Dual Nature MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Enchantment
Released	2000-06-05
Set symbol
Set name	Prophecy
Set code	PCY
Number	112
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Arnie Swekel

Key Takeaways

Offers card advantage by cloning creatures, vital for boosting your battlefield presence.
Demands strategic resource management due to specific mana costs and high casting price.
Enhances decks with its versatile nature, combo potential, and response to varied strategies.

Text of card

Whenever a creature card comes into play, its controller puts a creature token into play that's a copy of that creature. Whenever a creature card leaves play, remove all tokens with the same name as that creature from the game. When Dual Nature leaves play, remove all tokens created with it from the game.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Dual Nature presents an opportunity for card advantage by being able to replicate creatures. Each time you or your opponent plays a creature card, Dual Nature allows you to create a token copy, essentially doubling the impact of your creature plays and overwhelming opponents with a more substantial board presence.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana, Dual Nature accelerates your resource output by copying any creatures that have mana abilities. This can lead to an exponential increase in your mana pool, allowing for bigger plays and faster advancement in your game strategy.

Instant Speed: The benefit of being able to interact at instant speed cannot be understated. Although Dual Nature itself doesn’t have an instant speed effect, it modifies the game in such a way that any creature entering the battlefield could potentially be at instant speed. This could allow you to capitalize on surprise tokens during an opponent’s turn, taking them off-guard and seizing the moment for strategic plays.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Dual Nature card necessitates that you discard another card, potentially putting you behind in card advantage. For players who rely on maintaining a full grip of options, this can be a significant setback, especially in crucial game moments.

Specific Mana Cost: Dual Nature’s mana cost requires a precise blend of mana types, making it somewhat restrictive. This can complicate your game if your mana base isn’t perfectly tuned to accommodate such requirements, potentially limiting the card’s inclusion to decks that can reliably meet these demands.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating mana efficiency, Dual Nature may fall short. Its higher casting cost could mean forfeiting tempo to your opponents who might capitalize on faster, less expensive spells. In formats where speed and efficiency are key, the card’s cost could be too steep a price for its benefits.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Dual Nature offers a level of flexibility that can be quite rare, seamlessly fitting into decks that capitalize on creature copy effects and token strategies. It can be a game-changer in both casual and more focused playgroups.

Combo Potential: This enchantment can serve as a cornerstone in numerous combo setups, particularly in decks that can exploit the doubling of creature tokens for massive advantage or an overwhelming presence on the board.

Meta-Relevance: With the evolving landscape of the game, having a card that reacts to a wide range of creature-based strategies could serve you well. Dual Nature has the prowess to adapt and survive in various meta environments, making it a smart inclusion for those looking to stay competitive.

How to beat Dual Nature

Dual Nature is a unique enchantment card that doubles creature tokens when they enter the battlefield. While it can provide a substantial advantage, it can also be turned against the user. The key to defeating an opponent who is leveraging Dual Nature lies in targeted removal or enchantment control. By utilizing cards that can destroy or exile enchantments, such as Disenchant or Naturalize, you strip the foundation on which your opponent’s strategy rests. Cards like Tranquility that can sweep away multiple enchantments at once can also disrupt their game plan severely.

Control the board by preventing or countering creature spells that your opponent aims to duplicate, hindering their ability to build a formidable presence. Board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the state, eliminating the advantage Dual Nature provides. Lastly, adapting to the meta by incorporating sideboard cards specifically designed to counter enchantment-focused decks ensures that your strategy remains flexible and responsive to the threat posed by Dual Nature.

Understanding the multifaceted dynamics of Magic: The Gathering is essential when devising tactics to overcome potent cards like Dual Nature. Your focus should be on dismantling your opponent’s advantages while reinforcing your own defenses, leading to mastery over the battlefield and ultimately, the game.

Cards like Dual Nature

Delving into the realm of versatile options in Magic: The Gathering’s card portfolio, Dual Nature stands out due to its unique cloning ability. When comparing it to its peers, its closest counterpart is perhaps the enchantment card Followed Footsteps. Both cards embody the concept of copying creatures, yet they operate under different conditions. While Dual Nature triggers upon a creature’s entrance to the battlefield, offering immediate value, Followed Footsteps latches onto a single creature and creates copies at the upkeep stage of the subsequent turns.

Mirror March is another potential comparison, with a similar yet randomized effect. This enchantment triggers when a nontoken creature enters the battlefield, potentially creating multiple token copies based on coin flips. While the outcome is less predictable than Dual Nature’s consistent effect, the escalation potential is significant. Lastly, we have Minion Reflector, an artifact that also copies creatures, though it demands an additional mana payment for each token created. Unlike Dual Nature, this artifact can be more selective but comes with a higher immediate cost.

The versatility these cards provide in deck-building requires players to weigh immediate impacts against flexible copying mechanisms or resource investment. Dual Nature holds its ground by offering a balance of cost and a guaranteed effect each time a creature comes into play.

Cards similar to Dual Nature by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Dual Nature MTG card by a specific set like Prophecy, 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 Dual Nature and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Dual Nature has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Premodern	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Dual Nature card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2004-10-04	If Dual Nature leaves the battlefield between when it triggers and when a token is put onto the battlefield, that token remains on the battlefield indefinitely. It missed the separate ability which would have exiled the token.
2004-10-04	If the original creature has any “enters the battlefield” abilities, the copy will also have those.
2009-10-01	The token is not considered to have been kicked, even if the creature it’s a copy of was kicked.
2013-07-01	If a legendary creature enters the battlefield, the token is put onto the battlefield and then the “legend rule” forces its controller to put either the original or the token into its owner’s graveyard before any player can take any actions.