Abstruse Archaic

Card text

Vigilance

{1}, {T}: Copy target activated or triggered ability you control from a colorless source. You may choose new targets for the copy. (Mana abilities can't be targeted.)

Unburdened from mortality, archaics wander the Vastlands seeking knowledge only they can comprehend.

Market price

Latest aggregated market price for the normal finish of this printing: $2.72 (as of 2026-11-12).

The figure covers this printing only; other printings carry their own price on their own page.

Format legality

Legality of Abstruse Archaic by format. Formats in which it is not legal are not listed.

Other printings of Abstruse Archaic

The other printings are listed newest first, with the rarity and release year of each.

Official rulings

The 8 most recent official rulings for Abstruse Archaic, newest first.

• 2023-07-28 In some cases involving linked abilities, an ability requires information about "the exiled card." When this happens, the ability gets multiple answers. If these answers are being used to determine the value of a variable, the sum is used. If an ability attempts to create a token that is a copy of "the exiled card," it creates a token for each card exiled this way that is a copy of that card.
• 2023-07-28 Abstruse Archaic's ability can copy activated and triggered abilities of dungeons, emblems, planes, and phenomenons. It can't copy the Planechase-specific "planeswalking ability" or the triggered abilities associated with the monarch or initiative designations, as those abilities have no source.
• 2023-07-28 If the activated ability's cost contains a choice, such as a creature to sacrifice or a number of counters to remove, the copy uses that same information. You can't pay the cost again, even if you want to.
• 2023-07-28 The source of the copy is the same as the source of the original ability.
• 2023-07-28 If the ability is modal (that is, if it says, "Choose one -" or similar), the mode is copied and can't be changed.
• 2023-07-28 If the ability divides damage or distributes counters among a number of targets, the division and number of targets can't be changed. If you choose new targets, you must choose the same number of targets.
• 2023-07-28 Activated abilities contain a colon. They're generally written "[Cost]: [Effect]." Some keyword abilities (such as equip) are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text. An activated mana ability is one that produces mana as it resolves, not one that costs mana to activate.
• 2023-07-28 If an ability is linked to a second ability, copies of that ability are also linked to that second ability. If the second ability refers to "the exiled card," it refers to all cards exiled by the ability and the copy. For example, if Tidehollow Sculler's enters-the-battlefield ability is copied and two cards are exiled, they both return when Tidehollow Sculler leaves the battlefield.

Similar cards

Other creature cards with no colour identity, ranked by how often they appear in Commander decks.

• Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
• Artisan of Kozilek
• Glaring Fleshraker
• Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger // Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
• Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
• It That Betrays