Volrath's Shapeshifter

Creature - Shapeshifter 0/1, 1UU (3)

As long as the top card of your graveyard is a creature card, Volrath's Shapeshifter has the full text of that card and has the text "{2}: Discard a card." (Volrath's Shapeshifter has that card's name, mana cost, color, types, abilities, power, and toughness.)

{2}: Discard a card.

Illus. Ron Spencer

Gatherer Card Rulings?, Legality?

• 10/4/2004: If the top card in the graveyard has any other undefined characteristics, then those characteristics are not acquired and the shapeshifter uses the characteristic from its own card.
• 10/4/2004: If the top card in your graveyard is a creature card, this card uses the listed characteristics, including color and any other types. But, this card keeps the granted ability in addition to those from the card being copied.
• 10/4/2004: When it changes forms, any "enters the battlefield" abilities of the card it "copies" do not trigger.
• 10/4/2004: A copy of a Volrath's Shapeshifter will have the shapeshifting ability.
• 10/4/2004: If the top card in your graveyard isn't a creature card (meaning a card with the type Creature, which may or may not have other types such as Artifact or Enchantment), then it's just a 0/1 blue creature. Older cards of type Summon are also Creature cards.
• 8/1/2008: The ability that sets its characteristics is a text-changing effect.

• Official Reprint Policy (This card is on the reserved list)

• Legal in Vintage (Type 1)
• Legal in Legacy (Type 1.5)
• Legal in Classic (MTGO)
• Legal in Commander