Does a legend rule apply if two legendary creatures have the same name but different card text?

The legend rule (CR 704.5j) states that if a player controls two or more legendary permanents with the same name, that player chooses one and puts the rest into the graveyard as a state-based action. The rule checks only the name of the permanent, not its oracle text, abilities, power/toughness, or any other characteristic.

This means that even if two legendary creatures share a name but have different card text — for example, two versions of a character printed in different sets with errata, variant treatment, or modified abilities — the legend rule still applies the moment a single player controls both simultaneously.

Card text (oracle text) is relevant for what a card does, but it plays no role in the legend rule's name-matching check. CR 201.3 confirms that a card's name is its name as printed (or as modified by an effect), and that is the sole criterion for the legend rule comparison.

Concrete example: Suppose you control a classic printing of Empress Galina and somehow a variant version with different text also named Empress Galina enters under your control. Even if the two cards have different abilities printed on them, state-based actions immediately apply the legend rule and you must put one into the graveyard (CR 704.5j).

Note: If an effect explicitly changes a permanent's name to something different, the rule would no longer apply between them — but differing card text alone never bypasses the legend rule.