Evil Twin MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Shapeshifter
Power 0
Toughness 0

Key Takeaways

  1. Evil Twin excels in card advantage by cloning creatures, doubling your board presence and abilities.
  2. Instant speed removal of cloned creatures disrupts opponents, adding a layer of tactical depth.
  3. Specific casting requirements may limit deck integration, making it a situational choice.

Text of card

You may have Evil Twin enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield except it gains ", : Destroy target creature with the same name as this creature."

You can always tell the evil one by the dagger he's sticking in you.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Evil Twin offers a unique way to achieve card advantage by effectively cloning a creature on the battlefield. This lets you exploit any enter-the-battlefield effects or powerful abilities the copied creature has, essentially doubling your resources without dipping further into your deck.

Resource Acceleration: Although Evil Twin does not directly generate mana or tokens, the ability to copy creatures can lead to a form of indirect resource acceleration. Having an additional, versatile threat on the board can pressure opponents and force them to deal with two significant threats, potentially draining their resources and giving you the upper hand in mana efficiency.

Instant Speed: The activated ability of Evil Twin can be utilized at instant speed, providing strategic flexibility. You can remove a problematic creature during an opponent’s turn, disrupting their plans, or simply wait for the most opportune moment to utilize the Twin’s ability without having to commit to a course of action until necessary.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While the Evil Twin offers a unique cloning ability, it comes at a price. Activating its ability to destroy a copy requires you to have another creature to target, which isn’t always guaranteed. This could potentially lead to a dead card in your hand if board presence is low.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for casting Evil Twin is not only color-intensive – requiring both blue and black – but also rather specific, which might not seamlessly fit into every deck. This can complicate your mana base, especially in multicolored decks that need a more diversified mana pool.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, including two that are color specific, Evil Twin positions itself on the higher end of the mana curve when compared to other creature clones in MTG. This can make it a late-game play where speed is crucial, and other lower-cost alternatives could be played more efficiently.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Evil Twin brings a unique dynamic to the table, since it’s not just a creature, it’s any creature on the board. This instant adaptive power allows it to fit seamlessly into a myriad of strategies, morphing into the most useful form for any given situation.

Combo Potential: Thanks to its ability to become a copy of any targetable creature, Evil Twin pairs well with strategies that benefit from the duplication of key abilities or enter-the-battlefield effects, opening the door to endless combo possibilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where knowing your opponent’s deck can be as crucial as executing your own strategy, Evil Twin thrives. It’s engineered to counter dominant creatures in the meta, providing a versatile answer to diverse threats while being a threat itself.


How to beat

Confronting an Evil Twin on the battlefield requires a strategic approach. This unique Magic: The Gathering card possesses the ability to copy any creature on the field, not only assuming its appearance but also its power, toughness, and abilities. The twist is the doppelganger comes with an added sinister capability – it can destroy its original at will.

To gain an upper hand, prioritize removing the Evil Twin as swiftly as possible. Employ instant-speed removal spells that can disrupt the copy before its destructive ability is utilized. Counterspells are especially effective during the casting phase, snuffing out the threat before it even manifests. Moreover, leveraging graveyard retrieval can be a savvy move to recover from any loss inflicted by the twin’s treacherous assassination of your creature.

In essence, the key to overthrowing an Evil Twin lies in agility and preemptive action, ensuring that it never gets the chance to unveil its full malign potential on the game. Through judicious use of removals, your deck can maintain control and prevent the Evil Twin from tipping the scales in your opponent’s favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

Delving into the duality of MTG gameplay, Evil Twin embodies strategy and surprise. With its unique cloning and removal abilities, this card paves the way for innovative plays and deck customization. In a constantly evolving meta, keeping such a versatile card in your arsenal could be the edge you need. If you’re eager to steer the tides of battle with tactical prowess or aspire to outwit opponents with unexpected maneuvers, Evil Twin deserves a spot in your collection. Intrigued by the endless possibilities it offers? Venture further with us to optimize your deck around Evil Twin’s duality.


Cards like Evil Twin

Evil Twin presents a unique blend of control and mimicry in the realm of MTG. This multifaceted creature can mirror another creature on the battlefield, reminiscent of cards like Clone or the more recent Spark Double. The clone-like mechanisms allow players to replicate the most formidable creatures in play, but Evil Twin comes with a dark twist—it has the built-in ability to destroy its copied target.

Considering other counterparts, such as the Scarab God, there is a notable difference in the application. The Scarab God also copies creatures, but from the graveyard, and with an overpowering ability to create an army of undead, proving it’s a robust late-game threat. Evil Twin, albeit less grand in its imposition, offers immediate interaction with the board state, capable of neutralizing specific threats on sight. Cleverly applied, it can deter opponents from playing their game-changing creatures, knowing that Evil Twin can not only become a copy but also a doom for the original.

The strategic flexibility and the psychological dimension Evil Twin adds to the game makes it a noteworthy option for decks looking to harness the powers of their adversaries while maintaining board control. Its capabilities ensure it remains a distinguished selection among other duplicative creatures within MTG.

Clone - MTG Card versions
Spark Double - MTG Card versions
Clone - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Spark Double - War of the Spark (WAR)

Cards similar to Evil Twin by color, type and mana cost

Phantasmal Fiend - MTG Card versions
Doomsday Specter - MTG Card versions
Possessed Aven - MTG Card versions
Marsh Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Moroii - MTG Card versions
Circu, Dimir Lobotomist - MTG Card versions
Blizzard Specter - MTG Card versions
Wydwen, the Biting Gale - MTG Card versions
Glen Elendra Liege - MTG Card versions
Kathari Remnant - MTG Card versions
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - MTG Card versions
Ulamog's Nullifier - MTG Card versions
Elusive Tormentor // Insidious Mist - MTG Card versions
Drunau Corpse Trawler - MTG Card versions
Gisa and Geralf - MTG Card versions
Duskmantle Seer - MTG Card versions
Hostage Taker - MTG Card versions
Deadeye Brawler - MTG Card versions
Notion Thief - MTG Card versions
Nightveil Predator - MTG Card versions
Phantasmal Fiend - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Doomsday Specter - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Possessed Aven - Torment (TOR)
Marsh Crocodile - Salvat 2005 (PSAL)
Moroii - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Circu, Dimir Lobotomist - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Blizzard Specter - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Wydwen, the Biting Gale - Commander 2020 (C20)
Glen Elendra Liege - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)
Kathari Remnant - Planechase Anthology (PCA)
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Ulamog's Nullifier - Battle for Zendikar (BFZ)
Elusive Tormentor // Insidious Mist - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Drunau Corpse Trawler - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Gisa and Geralf - Shadows over Innistrad Remastered (SIR)
Duskmantle Seer - Commander 2018 (C18)
Hostage Taker - Forgotten Realms Commander (AFC)
Deadeye Brawler - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)
Notion Thief - Tales of Middle-earth Commander (LTC)
Nightveil Predator - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Evil Twin MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Modern Masters 2017, 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 Evil Twin and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Evil Twin Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2018-06-08. Illustrated by Greg Staples.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-09-30InnistradISD 2122003normalblackGreg Staples
22017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 1622015normalblackGreg Staples
32018-06-08BattlebondBBD 2222015normalblackGreg Staples

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Evil Twin has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2017-03-14 Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied creature will trigger when Evil Twin enters the battlefield. Any “as
-his creature] enters the battlefield” or “
-his creature] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the chosen creature will also work.
2017-03-14 Evil Twin copies exactly what was printed on the original creature (unless that creature is copying something else or is a token; see below) and it gains the activated ability. It doesn’t copy whether that creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or any Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on.
2017-03-14 If Evil Twin somehow enters the battlefield at the same time as another creature, Evil Twin can’t become a copy of that creature. You may choose only a creature that’s already on the battlefield.
2017-03-14 If the chosen creature has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.
2017-03-14 If the chosen creature is a token, Evil Twin copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that created the token. Evil Twin is not a token in this case.
2017-03-14 If the chosen creature is copying something else (for example, if the chosen creature is another Evil Twin), then your Evil Twin enters the battlefield as whatever the chosen creature copied.
2017-03-14 The activated ability that Evil Twin gains as part of its copy effect is a copiable value that other effects may copy.
2017-03-14 Unless a token is a copy of another creature or was explicitly given a name by the effect that created it, its name is the creature types it was given when it was created. For example, the Beast tokens created by Thragtusk and by Baloth Cage Trap are both named “Beast.”
2017-03-14 You can choose not to copy anything. In that case, Evil Twin enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature, and is probably put into the graveyard immediately.

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