Duplicant

Strategy & Gameplay

Duplicant is a versatile artifact creature that serves as a powerful removal and reanimation hybrid, making it an excellent inclusion in any deck that values flexible creature interaction. This six-mana Shapeshifter operates on the imprint mechanic, allowing you to exile a target nontoken creature when it enters the battlefield, then copy that creature's power, toughness, and creature types while maintaining its Shapeshifter designation. What makes Duplicant particularly appealing is its efficiency as both a removal spell and a threat—you're simultaneously removing your opponent's creature while gaining a relevant clock that matches the creature you removed, effectively two-for-one-ing your opponent's board presence. In constructed formats, Duplicant fits seamlessly into control decks, midrange strategies, and any blue or artifact-focused archetype that needs answers to problematic creatures. The card excels against decks built around individual threats like commander decks or creature-heavy strategies, where removing a key piece and replacing it with an equivalent threat creates a significant tempo advantage. Beyond removal, Duplicant becomes particularly degenerate in dedicated combo decks where you can repeatedly re-trigger its enter-the-battlefield effect or abuse the imprint mechanic with various other cards. Its legality across Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Commander, and multiple other formats ensures you have multiple places to deploy this card. Whether you're building a control deck that needs utility, a midrange strategy seeking versatile removal, or an artifact-themed deck looking for value, Duplicant provides the flexibility and power that makes it a staple in any serious player's collection.