Trait Doctoring

Trait Doctoring

Sorcery

Text

Change the text of target permanent by replacing all instances of one color word with another or one basic land type with another until end of turn. Cipher (Then you may exile this spell card encoded on a creature you control. Whenever that creature deals combat damage to a player, its controller may cast a copy of the encoded card without paying its mana cost.)

#13,240 EDHREC 🖌 Clint Cearley

Market prices

updated on 06/17/2026
from €0.11
Source Normal Foil
Cardhoarder 0.02 tix
Card Kingdom $0.69
Cardmarket €0.34 €0.87
CardTrader Buy €0.11 €0.45
TCGplayer $0.27 $0.70

Trend · last 90 days · EUR

€0.11
min €0.11 max €0.45

CardTrader market

363 offers · from €0.11 · avg €0.83 · max €102.64

Poor: 2 · Played: 11 · Near Mint: 132 · Slightly Played: 159 · Moderately Played: 59

Rulings (17)

If you choose not to cast the copy, or you can’t cast it (perhaps because there are no legal targets available), the copy will cease to exist the next time state-based actions are performed. You won’t get a chance to cast the copy at a later time.

04/15/2013

If you want to encode the card with cipher onto a noncreature permanent such as a Keyrune that can turn into a creature, that permanent has to be a creature before the spell with cipher starts resolving. You can choose only a creature to encode the card onto.

04/15/2013

The exiled card with cipher grants a triggered ability to the creature it’s encoded on. If that creature loses that ability and subsequently deals combat damage to a player, the triggered ability won’t trigger. However, the exiled card will continue to be encoded on that creature.

04/15/2013

If another player gains control of the creature, that player will control the triggered ability. That player will create a copy of the encoded card and may cast it.

04/15/2013

If the basic land type of a land is changed, the associated mana ability of that land will also change, but its name will not. For example, if you’ve changed “Plains” to “Island,” a card named Plains will have the basic land type Island and can be tapped for , and it can no longer be tapped for .

04/15/2013

You cast the copy of the card with cipher during the resolution of the triggered ability. Ignore timing restrictions based on the card’s type.

04/15/2013

If the spell with cipher doesn’t resolve, none of its effects will happen, including cipher. The card will go to its owner’s graveyard and won’t be encoded on a creature.

04/15/2013

Trait Doctoring changes the color word or basic land type each time it appears in the permanent’s type line and/or rules text. It doesn’t change the name of the card or any instances of the word being used as part of a card’s name.

04/15/2013

The copy of the card with cipher is created in and cast from exile.

04/15/2013

You can target any permanent with Trait Doctoring, including one with no color words or basic land types on it.

04/15/2013

Trait Doctoring’s effect changes only the text printed on the permanent. It can’t change words found in abilities it’s been granted. For example, if you’ve changed “green” to “blue,” and the permanent gains protection from green (as opposed to having protection from green printed on it), that protection ability is unaffected. The permanent will have protection from green.

04/15/2013

The type-changing effect can change part of a word such as “nonblack” or “swampwalk” if the part of the word is being used to refer to a color or basic land type.

04/15/2013

You choose what word you’re changing and what word you’re changing it to as Trait Doctoring resolves.

04/15/2013

If a creature with an encoded card deals combat damage to more than one player simultaneously (perhaps because some of the combat damage was redirected), the triggered ability will trigger once for each player it deals combat damage to. Each ability will create a copy of the exiled card and allow you to cast it.

04/15/2013

The spell with cipher is encoded on the creature as part of that spell’s resolution, just after the spell’s other effects. That card goes directly from the stack to exile. It never goes to the graveyard.

04/15/2013

You choose the creature as the spell resolves. The cipher ability doesn’t target that creature, although the spell with cipher may target that creature (or a different creature) because of its other abilities.

04/15/2013

If the creature leaves the battlefield, the exiled card will no longer be encoded on any creature. It will stay exiled.

04/15/2013

Legality by format

Brawl Not legal
Commander Legal
Duel Commander Legal
Legacy Legal
Modern Legal
Oathbreaker Legal
Old School Not legal
Pauper Not legal
Pioneer Legal
Premodern Not legal
Standard Not legal
Vintage Legal
Block Constructed Not legal
Extended Not legal
Frontier Not legal
Tiny Leaders Not legal