Flip card

This article is about the cards that appeared in the Kamigawa block. For the cards that premiered in Innistrad block that are sometimes colloquially referred to as "flip cards", see double-faced card.

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Flip Card
Mechanic
Introduced	Champions of Kamigawa
Last used	Saviors of Kamigawa
Storm Scale	9
Scryfall Statistics
21 cards 19% 19% 19% 23.8% 19%

Flip card: Akki Lavarunner

Flip cards are two cards in one. When something is triggered, the card is flipped and becomes the "other" part of the card.

History

Flip cards were featured only in Kamigawa block and are easily recognizable by their unique card frame. The art is put in the center, depicting two characters oriented opposite to each other, and there are two text boxes on the top and bottom of the card. The type line is put under the text box, and when applicable the power and toughness is at the end. The expansion symbol is relegated to the bottom of the card, over some of the background shading.

The Champions of Kamigawa set contained ten characters that became "heroes", Betrayers of Kamigawa had five characters that became spirits and Saviors of Kamigawa had five monks that became enchantments. Curse of the Fire Penguin spoofed the mechanic almost immediately, given it was released between Champions and Betrayers.

Now that double-faced cards exist, R&D has no plans to do any more flip cards. They are considered a failure.

Rules

You ignore the information on the bottom half of the card until the creature in play "flips" when certain heroic conditions are met. When you flip a hero, you turn it upside down and play with the other half of the card. All of the flipped versions are legendary and have powerful abilities.

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 6, 2025—Final Fantasy)

Flip Cards

Cards with a two-part card frame (one part of which is printed upside down) on a single card. See rule 710, “Flip Cards.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 6, 2025—Final Fantasy)

• 710. Flip Cards
  • 710.1. Flip cards have a two-part card frame on a single card. The text that appears right side up on the card defines the card’s normal characteristics. Additional alternative characteristics appear upside down on the card. The back of a flip card is the normal Magic card back.
    • 710.1a The top half of a flip card contains the card’s normal name, text box, type line, power, and toughness. The text box usually contains an ability that causes the permanent to “flip” if certain conditions are met.
    • 710.1b The bottom half of a flip card contains an alternative name, text box, type line, power, and toughness. These characteristics are used only if the permanent is on the battlefield and only if the permanent is flipped.
    • 710.1c A flip card’s color and mana cost don’t change if the permanent is flipped. Also, any changes to it by external effects will still apply.
  • 710.2. In every zone other than the battlefield, and also on the battlefield before the permanent flips, a flip card has only the normal characteristics of the card. Once a permanent is flipped, its normal name, text box, type line, power, and toughness don’t apply and the alternative versions of those characteristics apply instead.

    Example: Akki Lavarunner is a nonlegendary creature that flips into a legendary creature named Tok-Tok, Volcano Born. An effect that says “Search your library for a legendary card” can’t find this flip card. An effect that says “Legendary creatures get +2/+2” doesn’t affect Akki Lavarunner, but it does affect Tok-Tok.

  • 710.3. You must ensure that it’s clear at all times whether a permanent you control is flipped or not, both when it’s untapped and when it’s tapped. Common methods for distinguishing between flipped and unflipped permanents include using coins or dice to mark flipped objects.
  • 710.4. Flipping a permanent is a one-way process. Once a permanent is flipped, it’s impossible for it to become unflipped. However, if a flipped permanent leaves the battlefield, it retains no memory of its status. See rule 110.5.
  • 710.5. If an effect instructs a player to choose a card name and the player wants to choose a flip card’s alternative name, the player may do so.

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 6, 2025—Final Fantasy)

Flipped

A status a permanent may have. See rule 110.5 and rule 710, “Flip Cards.” See also Unflipped.

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 6, 2025—Final Fantasy)

Unflipped

A default status a permanent may have. See rule 110.5 and rule 710, “Flip Cards.” See also Flipped.

From the Tournament Rules (May 13, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)

• 3.14 Tapped/Flipped Cards
  If a card must be tapped or flipped, it must be turned approximately 90 degrees (tapped) or 180 degrees (flipped), whichever is appropriate.
  

Rulings

• Only the characteristics name, type, subtype, supertype, rules text, abilities, power, and toughness are affected by flipping a permanent. The mana cost and expansion symbol are printed on only one side each but apply to the permanent regardless of whether it has been flipped.
• When you flip a permanent, any counters or other effects remain on it. So if a creature with 1/2 printed on the normal side and 2/3 printed on the flipped side has a +1/+1 counter on it, it changes from a 2/3 to a 3/4.
• Flipping a flip permanent a second time has no effect. To "flip" a permanent means to change it from the top half to the bottom half, not to change it from one side to the other.
• When one of the Champions of Kamigawa flip creatures flips, it becomes legendary. If more than one legendary permanents with the same name and the same controller are in play at the same time, its controller chooses one of them and put all the other in their owners' graveyards.
• If you're asked to name a card, you can name either side of a flip card. However, the card only has its normal name unless it's in play and has flipped.
• If you copy a flipped permanent, you get the normal, unflipped version. That copy may flip later if certain conditions are met.

Flip card cycles

All black-bordered flip cards are arranged in mono-colored cycles.

• Champions of Kamigawa — Two cycles (one rare, one uncommon) of creatures that transform from generic roles to Legendary heroes having performed an improbable feat.
• Betrayers of Kamigawa — One cycle of uncommon 1MM 2/2 Human creatures that acquire ki counters whenever a Spirit or Arcane spell is cast, and may be flipped at end of turn once they have at least two ki counters on them. Once flipped, the Legendary Spirits can remove a ki counter as an activated ability.
• Saviors of Kamigawa — One cycle of rare legendary creatures who are ascendants of their race that transform into an essence of being, a legendary enchantment.