This definitely has some strategical thinking come along with it. It would be good against a deck of a single creature type, but other than that, not so much. But if that's the deck you want to make, sweet card. Potentially stealing buffs as well.
xangel
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
This is a great "side" card.
StagemasterK
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(6 votes)
@ Metaevolence
As cool as that looks at first glance it's actually an infinite combo which means you'd immediately draw the game. Unless you can ether kill the turn timber ranger, or have out the black ally that makes you're opponents lose life.
littlebeast
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Oops, I didn't realize this would EDIT my post. Anyway, proposed thought: Make Norin the Wary an ally.
@stagemaster: No, it says "may" so you could stop it at any time.
capitalR
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
everyone lets also appreciate its awesome art, I mean look at that cool lobster, squid thing.
WhiteRoseDuelist
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(14 votes)
I love using this in my EDH games. Scion of the Ur-Oyster? Noggle Overlord? Ib Halfheart, Sand Tactician? Takeno, Phelldagrif General?
Gaussgoat
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I have no idea how this card is not rated higher... it has practically limitless applications and can be absolutely devastating on both offense and defense.
You could use this to Tudor for a cost of one off of any other card that allows you to search your library for a "blank".
A great, very flexible card. If you're into combos with this card, rather than countering them, there's a long list of cards you could use alongside it. Tivadar's Crusade, Undead Slayer, Dwarven Demolition Team... you name it. For every card based on destruction of a specific creature type, Artificial Evolution is definitely a way to go.
Then again, you could counter almost every creature aggro deck you could imagine. Elvish Archdruid becomes a humble 2/2, doing absolutely nothing, the already mentioned Soulless One is instantly destroyed, and creatures that have the champion mechanic could be destroyed the instant they enter the game (in most cases).
EDIT: Sorry about that - Elvish Archdruid can still produce one mana because his type line also changes. Soulless One isn't instantly destroyed and becomes 1/1, also because of the type line. Oh, and Turntimber Ranger... wow :)
edit: @stagemaster: sorry to disappoint you, but I am in fact not twelve years old and do read cards before i post.
Exuberance
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Soulless One would die if you did it right, I thought - just change "zombies in play + graveyard" to something like "unicorns in play + graveyard". He'd still be a zombie but there wouldn't be any unicorns (I hope).
Yozuk
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
oh awesome. now for me to make human triable.
Planesfishofdeath
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I have an even better idea, two of these would allow two legendaries, such as, perhaps, PHAGE! *Evilgrin*
drp527
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
For all the comments about how this ruins Soulless One and the like, while it DOES indeed render them worthless, it won't make them 0/0. The rulings on this card say that it will change the typeline of the spell/permanent it targets if there's a creature type there. So if you target Soulless One and change all instances of "Zombie" to "Oyster" for instance, Soulless One will become an Oyster and remain a measly 1/1, as it is unlikely for there to be any other Oysters in play or in the graveyard.
Polkovnik_Skyfox
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I often slip this into my hand when my friends aren't looking and play it as a joke. "Haha your mythic-rare is now the creature type underpants cannon!"
pauer
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Soulless one wouldn't actually die if you changed his ability to say oyster's since it says replace ALL instances. He would stay alive since his creature type would also be oyster. Regardless, this is definitely one of my favorite cards with limitless possibilities - onslaught was simply the best of the best.
Zanimus
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
If you use this on Genesis Chamber that gets you infinite tokens when you play a token, correct?
Flyheight
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
@LittleBeast You want Conspiracy. Norin will 'forget' his reworded creature type the first time he returns to your hand if you try to abuse his bounce with only Artificial Evolution.
@Zanimus Sadly, no. Token and Non-Token are not a part of the creature type and are therefore not affected by Artificial Evolution.
@Metalevolence That sir, is absolutely epic. Conspiracy also works with Turntimber Ranger that way but is much more expensive.
I'd like to take that idea and run with it a little further...in a slightly more ridiculous and implausible direction. If you have two Artificial Evolutions (Twincast helps here) you don't 'have' to say that the Wolf's creature type is Ally. It can be anything really, because now you can change both Wolf and Ally to whatever you wish.
My heavily biased mind wants to say 'Kavu' having a Kavu Monarch on the battlefield and dropping this with the Turntimber Ranger getting an arbitrarily large supply of cute little lizards, one unholy large momma lizard (the monarch), and one unholy large daddy lizard (the ranger himself). Oh and they all trample. And mommy can swing this turn too. =P
You could also say 'Dragon' whilst having a Crucible of Fire or four out on the field...The list of stupid things goes on.
Yes I'm a Timmy/Johnny. =P
TopRomen
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
It is INCREDIBLY tempting to use this to mix slivers with another tribe that isn't morphling. O.o
NARFNra
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
For the ultimate thing to do if you've got too much mana to know what to do with, cast this on Dragonstorm and make it Sliverstorm.
Ava_Adore
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
wow, I wouldnt mind 4 of these to go with my 4 magical hacks
tavaritz
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(2 votes)
What beats me is why you can change Fortified Area to give benefits to goblins, but not let Gobling King boost walls.
Mode
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Of course it has some good uses against tribal, but there are better/more reliable hosers for that, so i wouldn't use this in my sidedeck. (Well, it would be a death sentence with Suleiman's Legacy, but who on earth would put a combo into his sidedeck?)
I try including it in a deck that uses Haakon and Cateran Summons (which makes this a Worldly Tutor-esque card for that includes tribal cards, and with the upside that you don't have to wait until your next turn to get the card you tutored) Griffin Canyon seems like a legit mana source if you use AE.
But it's likely best used with cards that use two creature types and create a loop if one of them is changed to the other, like the aforementioned Turntimber Ranger. Rotlung Reanimatior (which is also from Onslaught btw) also works if you have another Zombie or Cleric.
In this case it's somewhat unfortunate that the Oracle tries to be as close to the original wording as possible, since the Wall restriction is still kept even though it doesn't prevent creatures from attacking anymore. No Shield Sphere saccing loops with Haakon, too bad.
@littlebeast: Your idea with Norin the Wary won't work out unfortunately. Once he leaves and re-enters, he forgot everything the crude world has done to him, including his artificial evolution into an Ally.
pedrodyl
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
so much potential. a great, magic the gathering, card.
Turntimber Ranger creates infinite wolves, and become infinitely large with this.
Shadoflaam
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I would definitely run Scion of the Ur-Oyster EDH anyday.
lukemol
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@WhiteRoseDuelist:
The rulings say it doesn't change proper names, so none of those would happen. HOWEVER, If you chose Oyster as the creature type and cast it on Scion of the Ur-Dragon, it would still be called Scion of the Ur-Dragon, but it would be a Legendary Creature-- Oyster Avatar and only allow you to search for Oysters in your deck. Which is also funny.
Ragamander
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Mode: With Haakon, you could change "Knight" to "Kobold" and loop with a sac-engine.
tankthebest
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Obviously limitless combos are available with this, as mentioned before. Some that I found cool:
Smokebraider: two mana in any colors for whatever you're running
Lancers en-Kor + Ceaseless Searblades: change the text of the Searblades to Soldier or Kor and infinitely pump it by activating the Lancers' ability (works with other creatures with {0} cost abilities)
Since the costs have to be paid before the spell is considered cast - thus you only get priority to play Artificial Evolution after you have paid the full price already.
Best with Turntimber Ranger. Just change "Wolf" to "Ally" and it will trigger its own ability, giving you millions of Allies that look suspiciously lupine and a very large Elf. Better yet, it says "may" on the Ranger, which means that you can, in fact, stop, and the game will not tie.
kitsunewarlock
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Get two copies of this ready. Get Spawnsire of Ulamog combo with Heartstone/Training Grounds. Call Human. Summon Izzet Guildmage with Spawnsire. Then summon a mana fixer (there's at least 2 red ones from Ice Age block). Then play your second Evolution on spawnsire and copy it unlimited times. Between the resolution of the copies summon all creatures of that type from your collection. Then you get every creature from your collection into play. Except those that would stop the combo. And Nameless Race.
Arachnos
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is a sweet, awesome, epic card. Highly situational but at the same time incredibly versatile. Not only can it be used to buff your own cards to have effects you would never have thought of, it can also completely shut down some opposing cards or turn others to your advantage.
On an opponent's Goblin King: your Goblin King is now a Merfolk King. All merfolks (which just happen to be my main creature type) get +1/+1 and have mountainwalk. Have fun.
On opponent's Heedless One: your Heedless One is now a 1/1 Trample Lammasu Avatar. Shock plz.
The Seahunter combo has already been mentioned, won't repeat it.
"Oh dear, your Elvish Champion appears to be buffing my creatures instead of yours. Oh, and you've got Forests? Handy."
inaeternum
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
If you still want to turn something into a wall you can cast a second one targeting the first, changing wall to something else. I'm not sure why you'd want to, but you can.
noobmag1
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Such a fun card, and a perfect fit with Simic in both form and function.
Megadog
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Spawnsire of Ulamog + this + slivers. It's much more fun than eldrazi, and they aught to all have haste.
WytLytnn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
life and limb, change saproling to elf, arbor elf, and illusionist's bracers, which works because arbor elf's ability is not considered a mana ability because it does not produce any mana (also, it targets and a mana ability has no targets as per the comprehensive rules that i read occasionally. speaking of which, look up rule 712.5b and read the example if you want a good laugh.)
Lord_of_phyrexia
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Why wasn't this reprinted in the ravnica block for the simic? It sounds right up their alley.
TheManakinTransfer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Secret Anti-Dragonstorm tech. Into every blue EDH you go!
Gameguy602
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Tons of fun in a tribal deck if you add a sliver or two.
Comments (48)
As cool as that looks at first glance it's actually an infinite combo which means you'd immediately draw the game. Unless you can ether kill the turn timber ranger, or have out the black ally that makes you're opponents lose life.
@stagemaster: No, it says "may" so you could stop it at any time.
You could use this to Tudor for a cost of one off of any other card that allows you to search your library for a "blank".
Throw it on the Zektar Shrine Expedition and turn it into a Merfolk... which will combo well with your Lord of Atlantis and your Convincing Mirage.
This is a total sandbox card, use it well!
5/5
Then again, you could counter almost every creature aggro deck you could imagine. Elvish Archdruid becomes a humble 2/2, doing absolutely nothing, the already mentioned Soulless One is instantly destroyed, and creatures that have the champion mechanic could be destroyed the instant they enter the game (in most cases).
EDIT: Sorry about that - Elvish Archdruid can still produce one mana because his type line also changes. Soulless One isn't instantly destroyed and becomes 1/1, also because of the type line. Oh, and Turntimber Ranger... wow :)
A card not to be underestimated.
5/5!
edit: @stagemaster: sorry to disappoint you, but I am in fact not twelve years old and do read cards before i post.
"Haha your mythic-rare is now the creature type underpants cannon!"
You want Conspiracy. Norin will 'forget' his reworded creature type the first time he returns to your hand if you try to abuse his bounce with only Artificial Evolution.
@Zanimus
Sadly, no. Token and Non-Token are not a part of the creature type and are therefore not affected by Artificial Evolution.
@Metalevolence
That sir, is absolutely epic.
Conspiracy also works with Turntimber Ranger that way but is much more expensive.
I'd like to take that idea and run with it a little further...in a slightly more ridiculous and implausible direction. If you have two Artificial Evolutions (Twincast helps here) you don't 'have' to say that the Wolf's creature type is Ally. It can be anything really, because now you can change both Wolf and Ally to whatever you wish.
My heavily biased mind wants to say 'Kavu' having a Kavu Monarch on the battlefield and dropping this with the Turntimber Ranger getting an arbitrarily large supply of cute little lizards, one unholy large momma lizard (the monarch), and one unholy large daddy lizard (the ranger himself). Oh and they all trample. And mommy can swing this turn too. =P
You could also say 'Dragon' whilst having a Crucible of Fire or four out on the field...The list of stupid things goes on.
Yes I'm a Timmy/Johnny. =P
I try including it in a deck that uses Haakon and Cateran Summons (which makes this a Worldly Tutor-esque card for
Griffin Canyon seems like a legit mana source if you use AE.
But it's likely best used with cards that use two creature types and create a loop if one of them is changed to the other, like the aforementioned Turntimber Ranger. Rotlung Reanimatior (which is also from Onslaught btw) also works if you have another Zombie or Cleric.
In this case it's somewhat unfortunate that the Oracle tries to be as close to the original wording as possible, since the Wall restriction is still kept even though it doesn't prevent creatures from attacking anymore. No Shield Sphere saccing loops with Haakon, too bad.
@littlebeast: Your idea with Norin the Wary won't work out unfortunately. Once he leaves and re-enters, he forgot everything the crude world has done to him, including his artificial evolution into an Ally.
B: "Ha ha, okay."
A: "Then I'll play Goatnapper."
B: "..."
Round 1: Forest
Round 2: Island, Ludevic's Test Subject
Round 3: Any land, Artificial Evolution "Human", Moonmist, Swing for 13.
The rulings say it doesn't change proper names, so none of those would happen. HOWEVER, If you chose Oyster as the creature type and cast it on Scion of the Ur-Dragon, it would still be called Scion of the Ur-Dragon, but it would be a Legendary Creature-- Oyster Avatar and only allow you to search for Oysters in your deck. Which is also funny.
This + Goblin Lackey = stupid
Quest for Ula's Temple: change one of the creature types to whatever you're running
Smokebraider: two mana in any colors for whatever you're running
Lancers en-Kor + Ceaseless Searblades: change the text of the Searblades to Soldier or Kor and infinitely pump it by activating the Lancers' ability (works with other creatures with {0} cost abilities)
Eldrazi/Dragons/Orgg
Since the costs have to be paid before the spell is considered cast - thus you only get priority to play Artificial Evolution after you have paid the full price already.
In order for this to work, you'd need a card worded like Painter's Servant or Celestial Dawn, only with creature types.
On an opponent's Goblin King: your Goblin King is now a Merfolk King. All merfolks (which just happen to be my main creature type) get +1/+1 and have mountainwalk. Have fun.
On opponent's Heedless One: your Heedless One is now a 1/1 Trample Lammasu Avatar. Shock plz.
The Seahunter combo has already been mentioned, won't repeat it.
Lord of the Unreal why not...
Absolutely sweet damn card.