Progenitor Mimic

Card text

You may have this creature enter as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it has "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, create a token that's a copy of this creature."

Market price

Latest aggregated market price for the normal finish of this printing: $1.39 (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 Progenitor Mimic by format. Formats in which it is not legal are not listed.

Other printings of Progenitor Mimic

Progenitor Mimic has been printed in 5 sets. The other printings are listed newest first, with the rarity and release year of each.

Official rulings

The 8 most recent official rulings for Progenitor Mimic, newest first.

• 2013-04-15 Any enters-the-battlefield abilities of the copied creature will trigger when Progenitor Mimic enters the battlefield. Any “as [this creature] enters the battlefield” or “[this creature] enters the battlefield with” abilities of the chosen creature will also work.
• 2013-04-15 If Progenitor Mimic somehow enters the battlefield at the same time as another creature, it can't become a copy of that creature. You may choose only a creature that's already on the battlefield.
• 2013-04-15 If the chosen creature has {X} in its mana cost (such as Protean Hydra), X is considered to be zero.
• 2013-04-15 If the chosen creature is a token, Progenitor Mimic copies the original characteristics of that token as stated by the effect that put it onto the battlefield. Copying a token doesn't make Progenitor Mimic become a token.
• 2013-04-15 If you choose to have Progenitor Mimic enter the battlefield as a copy of a creature, the triggered ability it gains will become part of its copiable values. For example, suppose Progenitor Mimic enters the battlefield as a copy of Runeclaw Bear, a 2/2 green Bear creature with mana cost {1}{G}. The resulting object is a 2/2 green Bear creature named Runeclaw Bear with mana cost {1}{G} and with “At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature.” If another Progenitor Mimic enters the battlefield as a copy of that creature, it will be a Runeclaw Bear with two instances of the triggered ability.
• 2013-04-15 Progenitor Mimic copies exactly what was printed on the original creature and nothing more (unless that creature is copying something else or is a token). It doesn't copy whether that creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its power, toughness, types, color, or so on.
• 2013-04-15 The original Progenitor Mimic will create tokens, but those token copies will not.
• 2013-04-15 You can choose not to copy anything. In that case, Progenitor Mimic enters the battlefield as a 0/0 Shapeshifter creature and is probably put into the graveyard immediately.

Similar cards

Other creature cards with a blue and green colour identity, ranked by how often they appear in Commander decks.

• Tatyova, Benthic Druid
• Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait
• Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy
• Coiling Oracle
• Adrix and Nev, Twincasters