Printings
Volrath's Shapeshifter
Card Information
Type: Creature — Phyrexian Shapeshifter
Mana Cost: 1
CMC: 3
Part of the Reserved List: Yes
Color Identity:
Set: Stronghold (STH)
Rarity: Rare
Collector Number: 48
Oracle Text
As long as the top card of your graveyard is a creature card, this creature has the full text of that card and has the text "{2}: Discard a card." (This creature has that card's name, mana cost, color, types, abilities, power, and toughness.) {2}: Discard a card.
Format Legalities
Card Rulings
- August 1, 2008
The ability that sets its characteristics is a text-changing effect.
Source: wotc - October 4, 2004
If the top card in your graveyard isn't a creature card (meaning a card with the type Creature, which may or may not have other types such as Artifact or Enchantment), then it's just a 0/1 blue creature. Older cards of type Summon are also Creature cards.
Source: wotc - October 4, 2004
If the top card in your graveyard is a creature card, this card uses the listed characteristics, including color and any other types. But, this card keeps the granted ability in addition to those from the card being copied.
Source: wotc - October 4, 2004
If the top card in the graveyard has any other undefined characteristics, then those characteristics are not acquired and the shapeshifter uses the characteristic from its own card.
Source: wotc - October 4, 2004
A copy of a Volrath's Shapeshifter will have the shapeshifting ability.
Source: wotc - October 4, 2004
When it changes forms, any "enters" abilities of the card it "copies" do not trigger.
Source: wotc
Price History
To study a single card is to glimpse the heart of a spell - a frozen moment of ambition, artistry, and arcane intent. Within each glyph lies a spark: a story untold, a duel turned, a destiny altered. Treat it not as mere parchment, dear seeker, but as a shard of the Multiverse itself.