Transform — what does it mean?
Flip this double-faced card over to its other side.
Transform appears on 428 cards.
How does Transform work?
Transform is a keyword action (rule 701.27): you turn a double-faced permanent over so its other face is up. Only double-faced cards and double-faced tokens can do this. Meld cards can't transform, and an instruction to transform a single-faced permanent does nothing. You cast a double-faced card front face up as usual, and in your hand, library, graveyard, and exile it has only the characteristics of its front face.
A permanent that transforms doesn't become a new object (rule 712.18). Counters, Auras, Equipment, damage, and effects that apply to it all stay. A tapped permanent stays tapped. Enters-the-battlefield abilities don't trigger again, and summoning sickness doesn't change: if the creature has been under your control since your turn began, it can still attack after transforming. The back face's mana value equals the front face's.
There's a safeguard against double flips. If an activated or triggered ability of the permanent itself tries to transform it, and it has already transformed since that ability went on the stack, nothing happens. Two triggers at once won't flip it back and forth. Some double-faced cards with daybound and nightbound transform automatically when it becomes day or night. Transforming is also different from turning a card face down or face up, as with morph.
An example at the table
You have a 2/2 with a +1/+1 counter and an Equipment giving +2/+0, so it's a 5/3. It attacks and gets blocked by a 2/2; it takes 2 damage and survives. After combat an ability transforms it into its 4/4 back face. It's now a 7/5: the counter and Equipment stayed, the 2 damage is still marked, and it's still tapped from attacking. Its mana value is still the front face's. If it dies later, it sits in your graveyard front face up again.
Cards with Transform
Growing Rites of Itlimoc // Itlimoc, Cradle of the SunIllustration: Josu Hernaiz
Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal SicknessIllustration: Ryan Pancoast
Ojer Taq, Deepest Foundation // Temple of CivilizationIllustration: Cristi Balanescu
Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged AngelIllustration: Wisnu Tan
Invasion of Ikoria // Zilortha, Apex of IkoriaIllustration: Antonio José ManzanedoCommon mistakes
- Thinking transforming gives you a new creature. No enters abilities trigger, and counters, Auras, and damage stay.
- Thinking you can cast the back face directly. You cast the front face unless an effect says you can cast it transformed.
- Expecting a card to stay transformed after it leaves the battlefield. In every other zone it has only its front face's characteristics.
- Thinking a single-faced card copying a double-faced permanent can transform. It can't; the instruction does nothing.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a creature have summoning sickness after it transforms?
- No, as long as it's been under your control since your turn began. Transforming doesn't make it a new object.
- What's the mana value of the back face?
- The same as the front face's, even though the back face has no mana cost printed.
- Do counters and Auras stay after transforming?
- Yes. An Aura only falls off if the new face is no longer something it can legally enchant, like a creature Aura on a face that isn't a creature.
- Can I cast a double-faced card with its back face up?
- Only if an effect specifically lets you. Normally it goes on the stack front face up.
Official rule: Comprehensive Rules 701.27. More on where this rulebook comes from under Sources.
Often seen with
FlyingTrampleVigilanceDayboundNightbound
Which cards with Transform do you own? →
Last updated: 26 October 2026