Stolen Identity MTG Card

Provides card advantage through creature and artifact cloning, expanding board presence and disrupting opponent’s plans. Cipher ability facilitates resource acceleration, allowing repeated cloning without additional mana costs post-cast. Stolen Identity’s versatility boosts deck strategies, making it a valuable addition in the meta gameplay landscape.

Gatecrash (GTC)
2013-02-01 - Number 53

GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
2018-11-02 - Number 2

Stolen Identity - Zendikar Rising Commander (ZNC)

Zendikar Rising Commander (ZNC)
2020-09-25 - Number 37

Stolen Identity - New Capenna Commander (NCC)

New Capenna Commander (NCC)
2022-04-29 - Number 233

Card sets	Released in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Rare
Type	Sorcery
Abilities	Cipher

Text of card

Put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of target artifact or creature. Cipher (Then you may exile this spell card encoded on a creature you control. Whenever that creature deals combat damage to a player, its controller may cast a copy of the encoded card without paying its mana cost.)

Cards like Stolen Identity

Stolen Identity stands out amongst the array of clone effects in MTG. Much like the card Clone, Stolen Identity allows you to copy a creature, but it ups the ante by enabling you to make a replica of any artifact or creature on the battlefield. Where it diverges is in its cipher ability, which permits you to encode the spell on a creature and reenact the cloning process each time that creature deals combat damage to a player.

Another parallel can be drawn with the card Saheeli’s Artistry, which also clones creatures or artifacts. Yet, Stolen Identity’s repeated use potential through cipher can yield more long-term value. Mirrorworks, while restricted to artifact copying when an artifact enters the battlefield, requires mana investment for each copy. Stolen Identity, after the initial cast, avoids the continuous mana cost burden, providing ongoing board presence each turn potentially.

Although Stolen Identity offers great versatility and recurring effects, it depends on successful combat damage for repetition, which can be its limiting factor compared to a standalone card like Saheeli’s Artistry. Nonetheless, in decks that can ensure consistent player strikes, Stolen Identity deploys a powerful strategy with exponential growth possibilities.

Cards similar to Stolen Identity by color, type and mana cost

Govern the Guildless - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: When delving into the potent effects of Stolen Identity, the card advantage it provides cannot be overstated. Once it’s cast, the ability to create a copy of any creature or artifact on the battlefield can quickly turn the tides by not only expanding your board presence but also disrupting your opponent’s strategy.

Resource Acceleration: Stolen Identity shines in its potential for resource acceleration. With its cipher ability, after the initial cast, you can encode it onto a creature, and every time that creature deals combat damage to a player, you get to create another copy. This repetitive effect can amass significant value over time without the need to invest more mana after the initial cost.

Instant Speed: Although Stolen Identity operates at sorcery speed, its strategic depth in gameplay is immense. Because of the cipher ability, you’re effectively embedding future casts into your attacking creatures. This adds a layer of surprise and utility to your creatures, akin to the flexibility that instant speed spells provide, as opponents must always consider the potential impact of another encoded Stolen Identity when you attack.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike some spell cards, Stolen Identity doesn’t necessitate discarding, thereby granting you the full potential of your hand while plotting your next moves.

Specific Mana Cost: Stolen Identity comes with a mixed mana requirement including both blue and colorless mana, inhibiting its seamless play in mono-colored decks and urging a more careful mana base construction.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Priced at six mana, this card’s cloning ability could be deemed expensive, considering there are alternatives that replicate creatures or even spells at a lower cost, which could speed up gameplay and reserve mana for other critical strategies.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Stolen Identity is a card that can adapt to many types of decks, chiefly those that leverage the cloning of impactful creatures or artifacts. With its cipher ability, this card can become a recurring source of strategic advantage every time you attack with a creature.

Combo Potential: When used judiciously, Stolen Identity can create game-winning scenarios by duplicating combo-enabling creatures or artifacts. Its ability to copy key components can exponentially increase the potency of your in-game tactics.

Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to copy the most influential permanents on the battlefield, Stolen Identity holds a place in the ever-changing meta. Not only can it turn the tide by replicating powerful threats, but it can also serve as a tool to outpace opponents in resource-heavy environments.

How to beat

Stolen Identity is a trickster’s tool, skillfully crafted for the strategic environments of Magic the Gathering. Cleverly deploying copies of creatures or artifacts, this card can rapidly tilt the balance of power. To trump this card, a solid plan is essential. One effective approach is to maintain control of the battlefield, keeping your opponent’s creatures at bay. Counter spells serve as a prime defense, derailing your foe’s schemes before they take root.

Removal spells also play a critical role, swiftly eliminating cloned threats or their original counterparts, stifling the duplicative machinations of Stolen Identity. Additionally, graveyard hate cards can prevent recurring schemes from unfolding. By focusing on preemptive and responsive tactics, players can dismantle the potential chaos Stolen Identity threatens to unleash. Thus, a mindful strategy combats this deceptive threat, ensuring the integrity of the game rests securely in your hands.

Overall, Stolen Identity demands respect and forethought. Players who successfully navigate these tumultuous waters are often those who plan and adapt swiftly, anchoring their position even amidst a sea of potential copies. Prioritize board control, counteract wisely, and the mirrored menaces of Stolen Identity will falter under your strategic prowess in Magic the Gathering.

BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the intricacies of MTG gameplay with Stolen Identity, a card that’s about precision and duplicity. Its unique cipher ability not only enhances your board but can shift the game’s momentum entirely, making it ideal for decks centered around strategic cloning and resource acceleration. However, its success hinges on your ability to strike with cunning. Visit us for in-depth guides on optimizing Stolen Identity’s potential, identifying matching cards, and executing game-winning strategies that utilize its cloning prowess. Your quest to master the art of cunning duplication begins here—let’s make every match an exhibition of skillful play.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stolen Identity MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and GRN Guild Kit, 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 Stolen Identity and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Stolen Identity Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2022-04-29. Illustrated by Clint Cearley.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2013-02-01	Gatecrash	GTC	53	2003	Normal	Black	Clint Cearley
2	2018-11-02	GRN Guild Kit	GK1	2	2015	Normal	Black	Clint Cearley
3	2020-09-25	Zendikar Rising Commander	ZNC	37	2015	Normal	Black	Clint Cearley
4	2022-04-29	New Capenna Commander	NCC	233	2015	Normal	Black	Clint Cearley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stolen Identity has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-01-24	Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied permanent will trigger when the token enters the battlefield. Any “as -his permanent] enters the battlefield” or “ -his permanent] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the chosen permanent will also work.
2013-01-24	If the copied permanent has in its mana cost, X is considered to be zero.
2013-01-24	If the copied permanent is a token, the token that's created copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that put the token onto the battlefield.
2013-01-24	If the copied permanent is copying something else (for example, if the copied creature is a Clone), then the token enters the battlefield as whatever that creature copied.
2013-01-24	If the token you create is a copy of a creature, you can exile Stolen Identity encoded on that token.
2013-01-24	The token copies exactly what was printed on the original artifact or creature and nothing else (unless that permanent is copying something else or is a token; see below). It doesn't copy whether it is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on.
2013-04-15	If a creature with an encoded card deals combat damage to more than one player simultaneously (perhaps because some of the combat damage was redirected), the triggered ability will trigger once for each player it deals combat damage to. Each ability will create a copy of the exiled card and allow you to cast it.
2013-04-15	If another player gains control of the creature, that player will control the triggered ability. That player will create a copy of the encoded card and may cast it.
2013-04-15	If the creature leaves the battlefield, the exiled card will no longer be encoded on any creature. It will stay exiled.
2013-04-15	If the spell with cipher doesn't resolve, none of its effects will happen, including cipher. The card will go to its owner's graveyard and won't be encoded on a creature.
2013-04-15	If you choose not to cast the copy, or you can't cast it (perhaps because there are no legal targets available), the copy will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed. You won't get a chance to cast the copy at a later time.
2013-04-15	If you want to encode the card with cipher onto a noncreature permanent such as a Keyrune that can turn into a creature, that permanent has to be a creature before the spell with cipher starts resolving. You can choose only a creature to encode the card onto.
2013-04-15	The copy of the card with cipher is created in and cast from exile.
2013-04-15	The exiled card with cipher grants a triggered ability to the creature it's encoded on. If that creature loses that ability and subsequently deals combat damage to a player, the triggered ability won't trigger. However, the exiled card will continue to be encoded on that creature.
2013-04-15	The spell with cipher is encoded on the creature as part of that spell's resolution, just after the spell's other effects. That card goes directly from the stack to exile. It never goes to the graveyard.
2013-04-15	You cast the copy of the card with cipher during the resolution of the triggered ability. Ignore timing restrictions based on the card's type.
2013-04-15	You choose the creature as the spell resolves. The cipher ability doesn't target that creature, although the spell with cipher may target that creature (or a different creature) because of its other abilities.