control become copies of that creature until end of turn.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Absorb Identity provides a unique tactical advantage by enabling you to assume the characteristics of target nontoken creature until end of turn. This adaptability can lead to unexpected board state changes, disrupting your opponent’s strategies while enhancing your own.
Resource Acceleration: When played strategically, Absorb Identity can serve as a form of resource acceleration. By copying the abilities of creatures with ramp capabilities, you gain access to more mana or other resources which can be pivotal in the later stages of the game.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Absorb Identity adds a layer of surprise and flexibility, allowing you to wait until the most opportune moment during your opponent’s turn to make a move. This can also interfere with combat math, turning blocks and attacks in your favor with no prior warning for your opponent.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Absorb Identity demands that you discard a card to cast it, which might strip down your hand and diminish your strategic reserves, particularly if you’re already lagging behind other players in card advantage.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost requires both blue and green mana, rendering it less versatile for decks that operate outside of the Simic (green-blue) color combination or that have a less reliable mana base.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Consuming three mana for its effect could be considered a drawback. There are alternative cards in Magic that can steal or copy creatures for a similar or lower mana investment, potentially making Absorb Identity a less competitive choice in a deck-building strategy.
Reasons to Include Absorb Identity in Your Collection
Versatility: Absorb Identity offers flexibility to players who enjoy transforming their game state on the fly. With its ability to not only bounce a creature but also to potentially upgrade one of your creatures by copying another, it adapts to various board situations and deck themes.
Combo Potential: The trickster card shines when paired with creatures boasting enter-the-battlefield effects or when combined with strategies that revolve around creature-based synergies, as copying the right creature can turn the tides of a game.
Meta-Relevance: In a constantly evolving MTG environment, Absorb Identity maintains relevance by providing a dual utility of disruption and opportunity, particularly against opponents reliant on specific creature strategies, positioning it as a strategic addition to your collection.
How to beat
Absorb Identity is a versatile trick in the MTG arena often disrupting your opponents’ strategies. This changeling instant not only bounces a creature to its owner’s hand but also allows you to copy the finest characteristics of other creatures in the fray for your own on the next turn. Unlike spells that merely delay an opponent’s plans, Absorb Identity can swing the tide of battle in your favor by effectively using their strengths against them.
To effectively counter this card, prioritizing the protection of your key creatures can be essential. Employing hexproof or indestructible can safeguard your assets from being targeted, ensuring your board presence remains strong. Additionally, cards that can counter spells, especially ones that can target instants, can nullify this shift in power before it takes effect, preserving the original dynamics of the board.
Consistently applying pressure and being cautious of open mana from blue mage opponents can reduce the windows of opportunity for Absorb Identity to be a game-changer. By playing around this card, you maintain control, reduce its impact, and keep your powerful creatures in action without fear of opponents turning your advantages against you.
Cards like Absorb Identity
Absorb Identity, a unique and versatile Instant in Magic the Gathering, offers a distinct gameplay mechanic that echoes spells like Unsummon. Similar to Unsummon, Absorb Identity returns a target creature to its owner’s hand, however, it doesn’t end there. It then ups the ante by allowing you to have a creature you control become a copy of another creature until end of turn if you control a Human. This twofold effect sets it apart from the straightforward creature bounce mechanic of Unsummon.
Another card in the discussion is Cackling Counterpart. It creates a token copy of any creature you control, but unlike Absorb Identity, it doesn’t involve returning creatures to hands and it’s costlier. Mirror Image also deserves mention, being able to clone one of your creatures upon entering the battlefield, but the lack of Instant speed means less flexibility compared to Absorb Identity’s potential surprise factor during combat.
Considering the strategic implications in creature-heavy and Human-centric decks, Absorb Identity doesn’t just protect your assets, but also adds clone benefits that can turn the tides of a match. The card’s cloning capability, combined with the reactive nature of an Instant, makes it a formidable choice for tactical players.
Cards similar to Absorb Identity by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Absorb Identity MTG card by a specific set like Kaldheim, 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 Absorb Identity 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
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Absorb Identity has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Absorb Identity card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-02-05 | Either all Shapeshifters you control will become copies of the creature or none of them will. |
| 2021-02-05 | If Shapeshifters you control do become copies of the creature, they'll use the copiable values of the creature as it last existed on the battlefield. They don't copy whether that creature was tapped or untapped, whether it had any counters on it, whether it had any Auras and/or Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that changed its power, toughness, types, color, and so on. |
| 2021-02-05 | If the creature that was returned was copying something else, the Shapeshifters that become copies of that creature will use the copiable values of that creature. In most cases, they will be copies of whatever that creature was copying. If it was copying a permanent or card with in its mana cost, X is 0. |
| 2021-02-05 | If the target creature is an illegal target as Absorb Identity tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. Shapeshifters you control won't become copies of the creature. |
