What is the timing of counters placed on a creature?
Asked by Spook9MM 4 years ago
If I have a Sheltering Ancient in play, along withh Willbreaker, assuming I have 3 age counters on the ancient, can I place all 3 +1 counters on same creature? Or does 1st counter trigger Willbreaker's ability, thereby making it MY creature now and not opponent's? Or are all 3 plsced simultaneously?
To actually answer the timing question, the counters are all put on simultaneously. You are free to put said counters on one singular creature or spread across multiple creatures. Again, none of this will trigger Willbreaker, but figured I should answer the timing and choice questions as well.
Card Ruling:
You may choose a different creature to put each counter on, but you can also choose the same creature multiple times. The creatures don’t have to be controlled by the same opponent.
March 29, 2020 12:55 p.m.
Is this because it says "a creature" rather than "target creature" ?
March 29, 2020 2:42 p.m.
Follow up q then... Erhnam Djinn on field as well. Can the ancient's counters be placed on the creature, and then targetted by djinn's forestwalk, and THAT triggers Willbreaker??
March 29, 2020 2:47 p.m.
Both the cumulative upkeep of Sheltering Ancient and the ability of Erhnam Djinn trigger at the beginning of your upkeep. You control both triggers, so you can choose in which order to put them on the stack.
However, targets must be chosen for the Djinn's ability when you put it on the stack, while you do not choose which creature you'll be giving counters to until the Ancient's ability resolves. Willbreaker will trigger when you target your opponent's creature with the Djinn ability, and that trigger will go on the stack at the top and resolve first. You will gain control of the creature, and then when you resolve the Ancient's ability, you won't be able to put counters on that creature anymore because it's no longer your opponent's creature.
March 29, 2020 4:17 p.m.
Thank you both for the in depth clarification. I'm sure I can still find a feasible solution. Either way, its more casual than competitive. Thanks again!
Caerwyn says... Accepted answer #1
These cards do not interact with one another. Sheltering Ancient's Cumulative Upkeep ability does not target, thus does not trigger Willbreaker.
March 29, 2020 12:52 p.m. Edited.