<p>There are two main possibilities here, depending on what the token is exactly.</p>
<p>The first possibility is that the token is a copy of Vesuvan Shapeshifter itself. This could happen by copying a Vesuvan Shapeshifter spell on the stack, or by having a face up Vesuvan Shapeshifter that is not copying anything, and copying that. In this case, the token will work exactly like a Vesuvan Shapeshifter. You can choose to use its copy effect as it enters the battlefield, and if so it will be a copy of whatever you choose with the upkeep trigger. And if you choose to turn it face down, it will be a regular 2/2 face down creature and you will be able to turn it face up using the Morph ability.</p>
<p>The second possibility is that the token is a copy of whatever Vesuvan Shapeshifter is copying. In that case, it will be a copy of whatever that other creature is, with the upkeep ability. If you choose to turn it face down it will be a regular 2/2 face down creature, but it will still be a copy of that other creature, so you can only turn it face up if that other creature has Morph.</p>
<p>The reason it works this way is <a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Copy" rel="nofollow noreferrer">rule 707.3</a>, and the first example is directly relevant:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The copy’s copiable values become the copied information, as modified by the copy’s status (see rule 110.5). Objects that copy the object will use the new copiable values.</p>
<ul>
<li><em><strong>Example:</strong> Vesuvan Doppelganger reads, “You may have Vesuvan Doppelganger enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it doesn’t copy that creature’s color and it has ‘At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have this creature become a copy of target creature, except it doesn’t copy that creature’s color and it has this ability.’” A Vesuvan Doppelganger enters the battlefield as a copy of Runeclaw Bear (a 2/2 green Bear creature with no abilities). Then a Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of the Doppelganger. The Clone is a 2/2 blue Bear named Runeclaw Bear that has the Doppelganger’s upkeep-triggered ability.</em></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-20T22:45:03.733Z
2022-10-20T22:45:03.733Z
murgatroid99
<p>What happens when <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=509462" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vesuvan Shapeshifter</a> token instance is turned face down? Can you still unmorph it since the created token is a copy of Vesuvan Shapeshifter? Does it matter if the token was created from copying a Vesuvan Shapeshifter on the stack or on the battlefield?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Vesuvan Shapeshifter token copies turned face down
George
# Vesuvan Shapeshifter token copies turned face down

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-10-20)

What happens when [Vesuvan Shapeshifter](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=509462) token instance is turned face down? Can you still unmorph it since the created token is a copy of Vesuvan Shapeshifter? Does it matter if the token was created from copying a Vesuvan Shapeshifter on the stack or on the battlefield?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-10-20. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

There are two main possibilities here, depending on what the token is exactly.

The first possibility is that the token is a copy of Vesuvan Shapeshifter itself. This could happen by copying a Vesuvan Shapeshifter spell on the stack, or by having a face up Vesuvan Shapeshifter that is not copying anything, and copying that. In this case, the token will work exactly like a Vesuvan Shapeshifter. You can choose to use its copy effect as it enters the battlefield, and if so it will be a copy of whatever you choose with the upkeep trigger. And if you choose to turn it face down, it will be a regular 2/2 face down creature and you will be able to turn it face up using the Morph ability.

The second possibility is that the token is a copy of whatever Vesuvan Shapeshifter is copying. In that case, it will be a copy of whatever that other creature is, with the upkeep ability. If you choose to turn it face down it will be a regular 2/2 face down creature, but it will still be a copy of that other creature, so you can only turn it face up if that other creature has Morph.

The reason it works this way is [rule 707.3](https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Copy), and the first example is directly relevant:

> The copy’s copiable values become the copied information, as modified by the copy’s status (see rule 110.5). Objects that copy the object will use the new copiable values.
>
> * ***Example:** Vesuvan Doppelganger reads, “You may have Vesuvan Doppelganger enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it doesn’t copy that creature’s color and it has ‘At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have this creature become a copy of target creature, except it doesn’t copy that creature’s color and it has this ability.’” A Vesuvan Doppelganger enters the battlefield as a copy of Runeclaw Bear (a 2/2 green Bear creature with no abilities). Then a Clone enters the battlefield as a copy of the Doppelganger. The Clone is a 2/2 blue Bear named Runeclaw Bear that has the Doppelganger’s upkeep-triggered ability.*


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