Rule evolution

Rule 712.9

Previously numbered 711.3, 711.5, 712.5.

Earliest archived Rules release: 2011-09-30 · 9 wording revisions · 3 renumberings

  1. Added711.3Details
    Except for determining whether or not a permanent can transform, a spell, ability, effect, or rule that needs information about a double-faced permanent sees only the information given by the face that's currently up. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a double-faced card). The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. Because the Clone is itself not a double-faced card, it can't transform. Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, "Transform all Humans." Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a double-faced card, it will transform. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn.
  2. Renumbered711.3 → 711.5Details

    Previously
    7. Additional Rules
    711. Double-Faced Cards

    Then
    7. Additional Rules
    711. Double-Faced Cards

    Except for determining whether or not a permanent can transform, a spell, ability, effect, or rule that needs information about a double-faced permanent sees only the information given by the face that’s currently up. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a double-faced card). The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. Because the Clone is itself not a double-faced card, it can’t transform. Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, “Transform all Humans.” Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a double-faced card, it will transform. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn.
  3. Wording changed711.5Details
    Except for determining whether or not a permanent can transform, a spell, ability, effect, or rule that needs information about a double-faced permanent sees only the information given by the face that's currently up. Only permanents represented by double-faced cards can transform. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a double-faced card). (See rule 701.25, "Transform.") The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. If a spell or ability instructs a player to transform any permanent that isn't represented by a double-faced card, nothing happens. Because the Clone is itself not a double-faced card, it can't transform. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a double-faced card). Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, "Transform all Humans." Because the Clone is itself not a double-faced card, it can't transform. Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a double-faced card, it will transform. Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn.The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, "Transform all Humans." Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a double-faced card, it will transform. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn.
  4. Wording changed711.5Details
    Only permanents represented by double-faced cards can transform. (See rule 701.2526, "Transform.") If a spell or ability instructs a player to transform any permanent that isn't represented by a double-faced card, nothing happens. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a double-faced card). The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. Because the Clone is itself not a double-faced card, it can't transform. Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, "Transform all Humans." Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a double-faced card, it will transform. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn.
  5. Wording changed711.5Details
    Only permanents represented by double-faced cards can transform. (See rule 701.2627, "Transform.") If a spell or ability instructs a player to transform any permanent that isn't represented by a double-faced card, nothing happens. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a double-faced card). The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. Because the Clone is itself not a double-faced card, it can't transform. Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, "Transform all Humans." Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a double-faced card, it will transform. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn.
  6. Wording changed711.5Details
    Only permanents represented by double-faced cards can transform. (See rule 701.2728, "Transform.") If a spell or ability instructs a player to transform any permanent that isn't represented by a double-faced card, nothing happens. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a double-faced card). The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. Because the Clone is itself not a double-faced card, it can't transform. Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, "Transform all Humans." Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a double-faced card, it will transform. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn.
  7. Wording changed711.5Details
    Only permanents represented by transforming double-faced cards can transform. (See rule 701.28, "Transform.") If a spell or ability instructs a player to transform any permanent that isn't represented by a transforming double-faced card, nothing happens. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a transforming double-faced card). The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. Because the Clone is itself not a transforming double-faced card, it can't transform. Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a transforming double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, "Transform all Humans." Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a transforming double-faced card, it will transform. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn. Example: A player controls Blackbloom Rogue, a Human Rogue that's the front face of a modal double-faced card. They cast Moonmist. Blackbloom Rogue doesn't transform.
  8. Renumbered711.5 → 712.5Details

    Previously
    7. Additional Rules
    711. Double-Faced Cards

    Then
    7. Additional Rules
    712. Double-Faced Cards

    Only permanents represented by transforming double-faced cards can transform. (See rule 701.28, “Transform.”) If a spell or ability instructs a player to transform any permanent that isn’t represented by a transforming double-faced card, nothing happens. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a transforming double-faced card). The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. Because the Clone is itself not a transforming double-faced card, it can’t transform. Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a transforming double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, “Transform all Humans.” Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a transforming double-faced card, it will transform. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn. Example: A player controls Blackbloom Rogue, a Human Rogue that’s the front face of a modal double-faced card. They cast Moonmist. Blackbloom Rogue doesn’t transform.
  9. Wording changed712.5Details
    Only permanents represented by transforming double-faced cards can transform or convert. (See rule 701.28, "Transform," and rule 701.50, "Convert.") If a spell or ability instructs a player to transform or convert any permanent that isn't represented by a transforming double-faced card, nothing happens. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a transforming double-faced card). The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. Because the Clone is itself not a transforming double-faced card, it can't transform. Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a transforming double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, "Transform all Humans." Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a transforming double-faced card, it will transform. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn. Example: A player controls Blackbloom Rogue, a Human Rogue that's the front face of a modal double-faced card. They cast Moonmist. Blackbloom Rogue doesn't transform.
  10. Wording changed & Renumbered712.5 → 712.9Details

    Previously
    7. Additional Rules
    712. Double-Faced Cards

    Then
    7. Additional Rules
    712. Double-Faced Cards

    Only transforming tokens and permanents represented by transforming double-faced cards can transform or convert. (See rule 701.28, "Transform," and rule 701.50, "Convert.") If a spell or ability instructs a player to transform or convert any permanent that isn't a transforming token or isn't represented by a transforming double-faced card, nothing happens. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a transforming double-faced card). The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. Because the Clone is itself not a transforming double-faced card, it can't transform. Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a transforming double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, "Transform all Humans." Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a transforming double-faced card, it will transform. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn. Example: A player controls Blackbloom Rogue, a Human Rogue that's the front face of a modal double-faced card. They cast Moonmist. Blackbloom Rogue doesn't transform.
  11. Wording changed712.9Details
    Only transforming tokens and permanents represented by transforming double-faced cards can transform or convert. (See rule 701.2827, "Transform," and rule 701.5028, "Convert.") If a spell or ability instructs a player to transform or convert any permanent that isn't a transforming token or isn't represented by a transforming double-faced card, nothing happens. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a transforming double-faced card). The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. Because the Clone is itself not a transforming double-faced card, it can't transform. Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a transforming double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, "Transform all Humans." Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a transforming double-faced card, it will transform. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn. Example: A player controls Blackbloom Rogue, a Human Rogue that's the front face of a modal double-faced card. They cast Moonmist. Blackbloom Rogue doesn't transform.
  12. Wording changed712.9Details
    Only transforming tokens and permanents represented by transformingdouble-faced tokens and double-faced cards that are not meld cards can transform or convert. (See rule 701.27, "Transform," and rule 701.28, "Convert.") If a spell or ability instructs a player to transform or convert any permanent that isn't represented by a transformingdouble-faced token or isn't represented by a transforming double-faced card, nothing happens. Example: A Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of Wildblood Pack (the back face of a transforming double-faced card). The Clone will be a copy of the Wildblood Pack. Because the Clone is itself not a transforming double-faced card, it can't transform. Example: A player casts Cytoshape, causing a Kruin Outlaw (the front face of a transforming double-faced card) to become a copy of Elite Vanguard (a 2/1 Human Soldier creature) until end of turn. The player then casts Moonmist, which reads, in part, "Transform all Humans." Because the copy of Elite Vanguard is a transforming double-faced card, it will transform. The resulting permanent will have its back face up, but it will still be a copy of Elite Vanguard that turn. Example: A player controls Blackbloom Rogue, a Human Rogue that's the front face of a modal double-faced card. They cast Moonmist. Blackbloom Rogue doesn't transform.

Current in the latest available Rules
Unchanged since 2026-08-07.