+/+ counter copies
Asked by Darkcrow221 6 years ago
I have a Skyship Plunderer that adds one of each counter type to a target permanent of my choice when he hits a player, if I have an Arborback Stomper with a +1+1 counter on it and a +5+5 counter from another spell, do I add a +1+1 and a +5+5 or do i ave to add only a +1+1 onto it, similarly if I add a +1+1 counter til end of turn on a creature, attack with plunderer then target the card with +1+1 does that copied "+1+1 until end of turn" counter stay as a permanent +1+1 counter or does it also only exist until end of turn?? Sorry new to this ability and it tarted a heated discussion in my group
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #2
A +/- effect only uses counters if it specifically says so. For many years the game has only used +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters, but there are some very old cards that give +2/+2 counters, +0/+1 counters, or other unusual combinations. I can't think of any of those old cards that could produce a +5/+5 counter.
An effect that just says it gives something "+1/+1 until end of turn" and doesn't mention counters at all doesn't add any counters to the creature. Skyship Plunderer has no interaction with an effect like that.
September 15, 2017 10:12 a.m.
As other people have pointed out, you are most likely confusing +X/+X until end of turn with a +X/+X counter that disappears at end of turn, however as your questions can exist in Magic, I will address them.
If you do have a creature with several types of counters on it, such as a Frankenstein's Monster with a +1/+1 counter, a +2/+0 counter, and a +0/+2 counter and you target it with Skyship Plunderer's ability you will be able to duplicate each type of counter, effectively giving another +3/+3.
If you have a creature with a counter that only lasts until end of turn, such as the ones created by Bounty of the Hunt, those counters are indistinguishable from other counters of the same type, in this case a +1/+1 counter. If that creature has a normal +1/+1 counter, Skyship Plunderer will see them as the same type of counter and will only give you an additional one +1/+1 counter. Similiarly, the ability of Bounty of the Hunt only looks for a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the ones it created to remove. It won't remove any more than it created, and they don't have to actually be the ones it created for it to remove them. In short, if you put all three counters on Skyship Plunderer and use it's own ability to add a fourth, only the initial three will be removed.
As you can see, I had to go pretty far back to find cards that fit these scenarios, because modern magic doesn't do those sorts of things. The closest you'll probably find is an artifact creature ending up with both charge counters and +1/+1 counters.
September 15, 2017 11:20 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #4
I really wish Bounty of the Hunt never got the functional eratta later versions were printed with. Because now that they changed it back to the original wording I can see that card giving a lot of people a lot of problems.
Raging_Squiggle says... #1
There is no card to my knowledge that gives a unique "+5/+5 counter", perhaps you are confusing a counter with a static buff? (Also might be what you're talking about with the "counter until end of turn.")
For each unique type of counter on that creature, you may put another of those types on it. If it has a fate counter, or a doom counter, or a +1/+1 or -1/-1 counter, you may put another of each of those on that creature.
September 15, 2017 5:18 a.m.