Double-faced card

Double-faced cards (DFCs) in Magic have a regular card frame on each side, and no card back. Each face has a symbol to denote the front from the back. Traditional DFCs can be transformed or converted from their front face to their back face while modal DFCs can be played as either face but cannot transform or convert.
==History==
Double-faced cards were introduced in the first two sets of the Innistrad block. All cards featured the keyword action transform (turn it over so that its other face is up). A common slot was replaced by a "DFC slot" that had the appropriate probability for each rarity appearing (i.e. roughly 2/3 common, 1/5 uncommon, 1/15 rare, 1/120 mythic). 
Double-faced cards returned in Magic Origins where one side featured a legendary creature, and the other side featured its planeswalker incarnation. These "flipwalkers" were first exiled and then returned transformed from the exile zone. In Magic Origins, there was only one double-faced card for each color.
Double-faced cards returned in Shadows over Innistrad. These had the transform mechanic again. New rules stipulated that the converted mana cost of the back face of a double-faced is based on the mana cost of the front face. Eldritch Moon introduced a twist with meld, a keyword action that changes the card with meld and another specific card into one oversized card. That single card only exists on the backs of the two other cards. Whenever the melded card leaves the battlefield, both cards go, and they each turn front face up again. For gameplay purposes, these are NOT considered to be DFCs (see rule 713.1b), though they occupy the DFC slot in a Shadows over Innistrad booster pack. There are three pairs of cards that can meld together: a white pair, a black pair, and a pair consisting of a red card and a land. There were also fifteen regular DFCs in Eldritch Moon. 
Since June 2017, double-faced cards are considered to be deciduous. Ten of them appeared in Ixalan - one of each color, and five artifacts - highlighting the tales and tools of discovery. Another seven double-faced cards appeared in Rivals of Ixalan, one of each enemy color pair and two artifacts. They all transform into important "landmarks", which are hence lands. Double-faced cards were hence an infrequent thing. The short time between Shadows over Innistrad and Ixalan was not meant to be a precedent, but R&D came to realize that there was a lot more of design space to be explored in double-faced cards. For example, Design wanted powerful lands, but without a mana cost the hoops to jump could only be so high; hence, DFCs let players play with powerful lands but need to cast a spell and achieve a goal to get them.
A single double-faced card, <c>Nicol Bolas, the Ravager</c> was printed in Core Set 2019. 
Zendikar Rising introduced Modal Double-faced cards (MDFCs). Whereas the original Double-faced cards were inspired by the Hasbro Duel Masters game, MDFCs were inspired by split cards. Rather than using a common slot, these had a slot that replaced an uncommon or rare in Zendikar Rising; the next two sets had all-rare MDFCs, distributed as normal through the rare slot. Design realized that MDFC spells were unwieldy when the back face was as complex as the front, so future options needed to be simpler.
In Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, the common transformation triggers found on most werewolves were keyworded with Daybound and Nightbound. Although still primarily present on werewolves, these keywords also appear on other permanents. The set also introduced Disturb, which allows cards to be cast from the graveyard transformed. This continued with Innistrad: Crimson Vow. In these sets, DFCs had a slot for common and a slot for higher rarities and, unlike previous Innistrad sets, had the common DFCs color balanced.
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty melded together Sagas and DFCs, where the third chapter exiles and returns the Saga transformed and becomes a creature on the other side. These had a single slot at common or uncommon, while the rare and mythic DFCs were distributed through the rare slot.
The Transformers Universes Beyond franchise product, found in The Brothers' War boosters, depicted a series of characters from the Hasbro franchise as Magic cards. They have an unusual combination of modal and transforming DFC mechanisms in More Than Meets the Eye and can convert between faces once on the battlefield. Convert is mechanically identical to Transform but is renamed to avoid a Transformer copyright concern.
March of the Machine introduces a new card type (Battles), all 36 of which are DFCs. In addition, there are a cycle of Praetor-Sagas and four cycles of creatures that have become compleated. One Battle (uncommon rarity or higher) is guaranteed per booster, and another slot is dedicated to a non-Battle DFC of any rarity.
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan's new mechanic Craft is tied to being a DFC artifact. Additionally, like the previous visit to Ixalan, there are a series of permanents that transform into lands, and <c>Huatli, Caller of Unity</c> uniquely is a creature that transforms into a Saga. The rarities were distributed as they were during Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.
Modern Horizons 3 was the first set to mix modal and transforming DFCs. It marked the return of DFC lands from Zendikar Rising alongside the return of "igniting planeswalkers" from Magic Origins. There is no guarantee of a DFC in this set, with uncommon DFCs being as frequent as their non-DFC counterparts.
==Description==
===Transforming double-faced cards===
Transforming double-faced cards (TDFCs) represented a radical change for the card back. Until their release, no legal card could have a different print on the back than the regular Magic card back. 
Double-faced is a referable property for a card: <c>Overgrown Pest</c> and <c>Invasion of Pyrulea</c> look for double-faced cards while in the library. Multiple cards in March of the Machine also refer to being transformed, making it a quasi-typal synergy.
Thematically, these double-faced cards represent something that undergoes a major transformation, hence the keyword action. This is expressed in different ways, depending on the setting.
====Innistrad====
In Innistrad sets, many are werewolves, fledgling vampires, or other creatures undergoing horrifying transformations. The majority of these cards are creatures that transform into other creatures, although there are a significant number of exceptions:
 Rares & Mythics
Front Face	Card Type(s) 	Back Face	Card Type(s) 	Set
 	Planeswalker 	 	Planeswalker 	
 	Planeswalker 	 	Planeswalker 	
 	Artifact 	 	Creature 	
 	Planeswalker 	 	Planeswalker 	
 	Land 	 	Artifact Creature	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment 	
 	Creature 	 	Artifact 	
 	Sorcery 	 	Creature 	
 	Enchantment (Aura Curse)	 	Creature 	
 	Creature 	 	Artifact 	
 	Enchantment 	 	Enchantment 	
 	Land 	 	Creature 	
 Uncommons
Front Face	Card Type(s) 	Back Face	Card Type(s) 	Set
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura Curse)	
 	Enchantment 	 	Creature 	
 	Artifact 	 	Artifact 	
 	Artifact 	 	Creature 	
 	Enchantment 	 	Creature 	
 	Artifact Creature 	 	Artifact Creature 	
 	Artifact Creature 	 	Artifact (Equipment) 	
 	Artifact 	 	Creature 	
 	Artifact 	 	Artifact 	
 	Artifact 	 	Artifact Creature 	
 	Artifact (Equipment)	 	Artifact (Equipment) 	
 	Enchantment (Aura) 	 	Enchantment (Aura Curse)	
 	Enchantment (Aura) 	 	Creature 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 	Artifact 	 	Creature 	
 	Artifact Creature 	 	Artifact Creature 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 Disturb Auras
Front Face	Card Type(s)	Back Face	Card Type(s) 	Set
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura Curse)	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
 	Creature 	 	Enchantment (Aura) 	
====Igniting Planeswalkers====
In Magic Origins, Core Set 2019 and Modern Horizons 3, there are cards representing planeswalkers whose spark is igniting, represented by creatures that transform into planeswalkers. Magic Origins features a cycle of mono-color planeswalkers; Core Set 2019 features a single planeswalker, <c>Nicol Bolas, the Ravager</c>, that is tricolored on both faces; Modern Horizons 3 has a cycle of mono-colored creatures on the front and two-colored planeswalkers on the back.
====Ixalan====
In Ixalan sets, they represent the journey into uncharted territory and the discovery of new locales. Enchantments and artifacts represent a tool or event along the journey and transform into a land that represents the destination. Ixalan features a cycle of mono-color enchantments and five artifacts, while Rivals of Ixalan features a cycle of enemy-color enchantments, an artifact, and an artifact creature.
====Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty====
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty used the storytelling aspect of Sagas and linked them to many Kamis' spiritual embodiments of history and concepts. The enchantment front side tells the tale as recorded on various forms of artwork, while the backside is an enchantment creature, the Kami that is borne from that legend's influence on the world. Each has identical third and final chapter abilities, where they exile and return themselves transformed.
====March of the Machine====
March of the Machine introduced a new card type, Battle, to represent a new gameplay dynamic. A Battle gives a player a secondary target to achieve in defeating by dealing sufficient damage, and an opponent has the opportunity to defend them. All the Sieges in March of the Machine are double-faced cards with the front uniquely designed as a horizontal landscape showing the Invasion of a certain plane (all Sieges follow the naming convention of "Invasion of X"). Defeating a siege causes the card to be exiled and the back face is cast as a payoff. 
====The Lost Caverns of Ixalan====
The new mechanic of Craft transforms artifacts into various other permanents. Each exiles themselves and a crafting "ingredient" (another card or cards) and returns transformed. Of the "landmark" transformers, there is a cycle of "Deepest" Gods that transforms into a land whose non-mana ability is transforming back. 
The Jurassic World cards include a Saga that transforms into a land.
===Modal double-faced cards===
Modal double-faced cards (MDFCs) were introduced in Zendikar Rising.
Like previously released double-faced cards, modal double-faced cards have two card faces, one on each side of the card. But these cards don't transform. When you play a modal double-faced card, you choose which face you're playing. The front side of the card has a single black triangle in the upper left-hand corner. The backside has two white triangles and a different card frame with white font.
Modal double-faced cards fit in the same design space as split cards, but the latter can only be instants and sorceries. This means MDFCs tend to have at least one side be permanent. Technically, there could be an MDFC with two instants and/or sorceries with text that couldn’t fit on a split card.
Similarly to transform cards, the modal faces of these cards vary depending on the setting.
*The MDFCs of Zendikar Rising all feature lands on their back face. All generate one color of mana and by and large, enter tapped; the mythic cycle of lands enter untapped if their controller pays 3 life.
**Notably, six of them are Pathway lands, which are lands on both sides that tap for different colors of mana.
*The primary MDFCs of Kaldheim all feature legendary God creatures on their front face, and a legendary non-land permanent on the back face.
**While most of the back faces are artifacts, three of the Mythics have other permanent types on the back:
***Alrund's back face is Hakka, a blue bird creature.
***Esika's back face is a five-color enchantment.
***Valki's back face is a black and red Tibalt planeswalker.
**Kaldheim additionally features the remaining four lands of the Pathway cycle that weren't printed in Zendikar Rising.
*The MDFCs of Strixhaven: School of Mages all feature enemy color combinations, except for one that is colorless. These are the first to have non-permanents on the back faces.
**Notably, only one of these has two colors on the front face , while its back face is allied colored .
*Transformers has a mechanic that merges both transforming and modal DFCs using More Than Meets the Eye.
*Modern Horizons 3 reprised the MDFC lands, this time as uncommons with the "pay 3 life" clause. There were also now some dual taplands with hybrid spell fronts.
===Helper cards===
Zendikar Rising introduced "helper cards", a substitute card for an actual double-faced card when playing without opaque sleeves in order to prevent cheating. Double-faced cards must be kept in a card sleeve with an opaque back when not using a substitute card. These cards have a standard Magic card back and a write-in area on the front face that can be used to indicate which card is being represented.
==Rules==
==Playing with double-faced cards==
===Icons===
Each face of a double-faced card has an icon to aid players in identifying the front from the back. The front face has a single white triangle pointed upward inside a black circle to the left of the card name. The back face has a single white triangle pointed downward inside a black circle on the right side of the card, where the mana cost would normally be printed.
The release of The Brothers' War and Transformers saw R&D standardize the icons for all double-faced cards. Front faces now have an upward-pointing triangle and back faces use a downward-pointing triangle positioned on the right side of the title bar. The change brings transforming DFCs in line with modal DFCs, which use similar symbols ( for front faces and for back faces).
===Previous icons===
Before The Brothers' War, double-faced cards used icons that were themed around their respective sets.
The Innistrad block double-faced cards used an icon next to the card name representing a sun or a moon . The front of the card is called the "day" side, and a regular card frame, a mana cost, and the sun symbol. The back or "night" side had the moon symbol and a slightly altered frame similar to planeshifted cards with a darker text box and white text for the card type, name, and (for creatures) power and toughness. 
With the Magic Origins rules update, the sun and moon symbols lost their meaning; the front of the card was then defined by the appearance of the mana cost. The set also introduced two new symbols for the five double-faced cards in its set: The rising sun for the front side and the planeswalker symbol for the backside.
With the release of Shadows over Innistrad, the symbols in the upper-left corner regained their rules meaning, due to a single card <c>Westvale Abbey</c>. As a land, the front face lacked a mana cost and would be considered a back face under the previous rules.
Creatures from Eldritch Moon that transform into colorless Eldrazi have the aforementioned eldritch moon for the front side and Emrakul for the back side, showing this creature has joined Emrakul's brood. This is symbolizing one transformation step further from that shown in Innistrad, Dark Ascension, and Shadows over Innistrad.
Double-faced cards from Ixalan and Rivals of Ixalan highlight the tales and tools of discovery. The front face is recognized by the icon of a compass rose . Lands on the backface are marked by the land icon last seen in Future Sight.
For Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, all mechanics involving two-sided cards once again used the and symbols. Though they were intuitively tied to Daybound/Nightbound, they didn't have a good logical association with Disturb or the other transform cards. In retrospect, Mark Rosewater admitted R&D might have not wanted to use the day and night icons on things that weren’t Daybound/Nightbound even if previously Innistrad sets did.
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty used a closed fan on the front side and an open fan on the back.
===Play===
Double-sided cards enter the battlefield with their front side up. To switch between the two card faces, the keyword action transform is used. When a permanent transforms, all counters, Auras, and Equipment stay on the card, and the card neither enters nor leaves the battlefield. However, some cards transform by changing zones:
*The bulk of them exile and return themselves transformed ("blink") due to rules requirements of their types or subtypes.
**The eleven creatures that transform into planeswalkers need to be blinked as loyalty counters are placed as an enters-the-battlefield replacement effect and would otherwise die as state-based effects.
**If <c>Conqueror's Galleon</c> had transformed normally, it would retain the ability "This permanent becomes an artifact creature until end of turn." gained from Crew, and thus become a 0/0 artifact creature and die as a state-based action.
**The Sagas of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty blink to avoid multiple tracking issues. It would avoid having creatures with chapter counters on them - if, for whatever reason, the creature is forcibly transformed, the third chapter counter would kill the Saga immediately. It would also clean up the board, stop them from being mistaken for +1/+1 counters, and would also stop them from being inherently modified. It was also found that immediate transforming was too aggressive and needed to reset summoning sickness. March of the Machine's Praetor cycle does so as well, as standard transforming will not give a lore counter until the next draw step and so fail to trigger the first chapter ability. <c>Huatli, Poet of Unity</c> does the same.
**Sieges in March of the Machine could have any type of spell on the back side, so they are exiled and cast to let Planeswalkers, Instants, and Sorceries be the victory spoils for defeating the Battle.
**Craft artifacts from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan exile and return themselves. The reasoning is likely similar to that of the creatures Sagas as to reintroduce summoning sickness.
*<c>Accursed Witch</c>, <c>Edgar, Charmed Groom</c>, <c>Golden Guardian</c>, <c>Harvest Hand</c>, <c>Loyal Cathar</c>, <c>Vengeful Strangler</c> and the Deepest Gods cycle have triggered abilities which return them to the battlefield transformed when they die.
**<c>Biolume Egg</c> has a similar triggered ability, specifically only when sacrificed.
*<c>Journey to Eternity</c>, <c>Radiant Grace</c>, and <c>Skin Invasion</c> have triggered abilities that return them to the battlefield transformed when the creature they enchant dies.
*<c>Startled Awake</c> has an ability that can be activated from the graveyard, which puts it onto the battlefield transformed.
*Cards with Disturb can be cast from the graveyard and transformed for their disturb cost.
To be allowed to play with double-sided cards, the player must either have opaque sleeves for all their cards through which no detail of the cards is visible or use a checklist card or helper card to substitute for each double-faced card in the deck.
Earlier sets with double-faced cards had a checklist card in some of its booster packs. Checklist cards have the regular Magic card back and list the name and mana cost of all double-faced cards from the set. The player must mark which double-faced card the checklist card is meant to represent on the checklist card, in a manner not visible from the back of the card. The checklist card is shuffled into the deck while the actual double-faced card is kept outside the game. These were unpopular and clunky, with Shadows over Innistrad needing two lists, separated by rarity, to fit the full amount. While they were slated to be more prevalent as a supplemental card to avoid problems, it was still entirely possible to not have the rare checklist when opening a rare DFC.
Helper cards are more generic, where the player fills in the details necessary such as mana cost and stats, with space for art if desired, which lets them be used as token cards or copies. These were introduced with Zendikar Rising.
One easy way to tell if a double-faced card is transforming as opposed to modal is that each transforming double-faced card will have an ability that either transforms it into its other face or has it enter the battlefield or be cast transformed. The back faces of transforming double-faced cards don't have mana costs because they usually can't be cast transformed. 
If you ever need to know the mana value of the back face of a transforming double-faced card, use the mana cost of the front face.
==Card rulings==
*Double-faced cards can not be turned face down with cards such as <c>Ixidron</c>. When a double-faced card is instructed to be turned face-down, nothing happens. Similarly, if a non-double-faced card is instructed to transform, nothing happens.
*If a double-faced card is manifested, it will be put onto the battlefield face down. While face down, it can't transform. If the front face of the card is a creature card, you can turn it face up by paying its mana cost. If you do, its front face will be up. 
*When a double-sided card is copied, e.g. with a card like <c>Clone</c>, only the characteristics of the face that is currently visible upon copying are copied. Such copies cannot be transformed, either.
*If a card is not in play, the only information relevant and viewable for other cards is the front side of the card.
*The color identity of the card includes both faces.
*Except for Professional REL events (starting from Pro Tour Shadows over Innistrad) that are pre-sleeved, during booster drafts, double-faced cards are revealed to all players at all times until the next pick after that card was picked by any player. They are allowed to reveal the card on either side, however.
**For Professional REL events after Ixalan, unless WotC decided the set should be pre-sleeved (determined by the number and the opening frequency of double-faced cards of the set), all player must reveal their double-faced card opened in their pack (if any) before the draft begins as well for sets involving double-faced cards.
**Magic Online's draft events involving double-faced cards are no different from draft events having no double-faced cards regardless of event type and set involved.
*Transforming a permanent into a land card isn't the same as playing a land. <c>Treasure Cove</c> doesn't enter the battlefield, and it doesn't count as your land play for the turn.
==Triple-faced cards==
The non-legal Heroes of the Realm card <c>Optimus Prime, Inspiring Leader</c> is a three-sided card usable in both Magic the Gathering and Transformers TCG games. The card is hinged in the center and folds in half. Transformers TCG uses this tech for Combiners and Triple-changer characters. The technology has also been used in the Hasbro Duel Masters game. The biggest issue with three-sided cards is they’re slightly heavier than normal cards.
==Trivia==
*Double-faced cards were first referred to as such in rules text on the Mystery Booster 2 test cards and .
==See also==
*Substitute cards
*Double-faced tokens
*Meld
**Meld cards
*Transform
*Convert
*Specialize
==References==
==External links==
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Category:Cards