You Copy the Card, Not the State
Judge Level 2Clone copies a 6/6 Bear — and enters as a 2/2.
Cards involved
The big bear
Your opponent's Grizzly Bears are pumped by Giant Growth and carry a +1/+1 counter — currently a 6/6. You cast Clone and choose the Bears as the template as it enters.
What happens?
What does Clone enter as?
Does it copy the Bear as it currently stands?
Pick an answer to continue.
CR 707.2: a copy acquires the copiable values of the original. NOT copied: effects that change values (Giant Growth), counters, attached auras/equipment, damage and status (tapped, face down). Exception: copy effects already applying to the original are copied along.
707.2When copying an object, the copy acquires the copiable values of the original object’s characteristics and, for an object on the stack, choices made when casting or activating it (mode, targets, the value of X, whether it was kicked, how it will affect multiple targets, and so on). The copiable values are the values derived from the text printed on the object (that text being name, mana cost, color indicator, card type, subtype, supertype, rules text, power, toughness, and/or loyalty), as modified by other copy effects, by its face-down status, and by “as . . . enters” and “as . . . is turned face up” abilities that set power and toughness (and may also set additional characteristics). Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, counters, and stickers are not copied.
Clone lands
A plain 2/2 Grizzly Bears. The original's Giant Growth wears off at end of turn and its counter stays over there — your Clone never saw any of it.
707.2When copying an object, the copy acquires the copiable values of the original object’s characteristics and, for an object on the stack, choices made when casting or activating it (mode, targets, the value of X, whether it was kicked, how it will affect multiple targets, and so on). The copiable values are the values derived from the text printed on the object (that text being name, mana cost, color indicator, card type, subtype, supertype, rules text, power, toughness, and/or loyalty), as modified by other copy effects, by its face-down status, and by “as . . . enters” and “as . . . is turned face up” abilities that set power and toughness (and may also set additional characteristics). Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, counters, and stickers are not copied.
Rule of thumb
"You copy the card, not the state." If you want the big bear, you have to put the counters on yourself.
707.2When copying an object, the copy acquires the copiable values of the original object’s characteristics and, for an object on the stack, choices made when casting or activating it (mode, targets, the value of X, whether it was kicked, how it will affect multiple targets, and so on). The copiable values are the values derived from the text printed on the object (that text being name, mana cost, color indicator, card type, subtype, supertype, rules text, power, toughness, and/or loyalty), as modified by other copy effects, by its face-down status, and by “as . . . enters” and “as . . . is turned face up” abilities that set power and toughness (and may also set additional characteristics). Other effects (including type-changing and text-changing effects), status, counters, and stickers are not copied.
Stack
Clone
Enters as a copy of a creature
Grizzly Bears
Opposing Bears: pumped and countered — effectively 6/6
The stack is empty.
Battlefield
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