Theorix Metamage // Omit Variables 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
This creature enters prepared. (While it's prepared, you may cast a copy of its spell. Doing so unprepares it.) Threshold — This creature gets +1/+0 and has flying as long as there are seven or more cards in your graveyard. Mill three cards. (Put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard.)
Complete guide
Theorix Metamage introduces the versatile Prepared mechanic, allowing you to cast a spell copy directly from exile while maintaining a board presence. This Shade Wizard provides both early-game utility through milling and late-game aggression via its Threshold ability. Whether you need to fill your graveyard or deploy an evasive threat, this card bridges the gap between spellcasting and creature combat.
Understanding Prepared
When Theorix Metamage enters the battlefield, it enters 'prepared.' This means its controller creates a copy of its associated sorcery, Omit Variables, in exile. As long as the Metamage remains prepared on the battlefield, you may cast that copy from exile. Once you cast the copy, the creature becomes unprepared and the ability is spent. Importantly, even if Theorix Metamage loses all its abilities, it remains prepared, and the spell copy stays in exile ready to be cast.
Threshold and Scaling
Theorix Metamage is a 2/2 by default, but it scales significantly once you achieve Threshold. As soon as there are seven or more cards in your graveyard, it gains +1/+0 and flying. Because Omit Variables mills three cards, casting the prepared spell directly contributes to meeting this requirement. Note that Threshold is a continuous check; if your graveyard size drops below seven, the Metamage immediately loses the bonus and flying.
The Lifecycle of a Spell Copy
Unlike standard copies of spells that vanish if they move to a zone other than the stack, a prepared spell copy is specifically allowed to exist in exile until cast. You must pay the mana cost of Omit Variables ({U/B}) to cast it unless another effect allows you to cast it for free. If the spell is countered or fails to resolve due to lack of targets, the Metamage still becomes unprepared because the act of casting it triggers the status change.
Strategic Implementation
Play Theorix Metamage early to establish a blocker that can later replenish your graveyard. In the mid-game, wait until you have the extra mana to cast Omit Variables immediately after the creature resolves. This minimizes the window for your opponent to remove the creature, as the spell copy only exists as long as the Metamage is on the battlefield.
Interaction examples
You cast Theorix Metamage for {2}{U/B}. As it enters the battlefield, it becomes prepared and a copy of Omit Variables is created in exile. You then pay {U/B} to cast the copy. As the spell is cast, Theorix Metamage becomes unprepared. The spell resolves, milling you for three cards, which helps you reach the seven cards needed for Threshold.
Roaming ThroneWith Roaming Throne on the battlefield (having chosen 'Wizard'), Theorix Metamage enters the battlefield. Although it 'enters prepared,' the rules state a creature cannot become prepared more than once at the same time. You will only have one copy of Omit Variables in exile. Roaming Throne does not grant a second copy because the 'enters prepared' state is a replacement effect or a static entry condition rather than a standard triggered ability that Roaming Throne can duplicate.
Solemn SimulacrumYou have six cards in your graveyard and control Theorix Metamage. Your opponent attacks with a large creature. You block with Solemn Simulacrum. When it dies, you draw a card and it moves to the graveyard. Now, with seven cards in your graveyard, Theorix Metamage instantly becomes a 3/2 with flying, potentially allowing it to survive or trade favorably in future combat steps.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Theorix Metamage // Omit Variables
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If a prepared creature loses all abilities, it won't stop being prepared, and nothing will happen to its alternative characteristics or to the copy of its prepare spell in exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
While copies of spells in zones other than the stack cease to exist when state-based actions are checked, this does not apply to copies of prepare spells in exile that were created as a creature became prepared.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If a prepared creature stops being a creature, it will still be prepared, and the copy of its prepare spell will remain in exile. That permanent's controller will still be able to cast it. The same is true if a prepared creature becomes a copy of something else, even if it's then a permanent without a prepare spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Casting a copy of a prepare spell from exile isn't casting it for an alternative cost. Effects that allow you to cast a spell for an alternative cost or without paying its mana cost may allow you to apply those to a copy of a prepare spell cast from exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
A creature without a prepare spell can't become prepared.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
As an effect causes a creature with a prepare spell to become prepared (including effects that state that a creature "enters prepared"), that creature's controller creates a copy of that creature's prepare spell in exile. That copy remains in exile for as long as that permanent is on the battlefield and is prepared. That creature's controller may cast that copy as long as it remains in exile. As they cast it, that creature stops being prepared.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
Only the current controller of a prepared creature can cast the copy of its prepare spell in exile. It doesn't matter who owns that creature or who controlled it when it became prepared.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
If a prepare spell with one or more targets has no legal targets when it tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. Since the spell was cast, the associated permanent will still not be prepared.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
Preparation cards can be cast only with their base characteristics.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
A preparation card is a creature card in every zone. For example, while it's in your graveyard, Diviner of Victory is a blue creature card whose mana value is 1. It can't be the target of Stingcaster Mage's triggered ability ("When this creature enters, target instant or sorcery card in your graveyard gains flashback until end of turn. The flashback cost is equal to its mana cost.").
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #11· Wizards of the Coast
Being prepared isn't a copiable value. If a permanent becomes a copy of a prepared creature, it won't be prepared. That permanent will have the alternative characteristics, though, and some other effect could cause it to become prepared later.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #12· Wizards of the Coast
A creature with a prepare spell can't become prepared more than once at the same time. For example, say Bloodline Recollector is on the battlefield and is prepared. During the current turn, three creatures die. At the beginning of the end step, Bloodline Recollector's last ability triggers. When that ability resolves, since Bloodline Recollector is already prepared, the ability won't cause it to become prepared a second time or create a second copy of Ancestral Craving in exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #13· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect instructs you to choose a card name, you may choose the alternative prepare spell's name. Consider only the alternative characteristics to determine whether that is an appropriate name to choose.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #14· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect causes a creature to become unprepared, a prepared creature stops being prepared and the associated copy of its prepare spell in exile ceases to exist. If it wasn't prepared at that time, nothing happens.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #15· Wizards of the Coast
Creating a copy of a creature's prepare spell in exile ignores copy exceptions applied to that creature that would affect the copiable values of that spell. For example, say a player casts Croaking Counterpart (a sorcery that says "Create a token that's a copy of target non-Frog creature, except it's a 1/1 green Frog") targeting Diviner of Victory. The token copy of Diviner of Victory will enter prepared as a 1/1 green Frog creature, but the copy of Unwind History in exile will still be a blue sorcery. The copy of Unwind History won't be green, a creature, or a Frog, and it won't have power or toughness.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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