Phyrexian MetamorphPhyrexian Metamorph | Art by Thomas Baxa

Ever since Dockside ExtortionistDockside Extortionist was banned, creature-clones in cEDH have slid significantly in popularity. Games aren't won or lost off the backs of a two-mana omnipresent creature with an enters trigger that any player could theoretically exploit anymore. Thassa's OracleThassa's Oracle is a true combo piece; Dockside ExtortionistDockside Extortionist was a value bomb that could also combo. That said, there are plenty of permanents worth copying these days, enough to push clones - both creature and noncreature - back into the spotlight.

#10 - Copy ArtifactCopy Artifact

Coming up first is the oldest clone effect on our list, Copy Artifact. For , this enchantment enters the battlefield as a copy of any artifact in play. At its floor, that's usually copying a Signet, Talisman, or maybe a Sol Ring - all important plays, just slightly more annoying when you're sinking colored mana into casting them. That said, there are plenty of pitch spells in cEDH that like having blue cards to exile - Force of Will, Force of Negation, etc. So, if you've got room, Copy Artifact is like a slightly more mana-intensive rock with upside.

Looking to its ceiling, Copy Artifact can enter as things like The One RingThe One Ring or Wishclaw TalismanWishclaw Talisman - engines and utility pieces that often cost a good deal more than just two mana.

#9 - Applied GeometryApplied Geometry

Next up is the newest card on our list, Applied Geometry.

For , this sorcery creates a token copy of any non-Aura permanent you control, except it's a 0/0 Fractal creature in addition to its other types. Then, it gets six +1/+1 counters.

Like a lot of cards on this list, the best thing Applied Geometry can do is create a copy of Rhystic StudyRhystic Study. Really, the card is just that important to the format, so any clones capable of making Rhystic copies are in high demand. Beyond that, there are of course other cards worth copying, but being able to hit Rhystic pushes this a good deal higher.

#8 - Phyrexian MetamorphPhyrexian Metamorph

Next up is a card that gains most of its value from cost flexibility, being the only option on our list that - despite being blue - can be cast for generic mana.

Phyrexian Metamorph is a 0/0 Phyrexian Shapeshifter that costs and it enters as a copy of any artifact or creature in play. While it might not hit Rhystic StudyRhystic Study, being a creature spell (hard to counter), effectively just to cast (no color dependency), and decently flexible (hitting creatures and artifacts regardless of if you control them or not) all together makes a solidly playable card. Commanders, utility creatures, good-ol-fashioned mana rocks, Phyrexian Metamorph can hit them all.

#7 - Clever ImpersonatorClever Impersonator

At seventh place is one of the more cost-intensive cards on our list, but one that can hit Rhystic StudyRhystic Study regardless of whether it's one you control or not - Clever Impersonator.

For , Clever Impersonator is a 0/0 Shapeshifter creature that you may have enter as a copy of any permanent on the battlefield. As far as clone effects go, that's the most flexible - and thus, the most powerful - one you'll find. No card type restrictions, no controller restrictions, just a blanket copy effect. The only problem is the mana cost - is really intense, which is the only reason this isn't higher on the list.

#6 - Flesh DuplicateFlesh Duplicate

Now, we're entering back-to-back value creature clones - cards that benefit primarily from their affordability, at the cost of being more fragile in one way or another. For Flesh Duplicate, that means paying for a creature that enters as a copy of any creature, except it gives the creature it copies vanishing 3 (assuming it doesn't already have vanishing). This means that it enters with three time counters on it and, at the beginning of your upkeep, you remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it.

The benefit here is pretty straightforward: a cheap way to get a copy of any creature, expensive or not, yours or not, at the cost that it has to go away in a few turns. However, cEDH moves pretty quickly, so those few turns are more often than not plenty of time.

#5 - Phantasmal ImagePhantasmal Image

Next up, it's the less-color-intensive value clone, Phantasmal Image. For just , this Illusion enters as a copy of any creature, except that creature is an Illusion in addition to its other types and gains "When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it."

Overall, this downside is actually a lot less painful than it might first appear - pretty much the only spells/abilities that target creatures in cEDH are removal already, and those are rare regardless. This only really matters in that you likely won't be countering the sacrifice trigger (StifleStifle isn't really a popular card, especially for your own things), so defenses for whatever you clone are pretty much down.

#4 - MirrormadeMirrormade

Alrighty, on to our next pair of clones: cards that are popular first and foremost because they can copy Rhystic StudyRhystic Study. First up, Mirrormade.

For , Mirrormade is an enchantment that enters as a copy of any artifact or enchantment in play. As far as enchantments go, that essentially boils down to four cards: Rhystic Study, Mystic RemoraMystic Remora, Smothering TitheSmothering Tithe, and NecropotenceNecropotence (Underworld BreachUnderworld Breach won't stick around to your turn). All of these are game winning, and few cards - Mirrormade among them - can readily copy them.

#3 - Copy EnchantmentCopy Enchantment

Next up, Copy Enchantment is basically Mirrormade except it can't copy artifacts. So, why is it better? Simple - it costs , rather than . In the high color decks dominating cEDH right now, that one extra blue mana is worth all the difference.

Now, Mirrormade isn't significantly worse than Copy Enchantment, but it is reliably more difficult to cast despite sharing a mana value, a difficulty that is not outweighed by being able to copy artifacts.

#2 - MockingbirdMockingbird

Here at the penultimate spot is the last true creature clone on our list, one that epitomizes the tradeoffs between mana efficiency and creature selectivity: Mockingbird.

For , Mockingbird is a 1/1 Bird Bard with flying that you may have enter as a copy of any creature with mana value less than or equal to the total amount of mana spent to cast Mockingbird, except it's a Bird in addition to its other types and it has flying.

Mockingbird is all about scalability. At just one mana, you're getting Ragavan, Nimble PilfererRagavan, Nimble Pilferer and just about every mana dork, plus all-star Esper SentinelEsper Sentinel. By three mana, you're hitting pretty much every other commonly played creature in the format, except for essentially the bigger threats coming out of green. Plus, Mockingbird can be found off of Ranger-Captain of EosRanger-Captain of Eos, a combo that has gone on to lead to incredibly interaction-resistant board states.

#1 - Flash PhotographyFlash Photography

Last but not least, the newest and most potent clone in cEDH, Flash Photography.

For (or a flashback cost of ), this sorcery creates a token copy of any permanent. If it targets a permanent you control, you may cast Flash Photography as though it had flash.

The only thing that could make a clone better than blanket-targetability (including, of course, cloning Rhystic StudyRhystic Study) is stapling flash to it, and wouldn't you know it but Flash Photography did exactly that. Plus, if you've got mana to spare and have cast it once already, then you can wind up flashing it back. In big-mana decks like RogThras, for example, that means making up to two more copies of Rhystic StudyRhystic Study, both at instant-speed, all off of one card.

Wrap Up

That's the wrap on cEDH's clone meta in 2026 - it used to be Dockside ExtortionistDockside Extortionist, and now it's Rhystic StudyRhystic Study. Still, plenty of non-Rhystic clones are still pulling their weight, like the ever-popular Mockingbird (though that is Esper SentinelEsper Sentinel plenty of times, anyways).