Clever Impersonator — ruling 1

Remember that if you control more than one legendary permanent with the same name, you'll choose one to remain on the battlefield and put the rest into their owner's graveyard.

Clever Impersonator — ruling 2

If Clever Impersonator enters the battlefield as a copy of a planeswalker, it will enter the battlefield with a number of loyalty counters on it equal to the loyalty printed in the lower right corner of the planeswalker card. It won't copy the number of loyalty counters on the original planeswalker.

Clever Impersonator — ruling 3

Clever Impersonator copies exactly what is printed on the chosen permanent (unless that permanent is copying something else or is a token; see below). It doesn't copy whether that permanent is tapped or untapped, whether that permanent has any counters on it or any Auras and/or Equipment attached to it, and it doesn't copy any non-copy effects that have changed that permanent's power, toughness, types, color, abilities, or so on.

Clever Impersonator — ruling 4

If the chosen permanent has {X} in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.

Clever Impersonator — ruling 5

Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the chosen permanent will trigger when Clever Impersonator enters the battlefield. Any "as [this permanent] enters the battlefield" or "[this permanent] enters the battlefield with" abilities of the chosen permanent will also work.

Clever Impersonator — ruling 6

You can choose not to copy anything. In that case, Clever Impersonator enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature, and it's put into the graveyard immediately (unless something is raising its toughness above 0).

Clever Impersonator — ruling 7

You choose which nonland permanent Clever Impersonator will copy, if any, as it enters the battlefield. This doesn't target that nonland permanent.

Clever Impersonator — ruling 8

If the chosen permanent is a copy of something else (for example, if the chosen permanent is another Clever Impersonator), then your Clever Impersonator enters the battlefield as whatever the chosen permanent copied.

Clever Impersonator : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Clever Impersonator is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

You may have this creature enter as a copy of any nonland permanent on the battlefield.

Complete guide

Clever Impersonator is one of the most versatile tools in a Blue mage's arsenal, offering a way to turn the tables on any opponent. Unlike traditional Clones, this Shapeshifter isn't limited to creatures, allowing you to replicate anything from a game-winning artifact to a powerful planeswalker. Understanding how its copy ability interacts with the stack and the battlefield is key to mastering its potential.

A True Master of Disguise

Clever Impersonator functions by allowing you to choose a nonland permanent on the battlefield as it enters. It doesn't just copy the creature type; it copies the mana cost, name, card types, and all printed abilities. Because this ability does not target, it can copy permanents with Shroud or Hexproof, as you only make the choice during the resolution of the spell as it physically enters the battlefield.

The Step-by-Step Resolution

When you cast Clever Impersonator, you do not choose what to copy yet. As the spell resolves and moves from the stack to the battlefield, you decide which nonland permanent it will look like. If you choose a permanent with an 'enters the battlefield' trigger, that ability will trigger once Clever Impersonator is on the field. If you choose not to copy anything, it enters as a 0/0 Shapeshifter and will likely be put into the graveyard immediately due to state-based actions.

Common Mistakes and Counters

A frequent point of confusion involves counters and current states. Clever Impersonator only copies the 'copiable values'—essentially what is printed on the card. It does not copy loyalty counters on a planeswalker, +1/+1 counters on a creature, or whether a permanent is currently tapped. If you copy a token, you copy the characteristics defined by the effect that created it, but the Impersonator itself remains a non-token card.

Strategic Timing

Since Clever Impersonator cannot copy anything entering the battlefield at the exact same time as itself, you must ensure your desired target is already resolved. It is best used to respond to an opponent's threat or to double up on your own powerful utility pieces. Remember the Legend Rule: if you copy your own legendary permanent, you will have to choose one to keep and put the other into the graveyard.

Interaction examples

Ramping Up the Value

Solemn Simulacrum

If you have Clever Impersonator enter as a copy of Solemn Simulacrum, it will trigger the enter-the-battlefield ability of the Golem. You will be able to search your library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Furthermore, because it has successfully copied the card, it will also gain the 'When this creature dies, you may draw a card' ability.

Doubling Tribal Triggers

Roaming Throne

When Clever Impersonator enters as Roaming Throne, it will prompt you to choose a creature type just like the original. If you choose 'Golem', you now have two permanents that make Golem abilities trigger an additional time. Because the Impersonator copies the Ward {2} ability as well, it becomes just as difficult for your opponent to remove as the original.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Clever Impersonator

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
Remember that if you control more than one legendary permanent with the same name, you'll choose one to remain on the battlefield and put the rest into their owner's graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
If Clever Impersonator enters the battlefield as a copy of a planeswalker, it will enter the battlefield with a number of loyalty counters on it equal to the loyalty printed in the lower right corner of the planeswalker card. It won't copy the number of loyalty counters on the original planeswalker.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
Clever Impersonator copies exactly what is printed on the chosen permanent (unless that permanent is copying something else or is a token; see below). It doesn't copy whether that permanent is tapped or untapped, whether that permanent has any counters on it or any Auras and/or Equipment attached to it, and it doesn't copy any non-copy effects that have changed that permanent's power, toughness, types, color, abilities, or so on.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
If the chosen permanent has in its mana cost, X is considered to be 0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the chosen permanent will trigger when Clever Impersonator enters the battlefield. Any "as [this permanent] enters the battlefield" or "[this permanent] enters the battlefield with" abilities of the chosen permanent will also work.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
You can choose not to copy anything. In that case, Clever Impersonator enters the battlefield as a 0/0 creature, and it's put into the graveyard immediately (unless something is raising its toughness above 0).
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
You choose which nonland permanent Clever Impersonator will copy, if any, as it enters the battlefield. This doesn't target that nonland permanent.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
If the chosen permanent is a copy of something else (for example, if the chosen permanent is another Clever Impersonator), then your Clever Impersonator enters the battlefield as whatever the chosen permanent copied.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
If the chosen permanent is a token, Clever Impersonator copies the original characteristics of that token as defined by the effect that put that token onto the battlefield. Clever Impersonator is not a token.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#10September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
If Clever Impersonator enters the battlefield at the same time as another permanent, it can't become a copy of that permanent. You may choose only a nonland permanent that's already on the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.