Phantasmal Image (M12)

Creature — Illusion

You may have this creature enter as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it's an Illusion in addition to its other types and it has "When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it."

Key clone effect for tempo and control strategies. Phantasmal Image offers incredible flexibility at just two mana—copy an opponent's threat, your own utility creature, or a combo piece without committing resources to a permanent copy. The illusion drawback is real but often irrelevant in formats where you're using it as a tempo tool or to steal a turn of value before it dies. Sees consistent play in Legacy and Modern where efficient answers and tempo matter, and remains a solid utility pick in Commander for decks that want instant-speed copying without the mana investment of Clever Impersonator.

Magic 2012 — Rare