Crib Swap

Rulings

12 official rulings, in the order Wizards published them.

• 2020-08-07

  Changeling applies in all zones, not just the battlefield.

• 2020-08-07

  Kindred is a card type (like creature or instant), not a supertype (like legendary).

• 2020-08-07

  If the target creature is an illegal target by the time Crib Swap tries to resolve, the spell won't resolve. No player will create a Shapeshifter token.

• 2024-06-07

  Kindred is a card type that allows noncreature cards to have creature types. For example, Echoes of Eternity is an Eldrazi (although not a creature) while on the battlefield and an Eldrazi card (although not a creature card) in zones other than the battlefield.

• 2024-06-07

  This card was originally printed with the "tribal" card type. That card type has been replaced with "kindred". This change does not affect the gameplay function of this card.

• 2025-11-17

  Some older cards were originally printed with the "tribal" card type. That card type has been replaced with "kindred." This change does not affect the gameplay function of these cards.

• 2025-11-17

  While it appears only on cards that already have other card types, kindred is a card type and will be counted by effects that refer to the number of card types among cards in a zone.

• 2025-11-17

  Changeling is a characteristic-defining ability. It functions in all zones, not only while a card that has it is on the battlefield.

• 2025-11-17

  The subtype Shapeshifter that appears on the type line is mostly there to reinforce the flavor. A creature card with changeling is just as much a Kithkin, a Goblin, a Merfolk, and a Brushwagg as it is a Shapeshifter.

• 2025-11-17

  If an effect causes a creature with changeling to become a new creature type, it will be only that new creature type (unless the effect says "in addition" or similar). It will still have changeling; the effect making it all creature types will simply be overwritten.

• 2025-11-17

  If an effect causes a creature with changeling to lose all abilities, it will remain all creature types, even though it will no longer have changeling. This is because changeling applies before the effect that removes it.

• 2025-11-17

  Kindred is a card type that allows noncreature cards to have creature types. For example, Morcant's Eyes is an Elf (although not a creature) while on the battlefield and an Elf card (although not a creature card) in zones other than the battlefield.

Rulings are Wizards of the Coast's own, mirrored from Scryfall and refreshed nightly.