| Offspring | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Keyword Ability | |
| Type |
Static (1st ability) Triggered (2nd ability) |
| Introduced | Bloomburrow |
| Last used | Alchemy: Bloomburrow |
| Reminder Text | Offspring [cost] (You may pay an additional [cost] as you cast this spell. If you do, when this creature enters, create a 1/1 token copy of it.) |
| Statistics |
21 cards  19%  14.3%  19%  23.8%  23.8% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Offspring" | |
Offspring is a mechanic that was introduced in Bloomburrow to represent the familial nature of the set's characters.[1][2][3]
Description
When you cast a creature with offspring, you may pay an additional cost.[4] When it enters the battlefield, if that additional cost was paid, you create a 1/1 token that is a copy of that creature. The token has the same name, creature types, mana cost, mana value, and abilities as its parent. The only differences are power and toughness.[2]
Like with the embalm mechanic from Amonkhet, each card with offspring has its own dedicated token depicting its junior version. R&D wanted the creatures with offspring to have abilities that were relevant to a 1/1 body, but usually not as potent as with the original creature. The most fruitful design space was triggers, especially "enters” triggers and attack triggers. This made the larger body better for combat while keeping the junior versions relevant.[3]
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (November 14, 2025—[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]])
- Offspring
- A keyword ability that allows you to pay an additional cost as you cast a creature spell to create a 1/1 token that’s a copy of that permanent when it enters the battlefield. See rule 702.175, “Offspring.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (November 14, 2025—[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]])
- 702.175. Offspring
- 702.175a Offspring represents two abilities. “Offspring [cost]” means “You may pay an additional [cost] as you cast this spell” and “When this permanent enters, if its offspring cost was paid, create a token that’s a copy of it, except it’s 1/1.”
- 702.175b If a spell has multiple instances of offspring, each is paid separately and triggers based on the payments made for it, not any other instances of offspring.
Rulings
- You can pay an offspring cost only once as you cast a spell with offspring. You can't try to pay it multiple times to get more token copies, unless the spell has multiple instances of offspring.
- Even if the spell does have multiple instances of offspring, you can't pay offspring costs more times than the spell has instances of offspring (for instance, you can't pay an additional
for a spell with only two instances of offspring 
).
- Even if the spell does have multiple instances of offspring, you can't pay offspring costs more times than the spell has instances of offspring (for instance, you can't pay an additional
- If the spell with offspring is countered, the creature will never enter, so its offspring ability will not trigger and no token will be created.
- If the creature with offspring leaves the battlefield before its triggered ability resolves, the 1/1 token copy of that creature is still created.[2]
- Once you've paid a spell's offspring cost, creating the token when the creature enters is mandatory. You can't choose not to create it.
- The token copies exactly what was printed on the original creature and nothing else, except it's a 1/1 (unless that creature is copying something else; see below). It doesn't copy whether that creature is tapped or untapped, whether it has any counters on it or Auras and Equipment attached to it, or any non-copy effects that have changed its types, color, or so on.
- The tokens for offspring creatures also are not printed with the offspring ability, since it is never possible to cast a token as a spell in normal gameplay.
- In the rare case where the original creature is copying something else when the offspring ability resolves, the token enters as whatever that creature copied, except it's a 1/1.
- Many creatures with offspring abilities have other abilities that refer to them as "this creature" rather than referring to them by name. This difference is for clarity purposes and does not change the function of any of these abilities.
- Any "enters" abilities of the copied creature will trigger when the token enters. Any "as [this creature] enters" or "[this creature] enters with" abilities of the copied creature will also work.
- The token created by the offspring ability isn't "cast", so abilities that trigger when a creature spell is cast won't trigger for the copy.
- In the rare case where the creature with offspring doesn't have the offspring ability when it enters, the offspring ability won't trigger even if you paid the offspring cost.[5]
Example
Example
Thundertrap Trainer
Creature — Otter Wizard
1/2
Offspring 
(You may pay an additional as you cast this spell. If you do, when this creature enters, create a 1/1 token copy of it.)
When this creature enters, look at the top four cards of your library. You may reveal a noncreature, nonland card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Offspring tokens
| Token Name | Color | Type Line | P/T | Text Box | Source | Printings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowerfoot Swordmaster | White | Creature — Mouse Soldier | 1/1 | Valiant — Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability you control for the first time each turn, Mice you control get +1/+0 until end of turn. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Intrepid Rabbit | White | Creature — Rabbit Soldier | 1/1 | When this creature enters, target creature you control gets +1/+1 until end of turn. (This token's mana cost is  .)
|
||
| Steelburr Champion | White | Creature — Mouse Soldier | 1/1 | Vigilance Whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Warren Warleader | White | Creature — Rabbit Knight | 1/1 | Whenever you attack, choose one — • Create a 1/1 white Rabbit creature token that’s tapped and attacking. • Attacking creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Finch Formation | Blue | Creature — Bird Scout | 1/1 | Flying When this creature enters, target creature you control gains flying until end of turn. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Splash Lasher | Blue | Creature — Frog Wizard | 1/1 | When this creature enters, tap up to one target creature and put a stun counter on it. (If a permanent with a stun counter on it would become untapped, remove one from it instead.) (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Thundertrap Trainer | Blue | Creature — Otter Wizard | 1/1 | When this creature enters, look at the top four cards of your library. You may reveal a noncreature, nonland card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Darkstar Augur | Black | Creature — Bat Warlock | 1/1 | Flying At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. You lose life equal to its mana value. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Iridescent Vinelasher | Black | Creature — Lizard Assassin | 1/1 | Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, this creature deals 1 damage to target opponent. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Starscape Cleric | Black | Creature — Bat Cleric | 1/1 | Flying This creature can’t block. Whenever you gain life, each opponent loses 1 life. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Thornplate Intimidator | Black | Creature — Rat Rogue | 1/1 | When this creature enters, target opponent loses 3 life unless they sacrifice a nonland permanent or discard a card. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Agate Instigator | Red | Creature — Lizard Rogue | 1/1 | Whenever another creature you control enters, this creature deals 1 damage to each opponent. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Coruscation Mage | Red | Creature — Otter Wizard | 1/1 | Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature deals 1 damage to each opponent. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Manifold Mouse | Red | Creature — Mouse Soldier | 1/1 | At the beginning of combat on your turn, target Mouse you control gains your choice of double strike or trample until end of turn. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Prosperous Bandit | Red | Creature — Raccoon Rogue | 1/1 | First strike Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, create that many tapped Treasure tokens. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Steampath Charger | Red | Creature — Lizard Warlock | 1/1 | When this creature dies, it deals 1 damage to target player. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Bushy Bodyguard | Green | Creature — Squirrel Warrior | 1/1 | When this creature enters, you may forage. If you do, put two +1/+1 counters on it. (To forage, exile three cards from your graveyard or sacrifice a Food.) (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Fountainport Charmer | Green | Creature — Frog Bard | 1/1 | When Fountainport Charmer enters, creature cards in your hand perpetually gain “This spell costs less to cast.” (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Pawpatch Recruit | Green | Creature — Rabbit Warrior | 1/1 | Trample Whenever a creature you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control other than that creature. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Rust-Shield Rampager | Green | Creature — Raccoon Warrior | 1/1 | This creature can’t be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less. (This token's mana cost is .)
|
||
| Tender Wildguide | Green | Creature — Possum Druid | 1/1 |  : Add one mana of any color.: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.(This token's mana cost is .)
|
Cards that grant Offspring
- Cottontail Caretaker (white creature card in hand perpetually gains offspring )
- Zinnia, Valley's Voice (offspring )
Trivia
- Coiling Rebirth grants offspring in a sideways manner, creating a token copy 1/1 if the opponent is gifted a card. Donal, Herald of Wings gives nonlegendary fliers a variant of offspring.
- Many cards have the "1/1 copy of a creature" design, but Offspring's Revenge also notes the mechanic by name and was released four years prior to Bloomburrow.
See also
References
- ↑ The Preview Panel - MagicCon Chicago (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (February 23 2024).
- ↑ a b c Matt Tabak (July 9, 2024). "Bloomburrow Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (July 15, 2024). "The Bloom of the Burrow". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 29, 2024). "Bloomburrow Vision Design Handoff, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Eric Levine and Eliana Rabinowitz (July 19, 2024). "Bloomburrow Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.