Rule evolution
Rule 201.5b
Previously numbered 201.4b.
Earliest archived Rules release: 2010-02-01 · 5 wording revisions · 1 renumbering
Added201.4bDetails
If an ability of an object refers to that object by name, and another effect causes a different object to gain that ability, all instances of the first object's name in the gained ability should be treated as the new object's name. Example: Quicksilver Elemental says, in part, "{U}: Quicksilver Elemental gains all activated abilities of target creature until end of turn." If it gains an ability that says "{B}: Regenerate Drudge Skeletons," activating that ability will regenerate Quicksilver Elemental, not the Drudge Skeletons it gained the ability from. Example: Glacial Ray is an instant with "splice onto Arcane" that says "Glacial Ray deals 2 damage to target creature or player." If it's spliced onto a Kodama's Reach, that Kodama's Reach deals 2 damage to the target creature or player.
Wording changed201.4bDetails
If an ability of an object refers to that object by name, and
anotheraneffectobjectcauseswith a differentobjectnametogainsgainthat ability, all instances of the firstobject'sname in the gained ability should be treated as thenewsecondobject'sname. Example: Quicksilver Elemental says, in part, "{U}: Quicksilver Elemental gains all activated abilities of target creature until end of turn." If it gains an ability that says "{B}: Regenerate Drudge Skeletons," activating that ability will regenerate Quicksilver Elemental, not the Drudge Skeletons it gained the ability from. Example: Glacial Ray is an instant with "splice onto Arcane" that says "Glacial Ray deals 2 damage to target creature or player." If it's spliced onto a Kodama's Reach, that Kodama's Reach deals 2 damage to the target creature or player. Example: Dimir Doppelganger says "{1}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Dimir Doppelganger becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability." Dimir Doppelganger's ability is activated targeting a Runeclaw Bear card. The Doppelganger becomes a copy of Runeclaw Bear and gains an ability that should be treated as saying "{1}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Runeclaw Bear becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability."Wording changed201.4bDetails
If an ability of an object refers to that object by name, and an object with a different name gains that ability,
alleachinstancesinstance of the first name in the gained ability that refers to the first object by name should be treated as the second name. Example: Quicksilver Elemental says, in part, "{U}: Quicksilver Elemental gains all activated abilities of target creature until end of turn." If it gains an ability that says "{BG}: RegenerateDrudgeCudgelSkeletonsTroll," activating that ability will regenerate Quicksilver Elemental, not theDrudgeCudgelSkeletonsTroll it gained the ability from. Example: Glacial Ray is an instant with "splice onto Arcane" that says "Glacial Ray deals 2 damage to target creature or player." If it's spliced onto a Kodama's Reach, that Kodama's Reach deals 2 damage to the target creature or player. Example: Dimir Doppelganger says "{1}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Dimir Doppelganger becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability." Dimir Doppelganger's ability is activated targeting a Runeclaw Bear card. The Doppelganger becomes a copy of Runeclaw Bear and gains an ability that should be treated as saying "{1}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Runeclaw Bear becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability."Wording changed201.4bDetails
If an ability of an object refers to that object by name, and an object with a different name gains that ability, each instance of the first name in the gained ability that refers to the first object by name should be treated as the second name. Example: Quicksilver Elemental says, in part, "{U}: Quicksilver Elemental gains all activated abilities of target creature until end of turn." If it gains an ability that says "{G}: Regenerate Cudgel Troll," activating that ability will regenerate Quicksilver Elemental, not the Cudgel Troll it gained the ability from. Example: Glacial Ray is an instant with
"splice onto Arcane"that says "Glacial Ray deals 2 damage totargetanycreature or playertarget." If it's spliced onto a Kodama's Reach, that Kodama's Reach deals 2 damage to the target creature or player. Example: Dimir Doppelganger says "{1}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Dimir Doppelganger becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability." Dimir Doppelganger's ability is activated targeting a Runeclaw Bear card. The Doppelganger becomes a copy of Runeclaw Bear and gains an ability that should be treated as saying "{1}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Runeclaw Bear becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability."Wording changed201.4bDetails
If an ability of an object refers to that object by name, and an object with a different name gains that ability, each instance of the first name in the gained ability that refers to the first object by name should be treated as the second name. Example: Quicksilver Elemental says, in part, "{U}: Quicksilver Elemental gains all activated abilities of target creature until end of turn." If it gains an ability that says "{G}: Regenerate Cudgel Troll," activating that ability will regenerate Quicksilver Elemental, not the Cudgel Troll it gained the ability from. Example: Glacial Ray is an instant with splice onto Arcane that says "Glacial Ray deals 2 damage to any target." If it's spliced onto a Kodama's Reach, that Kodama's Reach deals 2 damage to the target
creature or player. Example: Dimir Doppelganger says "{1}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Dimir Doppelganger becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability." Dimir Doppelganger's ability is activated targeting a Runeclaw Bear card. The Doppelganger becomes a copy of Runeclaw Bear and gains an ability that should be treated as saying "{1}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Runeclaw Bear becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability."Renumbered
201.4b→ 201.5bDetailsPreviously
2. Parts of a Card
201. NameThen
2. Parts of a Card
201. NameIf an ability of an object refers to that object by name, and an object with a different name gains that ability, each instance of the first name in the gained ability that refers to the first object by name should be treated as the second name. Example: Quicksilver Elemental says, in part, “{U}: Quicksilver Elemental gains all activated abilities of target creature until end of turn.” If it gains an ability that says “{G}: Regenerate Cudgel Troll,” activating that ability will regenerate Quicksilver Elemental, not the Cudgel Troll it gained the ability from. Example: Glacial Ray is an instant with splice onto Arcane that says “Glacial Ray deals 2 damage to any target.” If it’s spliced onto a Kodama’s Reach, that Kodama’s Reach deals 2 damage to the target. Example: Dimir Doppelganger says “{1}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Dimir Doppelganger becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability.” Dimir Doppelganger’s ability is activated targeting a Runeclaw Bear card. The Doppelganger becomes a copy of Runeclaw Bear and gains an ability that should be treated as saying “{1}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Runeclaw Bear becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability.”
Wording changed201.5bDetails
If an ability of an object refers to that object by name, and an object with a different name gains that ability, each instance of the first name in the gained ability that refers to the first object by name should be treated as the second name. Example: Quicksilver Elemental says, in part, "{U}:
QuicksilverThisElementalcreature gains all activated abilities of target creature until end of turn." If it gains an ability that says "{GBB}: RegenerateCudgel TrollSkithiryx," activating that ability will regenerate Quicksilver Elemental, not theCudgelSkithiryx,Trollthe Blight Dragon it gained the ability from. Example: Glacial Ray is an instant with splice onto Arcane that says "Glacial Ray deals 2 damage to any target." If it's spliced onto a Kodama's Reach, that Kodama's Reach deals 2 damage to the target.Example: Dimir Doppelganger says "{1}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard.Example: The Ever-Changing 'Dane says "{1}, Sacrifice another creature: The Ever-Changing 'Dane becomes a copy of the sacrificed creature, except it has this ability."Dimir Doppelganger becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability."Its ability is activated sacrificing a Runeclaw Bear.Dimir Doppelganger's ability is activated targeting a Runeclaw Bear card.The Ever-Changing 'Dane becomes a copy of Runeclaw Bear and gains an ability that should be treated as saying "{1}, Sacrifice another creature: Runeclaw Bear becomes a copy of the sacrificed creature, except it has this ability."The Doppelganger becomes a copy of Runeclaw Bear and gains an ability that should be treated as saying "{1}{U}{B}: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Runeclaw Bear becomes a copy of that card and gains this ability."