Sunfrill 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
Whenever this creature attacks, you may have it become a copy of another target Dinosaur you control, except its name is Sunfrill Imitator and it has this ability.
Complete guide
Sunfrill Imitator is a versatile Dinosaur that allows your prehistoric army to double its impact during combat. By taking the form of your most powerful allies while keeping its own name, it bypasses the usual restrictions of legendary cloning. This makes it a centerpiece for aggressive decks looking to maximize their board presence.
A Unique Copy Effect
When Sunfrill Imitator attacks, its ability triggers, allowing it to become a copy of another target Dinosaur you control. Unlike many copy effects, it retains the name Sunfrill Imitator and keeps its own copy ability. This means even if you copy a legendary creature, you won't be forced to sacrifice one to the 'legend rule' because their names are different. The effect lasts indefinitely, though you can choose a new target every time it attacks.
Resolution Step by Step
First, you must declare Sunfrill Imitator as an attacker for the ability to trigger. Once the trigger is on the stack, you choose another target Dinosaur you control. As the ability resolves, Sunfrill Imitator takes on the printed characteristics of that Dinosaur, including mana cost, types, and text box. It does not copy temporary buffs, counters, or attachments. If you copy a creature that is already copying something else, Sunfrill Imitator becomes a copy of whatever that creature is currently mimicking.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A common error is trying to copy non-Dinosaur creatures. The ability specifically targets 'another target Dinosaur,' so cards like Solemn Simulacrum or Sakura-Tribe Elder are not valid targets unless an external effect has changed their creature types. Additionally, remember that if you copy a creature with {X} in its mana cost, X will be 0 for the copy. Finally, if Sunfrill Imitator is already a token, it stays a token even if it copies a nontoken card.
Strategic Timing
Because the copy ability happens when Sunfrill Imitator attacks, it will be a copy during the declare blockers step and the combat damage step. This is perfect for copying creatures with 'Whenever this creature deals combat damage' or 'Whenever this creature becomes blocked' abilities. Since the transformation is optional, you can wait to see your opponent's board state before deciding which prehistoric beast to replicate.
Interaction examples
Solemn SimulacrumIf you attack with Sunfrill Imitator while Solemn Simulacrum is on the battlefield, you cannot target the Simulacrum with the imitation ability. Because Solemn Simulacrum is a Golem and not a Dinosaur, it is an illegal target for the trigger.
Sakura-Tribe ElderSimilar to other non-Dinosaur creatures, Sunfrill Imitator cannot copy Sakura-Tribe Elder under normal circumstances. If you wanted to use the Elder's sacrifice ability, you would need an effect like Maskwood Nexus to make the Elder a Dinosaur first. If it were a Dinosaur, the Imitator would gain the sacrifice ability but would lose it if it attacked later and chose a different target.
If you attack with Sunfrill Imitator and it is your only creature, the ability will trigger, but since there are no other Dinosaurs to target, the ability will simply be removed from the stack with no effect. The Imitator remains a 3/3 Dinosaur with its original text.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Sunfrill Imitator
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Sunfrill Imitator copies exactly what was printed on the original creature, with the listed exceptions (unless that creature is copying something else or is a token; see below). It doesn't copy whether that creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or any Auras or Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its types, color, power and toughness, and so on.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If Sunfrill Imitator copies a legendary creature, Sunfrill Imitator will also be legendary, but because its name remains Sunfrill Imitator, the "legend rule" won't cause either of them to be put into the graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied creature has
in its mana cost, X is 0.No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied creature is copying something else, then Sunfrill Imitator becomes a copy of whatever that creature is copying.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied creature is a token, Sunfrill Imitator copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that created the token. Copying a token doesn't make Sunfrill Imitator a token. Similarly, if Sunfrill Imitator itself is a token, copying a nontoken permanent doesn't make it stop being a token.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Sunfrill Imitator
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