Mirror of the Forebears — ruling 1

Once the second ability of Mirror of the Forebears resolves, it no longer has that ability.

Mirror of the Forebears — ruling 2

Mirror of the Forebears copies the printed values of the target creature, plus any copy effects that have been applied to it. It won’t copy counters on that creature or effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on. Notably, it won’t copy effects that made the target creature become a creature.

Mirror of the Forebears — ruling 3

Mirror of the Forebears becomes an artifact in addition to its other types. This is a copiable value that other effects may copy.

Mirror of the Forebears — ruling 4

If Mirror of the Forebears copies a creature that’s copying something else, it will become whatever the target is copying.

Mirror of the Forebears — ruling 5

If you activate the second ability of Mirror of the Forebears multiple times in a turn in response to itself, then each time one of those abilities resolves, it will overwrite whatever Mirror of the Forebears is copying. Mirror of the Forebears will wind up as a copy of the permanent targeted by the last ability to resolve. When the turn ends, all instances of the ability will wear off at the same time.

Mirror of the Forebears — ruling 6

If an effect begins to apply to Mirror of the Forebears before it becomes a copy of another permanent, that effect will continue to apply. For example, if Mirror of the Forebears is activated twice in response to itself targeting first Spirit of the Hearth then Temur Sabertooth, the ability it has while it’s a copy of Temur Sabertooth can be activated and its effect will continue to apply while Mirror of the Forebears is a copy of Spirit of the Hearth.

Mirror of the Forebears — ruling 7

If Mirror of the Forebears becomes a creature the same turn it enters the battlefield, you can’t attack with it or use any of its {T} abilities (if it gains any) unless it has haste.

Mirror of the Forebears — ruling 8

If Mirror of the Forebears becomes a copy of a legendary creature you control, you’ll put one of them into your graveyard.

Mirror of the Forebears : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Mirror of the Forebears 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

As this artifact enters, choose a creature type. : Until end of turn, this artifact becomes a copy of target creature you control of the chosen type, except it's an artifact in addition to its other types.

Complete guide

Mirror of the Forebears is a versatile artifact that allows you to double your most impactful creatures for a minimal mana investment. By mimicking a specific creature type chosen upon entry, it provides redundancy and extra utility for tribal decks.

How it Works

As Mirror of the Forebears enters the battlefield, you must choose an existing creature type. This choice is vital because the artifact's activated ability can only target creatures you control that share that chosen type. For just one mana, the Mirror transforms into a copy of the target creature until the end of the turn, maintaining its artifact status in addition to any other types it gains.

The Copy Process Step-by-Step

First, activate the ability by paying {1} and targeting a creature of the chosen type. Upon resolution, the Mirror copies the printed values of that creature, including name, mana cost, power, and toughness. Crucially, it does not copy counters or temporary buffs. Because the Mirror becomes a copy, it loses its original copy ability until the effect wears off at the end of the turn. If it becomes a creature on the turn it was played, it will have summoning sickness.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake involves choosing a creature type that the Mirror then tries to copy to gain an 'enters-the-battlefield' trigger. Since the Mirror is already on the battlefield when it transforms, it will not trigger 'as this enters' or 'when this enters' abilities of the creature it copies. Additionally, if you copy a Legendary creature, the 'Legend Rule' applies immediately, forcing you to put one of the two permanents into your graveyard.

When to Play It

Mirror of the Forebears is most effective in decks focused on a single creature type, such as Elves, Goblins, or Dragons. It acts as a cheap way to gain an extra attacker or a second instance of a powerful static ability. Use it during your main phase to maximize the value of the copied creature's abilities or during combat to surprise your opponent with an extra blocker.

Interaction examples

Generating Mana Early

Sol Ring

Arcane Signet

Suppose you have Mirror of the Forebears on the battlefield with 'Human' chosen as the creature type. You control a Human creature that has an ability to produce mana. You can use mana from Sol Ring to activate the Mirror's ability. The Mirror becomes a copy of that Human, allowing you to use the Arcane Signet to pay for other spells while your new 'Mirror-Human' contributes its own abilities to the board state.

The Legend Rule Interaction

Sol Ring

If you use mana from a Sol Ring to turn Mirror of the Forebears into a copy of a legendary creature you control, the game checks state-based actions immediately. You will control two legendary permanents with the same name. You must choose one to keep and put the other into your graveyard. This is rarely beneficial unless you specifically need a 'dies' trigger.

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

How it works : Mirror of the Forebears

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1August 25, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
Once the second ability of Mirror of the Forebears resolves, it no longer has that ability.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2August 25, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
Mirror of the Forebears copies the printed values of the target creature, plus any copy effects that have been applied to it. It won’t copy counters on that creature or effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on. Notably, it won’t copy effects that made the target creature become a creature.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3August 25, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
Mirror of the Forebears becomes an artifact in addition to its other types. This is a copiable value that other effects may copy.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4August 25, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
If Mirror of the Forebears copies a creature that’s copying something else, it will become whatever the target is copying.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5August 25, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
If you activate the second ability of Mirror of the Forebears multiple times in a turn in response to itself, then each time one of those abilities resolves, it will overwrite whatever Mirror of the Forebears is copying. Mirror of the Forebears will wind up as a copy of the permanent targeted by the last ability to resolve. When the turn ends, all instances of the ability will wear off at the same time.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6August 25, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect begins to apply to Mirror of the Forebears before it becomes a copy of another permanent, that effect will continue to apply. For example, if Mirror of the Forebears is activated twice in response to itself targeting first Spirit of the Hearth then Temur Sabertooth, the ability it has while it’s a copy of Temur Sabertooth can be activated and its effect will continue to apply while Mirror of the Forebears is a copy of Spirit of the Hearth.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7August 25, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
If Mirror of the Forebears becomes a creature the same turn it enters the battlefield, you can’t attack with it or use any of its abilities (if it gains any) unless it has haste.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8August 25, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
If Mirror of the Forebears becomes a copy of a legendary creature you control, you’ll put one of them into your graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9August 25, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
If you somehow control a Mirror of the Forebears with no chosen creature type, its activated ability can’t be activated.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#10August 25, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
If Mirror of the Forebears becomes a copy of a creature that itself has an ability that asks you to choose a creature type as it enters the battlefield and another ability that references “the chosen creature type,” that ability won’t have a choice made for it. You won’t use the type chosen for Mirror of the Forebears.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#11August 25, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
You must choose an existing creature type, such as Vampire or Cat. Card types such as “artifact” can’t be chosen.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#12August 25, 2017· Wizards of the Coast
You can’t choose multiple creature types, such as “Cat Warrior.” A Cat Warrior is both a Cat and a Warrior. It’s affected by anything that affects either type and unaffected by things that affect non-Cat or non-Warrior creatures.
No other card is named in this ruling.