Volrath's Shapeshifter has an ability allowing its controller to discard a card. This ability was mostly intended to change Volrath into something else, by changing the top card of the graveyard.
But Volrath's ability has been modified since its first appearance: its new text does not contain the "Volrath's Shapeshifter retains its abilities" clause that was on the old printed version. With the new text, ALL of Volrath's text is replaced by the text of the card in the grave. Therefore, the text-changing ability itself disapears!
(so its effect should stop, so it should reappear, and re-disapear, and re-reappear…)
Let's see how Volrath's Shapeshifter normally works. Normally, Volrath's Shapeshifter has two abilities as follows (C.R. 108.1):
As long as the top card of your graveyard is a creature card, Volrath's Shapeshifter has the full text of that card and has the text "2: Discard a card." [Reminder text omitted.]
2: Discard a card.
Normally, if you control Volrath's Shapeshifter and—
the top card of your graveyard is Island, Volrath's Shapeshifter will simply have the two abilities just stated.
the top card of your graveyard is Wind Drake, Volrath's Shapeshifter's text changing effect applies. It overwrites the text on the "actual object" with "the full text" of Wind Drake and the text "2: Discard a card" (C.R. 613.1, 613.1c, 612.5).
However, if you control Volrath's Shapeshifter and Mirrorweave makes Volrath's Shapeshifter a copy of Grizzly Bears, here is how the effect is applied:
Original object (C.R. 613.1): Volrath's Shapeshifter has its usual text, including the two abilities just stated.
Layer 1 (C.R. 613.1a, copy effects): Volrath's Shapeshifter is a copy of Grizzly Bears and thus has no abilities.
Layer 2 (C.R. 613.1b, control-changing effects): No relevant effects. You still control Volrath's Shapeshifter.
Layer 3 (C.R. 613.1c, text-changing effects): No relevant effects especially since Volrath's Shapeshifter has no abilities.
Other layers (C.R. 613.1d-g): No relevant effects.
Also, the effect of Volrath's Shapeshifter's first ability has to be a text-changing effect rather than a copy effect because its use of the word "your" means it relies on who controls Volrath's Shapeshifter (C.R. 109.5, 613.1a-c, 613.1, 612.5).
Finally, Volrath's Shapeshifter's Oracle text says "...and has the text '2: Discard a card.'" to conform to the intent of the card as printed in Stronghold that "Volrath's Shapeshifter retains its abilities", since Volrath's Shapeshifter normally has two abilities, not just one.
Thank you!
However, I still don't know what happens if I discard, say, a Grizzly Bears; does Volrath get the text of that new card, or does it remain a Wind Drake?
And why? How can a Wind Drake change into a Grizzly Bears?
Thank you!
However, I still don't know what happens if I discard, say, a Grizzly Bears; does Volrath get the text of that new card, or does it remain a Wind Drake?
And why? How can a Wind Drake change into a Grizzly Bears?
In this case, Volrath's Shapeshifter will stop having "the full text" of Wind Drake and have "the full text" of Grizzly Bears instead. Note that continuous effects from static abilities, like that of Volrath's Shapeshifter's first ability, are not "locked in" (C.R. 611.3a, 604.1), and that effects in the layer system (like that effect) are "continually and automatically [applied] by the game" (C.R. 613.4, 613.1c, 612.5).
This works because applying characteristic-changing effects always starts with the original object and works in a series of layers in order (C.R. 613.1).
For example, assume you control Volrath's Shapeshifter, and the top card of your graveyard is Wind Drake. Then the following happens in the layer system:
Original object (C.R. 613.1): Volrath's Shapeshifter has its usual text.
Layer 3 (C.R. 613.1c, text-changing effects): Volrath's Shapeshifter has "the full text" of Wind Drake and the text "2: Discard a card" rather than its usual text (C.R. 612.5).
If you then discard Grizzly Bears, the following happens:
Original object (C.R. 613.1): Volrath's Shapeshifter has its usual text.
Layer 3 (C.R. 613.1c, text-changing effects): Volrath's Shapeshifter has "the full text" of Grizzly Bears and the text "2: Discard a card" rather than its usual text (C.R. 612.5).
Ah, I get it now!
Rule 613 has some kind of a 'refresh button': as soon as something changes, objects must be re-evaluated from scratch, starting with their printed text.
Thank you very much, Peter!
But Volrath's ability has been modified since its first appearance: its new text does not contain the "Volrath's Shapeshifter retains its abilities" clause that was on the old printed version. With the new text, ALL of Volrath's text is replaced by the text of the card in the grave. Therefore, the text-changing ability itself disapears!
(so its effect should stop, so it should reappear, and re-disapear, and re-reappear…)
How does it actually work, under the new text?
Nota bene: This question was inspired by kp256:
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-rulings/815506-volraths-imposter-gate#c8
RULES OF MAGIC :
http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/gameplay/rules-and-formats/rules
Normally, if you control Volrath's Shapeshifter and—
However, if you control Volrath's Shapeshifter and Mirrorweave makes Volrath's Shapeshifter a copy of Grizzly Bears, here is how the effect is applied:
Also, the effect of Volrath's Shapeshifter's first ability has to be a text-changing effect rather than a copy effect because its use of the word "your" means it relies on who controls Volrath's Shapeshifter (C.R. 109.5, 613.1a-c, 613.1, 612.5).
Finally, Volrath's Shapeshifter's Oracle text says "...and has the text '2: Discard a card.'" to conform to the intent of the card as printed in Stronghold that "Volrath's Shapeshifter retains its abilities", since Volrath's Shapeshifter normally has two abilities, not just one.
However, I still don't know what happens if I discard, say, a Grizzly Bears; does Volrath get the text of that new card, or does it remain a Wind Drake?
And why? How can a Wind Drake change into a Grizzly Bears?
RULES OF MAGIC :
http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/gameplay/rules-and-formats/rules
In this case, Volrath's Shapeshifter will stop having "the full text" of Wind Drake and have "the full text" of Grizzly Bears instead. Note that continuous effects from static abilities, like that of Volrath's Shapeshifter's first ability, are not "locked in" (C.R. 611.3a, 604.1), and that effects in the layer system (like that effect) are "continually and automatically [applied] by the game" (C.R. 613.4, 613.1c, 612.5).
This works because applying characteristic-changing effects always starts with the original object and works in a series of layers in order (C.R. 613.1).
For example, assume you control Volrath's Shapeshifter, and the top card of your graveyard is Wind Drake. Then the following happens in the layer system:
Rule 613 has some kind of a 'refresh button': as soon as something changes, objects must be re-evaluated from scratch, starting with their printed text.
Thank you very much, Peter!
RULES OF MAGIC :
http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/gameplay/rules-and-formats/rules
Would you be kind enough to chime back in this other thread, please:
https://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-rulings/815506-volraths-imposter-gate#c11
RULES OF MAGIC :
http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/gameplay/rules-and-formats/rules