Hello, I am still fairly new to commander and I think I have thought of a way to populate a key rune such as Boros Keyrune, but I wanted to check if the rules allow this before I try and do it on game night and try to make an illegal move. The main scenario is if I have the ability of Boros Keyrune so it is now a creature and then I have it attack as a creature. If I also have Flamerush Rider in my hand and then play the dash cost so that I make a copy of the keyrune. If I then populate the keyrune such as through Rootborn Defenses or through Sundering Growth so I have a token that remains after combat. Will the token turn back into a normal mana rock keyrune or will it remain a creature. Any help will be extremely appreciated, so thanks in advance.
The token copy of the keyrune is not created as a creature, but as an inanimate mana rock with the animation ability. Unless you make it into a creature, it cannot be your selection for your populate action. (Also, the token Keyrune is created tapped but not attacking, since noncreatures can't be attacking. CR506.3a)
Review "706. Copying Objects", especially 706.2 -
706.2. When 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 the battlefield” 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, and counters are not copied.
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The token that's created by the Rider actually enters as a noncreature keyrune. That's because copy effects copy only the printed characteristics of the original, not characteristics granted by effects (with the exception of other copy effects). So the effect making the keyrune a creature is not copied, and you get a keyrune as it would normally enter the battlefield, i.e. just an artifact. It would enter attacking, but since it's not a creature, it doesn't, only creatures can be attacking. And animating it afterwards is too late for it to attack.
Because populate only copies creature tokens, you won't be able to use it to copy the token keyrune, unless you pay to animate it first. If you do all that, then sure, you get a keyrune token that stays on the battlefield (also a noncreature one until you animate it). But as you can see, it's not as easy or efficient as you might have thought.
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Also, you have to play your Flamerush Rider during the first main phase, so long before you get to declare any attackers. You also have to declare the Rider as attacker alongside the animated Keyrune (all attackers are declared simultaneously). You cannot dash in the Rider during combat, and even if you give it flash somehow, dashing it in after attacker declaration means, that it cannot attack and you won't get the trigger.
Review "706. Copying Objects", especially 706.2 -
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Because populate only copies creature tokens, you won't be able to use it to copy the token keyrune, unless you pay to animate it first. If you do all that, then sure, you get a keyrune token that stays on the battlefield (also a noncreature one until you animate it). But as you can see, it's not as easy or efficient as you might have thought.
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