Nightsky Mimic 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
Whenever you cast a spell that's both white and black, this creature has base power and toughness 4/4 until end of turn and gains flying until end of turn.
Complete guide
Nightsky Mimic is a versatile Shapeshifter that capitalizes on the synergy of Orzhov magic. By casting spells that share both of its colors, you can transform this modest 2/1 into a formidable 4/4 aerial threat. This guide will walk you through the nuances of its triggered ability to ensure you get the most value out of every multicolored spell.
Unpacking the Transformation
Nightsky Mimic features a triggered ability that responds whenever you cast a spell that is both white and black. When this trigger resolves, the Mimic's base power and toughness become 4/4 and it gains flying until the end of the turn. It is important to note that the spell only needs to be white and black; it can also be other colors, such as blue or red, and still trigger the ability.
Layering Power and Toughness
When the ability resolves, it sets the creature's 'base' power and toughness. This means it will overwrite any previous effects that set its power to a specific number. However, it does not remove counters or static bonuses. For example, if Nightsky Mimic has a +1/+1 counter on it, it will become a 5/5 (4/4 base +1/+1 from the counter). If an effect switches its power and toughness, that switch always happens last.
Strategic Timing
Because the ability triggers upon casting, Nightsky Mimic will usually be a 4/4 flyer before the spell you cast even resolves. This makes it an excellent offensive tool. If you cast multiple white and black spells in a single turn, the ability will trigger each time. While the stats won't stack (it stays a base 4/4), the most recent trigger will overwrite any power-setting debuffs applied to the Mimic earlier in the turn.
Interaction examples
Esper SentinelIf you cast Esper Sentinel, Nightsky Mimic's ability will not trigger. Although Esper Sentinel is white, it is not also black. The Mimic requires the spell to be both colors simultaneously to activate its transformation.
Blood ArtistCasting Blood Artist will not trigger Nightsky Mimic. Even though Blood Artist fits the black color requirement, it lacks the white component necessary to satisfy the 'both white and black' condition of the Mimic's ability.
With Nightsky Mimic already on the battlefield, you cast a spell with a mana cost of one white and one black mana. The Mimic's ability goes on the stack above your spell. The ability resolves first, turning the Mimic into a 4/4 with flying. Then, your spell resolves. You now have a 4/4 flyer ready to attack if it was already under your control at the start of the turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Nightsky Mimic
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The effect from the ability overwrites other effects that set power and/or toughness if and only if those effects existed before the ability resolved. It will not overwrite effects that modify power or toughness (whether from a static ability, counters, or a resolved spell or ability), nor will it overwrite effects that set power and toughness which come into existence after the ability resolves. Effects that switch the creature’s power and toughness are always applied after any other power or toughness changing effects, including this one, regardless of the order in which they are created.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Any other abilities the Mimic may have gained are not affected.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The ability triggers whenever you cast a spell that’s both of its listed colors. It doesn’t matter whether that spell also happens to be any other colors.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If you cast a spell that’s the two appropriate colors for the second time in a turn, the ability triggers again. The Mimic will once again become the power and toughness stated in its ability, which could overwrite power- and toughness-setting effects that have been applied to it in the meantime.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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