Layers!

Everyone's favorite area of the rules in 7 easy steps

How big is it?

The interaction of continuous effects

0) The card as printed

1) Copy

2) Control

3) Text

4) Type

5) Color

6) Ability

7) P/T

7a) CDAs

7b) Setting

7c) Modifying

7d) Couters

7e) Switching

Layer 1: Copy effects

Layer 2: Control-changing effects

Layer 3: Text-changing effects

Layer 4: Type-changing effects

Layer 5: Color-changing effects

Layer 6: Ability adding/removing/blocking

Layer 7a: P/T Characteristic defining abilities

Layer 7b: Abilities that set P/T

Layer 7c: Abilities that modify P/T

Layer 7d: P/T Counters

Layer 7e: P/T Switching

How big is it?1 Copy

2 Control

3 Text

4 Type

5 Color

6 Ability

7a P/T CDAs

7b P/T Setting

7c P/T Modifying

7d P/T Counters

7e P/T Switching

The Classic1 Copy

2 Control

3 Text

4 Type

5 Color

6 Ability

7a P/T CDAs

7b P/T Setting

7c P/T Modifying

7d P/T Counters

7e P/T Switching

4 Type

Enchantment = Creature (Opalescence)

6 Ability

Lose all (Humility)

7b P/T Setting

P/T = CMC (Opalescence)

P/T = 1/1 (Humility)

Timestamp order

Multiple effects in the same layer? Apply them in timestamp order.

Object → Zone entry* Static ability → same as object, or creation of

ability (whichever is later) Resolution of spell or ability → Creation of

effect * Aura, Equipment, Fortification → Attachment

1 Copy

2 Control

3 Text

4 Type

5 Color

6 Ability

7a P/T CDAs

7b P/T Setting

7c P/T Modifying

7d P/T Counters

7e P/T Switching

Equip first Humility first

Morph special

702.36

It becomes a 2/2 face-down creature card, with no text, no name, no subtypes, and no mana cost. […] These values are the copiable values of that object‘s characteristics.

If you have priority, you may turn a face-down permanent you control face up. […]To do this, show all players what the permanent‘s morph cost would be if it were face up, pay that cost, then turn the permanent face up. (If the permanent wouldn‘t have a morph cost if it were face up, it can‘t be turned face up this way.) The morph effect on it ends, and it regains its normal characteristics.

Copying objects

When copying an object, the copy acquires the copiable values of the original object’s characteristics and, for an object on the stack, choices made when casting or activating it (mode, targets, the value of X, whether it was kicked, how it will affect multiple targets, and so on)[…]. The "copiable values" are the values derived from the text printed on the object (that text being name, mana cost, color indicator, card type, subtype, supertype, rules text, power, toughness, and/or loyalty), as modified by other copy effects, by its face-down status, and by “as . . . enters the battlefield” and "as . . . is turned face up" abilities that set power and toughness (and my also set additional characteristics). Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, and counters are not copied.

The hardest part:

Dependency

1 Copy

2 Control

3 Text

4 Type

5 Color

6 Ability

7a P/T CDAs

7b P/T Setting

7c P/T Modifying

7d P/T Counters

7e P/T Switching

Dependency

When is it dependency?

•A and B apply in the same layer

•Applying A affects the existence or applicability of B

•A and B are both CDAs or both NOT CDAs

When is it NOT dependency?

•Different layer (e.g. Humility removing it’s own ability under Opalescence)

•No interaction

•A is a CDA and B is a regular effect

What is it?

+

1 Copy

2 Control

3 Text

4 Type

5 Color

6 Ability

7a P/T CDAs

7b P/T Setting

7c P/T Modifying

7d P/T Counters

7e P/T Switching

+

1 Copy

2 Control

3 Text

4 Type

5 Color

6 Ability

7a P/T CDAs

7b P/T Setting

7c P/T Modifying

7d P/T Counters

7e P/T Switching

Layer 4: PJ makes AF a Frog

Layer 5: PJ makes AF blue

Layer 6: AF gives itself flying

Layer 6: PJ make AF lose all abilities

Layer 7b: PJ makes AF 1/1

Layer 7d: AF has a +1/+1 counter

1 Copy

2 Control

3 Text

4 Type

5 Color

6 Ability

7a P/T CDAs

7b P/T Setting

7c P/T Modifying

7d P/T Counters

7e P/T Switching

1 Copy

2 Control

3 Text

4 Type

5 Color

6 Ability

7a P/T CDAs

7b P/T Setting

7c P/T Modifying

7d P/T Counters

7e P/T Switching

Timestamp order

Play and Win!

Mirrorweave Madness Type Challenge

1 Copy

2 Control

3 Text

4 Type

5 Color

6 Ability

7a P/T CDAs

7b P/T Setting

7c P/T Modifying

7d P/T Counters

7e P/T Switching

Within each layer:

Mirrorweave Madness

Mirrorweave the Mutavault

P/T Creature types Abilities

Grizzly bears n/a n/a Tap: Add 11: Animate

Clone n/a n/a Tap: Add 11: Animate

Akroma 2/2 none none

Unmorph Akroma? No

1 Copy

2 Control

3 Text

4 Type

5 Color

6 Ability

7a P/T CDAs

7b P/T Setting

7c P/T Modifying

7d P/T Counters

7e P/T Switching

Mirrorweave Madness

Mirrorweave the Clone

P/T Creature types Abilities

Grizzly bears 3/3 Bear none

Mutavault 2/2 All none

Akroma 2/2 none none

Unmorph Akroma? No

1 Copy

2 Control

3 Text

4 Type

5 Color

6 Ability

7a P/T CDAs

7b P/T Setting

7c P/T Modifying

7d P/T Counters

7e P/T Switching

Mirrorweave Madness

Mirrorweave the face-down Akroma

P/T Creature types Abilities

Grizzly bears 3/3 none none

Mutavault 2/2 All none

Clone 2/2 none none

Unmorph Akroma? Yes (obv)

1 Copy

2 Control

3 Text

4 Type

5 Color

6 Ability

7a P/T CDAs

7b P/T Setting

7c P/T Modifying

7d P/T Counters

7e P/T Switching