Splinter Twin 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
Enchant creature Enchanted creature has ": Create a token that's a copy of this creature, except it has haste. Exile that token at the beginning of the next end step."
Complete guide
Splinter Twin is a powerful Aura capable of generating a relentless stream of creatures by imprinting its essence onto a host. This card is famous for its ability to create game-ending combinations, provided you understand how copying and timing interact.
What it does
Splinter Twin is an Aura that attaches to a creature and grants it a new activated ability. By tapping the enchanted creature, its controller creates a token that is an exact copy of that creature, with the added benefit of haste. However, this magical duplicate is temporary and will be exiled at the beginning of the next end step.
How it resolves step by step
First, you tap the enchanted creature to activate the ability granted by Splinter Twin. When the ability resolves, a token enters the battlefield copying the creature's base characteristics (as printed on the card) but not any temporary buffs, counters, or the Splinter Twin Aura itself. If the creature has an 'enters' ability, it triggers now. The token gains haste immediately, allowing it to attack or tap the same turn. Finally, a delayed triggered ability is created that will exile the token when the next end step begins.
Common Mistakes
A common misconception is that the token also has the Splinter Twin ability; it does not, as the ability is granted by the Aura, not part of the creature's copiable values. Additionally, players often forget that if the enchanted creature is legendary, the 'Legend Rule' applies immediately, forcing you to move one of them to the graveyard. Also, remember that if the ability is activated during an end step, the token stays until the end step of the following turn.
When to play it
Ideally, you should activate the ability at the end of your opponent's turn if you want the token to survive through your own turn, or during your main phase if you need an immediate attacker. Since the token has haste, it is perfect for aggressive plays or utilizing creatures with powerful tap abilities.
Interaction examples
Shared AnimosityWhen you use Splinter Twin to create a copy of a creature, you increase your creature count for effects like Shared Animosity. If you create a token and then attack with both the original and the copy, Shared Animosity will trigger for each, checking how many creatures share a type. The token's presence ensures both attackers receive a larger power bonus before damage is dealt.
Aggravated AssaultBecause Splinter Twin grants the token haste, the token is ready to participate in multiple combat phases. If you use Aggravated Assault to untap your creatures and gain an additional combat phase, the token created by Splinter Twin can attack again. Note that the token will still be exiled at the beginning of the next end step, regardless of how many extra combat phases you take.
CopyIf you enchant a simple creature with Splinter Twin and tap it, you use a Copy token to represent the duplicate. This token enters with haste. Even if your opponent destroys Splinter Twin or the original creature after the ability has been activated, the Copy token will still be created when the ability resolves, using the creature's last known information.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Splinter Twin
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the enchanted creature is legendary, you will have to put either the original creature or the token into the graveyard as a state-based action.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The token that's put onto the battlefield copies exactly what's printed on the enchanted creature (unless that creature is copying something else or it's a token; see below), plus it has haste. It doesn't copy whether the enchanted creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras attached to it, or whether it's been affected by any noncopy effects that changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on. In particular, it doesn't copy the ability granted to the enchanted creature by Splinter Twin.
Card named in this ruling
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If the enchanted creature is copying something else when the ability resolves (for example, if it's a Renegade Doppelganger), then the token enters as a copy of whatever the enchanted creature is copying, plus it has haste.
Card named in this ruling
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If the enchanted creature is a token, the new token copies the characteristics of the original token as stated by the effect that put it onto the battlefield, plus it has haste.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If the enchanted creature has
in its mana cost (such as Protean Hydra), X is considered to be zero.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
Any "enters" abilities of the enchanted creature will trigger when the token is put onto the battlefield. Any "as [this creature] enters" or "[this creature] enters with" abilities of the enchanted creature will also work.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Splinter Twin grants an activated ability to the enchanted creature. That creature's controller (who is not necessarily the Aura's controller) can activate it. The creature's controller is the player who gets the token.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
If you activate the ability and the enchanted creature leaves the battlefield before the ability resolves, you still get a token. The enchanted creature's last existence on the battlefield is checked to see what it was (specifically, if it was itself or if it was copying something else).
Card named in this ruling
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
The token is exiled at the beginning of the next end step regardless of who controls it at that time, or whether Splinter Twin or the enchanted creature is still on the battlefield at that time.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
If the ability is activated during a turn's end step, the token will be exiled at the beginning of the following turn's end step.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #11· Wizards of the Coast
If the token isn't exiled when the delayed triggered ability resolves (due to Stifle, perhaps), it remains on the battlefield indefinitely. It continues to have haste.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #12· Wizards of the Coast
The token will not be kicked, even if the creature it's copying was.
Card named in this ruling
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Splinter Twin + Zealous Conscripts
- 1Activate Zealous Conscripts by tapping it, creating a token copy of itself with haste.
- 2When the token Zealous Conscripts enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping the nontoken Zealous Conscripts.
- 3Repeat.
Combat Celebrant + Splinter Twin
- 1Activate Combat Celebrant by tapping it, making a token copy of itself with haste.
- 2Proceed to your combat step.
- 3Declare the Combat Celebrant copy as an attacker, choosing to exert it as it attacks.
- 4The Combat Celebrant copy triggers, untapping all other creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 5Repeat.
Splinter Twin + Village Bell-Ringer
- 1Activate Village Bell-Ringer by tapping it, creating a token copy of itself with haste.
- 2When the token Village Bell-Ringer enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping all creatures you control.
- 3Repeat.
Port Razer + Splinter Twin
- 1Activate Port Razer's ability from Splinter Twin by tapping it, creating a token copy of Port Razer with haste.
- 2Declare the newest Port Razer copy as an attacker.
- 3When the token copy of Port Razer deals combat damage to an opponent, it triggers, untapping all your creatures and creating an additional combat phase after this one.
- 4Repeat.
Splinter Twin + Coercive Recruiter
- 1Activate Coercive Recruiter by tapping it, creating a token copy of itself with haste.
- 2When the token Coercive Recruiter enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping the nontoken Coercive Recruiter.
- 3Repeat.
Goblin Sharpshooter + Splinter Twin
- 1Activate Goblin Sharpshooter's ability from Splinter Twin by tapping it, creating a token copy of Goblin Sharpshooter with haste.
- 2Activate the token copy of Goblin Sharpshooter by tapping it, dealing 1 damage to itself.
- 3The token copy of Goblin Sharpshooter dies, triggering the nontoken Goblin Sharpshooter, untapping it.
- 4Repeat.
- 5Alternatively, if you have a way to cause any creature besides the Goblin Sharpshooters to die, for instance by targeting a 1-toughness creature in step 2, you can untap Goblin Sharpshooter an additional time and repeat step 1 one additional time before continuing the combo.
- 6This will leave you with one additional surviving Goblin Sharpshooter token, which can activate itself once per loop for infinite damage to any targets.
Splinter Twin + Thornbite Staff
- 1Activate the legendary creature with Splinter Twin and Thornbite Staff attached by tapping it, creating a token copy of it with haste.
- 2Put the token legendary creature into your graveyard due to the legend rule.
- 3When the creature token dies, the legendary creature triggers, untapping itself.
- 4Repeat.
Splinter Twin + Deceiver Exarch
- 1Activate Deceiver Exarch by tapping it, creating a token copy of itself with haste.
- 2When the token Deceiver Exarch enters the battlefield, it triggers, untapping the nontoken Deceiver Exarch.
- 3Repeat.
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
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