If I turn Sarkhan (or anywalker) into a dragon with his +1 ability and then mutate with say Sea-Dasher Octopus what happens if I put the Octopus on top versus on bottom and if I then activate the Sarkhan mutate octopus the next turn to become a dragon again does he just become a 4/4 dragon regardless of where the octopus is placed?
The combined permanent will become 4/4 red dragon creature with flying as per Sarkhan's ability, even if you mutate after resolving it, no matter wether you put the card on top or below. This is because all those changes (card type, subtype, color, abilities, power/toughness setting) happen in later layers. The mutate effect happens in layer 1, the copy layer.
Until end of turn, the resulting permanent will still be a Creature - Dragon with flying, Sea-Dasher's abilities, and Sarkhan's abilities. It will be a red 4/4, with the name and mana cost of the top card. It keeps Sarkhan's loyalty counters.
Once the turn ends, what it becomes then depends on what's on top. If Sarkhan is on top, the whole permanent stops being a creature and is just Sarkhan with Sea-Dasher's abilities. If Sea-Dasher is on top, it remains a creature, with all of Sea-Dasher's characteristics plus Sarkhan's abilities (it is not a planeswalker, but it can still activate the loyalty abilities with the counters it has. It doesn't lose loyalty when dealt damage).
[EDITED]
If you use the +1 again with Sarkhan on top, the whole permanent becomes a 4/4 dragon etc, like before. It keeps all of Sarkhan's and Sea-Dasher's abilities. If Sea-Dasher is on top, the +1 doesn't affect it.
Either way, if you use the +1 again, the whole permanent becomes a 4/4 dragon etc, like before. It keeps all of Sarkhan's and Sea-Dasher's abilities.
If Sarkhan isn't on top, then it's not a planeswalker and won't be affected by the +1 ability on future turns.
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DCI Level 2 Judge
Scientists have calculated that the chance of anything so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.
Sea-Dasher Octopus
If I turn Sarkhan (or anywalker) into a dragon with his +1 ability and then mutate with say Sea-Dasher Octopus what happens if I put the Octopus on top versus on bottom and if I then activate the Sarkhan mutate octopus the next turn to become a dragon again does he just become a 4/4 dragon regardless of where the octopus is placed?
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(Girl Genius - Fairy Tale Theater Break - Cinderella, end of volume 8)
Once the turn ends, what it becomes then depends on what's on top. If Sarkhan is on top, the whole permanent stops being a creature and is just Sarkhan with Sea-Dasher's abilities. If Sea-Dasher is on top, it remains a creature, with all of Sea-Dasher's characteristics plus Sarkhan's abilities (it is not a planeswalker, but it can still activate the loyalty abilities with the counters it has. It doesn't lose loyalty when dealt damage).
[EDITED]
If you use the +1 again with Sarkhan on top, the whole permanent becomes a 4/4 dragon etc, like before. It keeps all of Sarkhan's and Sea-Dasher's abilities. If Sea-Dasher is on top, the +1 doesn't affect it.
If Sarkhan isn't on top, then it's not a planeswalker and won't be affected by the +1 ability on future turns.
Scientists have calculated that the chance of anything so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten.
True. For some reason I assumed the ability was "Sarkhan and other planeswalkers you control..." without checking. I will correct my post.