Transformation
Transformation is a slang term used by Magic R&D to describe the following effect: "~ is a (color) (card type) with base power and toughness P/T."[1] This mechanic is primary in blue.
Transformation can be temporary, through a one-shot spell or ability that lasts for the turn, or more permanent, usually through an Aura. It overwrites the base power and toughness of the creature. This ability used to be in both blue and white, but R&D decided to focus it in blue.[1] Green has started to gain some use, but the general difference is that blue usually uses it as a shrinking effect like removal, whereas green uses it to pump creatures in a way that's hard to compound. The list below assumes the affected creature will lose all abilities, unless noted.
Examples
| Color | Name | Type | P/T | Color | Creature Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Darksteel Mutation | Aura | 0/1 | Insect | is an artifact creature with Indestructible loses all other card types | |
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Graven Dominator | Creature | 1/1 | All creatures Keeps abilities | ||
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Harmonious Archon | Creature | 3/3 | All Non-Archon creatures Keeps abilities | ||
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Humble | Instant | 0/1 | |||
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Humility | Enchantment | 1/1 | |||
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Mirror Entity | Creature | X/X | Keeps abilities Creatures controlled | ||
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Overwhelming Splendor | Player Aura | 1/1 | All creatures controlled by enchanted player | ||
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Reprobation | Enchantment | 0/1 | Coward | ||
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Taranika, Akroan Veteran | Creature | 4/4 | Keeps abilities Gains indestructible | ||
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Brine Hag | Creature | 0/2 | All creatures that damaged the dead Brine Hag Keeps abilities Permanent effect without a marker | ||
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Dance of the Skywise | Instant | 4/4 |
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Dragon Illusion | with Flying |
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Deep Freeze | Aura | 0/4 | +
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Wall+ | with Defender |
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Diminish | Instant | 1/1 | Keeps abilities | ||
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Frogify | Aura | 1/1 |
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Frog | |
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Gift of Tusks | Instant | 3/3 | 
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Elephant | |
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Ichthyomorphosis | Aura | 0/1 |
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Fish | |
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Illusory Wrappings | Aura | 0/2 | Keeps abilities | ||
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Kasmina's Transmutation | Aura | 1/1 | |||
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Mass Diminish | Sorcery | 1/1 | |||
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Ovinize | Instant | 0/1 | |||
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Octopus Umbra | Aura | 8/8 | Gains a tapping ability Keeps abilities | ||
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Phantasmal Form | Instant | 3/3 | +
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Illusion+ | with Flying |
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Polymorphist's Jest | Instant | 1/1 |
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Frog | |
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Reduce in Stature | Aura | 0/2 | Keeps abilities | ||
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Serendib Sorcerer | Creature | 0/2 | Keeps abilities | ||
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Startling Development | Instant | 4/4 |
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Serpent | Keeps abilities |
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Symmetry Mage | Creature | 2/X | Keeps abilities X is target's toughness | ||
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Turn//Burn | Instant | 0/1 | 
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Weird | |
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Turn to Frog | Instant | 1/1 |
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Frog | |
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Unstable Transformation | Sorcery - Lesson | 1/1 or 4/4 |
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Frog or Octopus | Loses abilities |
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Vedalken Humiliator | Creature | 1/1 | |||
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Warkite Marauder | Creature | 0/1 | |||
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Will Kenrith | Planeswalker | 0/3 | |||
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Will, Scholar of Frost | Planeswalker | 0/2 | |||
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Wings of Velis Vel | Instant | 4/4 | All types | Keeps abilities Gains flying | |
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Sorceress Queen | Creature | 0/2 | Keeps abilities | ||
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Sudden Spoiling | Instant | 0/2 | Creatures target player control | ||
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Withercrown | Aura | 0/X | Keeps abilities X is target's toughness | ||
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Allosaurus Shepherd | Creature | 5/5 | Dinosaur+ | Keeps abilities, affects all Elves controlled | |
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Creeperhulk | Creature | 5/5 | Keeps abilities Gains trample | ||
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Cycle of Life | Enchantment | 0/1 | Keeps abilities Only on your creature that entered that turn | ||
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Exuberant Wolfbear | Creature | X/Y | X/Y is Wolfbear's stats Keeps abilities Target Human controlled | ||
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Gigantiform | Aura | 8/8 | Keeps abilities Gains trample | ||
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Gigantomancer | Creature | 7/7 | Keeps abilities | ||
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Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse | Creature | X/X | X is cards in hand Keeps abilities All creatures controlled | ||
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Kenrith's Transformation | Aura | 3/3 |
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Elk | |
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Lignify | Tribal Aura | 0/4 | Treefolk | ||
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Scale Up | Sorcery | 6/4 |
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Wurm | Keeps abilities |
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Singing Tree | Creature | 0/X | Keeps abilities Attacking creature's toughness unchanged | ||
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Aven Mimeomancer | Creature | 3/1 | Keeps abilities Gains flying Uses feather counters | ||
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Godhead of Awe | Creature | 1/1 | Keeps abilities All other creatures | ||
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Inkfathom Witch | Creature | 4/1 | Keeps abilities Unblocked creatures | ||
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Dragonshift | Instant | 4/4 |
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Dragon | with Flying |
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Vhati il-Dal | Creature | X/1 or 1/X | X is the original creature's stat Keeps abilities | ||
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Biomass Mutation | Instant | X/X | Keeps abilities All creatures controlled | ||
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Oko, the Trickster | Planeswalker | 10/10 | Keeps abilities All creatures controlled Gains trample | ||
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Oko, Thief of Crowns | Planeswalker | 3/3 |
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Elk | Also hits artifacts Permanent effect with no reminding marker |
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Oko's Hospitality | Sorcery | 3/3 | Keeps abilities All creatures controlled | ||
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Omnibian | Creature | 3/3 | Frog | Keeps abilities | |
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Snakeform | Instant | 1/1 |
|
Snake | |
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The Bears of Littjara | Enchantment | 4/4 | Any number of shapeshifters Keeps abilities | ||
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Square Up | Instant | 4/4 | Keeps abilities | ||
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Island of Wak-Wak | Land | 0/X | Keeps abilities Only flying creatures X is target's toughness |
References
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.