Altered Ego
Creature — Shapeshifter
This spell can't be countered.
You may have this creature enter as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it enters with X additional +1/+1 counters on it.
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- GU
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Shadows over Innistrad
- Price
- $0.30
- EDHREC rank
- #4357
Altered Ego copies any creature on the battlefield and can't be countered, landing with extra +1/+1 counters scaled to however much mana you sink into X — the floor is a flexible Clone, the ceiling is a massive uncounterable threat. In Zimone, Infinite Analyst shells specifically, it doubles as the combo piece that loops with Felidar Guardian to generate infinite value.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Zimone, Infinite Analyst
Zimone, Infinite Analyst runs Altered Ego in nearly 60% of lists because it slots directly into the Felidar Guardian loop — copying Guardian resets the chain and Zimone's ability fires again for infinite card draw and mana.
Magus Lucea Kane
Magus Lucea Kane doubles the X cost of Altered Ego, meaning a single cast can produce a clone with a massive counter base while Kane's copy trigger generates a second one — two enormous creatures from one card.
Aang, at the Crossroads
Aang, at the Crossroads wants creatures with +1/+1 counters already on them, and Altered Ego enters pre-loaded based on X, immediately feeding Aang's energy or counter-synergy payoffs.
Zaxara, the Exemplary
Zaxara, the Exemplary creates a Hydra token whenever an X spell is cast, so Altered Ego triggers that ability and delivers both a clone and a free body in the same cast.
Primo, the Unbounded
Primo, the Unbounded cares about creatures entering with counters, and Altered Ego's X-scaled entry makes it a reliable trigger — the bigger the mana investment, the bigger the enters-the-battlefield payoff.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is the natural home for Altered Ego — the format's longer games give you time to accumulate the mana to make X meaningful, and the singleton rule makes copying an opponent's best creature a consistent source of card advantage. In competitive Commander pods specifically, the can't-be-countered clause matters: dropping a clone of a combo piece through interaction is a real edge. In Legacy, Pioneer, and Modern, Altered Ego is legal but sees essentially no play — four mana for a Clone effect is too slow in those formats, and the X rider doesn't offset the tempo loss against faster threats. Oathbreaker offers a niche home in counter-centric builds, but Commander remains the clear primary format.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Enduring ScalelordAltered Ego
Infinite +1/+1 counters on certain creatures
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Kiora's FollowerIllusionist's BracersAltered Ego
Infinite mana permanents you control can produce
View on Commander Spellbook ↗
Deeproot PilgrimageKiora's FollowerAltered Ego
Infinite ETB; Infinite creature tokens
View on Commander Spellbook ↗Price Context
Current price
$0.30 bulk tier
At $0.30, Altered Ego is firmly bulk — reasonable given that Clone variants rarely hold value unless they're format staples. For what it does in Commander, the price is a non-issue: you're getting an uncounterable, scalable clone for less than a draft pick.
Explore
Sources
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.