Far below the surface of the earth, strange amorphous creatures have developed a thriving world, based on the manipulation of their own genetics. Now they plan to apply that knowledge to conquer our world above. Taking samples of the most powerful creatures and warriors they can find, these shapeshifters can use the best of
whoeverwhomever they copy.
- - Science Fiction Double Feature rulebook (updated in The Bigger Geekier Box rulebook)
The Shape Shifters are one of the 4 factions from the Science Fiction Double Feature set.
This faction specializes in copying other player's cards (either a card ability or a minion's power) and in "morphing" your minions into minions taken directly from your deck.
Other factions from the same set: Cyborg Apes, Super Spies, Time Travelers.
Cards
The Shapeshifters have the usual 10 minions and 10 actions. The total minion base power (not counting any abilities) is unusually low at only 21 or an average of 2.1 per minion compared to the usual 30 and 3. However, this does not count the inevitable power boost that Mimic will get in the presence of other minions.
Among their actions, there are:
- 3 play-on-minion actions: Cellular Bonding, Shell Game, Splice as Nice,
- 0 play-on-base actions,
- 7 standard actions (6 that affect one or more minions, in bold): “... Really?”, Bacta the Future, Genetic Shift (2x), Mitosis, Transmogrify (2x),
- 3 actions that directly increase a minion's power: Genetic Shift (2x), Splice as Nice.
Minions
1x Doppelgänger - power 5 - Special: When this minion goes to the discard pile from a base, search your deck for a minion and play it as an extra minion. Shuffle your deck. FAQ
2x G.E.L.F. - power 4 - Talent: Search your deck for a non-G.E.L.F. minion of power 4 or less. Shuffle this minion into your deck and play that minion here as an extra minion. FAQ
3x Mimic - power 0 - Ongoing: This minion’s power is equal to the highest power printed on a minion card in play. FAQ
4x Copycat - power 2 - Choose another player’s minion in play. This card has the same ability as that minion until the end of the turn. FAQ
Actions
1x “... Really?” - Destroy one of your minions. Play an extra minion from your discard pile with the same or lower power. FAQ
1x Bacta the Future - Destroy a minion. That minion’s owner may immediately play an extra minion. FAQ
1x Cellular Bonding - Play on a minion. Choose an action on a minion. Ongoing: This card has the abilities of the chosen action. FAQ
2x Genetic Shift - Either each of your minions gets +1 power until the end of the turn, or one of your minions gets +3 power until the end of the turn, your choice. FAQ
1x Mitosis - Choose your minion in play. Play a copy of that card from your hand as an extra minion. FAQ
1x Shell Game - Play on a minion. Ongoing: This minion cannot be destroyed. FAQ
1x Splice as Nice - Play on a minion. Ongoing: This minion has +2 power. FAQ
2x Transmogrify - Destroy one of your minions. Search your deck for a minion with the same or lower power and play it as an extra minion. Shuffle your deck. FAQ
Bases
Clarifications
Here are the official clarifications as they appear in The Bigger Geekier Box rulebook:
Bacta the Future, Transmogrify: If the minion you choose to destroy is protected, you still resolve the rest of the ability.
Cellular Bonding: The copied ability continues as long as Cellular Bonding is in play, even if the action being copied leaves play. If you play Cellular Bonding while there is no play-on-minion action in play, discard it with no effect. You may play this card on another player’s minion and copy an ability that says “Play on your minion” or “Play on one of your minions”; ignore that part unless it is a prerequisite (e.g., Change Into a Gun), in which case the prerequisite is not met.
Copycat: This can copy any type of ability (on-play, Ongoing, Special, Talent), though not every ability will trigger before the end of the turn. Being immune to effects (e.g., Elder Thing) does not prevent copying. The copied ability expires if the Copycat leaves play before the end of the turn. Copying a minion’s ability does not copy its name (e.g., copying War Raptor lets it increase power for other War Raptors but not for itself). Ignore prerequisites for playing (e.g., Shoggoth) since the Copycat is already in play. If the copied ability imposes conditions that last beyond the end of the turn (e.g., Mind Lady, Bruiser), then treat the effect the same way that you would if the original card were to leave play before its effects ended.
Doppelgänger: Since minions on a scored base are discarded before the base is [replaced], this card’s replacement cannot be played onto the new base. If Transmogrify destroys Doppelgänger, both abilities trigger. If conditions prohibit playing the chosen minion, discard it instead.
Genetic Shift: The first part of this ability only affects minions currently in play.
Mimic: Mimic’s starting power equals the highest printed power in play, but it can then be modified by abilities or +1 power counters. If the highest printed power in play changes, so does the starting power of Mimic. While in your hand or deck Mimic’s power is 0; it can be played by G.E.L.F., “...Really?” and Transmogrify.
“... Really?”: You can destroy a minion and immediately play it from the discard pile.
Mechanics
Shapeshifters (as you'd expect) utility are very dependent on how powerful your opponent and partner faction is, as the cards they have access to constrain many of their abilities. This is most evident in having minions which power or abilities are a reflection of another card in play (and effectively null if there are no other cards).
Shapeshifters also have many ways to essentially replace themselves (constrained to same or lower power), which is very reliant on what cards you have. However, this allows access to play many minions directly from anywhere in your deck.
As an extension of this, shapeshifter have many ways to destroy minions you control and also to shuffle the deck (both occasionally exploitable mechanics). In addition, "search deck for same or lower power" cards will be able to summon Mimic as it has power 0 and will at least match the highest power minion in play. Further, the inclusion of a couple buffing cards allows Shapeshifters to hold their weigh in raw power beyond just breaking even.
External Strategy Guides
- The Smash Up Faction Series #2-3: Vampires and Shapeshifters
- Action Awareness #19: Bacta the Future
- Smash Up KOTH #41: Doppelganger
FAQ
Questions on Doppelgänger
Q: The card says "Special" so I can play it outside of my turn, right?
A: "Special" does not mean the card can be played out of turn. "Special" simply means that it's an ability that can be used when its condition is met. Whether it can be used out of turn, activated straight from your hand/discard pile, or if it can only be used when it's already in play (essentially being a synonym of Ongoing), it entirely depends on the wording. In the case of Doppelgänger, the condition is "when this minion goes to the discard pile from a base". In order to go to the discard pile from a base, the Doppelgänger obviously has to be on a base first. So Doppelgänger is actually a Special card that can only be used when it is in play first.
Rule: A Special ability will describe how it can be used.
Q: What does it mean for Doppelgänger to go to the discard pile from a base?
A: It means first being on a base, and then going to the discard pile for whatever reason. Possible reasons include:
- being destroyed (if the minion does end in the discard pile as a result, as such, being destroyed on Tar Pits will result in the minion going to bottom of a deck, not to the discard pile and so won't trigger Doppelgänger),
- being discarded after its base scores,
- and being discarded after the base leaves play outside of scoring (this would happen for indestructible minions after a base is destroyed by There Goes Tokyo).
Rule: A minion going to the discard pile from play includes both being discarded after scoring, and being destroyed.
Q: Do I have to play the extra minion on the Doppelgänger's previous base or any base?
A: On any base.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: If Doppelgänger is discarded after a base scores, can I play the extra minion on the base that replaces the scored base?
A: No. The cards are discarded before the new base is drawn, so Doppelgänger's ability is resolved before the new base appears.
Rule: Check the steps for Phase 3.
Q: Since you can see your hand, your discard pile and the cards in play, you should know if you have any minions left in your deck. So, can I choose not to search for a minion when Doppelgänger goes to the discard pile?
A: No. It doesn't say "you may", so you have to do it.
Rule: If the ability doesn't say "you may", you must do it immediately.
Q: If there is at least one minion in my deck, can I choose to look through my deck and shuffle it without taking one out?
A: No. It doesn't say "you may", so you have to do it.
Rule: If the ability doesn't say "you may", you must do it immediately.
Q: If I chose a minion, do I have to play it immediately or can I play it later?
A: You have to play it immediately.
Rule: Extra cards gained by a Special ability must be played immediately or not at all.
Q: The minion I chose (or rather, was forced to choose) is Elder Thing. I don't have enough minions to destroy, so Elder Thing has to go under my deck. Does it happen before or after I shuffle my deck?
A: The rules tell you to play it immediately, so it's immediately when you're resolving the part that says "play it as an extra minion". Once Elder Thing is played, you must resolve its ability before doing the rest of Doppegänger's ability, so Elder Thing is placed under your deck before shuffling it.
Rule: Check the Card Resolution Order.
Q: Because shuffling my deck happens after I play the minion, I know what card is on top of my deck, so I can purposely choose Enchantress or Nana to benefit from my knowledge, right?
A: Actually, while Doppelgänger does say to shuffle your deck after playing the minion, a more general rule tells you to shuffle your deck after searching it, so you must also shuffle your deck before playing the minion since you've just searched it.
Rule: After searching a deck it must be shuffled.
Q: The minion I chose (or rather, was forced to choose) is Shoggoth. I don't have enough power on any base to play it. So what happens?
A: It is discarded.
Rule: Check Doppelgänger's clarification.
Q: I play “... Really?”, Bacta the Future or Transmogrify and target my Doppelgänger. How many extra minions do I get?
A: Two. Because those actions tell you to destroy Doppelgänger, its ability triggers and you get to play an extra minion from your deck. Then, you must finish resolving the action's ability and you get a second extra minion from it.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: An opponent takes control of my Doppelgänger. When it's destroyed, it goes to my discard pile, but who gets to use its ability?
A: Your opponent, because they are the one controlling it when it was destroyed.
Rule: "You" on a minion or action means the controller of the card.
Questions on G.E.L.F.
Q: What does G.E.L.F. stand for?
A: Genetically Engineered LifeForm.
Rule: N/A
Q: Can I use G.E.L.F.'s talent on the same turn that I play it?
A: Yes. You can use it, but only during your Play Cards phase.
Rule 1: A talent can be used on the same turn the card is played.
Rule 2: A talent can only be used during your Play Cards phase.
Q: If I play G.E.L.F. before a base scores (e.g. Hidden Ninja), can I immediately use its talent?
A: No. A talent is not resolved when a minion is played and can only be used during your Play Cards phase.
Rule 1: When you play a card, an ability that starts with "Talent:" is never resolved immediately.
Rule 2: A talent can only be used during your Play Cards phase.
Q: How does it count as an extra minion if you have to put G.E.L.F. back?
A: "Extra" is a game term which allows you to play the minion outside the usual one-minion-per-turn restriction.
Rule: N/A
Q: If G.E.L.F. is on Standing Stones, would I be able to use the G.E.L.F.'s talent twice, searching for and playing two power 4 or less minions, though only shuffling it into my deck once?
A: No. On Standing Stones, you have to resolve a talent entirely before being able to use it again. So, with G.E.L.F., after the first time you use its talent, it would already be in your deck, so you wouldn't be able to use its talent again.
Rule: When you use a talent, resolve it entirely.
Q: If I take control of another player's G.E.L.F., what happens when I use its talent?
A: You search your deck for a minion of power 4 or less and play it. The G.E.L.F. gets shuffled in its owner's deck. You also shuffle your deck since you searched it, even though it doesn't say so explicitly but that is now part of the rules.
Rule 1: "You" on a minion or action means the controller of the card.
Rule 2: When a card that others can see goes to the hand, deck or discard pile, it goes to the one belonging to the card’s owner.
Rule 3: After searching a deck it must be shuffled.
Q: I didn't check properly and when I used G.E.L.F.'s talent, I found no eligible minion in my deck. Do I still shuffle G.E.L.F. into my deck despite not having an extra minion to play?
A: Yes. Unfortunately, once you activate its talent, you have to go through with it, even if there are some parts that you can't do.
Rule: When you use a talent, resolve it entirely.
Questions on Mimic
Q: What is Mimic's power when it's in your deck or discard pile?
A: Mimic is power 0 if it's not in play. This makes it always eligible for "... Really?" and Transmogrify.
Rule: If it's not in play, a minion's power is equal to its printed power.
Q: Does a Mimic's power vary as play goes on, depending on what the highest value minion is that is currently in play, or is it set in stone once played?
A: It will change over time as minions are played or removed from play.
Rule: An Ongoing ability lasts for as long as the card is in play.
Q: Mimic has two +1 power counters and the strongest minion in play has a printed power of 5. What's Mimic's power? Does Mimic's ability sets its overall power to the highest printed power or just its own printed power?
A: Mimic is of power 7 here. Despite the fact that it changes its "power" ("power" when in play always meant "modified power"), The Bigger Geekier Box rulebook clarifies that it's Mimic's "starting" power that gets modified.
Rule: Check Mimic's clarification.
Q: If you have a card that subtracts Mimic's power, does it not affect him because his ONGOING ABILITY IS TO ALWAYS MAKE HIS POWER = THE POWER OF PRINTED CARDS IN PLAY?
A: Yes, it will lower Mimic's power. Despite the fact that it changes its "power" ("power" when in play always meant "modified power"), The Bigger Geekier Box rulebook clarifies that it's Mimic's "starting" power that gets modified.
Rule: Check Mimic's clarification.
Q: The minion with the highest power in play is Elder Thing. Can Mimic still copy its printed power? Doesn't it count as affecting Elder Thing and therefore wouldn't it be blocked?
A: Copying another minion's power doesn't count as affecting that minion, so Mimic is free to copy Elder Thing's printed power.
Rule: Definition of "affect".
Q: If there's a minion with a printed power of 5 in play, can Mimic still be played as an extra minion if there's a power restriction to play it? (e.g. Zapbot, Venus Man Trap, Sprout, Zombie Lord)
A: Sure. When it's in your deck, hand or discard pile, Mimic's ability is inactive and therefore its power is considered as 0.
Rule: If it's not in play, a minion's power is equal to its printed power.
Q: A base scores, my only minion there is a Mimic. If its ability is cancelled (e.g. Potion of Paralysis), its power becomes 0, right? Can I still gain some VP?
A: If 0 is among the top three total power on the base, then yes, you gain some VP because you have a minion there.
Rule: A player must have at least one minion on a scoring base to be eligible to receive victory points.
Q: Zombie Lord (printed power of 5) and King Rex (printed power of 7) are in play. I have two Mimics in play. Are they both power 7 or can they copy different cards?
A: They are both power 7.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: King Rex is in play, so Mimic is power 7. If an action increases King Rex's power (e.g. Augmentation), does Mimic's power increases too?
A: No. Even if an ability adds to a minion's power, its printed power is still the same, so Mimic's power doesn't change.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: There's a minion with a printed power of 3 in play. Can I play Mimic on Tsar's Palace?
A: No. Before you play it, Mimic is considered as a power-0 minion and is therefore forbidden from being played on Tsar's Palace. Moreover, if you actually try to play it there, it will be discarded without effect.
Rule 1: If it's not in play, a minion's power is equal to its printed power.
Rule 2: If conditions prohibit playing a chosen card, discard it instead.
Q: Can Mimic copy a monster's power if it's the highest printed power in play?
A: Yes. Monsters are treated as minions.
Rule: Monsters are considered as minions.
Q: Mimic is currently power 2. I play a Nightstalker on its base, can I immediately destroy Mimic with Nightstalker's ability?
A: No. As soon as Nightstalker is in play, Mimic changes its own power and becomes power 4.
Rule: An Ongoing ability lasts for as long as the card is in play.
Q: Mimic takes the highest printed power of a minion on the table. If you Transmogrify it, do you use the power value of the Mimic at the time you destroy it, or is it a 0 or lower?
A: You use Mimic's modified power.
Rule: In play, a minion's power includes all modifiers.
Q: The highest printed power in play is 6. What happens if you play Matrix of Bossiness on Mimic? Is its power 6 or 5?
A: 6. The Bigger Geekier Box rulebook clarifies that it's Mimic's "starting" power that gets modified. Matrix of Bossiness only modifies the "printed" power, which, in cases where the "starting" power is not directly changed, corresponds to the starting power. However, Mimic's ability changes its starting power and so the printed power does no longer correspond to the starting power, instead you take the highest printed power on a minion in play and set that value for Mimic's starting power.
Rule: Check Mimic's clarification.
Q: I have a Mimic on a base with power 3 (for example). Can I play Shoggoth on its base? It will be power 6 because of Shoggoth after all.
A: No. Mimic will only be power 6 after Shoggoth is in play. Before that, it's still power 3 and therefore Shoggoth can't be played there because you don't have enough total power, and in fact, if you still try to play it there, it will be discarded without effect.
Rule: If conditions prohibit playing a chosen card, discard it instead.
Q: I play a Mimic on an enemy Leprechaun's base. Is my Mimic destroyed?
A: Supposing Leprechaun is still at power 5, then no. When you play Mimic, its ability is resolved before Leprechaun's ability, so Mimic becomes power 5 (or more, if there's a higher printed power in play!) and so the Leprechaun can't destroy it.
Rule 1: An Ongoing ability only becomes active when the card is in play.
Rule 2: When a card says "After X, do Y", you need "X" to happen and be resolved completely before you do the effect stated as "Y".
Questions on Copycat
Q: Can I play Copycat and copy the ability of one of my minions?
A: No. Copycat can only copy the ability of another player's minion.
Rule: "Other players" on a minion or action means everyone except the controller of the minion or action.
Q: Can Copycat copy on-play abilities like Invader?
A: Yes, by community consensus.[1]
A: UPDATE. The Bigger Geekier Box rules, that Copycat can copy any type of ability (on-play, Ongoing, Special, Talent).
Rule: Do exactly what the
cardofficial answer says.
Q: So the rulebook says Copycat can copy any type of abilities, including Special. So before a base scores, if a person plays a Shinobi as a Special, I can copy the Shinobi's ability and play Copycat, right? Same question about Wil Wheaton, Snuggly Bear, Argonaut, Fan, Deputy, etc.
A: No, Copycat's ability is an on-play ability, which means you only resolve it if you play Copycat first. In your scenario, you invoke Copycat's ability while it's out of play and then use it to play Copycat, which isn't possible because you can only copy an ability by first playing Copycat. A Copycat's ability cannot be used to play the Copycat itself because playing it is required to invoke its copy ability in the first place.
Rule: On-play abilities happen when you play a card from your hand, or any time a card says “play.”.
Q: Can Copycat copy the ability of a minion that can't be affected? E.g. any minion with Incorporeal played on it.
A: Copying another minion's ability doesn't count as affecting that minion, so Copycat is free to copy that minion's ability.
Rule: Definition of "affect".
Q: I use Copycat to copy the ability of a Soldier. At the end of the turn, does Copycat lose its power counters?
A: No. The power counters remain. Only your copy of the ability disappears. Similarly, if you copy an Enchantress and draw a card, you do not lose the card at the end of the turn.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: I use Copycat to copy a Glymmer's ability and use its talent. Glymmer's ability expires at the start of my next turn, but Copycat's ability expires at the end of the turn. So what happens here?
A: After the end of the turn, you lose the talent copied by Copycat, so you can't invoke it again on your next turn. BUT, because you activated it, and because its effect lasts until the start of your next turn, it persists until the stated deadline, even though Copycat doesn't have this ability anymore. That's the funny thing about effects that last until the end of the turn or the start of your next turn. Once, they're activated, they persist until the stated deadline even if the ability is lost or cancelled, or if the card is removed from play.
Rule: Check Copycat's clarification.
Q: If I use Copycat to copy a minion's on-play ability, do I have to use the ability immediately?
A: Yes. Copycat's ability also becomes an on-play ability, and therefore must be resolved immediately.
Rule: Come-into-play abilities are resolved immediately and have no further effect.
Q: If an opponent has a Copycat in play, either because they are playing with the Shapeshifters too or they obtained it with Trade. Can I then play Copycat and copy their Copycat's ability and copy their Copycat's ability and copy their... (you get the idea)?
A: Yes, but why would you do that?
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: Another player has Flower Child. I play Copycat, copy Flower Child's ability and give control of Copycat to another player. Normally the control of Flower Child is definitive (i.e. it doesn't expire at the end of the turn like the Kitty Cats do), but Copycat sets a deadline, so at the end of the turn, I get Copycat's control back, right?
A: No. Copycat's deadline determines how long it keeps the copy of the ability, but it doesn't change Flower Child's ability original deadline.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: I use Copycat to copy an ongoing ability. Because it's ongoing, it doesn't expire at the end of the turn, right?
A: No. Copycat loses the ability at the end of the turn no matter what.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: If I use Copycat to copy an ongoing ability and on the same turn, the minion targeted by Copycat is destroyed, does Copycat immediately lose its copy of the ability?
A: No. Copycat's ability isn't dependent on the targeted minion remaining in play.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: If I played a Copycat to copy the ability of The Locals, would I get to pull out any Copycats in the top three cards, or would the wording stay the same and force you to only pull out The Locals?
A: Copycat makes an exact copy of a minion's ability, so it keeps the same wording and would force you to only draw The Locals from the top three cards.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: Similarly, if you played a Copycat to copy the ability of a War Raptor, would you get +1 for every Copycat on the base or for every War Raptor? Additionally, if the wording does not change and it stays as +1 for every War Raptor, do you benefit from your opponent's War Raptors? Also, the War Raptor says "(including this one)", so does Copycat get +1 power by itself too?
A: Copycat makes an exact copy of a minion's ability, so it keeps the same wording and would only get +1 power from War Raptors on the same base as itself. The "(including this one)" on the War Raptor card is just to clarify that the War Raptor itself counts toward the number of War Raptor on the base for its own ability, but it can't apply to Copycat, because Copycat isn't a War Raptor. Copycat not being a War Raptor, despite having copied the ability of one of them, also doesn't give a power boost to other War Raptors.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: I play Copycat and copy a Shoggoth's ability. If Copycat wasn't played on a base where I have 6 power or more, is Copycat discarded?
A: No. Shoggoth's restriction is only for playing it. When Copycat copies the ability, it is already in play, so the restriction can be ignored.
Rule: Check Copycat's clarification.
Q: I play Copycat and copy the ability of a Tenacious Z. On the same turn, I destroy my Copycat. Since I copied a Tenacious Z's ability, can I play Copycat from my discard pile?
A: No. Replaying a card isn't treated as replaying the same card even though it's physically the same card. If we apply that principle here, the Copycat that was destroyed had Tenacious Z's ability, the Copycat that you want to play from the discard can't be treated as being the same Copycat that was destroyed, so it can't be treated as having Tenacious Z's ability and can't be played in the first place.
Rule: When a card leaves play there is no memory of its previous status, so that even if it is replayed in the same turn it is treated as a new card, not the same card.
Questions on “... Really?”
Q: Can “... Really?” destroy a minion and then immediately play that minion again from the discard pile?
A: Yes (assuming the minion's power wasn't reduced below its printed power before it was destroyed). This is because the minion is fully destroyed before the second sentence of “... Really?” resolves.
Rule: Cards are resolved entirely.
Q: If I use “... Really?” to target an indestructible minion, does the rest of the ability still work?
A: Yes. This makes Shell Game useful to abuse this card. If the card had said "Destroy your minion to play ..." or "Destroy your minion. If you do, play...", then this abuse wouldn't work.
Rule: Cards are resolved entirely.
Q: It tells me to destroy "one of my minions". Can I destroy a minion I own that I don't control?
A: No. "Your minions" are minions you control, whether or not you own them. A minion you own but don't control isn't yours.
Rule: "Your minion" means "a minion that you control".
Q: I play “... Really?” and target my Doppelgänger. How many extra minions do I get?
A: Two. Because the action tells you to destroy Doppelgänger, its ability triggers and you get to play an extra minion from your deck. Then, you must finish resolving the action's ability and you get to play a second extra minion from your discard pile.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?
A: - If Diva copies it, Diva is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed. Note that it doesn't grant any additional extra minion; Diva only copies the destroy effect, the rest is resolved as written, in that case "Play an extra minion from your discard pile with the same or lower power" should be understood as "Play an extra minion from your discard pile with the same or lower power as the minion that was directly affected." Besides, playing a minion doesn't count as affecting it, so you can't use Diva to copy that part either.
- If Dancing King copies it onto a minion (it can be itself), that minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed. Note that it doesn't grant any additional extra minion; Dancing King only copies the destroy effect, the rest is resolved as written, in that case "Play an extra minion from your discard pile with the same or lower power" should be understood as "Play an extra minion from your discard pile with the same or lower power as the minion that was directly affected." Besides, playing a minion doesn't count as affecting it, so you can't use Dancing King to copy that part either.
- If We are Family copies it, the minion it is on is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed. Note that it doesn't grant any additional extra minion; We are Family only copies the destroy effect, the rest is resolved as written, in that case "Play an extra minion from your discard pile with the same or lower power" should be understood as "Play an extra minion from your discard pile with the same or lower power as the minion that was directly affected." Besides, playing a minion doesn't count as affecting it, so you can't use We are Family to copy that part either.
- With Funky Town, you can only copy it if you're the one who played the action and if it affects one of your minions, but if Funky Town does copy it, the minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed. Note that it doesn't grant any additional extra minion; Funky Town only copies the destroy effect, the rest is resolved as written, in that case "Play an extra minion from your discard pile with the same or lower power" should be understood as "Play an extra minion from your discard pile with the same or lower power as the minion that was directly affected." Besides, playing a minion doesn't count as affecting it, so you can't use Funky Town to copy that part either.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Questions on Bacta the Future
Q: If I use Bacta the Future to target an indestructible minion, does the rest of the ability still work?
A: Yes. This makes Shell Game useful to abuse this card. If the card had said "Destroy your minion to play ..." or "Destroy your minion. If you do, play...", then this abuse wouldn't work.
Rule: Cards are resolved entirely.
Q: I play Bacta the Future and target my Doppelgänger. How many extra minions do I get?
A: Two. Because the action tells you to destroy Doppelgänger, its ability triggers and you get to play an extra minion from your deck. Then, you must finish resolving the action's ability and you get to play a second extra minion.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: I play Bacta the Future and target a minion whose owner is different from its controller. Who gets to play an extra minion?
A: The minion's owner, not its current controller. Exactly as written.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?
A: - If Diva copies it, Diva is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed. Note that it doesn't grant any additional extra minion; Diva only copies the destroy effect, the rest is resolved as written, in that case "That minion’s owner may immediately play an extra minion" should be understood as "The owner of the minion that was directly affected may immediately play an extra minion." Besides, playing a minion doesn't count as affecting it, so you can't use Diva to copy that part either.
- If Dancing King copies it onto a minion (it can be itself), that minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed. Note that it doesn't grant any additional extra minion; Dancing King only copies the destroy effect, the rest is resolved as written, in that case "That minion’s owner may immediately play an extra minion" should be understood as "The owner of the minion that was directly affected may immediately play an extra minion." Besides, playing a minion doesn't count as affecting it, so you can't use Dancing King to copy that part either.
- If We are Family copies it, the minion it is on is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed. Note that it doesn't grant any additional extra minion; We are Family only copies the destroy effect, the rest is resolved as written, in that case "That minion’s owner may immediately play an extra minion" should be understood as "The owner of the minion that was directly affected may immediately play an extra minion." Besides, playing a minion doesn't count as affecting it, so you can't use We are Family to copy that part either.
- With Funky Town, you can only copy it if you're the one who played the action and if it affects one of your minions, but if Funky Town does copy it, the minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed. Note that it doesn't grant any additional extra minion; Funky Town only copies the destroy effect, the rest is resolved as written, in that case "That minion’s owner may immediately play an extra minion" should be understood as "The owner of the minion that was directly affected may immediately play an extra minion." Besides, playing a minion doesn't count as affecting it, so you can't use Funky Town to copy that part either.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Questions on Cellular Bonding
Q: Does Cellular Bonding replace the minion's original ability, or just add it in addition?
A: It just gives the ability of the copied action to Cellular Bonding; it doesn't do anything to the minion's original ability.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: Can Cellular Bonding copy the ability of an action that can't be affected? E.g. an action on a minion with Shielding played on it.
A: Copying another action's ability doesn't count as affecting that action, so Cellular Bonding is free to copy that action's ability.
Rule: Definition of "affect".
Q: Make Contact is in play. I have Cellular Bonding in my hand. Can I play Cellular Bonding and copy Make Contact even if Cellular Bonding isn't the last card in my hand?
A: Yes. Make Contact's restriction is only for playing the card. When Cellular Bonding is used to copy Make Contact, Cellular Bonding is already in play, so the restriction can be ignored.
Rule: Check Cellular Bonding's clarification.
Q: I played Make Contact onto a minion. Then, another player plays Cellular Bonding onto the same minion and copies my Make Contact. Who controls the minion?
A: TBD
Rule: TBD
Q: What happens when the original action is discarded or transferred? Does Cellular Bonding remember its abilities independently?
A: Nothing happens, Cellular Bonding keeps being a copy of the same ability. Cellular Bonding's ability isn't dependent on the targeted action remaining in play.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: Cellular Bonding can be played on another player's minion. What happens if I do that and copy an action that says "Play on your minion" or "Play on one of your minions"? Is Cellular Bonding discarded?
A: Cellular Bonding remains on the minion and has the ability of the action you copied. The "Play on your minion" part is only a restriction for playing the card, but when you copy the ability, Cellular Bonding is already in play, so just ignore that part.
Rule: Check Cellular Bonding's clarification.
Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?
A: It doesn't interact with them at all, because Cellular Bonding says "Play on a minion", which means that it is not a standard action.
Rule: Definition of "standard".
Questions on Genetic Shift
Q: If I play Genetic Shift and choose the global boost option, and then play another minion afterward, does the new minion get +1 power from Genetic Shift?
A: The official answer is yes[2].
A: UPDATE. The Bigger Geekier Box now rules that it only increases the power of minions currently in play at the time the card is played, and not the power of minions played afterwards.
Rule: Do exactly what the
cardofficial answercard says.
Q: I play Genetic Shift and choose the global boost option. If an opponent manages to take control of one of my minions before Genetic Shift expires (e.g. The Base Is Not Enough, Can Has Cheeseburger?), does the minion keep its boost?
A: No. Genetic Shift only boosts your minion(s). If one of them is later controlled by another player, it's no longer your minion and Genetic Shift doesn't affect it anymore.
A: UPDATE. Because of how The Bigger Geekier Box now rules this card, Genetic Shift should be treated as giving the +1 power to all your minions as a definitive effect, that is the restriction that only your minions are affected only matters when Genetic Shift is played. Afterwards, if the minion's controller changes the +1 power still remains applied to it until the end of the turn.
Rule: "Until the end of the turn" means the effect persists even if the card is removed from play.
Q: It gives power to one or all of "my minions". Does it also give power to minions I own that I don't control?
A: No. "Your minions" are minions you control, whether or not you own them. A minion you own but don't control isn't yours.
Rule: "Your minion" means "a minion that you control".
Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?
A: - If you choose the +3 power and Diva copies it, Diva is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets +3 power. If you choose the +1 power, Diva can't copy it because it would already be directly affected by it.
- If Dancing King copies it onto a minion (it can be itself), that minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets either +1 or +3 power depending on how you use Genetic Shift.
- If We are Family copies it, the minion it is on is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets either +1 or +3 power depending on how you use Genetic Shift.
- With Funky Town, you can only copy it if you're the one who played the action, but if you choose the +3 power and Funky Town does copy it, the minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets +3 power. If you choose the +1 power, Funky Town can't copy it because you need to be the one who played the action and so all your minions are already directly affected by it.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Questions on Mitosis
Q: There is the mitosis action card that I really don't understand how to play. I interpret that I would need the exact same card in my hand in order to play that action. But looking up what mitosis is (wiki), "Mitosis is the process, in the cell cycle, by which a cell duplicates into two genetically identical daughter cells." Meaning that out of 1 minion there is now 2 minions of the same. Not just playing the same minion from my hand. Using mitosis should not cost a single extra card except the action card itself. If it would say "Choose your minion in play. Play a same named minion from your hand as an extra minion" then I would understand it better, but that is not what mitosis is.
A: You choose one of your minions in play. If you have another copy of that minion in your hand, you can play it as an extra minion.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: It tells me to choose "my minion". Can I choose a minion I own that I don't control?
A: No. "Your minions" are minions you control, whether or not you own them. A minion you own but don't control isn't yours.
Rule: "Your minion" means "a minion that you control".
Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?
A: It doesn't interact with them at all, because Mitosis doesn't affect any minions in play and so its effect can't be copied. Note that neither choosing, nor playing a minion count as affecting a minion and so can't be copied.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Questions on Shell Game
Q: One of my cards tells me to destroy one of my minions (e.g. Sacrifice), or an opponent's card forces me to destroy one of my minions (e.g. Bear Hug), or a base's ability allows me to destroy one of my minions (e.g. R'lyeh), can I target my minion with Shell Game played on it? If so, is it destroyed? If not, does it stop the rest of the ability if there were more to it?
A: Short answer: Yes, no and it depends. Firstly, you can indeed choose any of your minions as long as it fits the card's requirement (e.g. if your minion is on R'lyeh, you can target it with R'lyeh's ability, but you can't if it was on another base, obviously), but you must choose one if you have any in play and if it's a mandatory ability (i.e. there's no "you may"). Secondly, because it is targeted for destruction, Shell Game's protects it, so that minion will not be destroyed. Lastly, you must finish resolving the card that was originally invoked. If the card was the kind of card that says "Destroy a minion to do Y" or "Destroy a minion. If you do, do Y", then the effect stated as "Y" can't be done at all, simply because in the end the targeted minion isn't destroyed. If the card says something else, such as "Destroy a minion. Do Y", "Destroy a minion and do Y", etc., the destruction isn't a pre-requisite so you resolve the rest of the card's ability.
Rule 1: The card you target may be immune to the effects of the ability you are performing, but it is still a valid target.
Rule 2: When a card says "Do X to do Y" or "You may do X to do Y", you need to completely do the effect stated as "X" before you do the effect stated as "Y".
Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?
A: - If you're asking about when Shell Game is played, it doesn't interact with them at all, because Shell Game says "Play on a minion", which means that it is not a standard action.
- If you're asking about when you copy a destroy effect onto an opponent's minion with Shell Game protecting it, then the minion isn't destroyed.
- If you're asking about when an opponent's minion with Shell Game protecting it is directly destroyed by a standard action and you want to copy that, then it's not possible because the minion can't be destroyed and because no minion was affected, you can't copy the effect.
Rule 1: Definition of "standard".
Rule 2: "Can't" trumps "can".
Questions on Splice as Nice
Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?
A: It doesn't interact with them at all, because Splice as Nice says "Play on a minion", which means that it is not a standard action.
Rule: Definition of "standard".
Questions on Transmogrify
Q: If I use Transmogrify to target an indestructible minion, does the rest of the ability still work?
A: Yes. This makes Shell Game useful to abuse this card. If the card had said "Destroy your minion to play ..." or "Destroy your minion. If you do, play...", then this abuse wouldn't work.
Rule: Cards are resolved entirely.
Q: It tells me to destroy "one of my minions". Can I destroy a minion I own that I don't control?
A: No. "Your minions" are minions you control, whether or not you own them. A minion you own but don't control isn't yours.
Rule: "Your minion" means "a minion that you control".
Q: I play Transmogrify and target my Doppelgänger. How many extra minions do I get?
A: Two. Because the action tells you to destroy Doppelgänger, its ability triggers and you get to play an extra minion from your deck. Then, you must finish resolving the action's ability and you get to play a second extra minion from your deck.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?
A: - If Diva copies it, Diva is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed. Note that it doesn't grant any additional extra minion; Diva only copies the destroy effect, the rest is resolved as written, in that case "Search your deck for a minion with the same or lower power and play it as an extra minion. Shuffle your deck" should be understood as "Search your deck for a minion with the same or lower power as the minion that was directly affected and play it as an extra minion. Shuffle your deck." Besides, playing a minion doesn't count as affecting it, so you can't use Diva to copy that part either.
- If Dancing King copies it onto a minion (it can be itself), that minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed. Note that it doesn't grant any additional extra minion; Dancing King only copies the destroy effect, the rest is resolved as written, in that case "Search your deck for a minion with the same or lower power and play it as an extra minion. Shuffle your deck" should be understood as "Search your deck for a minion with the same or lower power as the minion that was directly affected and play it as an extra minion. Shuffle your deck." Besides, playing a minion doesn't count as affecting it, so you can't use Dancing King to copy that part either.
- If We are Family copies it, the minion it is on is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed. Note that it doesn't grant any additional extra minion; We are Family only copies the destroy effect, the rest is resolved as written, in that case "Search your deck for a minion with the same or lower power and play it as an extra minion. Shuffle your deck" should be understood as "Search your deck for a minion with the same or lower power as the minion that was directly affected and play it as an extra minion. Shuffle your deck." Besides, playing a minion doesn't count as affecting it, so you can't use We are Family to copy that part either.
- With Funky Town, you can only copy it if you're the one who played the action and if it affects one of your minions, but if Funky Town does copy it, the minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed. Note that it doesn't grant any additional extra minion; Funky Town only copies the destroy effect, the rest is resolved as written, in that case "Search your deck for a minion with the same or lower power and play it as an extra minion. Shuffle your deck" should be understood as "Search your deck for a minion with the same or lower power as the minion that was directly affected and play it as an extra minion. Shuffle your deck." Besides, playing a minion doesn't count as affecting it, so you can't use Funky Town to copy that part either.
Rule: Do exactly what the card says.
Trivia
- The artist is Víctor Pérez Corbella.
- Their divider (available in The Big Geeky Box and The Bigger Geekier Box) features G.E.L.F..
- The Doppelgänger captured a bear from the Bear Cavalry.
- The Mimic is copying a Ninja, possibly the one from Seeing Stars.
- The Copycat took the appearance of a Gnome. The latter can be seen behind the mushroom, probably the one it was sitting on in its card.
- A Zombie can be seen on "... Really?".
- The Secret Agent is present on Cellular Bonding.
In other languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| French | Métamorphes |
| German | Gestaltwandler |
| Italian | Mutaforma |
| Portuguese | Metamorfose |
| Spanish | Cambiaformas |
| ||||||