Do +1/+1 counters cancel out -1/-1 counters?

Asked by belugawhaleonthefloor 6 years ago

Like if you have a creature with persist come back to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it, and then give it a +1/+1 counter, does it no longer have either counter because they cancelled each other out?

BlueScope says... Accepted answer #1

Yes, as a state-based action, +1/+1 and -1/-1 counter pairs will be removed until there's only one of those type of counters on a permanent.

June 14, 2017 12:08 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... #2

Note that because this is a state-based action, if a creature getting -1/-1 counters would kill it, it will die as the counters are removed. The creature's last known information will reflect that it had both counters on it while it was on the battlefield, so abilities like persist and undying will not trigger.

June 14, 2017 2:36 p.m.