I think this could have been the first Clone-like one-drop.
I like it certainly more than Unstable Shapeshifter - although it's restricted to your creatures, this guy has half the cost and - most of all - you may have him become a copy.
Yet I don't think that anyone is going to break this guy. There might be some Jonny decks that can make good use of this, but by the time you cast it it's just a tiny 0/1 chump blocker that cannot do any harm. And you still have to afford the regular mana of other creatures you want to duplicate.
But their cip/etb effect won't trigger, so you should possibly consider using undercosted creatures with accordant drawbacks. This way you have twice a big body but you only have to bother once with the trigger.
Phyrexian Dreadnought comes to mind. Yeah, now that's a tough combo indeed. (Nevertheless i'd still prefer playing a Stiftle instead.)
But this guy has a considerable... (see all)
Posted By:
Mode
(4/20/2010 12:33:12 AM)
This is probably the only card in the whole set besides Splitter Twin that could potentially help allies...
really kinda sad that they just decided to abandon mechanics like landfall and allies...
problem is none of the allies in blue are that awesome outside of mill >.<
Posted By:
Shell_shockkun
(4/30/2010 8:21:26 PM)
Awesome card. Put an Eel Umbra on it and call it a day.
Posted By:
coyotemoon722
(4/23/2010 12:13:03 PM)
hmm...
probably good in that Stifle deck with Dreadnought.
Posted By:
Kryptnyt
(5/15/2010 7:42:19 AM)
As mentioned before (by Kaseladen and Noobmag1), this card is monstrous in UW levelers: by copying another leveler, you can use the level up ability and get to keep the level counters on it for future copying or to get the bonus from Time of Heroes.
If you add Leyline of Anticipation to that mix, you can flash summon levelers during combat like Beastbreaker of Bala Ged or Nirkana Cutthroat while this already has a large number of level counters to massacre your opponent's blockers or attackers.
Even nastier would be to have seven level counters on Renegade Doppelganger and flash summon Lighthouse Chronologist on your opponent's turn as they tap their last land: they don't even have a chance to respond to your gain of an extra turn. Or maybe flash summon Hedron-Field Purists and negate a lethal Staggershock or Lightning Bolt.
Posted By:
hexaetherion
(8/19/2010 1:58:42 PM)
I was thinking of something along the lines of splinter twin, but it is just making my head hurt. Just play critters with good tap abilities I guess.
Posted By:
Tommy9898
(4/15/2010 11:36:16 PM)
Gentleman, why are we not thinking of putting him in an Ally deck? Magnify every ally effect by one and duplicate the casted one's effect. Not bad for two mana.
Posted By:
blindthrall
(4/30/2010 11:57:31 AM)
Outside of allies, I prefer minion reflector.
Posted By:
Mustached_Stranger
(5/11/2010 9:32:19 PM)
Per other comments, the true power of this guy is that he starts as a small threat and gets massive as your other creatures get massive. He effectively doubles whatever you're currently playing, which can get pretty ridiculous if you drop a bomb on the table.
His biggest, and most obvious, downside is his incredibly weak power on the opponents turn. Any 1-damage ping will crush this guy. In a block with Staggershock and the like hanging around, he's very nuke-able.
4/5
Posted By:
Gaussgoat
(5/12/2010 11:33:17 AM)
@Swordfishtrombones: no, you couldn't. While Renegade Doppleganger changes what it is thanks to the Acidic Slim/Venerated Teacher entering the battlefield, it itself did not enter the battlefield - it was already there. As such, it can't trigger any 'enters the battlefield' abilities.
Posted By:
JaxsonBateman
(5/15/2010 10:36:22 PM)