Slick Imitator — ruling 1

Your speed doesn’t change until a spell or ability says so, such as the inherent triggered ability that cares about opponents losing life during your turn. Notably, losing control of permanents with start your engines! doesn’t affect your speed.

Slick Imitator — ruling 2

Each player tracks their speed (or lack thereof) separately. Increasing your speed has no effect on whether another player has speed.

Slick Imitator — ruling 3

If an effect needs to know what a player’s speed is and that player doesn’t have a speed, their speed is considered 0.

Slick Imitator — ruling 4

Start your engines! isn’t a triggered ability. Increasing your speed to 1 is something that happens as a state-based action as soon as you control a permanent with the ability. Notably, this includes gaining control of a permanent with the ability that another player controls.

Slick Imitator — ruling 5

Your speed doesn’t change until a spell or ability says so, such as the inherent triggered ability that cares about opponents losing life during your turn. Notably, losing control of permanents with start your engines! doesn’t affect your speed.

Slick Imitator — ruling 6

Each player tracks their speed (or lack thereof) separately. Increasing your speed has no effect on whether another player has speed.

Slick Imitator — ruling 7

If an effect needs to know what a player’s speed is and that player doesn’t have a speed, their speed is considered 0.

Slick Imitator — ruling 8

A player “has max speed” if their speed is 4.

Slick Imitator : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Slick Imitator 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

Start your engines! (If you have no speed, it starts at 1. It increases once on each of your turns when an opponent loses life. Max speed is 4.) Max speed — , Sacrifice this creature: Copy target spell you control. You may choose new targets for the copy. (A copy of a permanent spell becomes a token.)

Complete guide

Slick Imitator is a versatile blue creature that utilizes the unique 'start your engines!' mechanic to reward aggressive play. By pressuring your opponents, you can accelerate your speed and eventually transform this Ooze into a powerful copy of your best spells. This card is a fantastic addition to decks that can consistently deal damage while holding onto impactful spells to duplicate.

Understanding Speed and Start Your Engines!

When you control Slick Imitator, you immediately gain a speed of 1 if you didn't have one before. On each of your turns, whenever an opponent loses life, your speed increases by 1, up to a maximum of 4. This speed tracking is independent for each player and persists even if Slick Imitator leaves the battlefield. Note that your speed only increases once per turn from this triggered ability, regardless of how many opponents lose life or how much life they lose.

Reaching Max Speed

Once your speed reaches 4, you have 'max speed.' This unlocks Slick Imitator's activated ability. For one mana and the sacrifice of the creature, you can copy any spell you control on the stack. If the targeted spell is a permanent spell, such as a creature or artifact, the copy enters the battlefield as a token copy of that permanent. You also have the flexibility to choose new targets for the copy if the original spell requires them.

Step-by-Step Resolution

First, you must reach speed 4 by having opponents lose life across multiple turns. Once at max speed, cast a spell you wish to copy. While that spell is on the stack, pay {1} and sacrifice Slick Imitator to activate its ability. When the ability resolves, it creates a copy of the target spell. The copy is placed on the stack above the original, meaning it will resolve first. If you copied a permanent spell, the copy resolves and becomes a token on the battlefield.

Strategic Implementation

Because Slick Imitator requires you to sacrifice it to get the copy, timing is everything. It is often best to wait until you have a high-impact spell or a spell that provides significant utility before pulling the trigger. Remember that since 'Max speed' abilities function as long as you have that speed, you don't need Slick Imitator on the battlefield to keep your speed level; you only need it there to activate the copy ability once you hit the limit.

Interaction examples

Accelerating the Engine

Ornithopter of Paradise

With Slick Imitator on the battlefield, you have speed 1. If you attack an opponent with Ornithopter of Paradise (assuming it has been buffed to deal damage) and they lose life, your speed increases to 2. This puts you halfway to unlocking the powerful copy ability.

Constructing a Duplicate

Foundry Inspector

If you are at max speed (4), you can cast Foundry Inspector for {2} (or {3} normally). While Foundry Inspector is on the stack, you pay {1} and sacrifice Slick Imitator. You now have a copy of the Foundry Inspector spell on the stack. The copy resolves first, becoming a token copy of Foundry Inspector. Because you now have a Foundry Inspector on the field, the original Foundry Inspector spell's cost was already paid, but any subsequent artifact spells you cast will now cost {2} less because you have two Inspectors.

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

How it works : Slick Imitator

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1February 7, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Your speed doesn’t change until a spell or ability says so, such as the inherent triggered ability that cares about opponents losing life during your turn. Notably, losing control of permanents with start your engines! doesn’t affect your speed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2February 7, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Each player tracks their speed (or lack thereof) separately. Increasing your speed has no effect on whether another player has speed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3February 7, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect needs to know what a player’s speed is and that player doesn’t have a speed, their speed is considered 0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4February 7, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Start your engines! isn’t a triggered ability. Increasing your speed to 1 is something that happens as a state-based action as soon as you control a permanent with the ability. Notably, this includes gaining control of a permanent with the ability that another player controls.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5February 7, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Your speed doesn’t change until a spell or ability says so, such as the inherent triggered ability that cares about opponents losing life during your turn. Notably, losing control of permanents with start your engines! doesn’t affect your speed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6February 7, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Each player tracks their speed (or lack thereof) separately. Increasing your speed has no effect on whether another player has speed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7February 7, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect needs to know what a player’s speed is and that player doesn’t have a speed, their speed is considered 0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8February 7, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
A player “has max speed” if their speed is 4.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9February 7, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
“Max speed — [ability]” means “As long as you have max speed, this object has [ability].” If the granted ability functions in a zone other than the battlefield, the max speed ability does too.
No other card is named in this ruling.