Duplicant MTG Card


Duplicant provides card advantage by exiling creatures and adopting their stats. The card’s six mana cost can prove prohibitive for some deck strategies. Its versatility and combo potential make it a valuable collection addition.
Card setsReleased in 13 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeArtifact Creature — Shapeshifter
Abilities Imprint
Power 2
Toughness 4

Text of card

Imprint When Duplicant comes into play, you may remove target nontoken creature from the game. (The removed card is imprinted on this artifact.) As long as a creature card is imprinted on Duplicant, Duplicant has that card's power, toughness, and creature types. It's still a Shapeshifter.


Cards like Duplicant

Duplicant offers a unique twist on creature removal within Magic: The Gathering, sitting alongside cards like Phyrexian Ingester and Ravenous Chupacabra in the realm of creature interaction. Much like Phyrexian Ingester, Duplicant consumes another creature to gain its power and toughness, providing not just removal, but also a potential shift in board presence. However, Duplicant has the added versatility of being colorless, allowing it to fit into any deck regardless of its color identity. Unlike the Ingester, Duplicant also exiles, ensuring its target doesn’t come back from the graveyard.

Comparatively, Ravenous Chupacabra might seem more simple with its enter-the-battlefield kill effect, but it does not offer the stat modification Duplicant does. Moreover, Duplicant’s ability to handle indestructible creatures due to its exile mechanic sets it apart in utility. On the other hand, the Chupacabra is able to affect the board instantly due to not requiring mana to activate its ability upon entering the battlefield, which can be a crucial difference in tight game states.

Each card has its scenarios where it shines, providing players with strategic flexibility. However, Duplicant’s combination of removal and potential for power conversion gives it a notable position within MTG’s catalog of versatile creature removal artifacts.

Phyrexian Ingester - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Chupacabra - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Ingester - MTG Card versions
Ravenous Chupacabra - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Duplicant by color, type and mana cost

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Mirror Golem - MTG Card versions
Razor Golem - MTG Card versions
Mycosynth Lattice - MTG Card versions
Leashling - MTG Card versions
Clockwork Beast - MTG Card versions
Triskelion - MTG Card versions
Armageddon Clock - MTG Card versions
Mirror Universe - MTG Card versions
Sword of the Ages - MTG Card versions
Planar Gate - MTG Card versions
Urza's Avenger - MTG Card versions
Bronze Tablet - MTG Card versions
Joven's Tools - MTG Card versions
Serpent Generator - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Sculpture - MTG Card versions
Workhorse - MTG Card versions
Well of Discovery - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Hulk - MTG Card versions
Wurmcoil Engine - MTG Card versions
Brass Herald - MTG Card versions
Mirror Golem - MTG Card versions
Razor Golem - MTG Card versions
Mycosynth Lattice - MTG Card versions
Leashling - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Duplicant shines in its ability to not only remove a creature from the field but also to adopt its power and toughness. This characteristic creates a two-fold benefit: decreasing your opponent’s resources while potentially bolstering your own board presence, a clear and valuable card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly ramping your mana, Duplicant’s unique mechanic can accelerate your game plan by removing key threats or problematic creatures from your opponents, paving the way for your own creatures and strategies to connect more effectively.

Instant Speed: Although Duplicant operates at sorcery speed, its imprint ability is triggered upon entering the battlefield. This means that when played with cards that can flash creatures onto the battlefield, you can experience the benefits of instant-speed interaction, making Duplicant a versatile component in any deck that can manipulate timings.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Duplicant doesn’t directly require you to discard a card, playing it effectively in your deck means having the right creatures to exile, which at times can feel like a hidden discard cost if you’re sacrificing your own creature resources.

Specific Mana Cost: Duplicant asks for a sizeable chunk of colorless mana — six to be exact. This precise requirement makes it less flexible in the mana curve of some decks and can be a challenge to cast in decks that are not heavily artifact-oriented or lack ample mana ramp.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Duplicant does offer a unique exile effect on a creature body, the six-mana cost can be steep, especially when cheaper removal options exist. In faster-paced games, having to wait for six mana can be a significant delay, potentially giving opponents an edge over you.


Reasons to Include Duplicant in Your Collection

Versatility: Duplicant offers a unique adaptability, suiting multiple styles of play. This artifact creature seamlessly integrates into artifact-centric decks as well as those favoring creature removal, making it a flexible pick for various strategies.

Combo Potential: With its ability to exile creatures upon entering the battlefield, Duplicant is a fantastic enabler for strategies revolving around graveyard manipulation and eases the way for potential combos, especially in Commander formats where it can act as recurring control.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creatures often dictate the pace, Duplicant holds its ground as an ever-relevant tool. Its presence is particularly felt in metas heavy with potent creatures, giving its controller a significant edge by dealing with threats without being restricted by color.


How to beat

Duplicant is a unique and adaptable card in the landscape of MTG, often playing a significant role in disrupting opponents’ strategies. This artifact creature shines in its ability to exile target nontoken creatures. When it comes to facing down this card, consider using evasion tactics. Transforming Duplicant into a less desirable target for its ability is key; employing shroud or hexproof effects protects your creatures from being exiled. Also, since Duplicant relies on its imprint ability to gain power and toughness, cards that blank abilities can render it a mere shell, unable to threaten with combat.

Graveyard recursion can also be a thorn in Duplicant’s side. Using cards that can retrieve creatures from the graveyard mitigates the loss from Duplicant’s exile effect. Lastly, instant-speed removal or sacrifice effects can circumvent Duplicant’s ability by removing your creature from play in response, ensuring it’s not around for Duplicant to target. Strategic deckbuilding and keen awareness during gameplay are vital in neutralizing the impact Duplicant may have on the battlefield.

With these strategies in mind, one can effectively navigate around the challenges posed by the Duplicant card and maintain the upper hand in their MTG matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the game of MTG goes beyond understanding individual cards; it’s about assembling a deck that works harmoniously to secure victories. With Duplicant, you have a tool that offers removal and adaptation, enhancing your ability to respond to the shifting tides of battle. We invite you to dive deeper into the strategic uses of Duplicant, from leveraging its imprint mechanic to exploring combos that can turn the game in your favor. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the MTG arena, integrating cards like Duplicant can elevate your gameplay. Explore more strategies and refine your collection with us. Discover how to optimize Duplicant’s potential in your MTG endeavors.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Duplicant MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Mirrodin, 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 Duplicant and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Duplicant Magic the Gathering card was released in 13 different sets between 2003-10-02 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 479832003NormalBlackMarco Nelor
22003-10-02MirrodinMRD 1652003NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa
32010-06-18ArchenemyARC 1062003NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa
42011-05-14Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New PhyrexiaTD2 172003NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa
52012-11-02Commander's ArsenalCM1 72003NormalBlackMarco Nelor
62015-11-18Legendary Cube Prize PackPZ1 1222015NormalBlackMarco Nelor
72016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 2202015NormalBlackMarco Nelor
82016-09-30Kaladesh InventionsMPS 352015NormalBlackSlawomir Maniak
92018-08-09Commander 2018C18 2052015NormalBlackMarco Nelor
102020-08-07Double Masters2XM 2492015NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa
112021-04-23Commander 2021C21 2422015NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa
122023-04-21March of the Machine CommanderMOC 3552015NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa
132023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 9462015NormalBlackThomas M. Baxa

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Duplicant has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-08-07 Abilities that define a * in a creature's power and toughness apply while that card is in exile, but abilities that add or subtract power and toughness don't. For example, the ability of Crusader of Odric applies to determine Duplicant's power and toughness, but the ability of Death's Shadow doesn't.
2020-08-07 Duplicant's base power and toughness change to the imprinted card's power and toughness. Counters and other effects that modify Duplicant's power and toughness still apply.
2020-08-07 Duplicant's power and toughness are constantly updated if the exiled card's power and/or toughness change.
2020-08-07 If a melded permanent or a merged permanent is exiled by Duplicant's triggered ability, that ability's controller chooses the relative timestamp of the exiled cards. Duplicant looks at the information of the one with the latest timestamp.