Transformation

Transformation is a slang term used by Magic R&D to describe the following effect: "~ is a (color) (card type) with base power and toughness P/T." This mechanic is primary in blue.
==Description==
Transformation overwrites the base power and toughness of a creature. It can be temporary, through a one-shot spell or ability that lasts for the turn, or more permanent, usually through an Aura; more complex designs have more abstract conditions. This ability used to be in both blue and white, but R&D decided to focus it in blue. Sometimes blue can overwrite what the creature is currently doing and just make it the "transformed" creature. The one thing that R&D has taken from blue is destroying or exiling a creature and then giving the controller of that creature a creature token as a means of flavoring transformation. That is now a white ability flavored as giving compensation for destroying/exiling the creature. This means all of blue's transformation abilities are auras or limited effects on spells or activations.
Green has started to gain some use, but the general difference is that blue usually uses it as a shrinking effect like removal, whereas green uses it to pump creatures in a way that's hard to compound. Blue using it as pumping has a similar application; the final size is often relatively small.
A small number of cards transform permanents into noncreatures, such as an enchantment, a land, a Clue, a Vehicle or a Treasure. 
==Examples==
Only examples that affect other creatures are listed. Those that affect only themselves and those that animate noncreatures are left for other pages. 
The list below has the affected creature losing all abilities. Those listed as non-enchantments are assumed to be either triggered abilities or spell abilities that last until end of turn unless specified.
Color	Name 	Type 	P/T 	Color 	Subtype 	Notes
 	<c>Darksteel Mutation</c> 	Aura 	0/1 	 	Insect 	Becomes an artifact creature and has no other typeswith Indestructible
 	<c>Humble</c> 	Instant 	0/1 	 	 	
 	<c>Humility</c> 	Enchantment 	1/1 	 	 	All creatures
 	<c>Minimus Containment</c> 	Aura 	 	 	Treasure 	Becomes a Treasure
 	<c>Overwhelming Splendor</c> 	Aura Curse 	1/1 	 	 	All creatures controlled by enchanted player
 	<c>Rasaad, Radiant Monk</c> 	Creature 	1/1 	 	 	
 	<c>Reprobation</c> 	Aura 	0/1 	 	Coward 	Loses noncreature types
 	<c>Amphibian Downpour</c> 	Aura 	0/1 	 	Frog 	
 	<c>Astroquarium</c> 	Artifact 	4/4 or 8/8	Shark or Octopus	 	
 	<c>Azure Beastbinder</c> 	Creature 	2/2 	 	 	
 	<c>Dance of the Skywise</c> 	Instant 	4/4 	 	Dragon Illusion 	with Flying
 	<c>Deep Freeze</c> 	Aura 	0/4 	Wall+ 	with Defender 	
 	<c>Flatline</c> 	Instant 	0/1 	 	 	Creatures target player control
 	<c>Eaten by Piranhas</c> 	Aura 	1/1 	 	Skeleton 	
 	<c>Frogify</c> 	Aura 	1/1 	 	Frog 	
 	<c>Gift of Tusks</c> 	Instant 	3/3 	 	Elephant 	
 	<c>Hunted by The Family</c> 	Sorcery 	1/1 	 	Human 	
 	<c>Ichthyomorphosis</c> 	Aura 	0/1 	 	Fish 	
 	 	Aura 	 	 	Land 	Gains ": Add "
 	<c>In Too Deep</c> 	Aura 	 	 	Clue 	Gains Clue text
 	<c>Kasmina's Transmutation</c> 	Aura 	1/1 	 	 	
 	<c>Mercurial Transformation</c>	Sorcery - Lesson	1/1 or 4/4	 	Frog or Octopus 	
 	<c>Metamorphic Blast</c> 	Instant 	0/1 	 	Rabbit 	
 	<c>Ovinize</c> 	Instant 	0/1 	 	 	
 	<c>Polymorphist's Jest</c> 	Instant 	1/1 	 	Frog 	
 	<c>Poppet Factory</c> 	Artifact 	3/3 	 	 	Affects tokens while controlled
 	<c>Shadow Puppeteers</c> 	Creature 	4/4 	Dragon+ 	Flying creatures only	
 	<c>Sludge Monster</c> 	Creature 	2/2 	 	 	Creatures with slime countersWhile controlled
 	<c>Stasis Field</c> 	Aura 	0/2 	 	 	Gains defender
 	 	Aura 	 	 	Food 	Gains the Food ability
 	<c>The Flood of Mars</c> 	Creature 	3/3 	 	Alien Zombie Horror 	Creatures with flood CounterBecomes a copy of the original
 	<c>Turn</c> 	Instant 	0/1 	 	Weird 	
 	<c>Turn to Frog</c> 	Instant 	1/1 	 	Frog 	
 	<c>Unable to Scream</c> 	Aura 	0/2 	 	Artifact Toy 	Can't turn face up
 	<c>Utter Insignificance</c> 	Aura 	1/1 	 	 	
 	<c>Vedalken Humiliator</c> 	Creature 	1/1 	 	 	All opponent's creatures
 	<c>Warkite Marauder</c> 	Creature 	0/1 	 	 	
 	<c>Will Kenrith</c> 	Planeswalker 	0/3 	 	 	
 	<c>Witness Protection</c> 	Aura 	1/1 	 	Citizen 	Name becomes <c>Legitimate Businessperson</c>
 	<c>Sudden Spoiling</c> 	Instant 	0/2 	 	 	Creatures target player control
 	<c>Vraska, Betrayal's Sting</c>	Planeswalker 	 	 	Treasure 	Becomes a TreasurePermanent effect with no reminding marker
 	<c>Kenrith's Transformation</c>	Aura 	3/3 	 	Elk 	
 	<c>Lignify</c> 	Tribal Aura 	0/4 	 	Treefolk 	
 	<c>Trickster's Elk</c> 	Bestow Aura 	3/3 	 	Elk 	
 	<c>The Curse of Fenric</c> 	Saga 	6/6 	 	Legendary Horror 	Nontoken creature
 	<c>Dragonshift</c> 	Instant 	4/4 	 	Dragon 	with Flying
 	<c>Oko, Thief of Crowns</c> 	Planeswalker 	3/3 	 	Elk 	Also can target artifactsPermanent effect with no reminding marker
 	<c>Snakeform</c> 	Instant 	1/1 	 	Snake 	
 	<c>Obscura Confluence</c> 	Instant 	1/1 	 	 	
The following list will not have the target lose abilities i.e. the transformation is only a power and toughness change. The same assumption regarding non-enchantments and time duration applies.
Color	Name 	Type 	P/T 	Color 	Creature Type 	Notes
 	<c>Archon of the Wild Rose</c> 	Creature 	4/4 	 	 	Other enchanted creatures controlledWhile controlledGives flying
 	<c>Curse of Conformity</c> 	Aura Curse 	3/3 	 	Loses creature types 	All non-legendary creatures of enchanted player
 	 	Instant 	0/X 	 	 	Perpetual effect
X is target's toughness
 	<c>Eidolon of Astral Winds</c> 	Creature 	4/4 	 	 	Gains flying
 	<c>Graven Dominator</c> 	Creature 	1/1 	 	 	Each other creature
 	<c>Harmonious Archon</c> 	Creature 	3/3 	 	 	All Non-Archon creaturesWhile controlled
 	<c>Mirror Entity</c> 	Creature 	X/X 	 	All types 	All creatures controlled
 	<c>Porcelain Gallery</c> 	Enchantment 	X/X 	 	 	All creatures controlled
X is creatures controlled
 	 	Enchantment 	4/4 	 	Angel+ 	Controlled creatures with +1/+1 counters
 	<c>Swift Reconfiguration</c> 	Aura 	 	 	Vehicle 	Loses all other typesGains Crew 5
 	<c>Taranika, Akroan Veteran</c> 	Creature 	4/4 	 	 	Gains indestructible
 	 	Planeswalker 	X/X 	 	 	X is the target's toughnessPerpetual effectGains "can attack as though it didn't have defender"
 	<c>Awakened Awareness</c> 	Aura 	1/1 	 	 	
 	<c>Behind the Mask</c> 	Instant 	4/3 or 1/1 	 	 	Can target artifacts
 	<c>Better Offer</c> 	Sorcery 	X/X 	 	 	Gains Ward
 	<c>Brine Hag</c> 	Creature 	0/2 	 	 	All creatures that damaged the dead Brine HagPermanent effect without a marker
 	<c>Burden of Proof</c> 	Aura 	1/1 	 	 	If non-Detective
 	<c>Candlekeep Inspiration</c> 	Sorcery 	X/X 	 	 	
 	<c>Diminish</c> 	Instant 	1/1 	 	 	
 	<c>Dreadful as the Storm</c> 	Instant 	5/5 	 	 	The Ring Tempts You
 	<c>Eccentric Apprentice</c> 	Creature 	1/1 	 	Bird 	with Flying
 	<c>Illusory Wrappings</c> 	Aura 	0/2 	 	 	
 	<c>Leonardo da Vinci</c> 	Creature 	X/X 	 	 	All Thopters controlled
X is equal to cards in hand
 	<c>Majestic Metamorphosis</c> 	Instant 	4/4 	 	Angel artifact 	Gains flyingCan target artifacts
 	<c>Mass Diminish</c> 	Sorcery 	1/1 	 	 	
 	<c>Mordenkainen's Polymorph</c> 	Instant 	4/4 	 	Dragon 	Gains Flying
 	<c>Octavia, Living Thesis</c> 	Creature 	8/8 	 	 	
 	<c>Octopus Umbra</c> 	Aura 	8/8 	 	 	Gains a tapping ability
 	 	Aura 	 	 	Enchantment 	Loses other types
 	<c>Phantasmal Form</c> 	Instant 	3/3 	Illusion+	with Flying 	
 	<c>Reduce in Stature</c> 	Aura 	0/2 	 	 	
 	<c>Relic's Roar</c> 	Instant 	4/3 	 	Dinosaur 	Can target artifacts
 	<c>Serendib Sorcerer</c> 	Creature 	0/2 	 	 	
 	<c>Serpentine Ambush</c> 	Instant 	5/5 	 	Serpent 	
 	<c>Startling Development</c> 	Instant 	4/4 	 	Serpent 	
 	<c>Suit Up</c> 	Instant 	4/5 	 	Artifact creature 	Can target Vehicles
 	<c>Symmetry Sage</c> 	Creature 	2/X 	 	 	X is target's toughness
 	<c>A-Symmetry Sage</c> 	Creature 	3/X 	 	 	X is target's toughness
 	<c>Water Wings</c> 	Instant 	4/4 	 	 	Gains flying and hexproof
 	<c>Will, Scholar of Frost</c> 	Planeswalker 	0/2 	 	 	
 	<c>Wings of Velis Vel</c> 	Instant 	4/4 	 	All types 	Gains flying
 	<c>Zhalfirin Shapecraft</c> 	Instant 	4/3 	 	 	
 	<c>Blade of the Oni</c> 	Equipment - Demon 	5/5 	Demon+ 	Gains MenaceWhile equipped 	
 	<c>Maha, Its Feathers Night</c> 	Creature 	X/1 	 	 	Opponent's creatures as long as Maha is present
X is original power
 	<c>Six-Sided Die</c> 	Instant 	X/1 	 	 	
 	<c>Sorceress Queen</c> 	Creature 	0/2 	 	 	
 	<c>Withercrown</c> 	Aura 	0/X 	 	 	X is target's toughness
 	<c>Creepy Puppeteer</c> 	Creature 	4/3 	 	 	
 	<c>Allosaurus Shepherd</c> 	Creature 	5/5 	 	Dinosaur+ 	Affects all Elves controlled
 	<c>Belt of Giant Strength</c> 	Equipment 	10/10 	 	 	While equipped
 	<c>Creeperhulk</c> 	Creature 	5/5 	 	 	Gains trample
 	<c>Cycle of Life</c> 	Enchantment 	0/1 	 	 	Until next upkeep
Only on your creature that entered that turn
 	<c>Exuberant Wolfbear</c> 	Creature 	X/Y 	 	 	X/Y is Wolfbear's statsTarget Human controlled
 	<c>Gigantiform</c> 	Aura 	8/8 	 	 	Gains trample
 	<c>Gigantomancer</c> 	Creature 	7/7 	 	 	
 	<c>Halsin, Emerald Archdruid</c> 	Creature 	4/4 	Bear+ 	Target token controlled 	
 	<c>Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse</c> 	Creature 	X/X 	 	 	X is cards in handAll creatures controlled
 	 	Legendary Enchantment - Background	10/10 	 	Giant 	Commanders
 	<c>Scale Up</c> 	Sorcery 	6/4 	 	Wurm 	
 	<c>Singing Tree</c> 	Creature 	0/X 	 	 	Attacking creature's toughness unchanged
 	<c>Vengeant Earth</c> 	Instant 	4/4 	 	Elemental 	Gains haste
 	<c>Voice of the Vermin</c> 	Creature 	4/4 	 	 	
 	<c>Wild Shape</c> 	Instant 	1/3 or 1/5 or 3/3 	 	Turtle or Spider or Elephant	Hexproof or Reach or Trample, respectively to types
 	<c>Aven Mimeomancer</c> 	Creature 	3/1 	 	 	Gains flyingAs long as it has a feather counter
 	<c>Godhead of Awe</c> 	Creature 	1/1 	 	 	All other creaturesWhile controlled
 	<c>Coerced To Kill</c> 	Aura 	1/1 	 	Assassin+ 	Gains Deathtouch
 	<c>Inkfathom Witch</c> 	Creature 	4/1 	 	 	Unblocked creatures
 	<c>Vhati il-Dal</c> 	Creature 	X/1 or 1/X 	 	 	X is the original creature's stat
 	<c>Almost Perfect</c> 	Aura 	9/10 	 	 	Gains indestructible
 	<c>Kudo, King Among Bears</c> 	Creature 	2/2 	 	Bear+ 	All other creatures
Until Kudo leaves
 	<c>Biomass Mutation</c> 	Instant 	X/X 	 	 	All creatures controlled
 	<c>Chrome Host Hulk</c> 	Creature 	5/5 	 	 	
 	<c>Oko, the Trickster</c> 	Planeswalker 	10/10 	 	 	All creatures controlledGains trample
 	<c>Oko's Hospitality</c> 	Sorcery 	3/3 	 	 	All creatures controlled
 	<c>Omnibian</c> 	Creature 	3/3 	 	Frog 	
 	<c>The Bears of Littjara</c> 	Enchantment - Saga 	4/4 	 	 	Any number of Shapeshifters
Continues after the Saga has left
 	<c>Square Up</c> 	Instant 	4/4 	 	 	
 	<c>Restless Vinestalk</c> 	Land 	3/3 	 	 	
 	<c>Tanazir Quandrix</c> 	Creature 	X/Y 	 	 	X/Y is Tanazir's stats
 	<c>Unruly Krasis</c> 	Creature 	X/X 	 	 	X is Unruly Krasis's power
 	<c>Minsc, Beloved Ranger</c> 	Creature 	X/X 	 	Giant+ 	
 	<c>Storvald, Frost Giant Jarl</c> 	Creature 	7/7 or 1/1 	 	 	
 	 	Sorcery 	One becomes 1/1; another becomes 4/4	 	 	
 	<c>Cogwork Progenitor</c> 	Creature 	1/1 	 	Gnome+ 	
 	<c>Flayer of Loyalties</c> 	Creature 	10/10 	 	 	
 	<c>The Capitoline Triad</c> 	Emblem 	9/9 	 	 	Creatures controlled
Emblem granted by activated ability of a creature
 	 	Artifact 	X/1 	 	 	Gains flying
X is target's power
 	<c>Graaz, Unstoppable Juggernaut</c>	Artifact 	5/3 	 	Juggernaut 	Creatures controlled
Until Graaz leaves
 	<c>Island of Wak-Wak</c> 	Land 	0/X 	 	 	Only flying creaturesX is target's toughness
== References ==
Category:Magic slang
Category:Miscellaneous mechanics