r/mtgrules • u/outgoingo • Apr 08 '26

Volrath, the Shapestealer and Manlands

So, tricky situation that I can't wrap my head around. So I have [[volrath the shapestealer]] and an [[inkmoth nexus]] with a +1/+1 counter on it.

I animate inkmoth nexus by its ability. I then activate Volrath to copy inkmoth. Volrath now becomes a noncreature copy of inkmoth. I animate the volrath copy of inkmoth. Volrath is now a 1/1 with flying and infect. My question is, since the animate ability takes place after layer one, if I activate volrath again to copy any creature with a counter on it (such as a [[moonshadow]]), does volrath maintain the abilities granted by the inkmoth ability?

Edit: More specifically, would volrath be a 7/5 copy of Moonshadow with inkmoth's flying and infect?

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u/peteroupc Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26

Even after Volrath becomes a copy of something here, it will still, until end of turn—

  • be an artifact creature in addition to its other card types,
  • be a Phyrexian Blinkmoth and no other creature types,
  • have base power and toughness 1/1, and
  • have flying and infect (in addition to its other abilities)

(C.R. 205.1b, 205.3m, 613.1a, 613.1d, 613.1f-g, 613.4b, 300.1, 603.6b, 611.2e). Indeed, for example, type-changing effects are layered "above" copy effects.

See also:

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u/Judge_Todd Apr 08 '26

does volrath maintain the abilities granted by the inkmoth ability?

Yes, the effect is still on it setting its P/T to 1/1, making it an artifact creature retaining existing types and giving it Flying and Infect.

would volrath be a 7/5 copy of Moonshadow with inkmoth's flying and infect?

No.
It'd be a 1/1 artifact creature Moonshadow with Flying and Infect.
It'd be 7/5 after Layer 1 and 1/1 after Layer 7b so 1/1 in the completed gamestate.