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.

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 in the Kamigawa block and are easily recognizable by their unique card frame.^[1] 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 five characters that became spirits and Saviors of Kamigawa five monks that became enchantments.

Now that double-faced cards exist, R&D has no plans to do any more flip cards.^[2]^[3] They are considered a failure.^[4]

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 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

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 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

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 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

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 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

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

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.

List of flip cards

Cycle name
Champions Rares	At end of turn, if Kitsune Mystic is enchanted with two or more Auras, flip it.	,: Draw a card. If you have 9 or more cards in hand, flip Jushi Apprentice.	,: Target opponent discards a card. Then if that player has no cards in hand, flip Nezumi Shortfang.	When Akki Lavarunner deals damage to an opponent, flip Akki Lavarunner.	: You may put a land card from your hand into play. If you control ten or more lands, flip Budoka Gardener.
Champions Rares	Autumn-Tail, Kitsune Sage : Move target Aura attached to a creature to another creature.	Tomoya the Revealer ,: Target player draws X cards, where X is the number of cards in your hand.	Stabwhisker the Odious At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, that player loses 1 life for each card fewer than three in their hand.	Tok-Tok, Volcano Born Protection from red If a red source would deal damage to a player, it deals that much damage plus 1 to that player instead.	Dokai, Weaver of Life , : Put an X/X green Elemental creature token in to play, where X is the number of lands you control.
Champions Uncommons	When a creature dealt damage by Bushi Tenderfoot dies that turn, flip Bushi Tenderfoot.	When Student of Elements has flying, flip it.	: Exile target card in an opponent's graveyard. If no cards are in that graveyard, flip Nezumi Graverobber.	: Initiate of Blood deals 1 damage to target creature that was dealt damage this turn. When that creature is put into a graveyard this turn, flip Initiate of Blood.	, : Put a 1/1 green Snake creature into play. If you have ten or more creatures, flip Orochi Eggwatcher.
Champions Uncommons	Kenzo the Hardhearted Double strike Bushido 2	Tobita, Master of Winds Creatures you control have flying.	Nighteyes the Desecrator : Put target creature card in a graveyard into play under your control.	: Goka the Unjust deals 4 damage to target creature that was dealt damage this turn.	Shidako, Broodmistress , Sacrifice a creature: Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
Betrayers Ki Spirits	Faithful Squire	Callow Jushi	Hired Muscle	Cunning Bandit	Budoka Pupil
	Kaiso, Memory of Loyalty Prevent all damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn.	Jaraku the Interloper Counter target spell unless its controller pays .	Scarmaker Target creature gains fear until end of turn.	Azamuki, Treachery Incarnate Gain control of target creature until end of turn.	Ichiga, Who Topples Oaks Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
	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.^[5]
Saviors Flip Enchantments	When you have 30 or more life, flip Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant	When the fourth spell of a turn is played, flip Erayo, Soratami Ascendant	At the beginning of the end step, if three or more creatures died this turn. flip Kuon, Ogre Ascendant.	When Homura is put into a graveyard from play, return Homura, Human Ascendant to the battlefield flipped.	Reveal your hand: If it contains seven or more lands, flip Sasaya, Orochi Ascendant.
Saviors Flip Enchantments	Rune-Tail's Essence Prevent all damage that would be dealt to creatures you control.	Erayo's Essence Counter the first spell played by each opponent each turn.	Kuon's Essence At the beginning of each upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature.	Homura's Essence Creatures you control get +2/+2, flying, and gain ": This creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn."	Sasaya's Essence Whenever a land you control is tapped for mana, for each other land you control with the same name, add one mana of any type that land produced.